The Best ERP System for Manufacturers

Manufacturing is crucial to the U.S. economy. It represents over 12% of the production output, and over half of U.S exports, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Given the importance of this industry, manufacturing leadership must have the tools to keep manufacturing operations stable to promote growth.

You likely already know that tool is the ERP. You probably have one that you've had for the past 20 years. But manufacturing is changing. Business needs evolve with it, and this has driven your search for ERP solutions for current business challenges, not the ones of yesteryear. Whether you are manufacturing exclusively in the U.S. or across continents, this is what the best ERP system for manufacturers has to offer.

1. MANAGE ORDERS

The best ERP for manufacturing makes filling orders easier because you can more efficiently track inventory, buying trends, raw materials, regional supply concerns, and more. It also takes a lot of manual labor, duplicate efforts, and bottlenecking out of the equation through automation and enhanced cross-departmental communication so that you can produce and deliver to your wholesale and retail partners consistently on-time, and on-budget.

2. OPTIMIZE THE SUPPLY CHAIN

What if something, or someone, could be removed entirely from the supply chain conversation? That may seem like a contradiction, but the best ERP for manufacturing can be accomplished by unifying supply chain operations and communication across locations, and continents, so even third-party suppliers, contractors, and shippers seem like just an extension of one well-oiled machine.

3. MAKE REAL CONNECTIONS AND MAINTAIN THEM

In manufacturing, we still rely heavily on trade shows. While these events are not likely to go away, recent global health happenings and ongoing changes in technology might make trade shows a less-than-central priority in your marketing strategy. The best ERPs have enhanced marketing capabilities that allow you to stay connected with customers and potential customers you meet in channels like:

• Trade shows
• Social media
• Modern website
• Business partnerships
• Influencer marketing
• Search engine optimization
• Email marketing

Remote sales and marketing alignment keep those in your distribution network engaged to grow that pool of alliances.

4. UPDATE AND TRACK FINANCIALS IN REAL-TIME

In manufacturing, any delay in information can cost you. You might implement a solution only after the event has passed. You could completely change course on delayed or isolated financial indicators that do not present the whole picture. When you work with the best manufacturing ERP, you know that financials are always up-to-date, giving you the confidence to make data-driven decisions even from afar.

5. SCALE AND ADAPT

The more you grow, the more complex operations become. When an ERP cannot adapt and evolve with a company, the company may find itself faced with replacing outdated technologies before they truly realize the cost-savings and productivity improvements promised.

The best ERP for manufacturing can adapt and streamline even the most complicated manufacturing supply chain. And because it's fully integrated across the organization, the whole company benefits from improvements in one area.

6. SUPPORT A MOBILE OR REMOTE WORKFORCE

Few manufacturing companies will be sending all of their employees to work at home, even given the ongoing health threat of COVID-19. However, it is good to know that the best ERP for manufacturing has those capabilities and can enhance how those who do work remotely work together. Beyond remote capabilities of a cloud ERP are the mobile ones, meaning that employees can access and update information from mobile devices in the warehouse, manufacturing floor, shipping, receiving, a trade show, or anywhere for more real-time communication and better picture of the workflow.

7. MANAGE THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AND PERCEPTION

The best ERP for manufacturing is there throughout the entire customer journey, where it can maintain communication, enhance the customer experience, strengthen customer relationships, and provide business insights needed to understand customer needs and continually improve that experience.

8. MANAGE A GLOBAL ENTERPRISE

The best ERP for manufacturing offers a OneWorld solution, so it doesn't matter where hubs are located. Everyone and everything can work together. The best cloud ERP has global enterprise supportive features like:

• Automated currency adjustment
• Country, regional, and local compliance tools
• Local taxation tools

Leaders can see the entire operation in real-time from anywhere, allowing for swifter, more consistent management decisions regardless of location.

9. SUPPORT THAT GROWS WITH YOU

It doesn't matter how cutting-edge technology is if your organization does not have the ongoing support to:

• Educate end-users (employees, contractors, and everyone involved) to ensure you are getting the most out of the advanced ERP
• Continually maintain the ERP
• Introduce and integrate new solutions to address changing needs
• Stand behind the solutions and make sure your tool delivers the business results you seek.

THE BEST ERP FOR MANUFACTURERS

Manufacturers don't have to look far to find the best ERP for manufacturing. NetSuite's mobile, cloud-based ERP offers manufacturers all of these benefits and more. It's designed by people who understand domestic and global manufacturing and have worked to bring everything together into a centralized tool that really can be everything to everyone, cutting extra licensing costs and lost productivity.

ManoByte helps manufacturers develop and integrate the NetSuite cloud ERP solutions they need to meet manufacturing business goals. We prepare your employees to get the most out of your customized and scalable NetSuite platform. If you're looking for the best ERP for manufacturing, we invite you to explore what NetSuite ERP can do. Schedule a meeting with us.