Lumenia ERP HEADtoHEAD™ Guest Post from Tetiana Rohoza at AcuPower.
Are You Choosing the Right ERP for Manufacturing or One You’ll Replace in Five Years?
Are you responsible for selecting an ERP system for your manufacturing business? Or are you a CEO, CFO, or Plant Manager evaluating different ERP solutions and making a decision? If you are in the middle of your research, you may feel lost and overwhelmed. You have likely read or heard that not all ERP implementations end successfully. In fact, studies show that between 55% and 75% of ERP projects fail to meet their objectives, often due to poor alignment between organisational processes and ERP technology. You do not want your experience to be the same. Who wants costly workarounds, operational inefficiencies, and expensive reimplementation in a few years? No one!
Attending the ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event on 2–3 April 2025 in Milton Keynes, UK, offers a unique opportunity to compare leading ERP systems side by side. This event is designed to help organisations like yours efficiently review top ERP products and learn how to manage the selection process to reduce risks and maximise benefits.
This article is designed to help you make the most of this event, be well-prepared, and make an informed, strategic decision. Here is a 10-point ERP selection checklist for manufacturing leaders.
1. Industry-Specific Functionality
– Align the ERP system with your manufacturing processes, whether discrete or process manufacturing.
– Features such as Bill of Materials (BOM) management and production scheduling are essential.
2. Real-Time Inventory Management
– Implement up-to-date tracking of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
– Lot and serial number tracking enhances traceability.
3. Integrated Financial Management
– Combine financials with manufacturing operations for improved cost control.
– Capabilities such as job costing and financial reporting are essential.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
– The ERP should support business growth and adapt to changing processes.
– Modular architectures allow functionalities to be added as required.
5. User-Friendly Interface
– A straightforward interface facilitates user adoption and reduces training time.
– Dashboards and customisable views improve usability.
6. Robust Reporting and Analytics
– Comprehensive reporting tools assist in making informed decisions.
– Real-time analytics provide insights into operational performance.
7. Strong Customer Support and Training
– Reliable vendor support ensures assistance when needed.
– Training resources help your team effectively utilise the system.
8. Supply Chain Management
– Effective supply chain management is essential for manufacturers.
– An ERP should offer supplier scheduling, product configurator, order-to-cash processes, purchasing and inventory management, claim processing, and warehousing functionalities.
9. Project Management
– For manufacturers handling complex projects, the ERP should provide project planning and resource allocation, project costing and budgeting, work breakdown structures, billing and time management, and performance tracking.
10. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
– Integrating CRM capabilities can enhance customer interactions.
– Look for features that support sales and marketing automation, service management, customer contact management, and call centre support.
Extra Tip: AI-Powered ERP System
The AI era has come. You might have used ChatGPT/Midjourney/Claude or any other AI tool for work or leisure. In fact, ERP software providers have already started adding AI capabilities to their solutions to automate some processes, and we think it’s fascinating. You can ask AI to analyse your sales profitability report or ask it to analyse what items you need to replenish before the holidays based on your sales orders last year. The possibilities are infinite.
AI-powered ERP solution is the future. We’d suggest saving your seat in this technology train and leveraging the automation it offers. The less manual work you do, the more you can concentrate on growing your business.
By focusing on these key features, you can approach the ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event with a clear understanding of what to look for, ensuring you select a solution that aligns with your business needs and supports sustainable growth.
Meet Us at the ERP HEADtoHEAD™ in Milton Keynes, UK
We invite you to visit the Acupower / Acumatica booth at the ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event in Milton Keynes this April. Our team will be available to discuss how our ERP solution can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of your manufacturing business.
