It’s not uncommon to see businesses using a variety of disparate specialty systems and elaborate spreadsheets, particularly in industries like manufacturing, distribution and internet retail. There is a lot of valuable information being generated across an organization and there are plenty of ways to capture and manage it. Unfortunately, using so many different systems also creates problems, including not having an accurate view of any situation. It’s time for a change in tactics. Achieve a single version of the truth with a single integrated solution.
Legacy and Disparate Systems Bring New Problems
Legacy systems were likely successful for businesses when they were originally put into place years ago. Custom designed for the time, they offered an innovative way to collect and store information. Over time, while business processes and technology changed, the legacy system didn’t. As a result, employees turned to other ways to manage data such as creating spreadsheets or deploying specialty software. Each workaround further separated data from the main business management system, making it harder to reach and use when making important decisions.
Every time data changes hands and is entered from one system into another, there is a risk of errors. Data can be lost, transcribed incorrectly or could already be outdated by the time it’s entered into a new system. Duplicate data entry and lack of validation not only impacts data quality, it hinders productivity and stifles business growth.
Capture and Manage Data Within an Integrated Management Solution
Get a single version of the truth by replacing aging legacy systems or disparate software with a single, integrated business management solution. Many enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems provide seamless integration between core business processes including finances, inventory and supplier management, manufacturing and distribution operations, and more. Employees enter data once into ERP and the same information can be easily shared and used by others for a variety of different needs. For example, the data noted on a customer order will automatically update shipping, invoicing and inventory.
Robust ERP solutions also offer a degree of flexibility to adjust how data is captured and used, keeping the ERP system aligned with your business operations, even through periods of change and growth. Our case study of Labelmaster highlights the dangers of disparate systems. They were using Microsoft Dynamics GP, QuickBooks, and other spreadsheets. Running many reports from the multiple systems took time and never delivered any confidence in the information that was reported. Labelmaster was simply unable to understand the scope of any issue or situation.
Labelmaster chose Microsoft Dynamics NAV to manage all operations and line-of-business systems including product management, e-commerce, and CRM. In addition, Dynamics NAV provided greater control over financials, manufacturing and inventory operations. Not only did Dynamics NAV provide Labelmaster with a single version of the truth, the more efficient system improved productivity and strengthened reporting and data analysis.
Be confident the data being generated across your enterprise is being captured, analyzed and used to your advantage. Labelmaster achieved just that by partnering with Western Computer and choosing the ERP system that could support the complex needs of a growing business. Contact us for additional information about using an integrated business management solution to gain a single version of the truth.
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