What are the Major Trends in ERP?

ERP Software has kept on developing and evolving to suit the needs of various businesses across diverse industries. Today ERP software development will support various business functions such as Human Resource management, accounting, manufacturing, electronic commerce, marketing, sales force automation, and other departments.

Businesses rely on ERPs to streamline business operations, control expenses and automate routine tasks. ERP also provides access to critical business-related information in real time for easy decision-making. Knowing about future trends will help businesses and individuals in planning for better ERP implementation and upgrades which are necessary part and parcel for growth and business prosperity.

Enterprise Resource Planning Trends

1. Cloud-based ERP

Most organizations were satisfied with ERP applications being deployed on-premise and only a few were ready to get a cloud-based ERP. This viewpoint is now changing as more and more businesses are opting for cloud ERP like Odoo ERP.

The ability of cloud ERP to provide access to data and information remotely has proven to be really helpful in pandemic times. There are some additional advantages such as lower costs for employees and businesses, saving in transportation costs and other costs.

2. Two-tier ERP

Usually, companies prefer to keep a single system for all of their offices whether it is regional, sister firm, or head offices. This idea can be more costly and difficult to carry our implementation. Often time there are diverse requirements of sister firms that can be different from the integrated system and this sometimes leads to issues. Due to this reason two-tier ERP is gaining popularity and has become a new trend in the ERP.

The Two-tier system approach opens the possibility to have separate ERP, a tier 1 ERP system for Corporate offices and another tier 2 system for sister firms or regional offices, often times it is a cloud-based ERP. This approach is also great for organizations that are looking for steep growth.

3. Digital Transformation

Organizations can boost productivity, revenue and improve operations by integrating digital technology into their business functions. Digital transformation also helps businesses stay in touch with the industry’s best practices, remain in a competitive position, and enhance customer service. As ERP is a centralized and harmonized system that connects different departments it is possibly the best place to start the transformation.

4. Internet of Things

IoT or the Internet of Things is a system that involves connected devices and allows them to send and receive data over a specific network without any human interaction. For instance, a sensor fitted in a car which can send data regarding the condition of the car and maintenance services.

In the context of an ERP system, these devices can be attached to tools and pieces of equipment, routing data, or cloud-based applications. This tracking enables businesses to determine which asset is most or least used.

5. Other technologies Integrated with ERP

Organizations are now integrating their business applications with emerging technologies like the Internet of Things to streamline business operations and enhance core processes. Various companies also integrate e-commerce with ERP software to enhance the business workflows like order execution activation, inventory updation, and payment logging. Some businesses also integrate customers’ and prospects’ activities on social media for a better understanding of their buying behavior and in turn design better marketing campaigns.

6. AI-powered Insights and Improvements

New ERP systems have AI and ML integrated into them which helps to enhance the business process to the best possible extent, in addition, it also provides greater personalization. AI-powered ERP offers major benefits such as Actionable insights which enables analysis and forecasting of enormous data within second along with this there is also another benefit of streamlined workflows and efficient processes.

7. Personalization

Previously ERP systems were much more rigid and based on complex languages. Today, modern ERPs are cloud-based which allows personalization and simple configurable features. ERP companies are also designing personalized ERP systems for various industries according to their needs. There is also a possibility for custom dashboards, AI-designed interfaces, and other useful features.

8. The Age of Context

With the advancement in technology and integration of ML and AI with various software. Technology can easily understand any situation, the kind of information needed, and how to present it. Soon companies would be able to see the impact of it on performance. Various studies have highlighted that web and mobile apps would soon integrate context-awareness functions which will analyze the needs and improve the efficiency of routine tasks.

9. Predictive Analytics.

Past ERP systems were not able to generate or analyze data but the future trend for ERP is that predictive analysis will be able to visualize the optimum and best possible future outcome for a situation. With the help of predictive analytics companies would be able to plan for a machine breakdown in advance, and schedule maintenance work and service of machinery in order to prevent long disturbance of work.

With the help of big data analysis companies are able to approach businesses more strategically, smartly, and effectively.

10. Mobile ERP.

Traditionally ERP did offer mobile support but it was to a limited extent, the situation is changing with mobile apps becoming more popular and widely acceptable features. Various departments and teams which are divided by geo-locations and time zones can easily communicate and collaborate, this is especially useful during the pandemic (work from home) times.

Mobile ERP can ensure that employees can get notified of important information or can approve any decision while they are not near their PC. In a nutshell, mobile ERP offers valuable insights and access to real-time data anytime around the clock this leads to enhanced productivity and accurate recording of data.

Conclusion.

To provide a quick recap, companies are more likely to use cloud ERP as it offers the dual advantages of being agile and increased speed for accessing data. Mobile ERP functionality not only boosts workflow automation, but also supports training sessions remotely, and facilitates access to important information anytime and anywhere. Companies can also predict major breakdowns or servicing time well ahead, it also helps in managing the supply chain better and without many errors.