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4 Reasons Why Global Companies Need An ERP System

Summary

Why consider an ERP system for your manufacturing business? Whether you're already a global company or you plan to expand internationally in the future, you know that your business is only as efficient and effective as the systems you use to manage it. The further your business branches out to the various parts of the world, the more complex your end-to-end operations will become.

International businesses, especially manufacturers, need an enterprise resource planning system for the same reasons businesses based in one location do: It's a means to integrate key business processes into one system for better management and more efficient operations both now and in the future. The difference is that an international manufacturing company will need a good ERP system to not only handle the operation of one location, but many -- all with different requirements and local needs. Paul Hemmings, vice president of professional services at abas USA, noted that an ERP system should be powerful enough to help you manage a global business.

 

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"An ERP system is the central infrastructure that will allow you to manage your business both at the local and global levels," Hemmings said. "It shouldn't satisfy only your current requirements, but should also give you the flexibility to adapt any future changes that will come as your business expands internationally.”

Here are four reasons why global companies must invest in a high-quality ERP system:

1. Centralize local and global manufacturing data and workflows into one centralized ERP system

A good ERP system will give you the ability to drill down into highly specific local data for one of your locations while still making it easy to access company data in aggregate. Your system should make it just as easy to see what's going on with one individual business unit as it is to get the big picture status of your whole company. An ERP provides you with this essential capability to zoom in and see the local picture and then zoom out to see how that local picture impacts on the big picture across your global organization.

an ERP system should be powerful enough to help you manage a global business

From a coordination standpoint, an ERP system lets you coordinate sales, manufacturing and distribution both locally and globally to make sure every stakeholder in your supply chain stays connected and working together as efficiently as possible. When you coordinate well, you optimize your resources in a way that delivers to most ROI (return on investment) at all levels of the business, in all your activities.

For example, if a U.S.-based customer places an order, and you have a manufacturing or fabrication facility in China, your production team needs to be able to get the data from the purchasing order - design requirements, capacity needed, shipping info, etc. -  as quickly and accurately as possible to start manufacturing.

"Managing inventory is complex in a global manufacturing environment. You need to be able to have a global view of inventory at all levels - raw materials, work in process, and so on," Hemmings said. "You also need to be able to see every facet of your operations. It's not enough to just look at static inventory levels. You should understand how materials, finished goods and shipments flow through the channels between your global manufacturing subsidiaries and also your customers. It's all about making sure you have the right goods in the right place at the right time. A solid global supply chain capability is essential." 

When you have such dynamic and coordinated capabilities across your organization, and wherever you do business, you not only respond better to customer needs, but you can do so more efficiently and profitably, in a way that dynamically optimizes your entire operations. An ERP system supports ongoing optimization efforts, seamless, dynamic coordination of your operations, continuous process improvement, and much more.

An ERP system is the backbone of any global manufacturer.

2. Effectively manage costs in a complex manufacturing supply chain with ERP Systems

One of the more underrated aspects of ERP systems is the visibility you gain into your financials. Just as a global company needs to be able to easily pull supply chain data for individual units and get a consolidated view of companywide information, it's also extremely important to get a clear picture of the financial implications of every decision as you’re making it.

Often, the businesses that struggle to maintain profitability are the same ones that don't really know what their costs are. They simply can’t pull up the hood and get visibility into how the engine and its components are performing in real-time, and this can’t make any necessary adjustments to drive efficiency and profitability. It's difficult, if not impossible, to find ways to improve efficiency and reduce expenses if you don't know what the problem is or even where to begin. Visibility matters a lot.

To that end, a good ERP system for manufacturers will let you see data, including cost of materials, cost of finished goods and cost of goods sold, alongside your payables and receivables. By understanding the financial performance of your individual business units, as well as your entire global operation as a whole, you will be in a much better position to make sound decisions for improving your company and driving it forward into the future.

3. Break down language, currency and cultural barriers

A global company will have to contend with handling business in different currencies and exchange rates. An ERP system can be a powerful facilitator for translating currencies across national borders, while still allowing users to see financial data presented in their local currencies.

For example, a regional manager in China will want to see his or her finances presented in RMB when analyzing that particular unit. But if someone in the U.S. or European corporate office needs to access that data, they can easily convert financial data displayed as RMB into dollars or Euros. Nothing is lost in translation.

Similarly, a good ERP system will allow you to set up local language requirements. For example, a U.S.-based office should be able to set its display language as English, while a production facility in South America can use the same system with the display language set to Spanish. Again, they're working with the same system and data, but are using local language requirements to ensure that everyone can work in the language they're most comfortable with.

 


How is abas ERP different from other ERP systems for manufacturers? 

 


Some differences between geographic regions can be accommodated by ERP system localizations. For example, when it comes to the presentation of data for decision-making purposes: "Your system should allow you to customize your dashboards based on the preferences of each region or location," Hemmings said.

Culture can also play a role in the way project implementations are done. International or regional differences in business processes, structure, management, and communications style must be taken into account for an optimal ERP implementation. This sort of must-need organizational capability for cultural flexibility should be reflected in the flexibility of your ERP system, no matter where you operate.

4. Foster adaptability and growth

Perhaps most importantly, businesses with a global presence, or those that aspire to be one, need a system that will grow with them. Many businesses enter a period of impressive growth only to find out that their ERP systems aren't designed to handle such a complex global operation. Thus, their inflexible ERP system becomes a growth inhibitor and its limitations must be addressed before growth can ensue (either by scrapping the inflexible system or finding an upgrade or work-around).

"As your business grows and changes, your system should make it easy to adapt," Hemmings said. "Whether you're talking about a new country, new regulations, new product lines or new processes, an ERP system should make it seamless to grow your business." An ERP system for manufacturing that’s designed to be agile enough to adapt along with you, wherever you go, is a key asset in future-proofing and growing your business.

Interested in finding that perfect ERP system for manufacturers? Download our free guide: Selecting an ERP System in 7 Steps to find out more!

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