Effective Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems automate and streamline processes to improve productivity, seamlessly linking different parts of a business. But failing to maintain, update, or optimize your ERP could mean you’re not getting the best out of the system.
Have you heard of the term “ERP”? Not exactly sure what it is or why it’s important to food and beverage manufacturers? Maybe you’ve done some research and found it overwhelming and a little confusing.
If so, you’re not alone. As a leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions, we are often asked to explain ERP solutions and their benefits. In this post, we’ll cover:
Keeping track of costs ensures healthy margins. An automated system saves time and ensures accurate inventory valuation. Datacor ERP can help to calculate costs both today and ahead.
What does accounts payable automation mean for modern enterprises? As it suggests, the term refers to a dedicated digital process or software that automates a company’s accounts payable system, helping to eliminate repeated, manual tasks and providing enhanced visibility over financial transactions.
Installing an ERP system is a big undertaking and strong commitment on all sides will ensure a successful journey. Embrace the potential of positive change in working practices – and see how ERP’s many benefits and efficiencies far outweigh any setup challenges.
Using a Bill of Materials (BOM) brings significant efficiencies to a manufacturing process. A BOM also ensures traceability and compliance with industry regulations. Digital versions can be integrated into ERP software, facilitating operations on the shop floor.
Shipping the wrong product can be an extremely costly mistake for a chemical distributor or manufacturer. Thankfully, avoiding these so-called misdeliveries is made possible with the help of an effective warehouse management system. Using the right tools also helps lower insurance premiums.
The right software can remove operational complexity and associated costs. Gas cylinder tracking and credit card processing offer unique functionalities for customers. 24/7 operability available for distributors and retailers.
The addition of the INFONETICS software products and team to the Datacor family of brands provides unique solutions and the deepest experience in the gas, welding and industrial supply (GWIS) industry, bringing order to an industry that is heavily characterized by small- to mid-sized companies.
We all want to optimize performance and have our production processes run smoothly, right? So, how can a manufacturing execution system help, is it right for my business, and what are its core features and benefits?
We've collected some of the most frequently asked questions as it pertains to ERP software for the chemical distribution and manufacturing industry. Have additional questions? Let us know!
If you work in the chemical and process manufacturing industry, you know how important Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are to your business. They provide crucial information about the safety and handling of hazardous chemicals and help you stay compliant with government regulations.
Lot tracking and traceability is a key best practice in inventory management. In fact, enabling lot control is one of the first things we recommend to new users of the Datacor enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Master Production Scheduling, or the Master Production Schedule (MPS), is a crucial component of chemical and process manufacturing. In order to meet deadlines and fulfill orders, companies in these sectors need to plan ahead — but not just any tools will do.
Your business has a lot of moving parts: from accounting and payroll to production and distribution. Every activity within the company and each piece of data gathered externally from customers, suppliers and business partners must be recorded. To make informed decisions, your entire company needs access to that data — but how can you manage it all while still handling day-to-day tasks?
Chemical and process manufacturers need to purchase chemicals to produce products for nearly every industry sector worldwide — from agriculture to automotive to pharmaceuticals and cannabis. Establishing a clear chemical procurement procedure can help your company stay compliant, streamline operations and better serve customers. But where do you start?
Have you heard of the term “ERP”? Not exactly sure what it is or why it’s important to process manufacturers and chemical distributors? Maybe you’ve done some research and found it overwhelming and a little confusing.
If your business is looking to select and implement a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, you have a critical decision to make. Do you go with a generic ERP solution that comes with “one size fits all” functionality? Or do you look at industry-specific ERP software? While generic software can be cheaper up front, industry-specific solutions are an investment in your company’s future, offering all of the features that meet your needs.
To learn more about ERP software and the benefits it offers, see our introductory guide. In this post, we’ll compare the differences between generic and industry-specific ERP systems.
The Problem: "We accept credit cards today but we do it through an online portal or with a physical card reader."
Most process manufacturers and chemical distributors accept credit cards for some portion of their sales. Customers with poor or declining credit, slow payers, or small customers account for many of those charges. When these cases come up you find yourself jumping between your ERP system and an online processing portal or a physical card reader. You might not have a great way to save card numbers and associate them with the right customer profile in your ERP so you end up writing down or saving sensitive credit card information in non-secure locations. You then have the headache of having to reconcile payments between your bank, your merchant processing statements and your ERP. It can be a messy process and is ripe for errors and security issues.
When it comes to searching for a new ERP software solution there is no one-size fits all. It is a critical decision that can be an extremely long and difficult process. One must consider many different factors (ex. functionality, fit, price, complexity etc.) before selecting a solution. It is very important that you take your time in evaluating your options as choosing the right solution as well as the right vendor is critical to the success of the project. To help ease the stress this process can cause we have broken down 5 key factors one should consider when evaluating various ERP software vendors.
Incorporating the right Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution is not just choosing the right product. It’s just as important to know how you will access the software. Today, there are various hosting models available in addition to having it on a local computer. Therefore, you should consider the hosting model that best fits your business. The following is a breakdown of the 3 basic hosting models for ERP software:
Today’s dynamically changing business environment calls for organizations to be agile and quick in responding to market changes to exceed customer expectations. Utilizing Demand Planning is an integral part of this process. A successful demand planning system requires a credible, flexible and accurate forecast. A good demand planning system will enhance the accuracy of revenue predictions, keep your stock levels in line with the increase and decrease in demand, and improve your profitability.
The water treatment industry is not like the typical manufacturing company that most ERP solutions were designed to serve. Those ERP systems are very product focused, whereas Water Treatment companies have a service component and recurring invoicing requirement. Here is a look at some reasons you need recurring invoicing in your ERP solution.
Technology plays an enormous role for many process manufacturers and other organizations wanting to grow their business. A vast majority already have CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software solutions implemented in their business today. CRM solutions help companies manage the front-end of the business by handling sales, marketing and customer service information. While ERP solutions help the back-end processes and internal information like accounting, inventory, shipping, etc. Although both solutions are unique and do very different things, there is a critical crossover of information between the two solutions. Here are 3 major benefits to integrating your CRM and ERP solutions together:
Many companies today rely on their software, specifically ERP solutions, to run their business. It is also one of the biggest IT expenditures that you have, yet it seems most users only use a small portion of the software’s functionality. So how do you know and how can you ensure you are getting the most out of your ERP software? Here are some tactics to consider when it comes to maximizing the return on your ERP software investment:
Choosing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution that meets your specific chemical industry business requirements and needs is only half the battle. The other half of the battle consist of implementing that new system, which can be very tricky. Below is an infographic highlighting 5 steps to a successful ERP implementation:
Over the last forty years, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software has become an integral part of the operation of manufacturing and distribution businesses. The main goal of an ERP system is to increase a business’s efficiency by allowing businesses to intelligently collect, manage and sift through data for a variety of activities. However, as ERP systems get older and are no longer being updated, they can begin to negatively impact the businesses that use them. These “legacy systems” are often in need of replacement, but instead of replacing them, business owners spend significant amounts of time and money trying to make these systems work instead of finding a new solution.
