User Review
( votes)By: Jon Roskill, CEO at Acumatica
Working remotely is no longer just a monthly occurrence or occasional necessity – it’s become an everyday reality for millions of people across the country with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Ready or not, businesses have implemented teleworking protocols and closed brick and mortar offices for an unknown period of time. For businesses relying on on-premises business management solutions while they work from home or in other remote scenarios – difficult is an understatement. Businesses operating in the cloud, however, are likely encountering minimal disruption to their processes.
By utilizing cloud ERP systems, businesses have access to truly mobile solutions. With cloud-based ERP, the ‘office’ can be anywhere team members are, helping them remain productive, connected and even innovative. In addition, core business functions like accounting and distribution don’t have to suffer.
Outlined below are three ways that cloud-based ERP systems help businesses embrace the new normal, maintain day-to-day continuity, and lay the foundation for success following COVID-19.
Awareness
Cloud ERP systems allow users to take their business with them and continuously access data in real-time. Employees no longer have to rely on in-person meetings or paper files. The single-source data of an ERP system is always accessible, wherever there is an internet connection. Additionally, cloud ERP systems are automatically updated, guaranteeing businesses are operating with the latest, most accurate information.
The best cloud ERP systems provide not just browser-based access but also Android and iOS native apps that provide a convenient way to see dashboards and business performance metrics for a user’s specific role or to execute simple tasks like approvals while truly on the “Go.” Being empowered with information that’s always accessible means being able to make agile decisions when they are most pressing. With data at their fingertips, teams can look forward with a critical eye, evaluating how to best meet customer needs now and in the future.
Efficiency
A fully integrated cloud ERP system will help maintain the same level of efficiency that businesses expect in a traditional office environment. Cloud-based technology provides a 360-degree view of the business, allowing teams to quickly generate reports, track profitability, review product information and manage relationships with customers – ensuring proactive and sensible decision making.
During a rapidly evolving crisis, businesses must be nimble. Cloud ERP fosters transparency and accountability by identifying opportunities to streamline processes and eliminate waste, from procurement to accounting to the factory floor. Cloud ERP also enables collaboration with third parties such as consultants and vendors by offering easy ways to share data and information. These features go beyond improving functionality and instead improve a company’s ability to respond quickly and decisively to challenges.
Personalization
User interface personalization is a means of adjusting the ERP software to fit the customer’s needs. Low code, no-code personalization allows users to alter their cloud ERP solution without relying on a programmer or developer to write code. Instead, users can tailor their cloud ERP system to the business’ individual needs.
Personalization is about relevancy – what’s meaningful to an SMB, including the reports, KPIs, charts and more that should be reflected in a way that’s cohesive and streamlined. During these unprecedented times, enterprises need solutions that will swiftly and easily conform to their needs – solutions they can control. Cloud ERP grants that kind of control to tailor to specific objectives.
As the modern workplace changes in response to these uncertain times and leaders consider how they can improve their businesses, the enterprise resource planning (ERP) industry will need to adapt to meet customer needs. For businesses operating on legacy systems, it’s not too late to migrate to the cloud. In fact, now may prove the perfect time to transform business management practices and lay a foundation for the future. Cloud-based ERP systems offer a single source of truth that affords businesses connectivity, flexibility, and innovation that is simply not available from legacy solutions.
About the Author
Jon has 25 years of leadership experience in the software business. He joined Acumatica after a 20-year career at Microsoft where he led efforts in many areas including product development for developer tools, as well as the business operations, strategy, and marketing for all of Microsoft US. Jon’s last role at Microsoft was as Corporate Vice President for the Worldwide Partner Group where he led a global sales and marketing team of more than 5,000 employees and Microsoft’s 640,000 partners.
By: Jon Roskill, CEO at Acumatica
