Within the plating, heat treating, powder coating, anodizing, and related finishing services industry, a familiar narrative emerges during conversations with industry professionals.
Robert HaggardThe story typically starts with a description of a custom software program developed decades ago that would assist with managing shop floor processes. QuickBooks or other basic financial management system often complements these old homegrown solutions.
However, executives and management teams quickly realized, "This can’t be it; this can’t be the best solutions available for our industry.” These executives conclude that they need help.
This realization often stems from various factors such as lack of (or worse, loss of) original system/developer support, outdated solutions struggling to meet modern business needs, inadequate and insufficient reporting, disconnected systems creating significant data silos, and the inability to access systems remotely.
Companies within the finishing industry must act promptly and transition to an all-inclusive cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution or a similar business system to remain competitive.
Cloud-Based ERP Solution Benefits
Total Visibility and Control
A cloud-based ERP solution offers a centralized hub providing comprehensive visibility into customer interactions, vendor relationships, traveler (work orders), shop floor activities, and more. This unified solution integrates shop floor order processing with a fully integrated general ledger, chart of accounts, customer/vendor details, and business reporting.
This level of visibility and control facilitates standardized processes sought by all finishing companies and brings data to the forefront. Colleagues can share real-time data, enabling informed decision-making for driving revenue growth, cost reduction, and increased operational efficiency.
Eliminating Data Silos
Many companies grapple with multiple disconnected systems, each addressing specific needs like payroll, time tracking, CRM, EDI, and eCommerce.
An all-inclusive ERP solution eliminates the complexity of managing disparate systems, reducing duplicate data entry and information rekeying. Data reliability is enhanced, and real-time data transfer is enabled through advanced solutions like web services or API communication, eliminating the need for batch processing and sync delays.
Cloud Availability
Imagine looking up order history or balances during a customer meeting or monitoring order status from your beach chair. A cloud-based ERP solution empowers users to access business data anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
This flexibility enhances efficiency and supports the trend of remote work. Quick and convenient access to order history, balances, and operational insights fosters prompt problem resolution, customer satisfaction, and overall efficiency.
Enhanced Reporting
Multiple data silos and manual data entry often impede reporting, leading to tedious and time-consuming manual processes. An all-inclusive ERP solution provides a single source of truth, eliminating concerns related to data quality.
Enhanced reporting features, including real-time dashboards, advanced KPIs, refreshable Excel reports, and customizable reporting, empower decision-makers with accurate and up-to-date information.
Adopting cloud-based ERP solutions becomes crucial as businesses navigate the oncoming digital transformation challenge. These solutions streamline operations and cater to the evolving demands of remote work and digital accessibility.
For companies in the finishing industry, embracing such technology is essential to staying competitive in the modern business landscape.
Robert (Bobby) Haggard is a consultant for TrinSoft LLC. Visit www.trinsoft.com and www.phtplus.com.
