Software can make or break a business. If you have the wrong software, you’re going to find yourself wasting both time and money, something that most businesses literally can’t afford to do. On the other hand, having the right software can help your business run more efficiently in virtually every way. From managing customer relationships and interactions to inventory management, there is very little in the way of areas of your business that having the right software solution can’t improve. MRP software solutions have proven especially useful for a variety of businesses in a variety of industries, including those in the woodworking industry. Like all software solutions, there are a lot of different options out there for MRP software solutions. So how do you find the right MRP software solution for your business?
Finding Your Software Provider
There are a ton of different software providers out there that can offer your business an MRP software solution. Finding the right provider is the first step in finding the right software solution. So what should you be looking for in a software provider?
Start by doing an investigation into the company itself. The success of your business will be at least partially dependent on the software you use. You don’t want to find yourself relying on a disreputable company or one that doesn’t have the experience necessary to deliver on what your business needs. Look into their reputation, the history and age of the company, and the experience and tenure of the employees. The more stability there is in terms of financial standing, leadership, and staffing, the better. Talk to some of their current customers. Try to find those that are as similar to your business as possible, as that will give you the best idea of what to expect.
Once you’ve done what you can to learn about the company, see if you can get a demo of the MRP software they offer. If they do, make sure you bring your own data that can be put into the software to get a feel for how it would perform for your business. Consider the ability of the software and underlying technology to grow and integrate with other software. You don’t want to use anything too old fashioned or it could become outdated far too soon.
Essential Features to Look For
Once you’ve found a company worth working with, it’s time to look at the MRP software itself. After all, you need to make sure that the software will meet the needs of your business. In that respect, it’s important to keep an eye out for features that your business needs in MRP software solutions. Look for features like the ability to automatically convert units, regulatory compliance reporting for your specific industry, customer product profiles, cradle-to-grave lot traceability, return and deposit tracking, formula-based batch manufacturing, preventative maintenance, and real-time inventory management.
MRP Integration and Support
One of the other things you should definitely pay attention to is the amount of support that an MRP software provider offers their clients. This is where talking to their current clients can really be helpful. It’s also something you should talk to the software provider about. Discuss what they offer in terms of integrating the MRP software with your existing software, customer support, updates, and product development. If they don’t explain how those types of services are billed, be sure to ask about that as well. Talk to them about how the software is developed too. It will be easier to get the support you need if your MRP software is a single-vendor solution. That isn’t to say that you can’t get the help you need if the provider has partners who help develop their software. The other way just tends to be simpler. You’ll also want to find out if you’ll have a specific agent assigned to help your business and whether the support is based overseas or domestic. The more you know about what to expect, the better off you’ll be.
Finding the right MRP software solution for your business can be a game changer when it comes to inventory management and product manufacturing. With the right MRP software solution, your business will be better equipped to ensure that you have the right materials and supplies on hand to manufacture your products when you need them based on what you expect to be producing by a given deadline. If your goal is to run an efficient business that has lead times that are as short as possible, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and your ability to generate profit, then make finding the right MRP software solution a priority.
Software integration can be a real challenge for businesses, but it is no less important for the difficulty. Don’t let the challenge be a barrier to your business’s success. Allmoxy can help! Click here to request Allmoxy’s integration services today!