The Right ERP System Will Transform Your Business 

The cost to implement an ERP system depends on a number of factors, including the size, complexity, and goals of the business. Read this article to learn more about the cost of implementing an ERP system and the varying licensing costs between different ERP vendors.

We firmly believe that the most prominent ERP system NZ businesses need in 2022 is Odoo. There are a few reasons Odoo is our recommendation for NZ businesses and these include:

• Affordability: New Zealand is a country filled with small-to-medium businesses. We understand that these companies often have complex business processes but fewer resources. With Odoo's per user monthly charge, which covers the entire app ecosystem, smaller organisations will find this ERP solution more affordable.
• Scalability: Digital transformation can be difficult for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) due to lack of resources, both in terms of money and human capital. Odoo's modular architecture allows businesses to take a phased approach to ERP implementation, meaning they can "add as they go." This makes it more feasible for NZ businesses to implement digital transformation.

Manufacturers are the top ERP consumers, followed by building and construction.  In fact, ERP evolved from manufacturing resource planning (MRP) so this fact is not surprising.

The advantages your company gains from an ERP implementation depend on various factors, most importantly being your business goals. Accenture reported at least 79% of organisations agreed that ERP helped them utilise technology from one part of the business to the other. Generally speaking, these are the main benefits reaped from implementing an ERP system:

1. Efficiency: ERP systems make business processes easier and less time-consuming by automating repetitive tasks, reducing manual input, and making it simpler for companies to collect, organise and act upon real time data.
2. Competition: ERP systems may be expensive, but this cost pales in comparison to the importance of remaining relevant and competitive. In today's fast-paced world, technology is constantly changing, and those who don't keep up are likely to fall behind their competitors. ERP implementations can help you become more efficient and productive, giving you a leg up on the competition, if not a level playing field. In fact, 38% of organisations said ERP enhanced their ability to meet changing customer demands. Accenture
3. Collaboration: ERP software provides many benefits, one of which being enhanced collaboration between departments. Having consistent data entered into a central system ensures that all departments are able to work together optimally.
4. Integration: Data spread across multiple databases and applications not only creates a burdensome tech stack but increases the risk of error and inacuraccies. A benefit of ERP implementation is the single source of data. Your CRM forms one module of your ERP eco system and all data is kept accurate and consistent.
5. Access Anywhere: Implementing an ERP can mobilise your business. Access critical data anywhere from any device and empower teams to work where they are most productive, whether that be home, office or on a construction site.

No. Xero is a standalone accounting software. While the functionality of Xero can be extended with third-party apps, it does not function as an integrated ERP software. 

It is common for NZ businesses to run Xero and have this meet all of their accounting needs. However, as a business grows and needs change, a more robust system is required to handle business data, especially when it comes to project management, inventory management and/or supply chain management. Here, we find that growing businesses prefer a phased approach to ERP implementation, whereby the necessary modules are integrated with Xero to form a working ERP solution. Later, as finance requirements become more complex, the accounting module can then be implemented to replace Xero, if required.

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning and is often referred to as the backbone of a business. It is the systems used by organisations to manage primary business processes and activities with the help of software and technology. 

By gathering and organising business data in real-time, ERP software allows businesses to achieve a variety of goals, including growth, cost reduction, and improving operations.

Yes, Oracle is a well-known ERP. The two biggest ERPs on the planet are SAP and Oracle respectively, with each company's value sitting at $195 billion and $172 billion. Valuations are not everything however so for more on the topic read this article: Why SAP Is Beating Salesforce and Oracle in the Market-Cap Wars - Acceleration Economy.

Oracle and SAP are known as Tier 1 ERP systems designed for enterprises with over USD 750 million in annual revenue. Generally speaking, these are not viable (or affordable) ERP systems for the majority of NZ businesses.

The outbreak of a pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains, raising the question of what is ERP in supply chain management.

ERP systems are important for businesses because they manage the supply chain and other key business operations through a single report or dashboard. This is especially beneficial in today's climate where agility is key to success.

• Meeting demand: ERP solutions streamline supply chain processes by creating demand after an order is received. The software does this by implementing job scheduling that gives plant supervisors real-time information about what resources will be used for the tasks and when the product delivery date will be. This way, they can make sure all production jobs align with customer demand.
• Procurement: ERP systems that assist in supply chain management help in the procurement and supply of relevant resources and raw materials. Tasks such as warehouse resource management, transportation of materials, and vendor communication can be streamlined or automated to expedite processes for improved efficiency.
• Production: ERP software helps you along every step of the supply chain, from creating a bill of materials to providing data for labor and resources. Plus, it records shipping documentation so that nothing gets lost in translation – or transit. And if something does need to change at the last minute, no problem! Your ERP solution can handle those changes easily.
• Shipping: Archive customer shipment and delivery data, create invoices that are automatically sent when products have shipped, select and perform quality assurance checks on packaging--your ERP system can do all of this while resolving resource conflicts.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems use a centralised database to manage and streamline various business operations, saving both time and money. With a particular focus on productivity at every job level, ERP serves to assist all employees in doing their daily tasks faster, removing manual or repetitive processes, and improving their work life.

Although ERP typically works behind the scenes in most organisations, it's important to understand how this software can support business functions. ERP systems typically include modules for accounting, human resources, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management, manufacturing/production planning and scheduling, product life cycle management, and other functions.

By combining and organising information from all of these modules, ERP systems can provide a real-time view of company operations, helping managers make informed decisions based on up-to-date data. Additionally, ERP software makes it easier for every employee to access necessary information in order to carry out their daily tasks more efficiently.

Here at Wedoo, we take the time to study an organisation's business practices, processes and employee daily tasks. We do this because it is important to understand how ERP works within that specific company. Keep in mind that every organisation operates differently. By examining a company's current ERP systems, we can help to improve them and then provide software solutions that will streamline the process further by automating certain tasks and delivering insightful data.

The exact workings of ERP will differ based on the needs of each organisation. For example, your ERP system might help make inventory management more straightforward by analysing factors like shipping timelines and stock levels to work out which distribution centre would be most productive in fulfilling an order.

Data segregation by departments is a common issue in many firms, but an Enterprise Resource Planning solution can fix that. With data readily shared and displayed company-wide, you'll be able to set clear objectives and automate time-consuming tasks.

ERP creates a system where internal and external teams can easily communicate with one another to handle the details of day-to-day operations. By using a centralized database, businesses can completely list and manage projects while still having visibility over company guidelines.

ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning does not just refer to or include the software systems that most have come to know today. ERP refers to all of the systems both online and offline that an organisation maintains in order to manage main business processes and activities. This is assisted by software and technology.

ERP software began with a focus on main business processes and how to store, manage, and interpret data from many business activities. This way, those in management positions would have better insight and control over such activities. However, as technology has advanced, ERP has shifted its focus toward productivity for every employee--not just managers--so that everyone can perform their daily duties more effectively.

An ERP system usually refers to a suite of integrated software applications that integrate and are hosted either locally or on the cloud. Traditional on-premise ERP systems are now considered legacy technology while cloud-based software applications have grown in popularity, as they allow access to information from any location with an Internet connection. That is not to say however that on premise ERP's are no longer attractive. Selecthubs report highlights that at least 50% of organisations are open to on-premise ERP software, of which at least 65% are manufacturers.

Cloud-based ERP applications tend to have more regular upgrades that match the speed of technological change, and often utilise technologies such as IoT, blockchain, machine learning and AI.

The most common disadvantages of ERP software implementation that we hear of in the industry are:

1. They can be quite expensive, especially when implemented by a large organisation.
2. They can be difficult to customise and integrate with existing systems, which can lead to implementation delays and frustration on the part of employees. 
3. ERP software can often be confusing and difficult to use, which can lead to decreased productivity and even data errors.

Avoid unnecessary stress. Let us show you how Wedoo avoid cost overruns, implement fully integrated and easy to use systems!

You might think supply chain, e-commerce capability and customer management are the areas in which firms are looking at when looking to buy an enterprise system.

According to a report, the vendors stature as a long-term partner and the vendors support capabilities are the main focus. While many more criteria of course come into the decision-making process, the credibility of your implementation partner is not surprising. Implementing an enterprise system is a major undertaking that forms a long-lasting support relationship. At Wedoo, we've been working with many clients for over 20 years. These range from small family businesses all the way through to larger enterprises.

Let's start the conversation today with a no-obligation consult.