A Roadmap for ERP Selection

in Today’s Digital World

an advisory for small and midsized
manufacturers and distributors
Table of Contents

Introduction....................................................................................................... 3

st
A 21 century platform..................................................................................... 4

Industry-specific ERP solution and functionality...................................... 7

Future-ready ERP for the digital age............................................................ 9

An ERP partner with deep industry expertise............................................ 10

ERP sized-right for small and midsized manufacturers........................... 12

Anywhere, anytime ERP.................................................................................. 13

What we hear from manufacturers............................................................... 14

About OptiProERP............................................................................................ 15

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Introduction

Selecting the right ERP software is one of the most important

business decisions you will make. The right ERP software will
accommodate your business as it changes and grows. You’re
investing in a solution that solves your most pressing
manufacturing problems.

So, let’s get to it.

Here’s your roadmap with the 6 things we advise manufacturers like

you to consider on your journey to select a new ERP solution in
today's digital world.

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 1
A 21st century platform

The problem with most ERP

platforms is the layering of so-called
new ERP functionality onto older What 21st century
20th century platforms. 21st century
ERP delivers industry-specific ERP can do for
functionality that is built into the
your business
ERP platform. It’s not a generic after
the fact add-on. It’s beyond l Stay current and agile
seamless and more than an
end-to-end solution. It’s your central l Keep costs down
business management platform,
and the foundation for your growth l Improve efficiency
and success.
l Increase visibility

l Drive profitable growth

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How to recognize a not-really-new ERP

l Home-grown ERP is assembled, l Mash-up ERP is the merging of

often piece meal, with off-the- software companies and their
shelf tools. It is less stable and differing solutions. It is heavy and
risky. slow.

l Cosmetic ERP is when new l Frankenstein ERP is built by

architecture, like cloud, is layered customer request without a
on top of legacy code. It is a product roadmap. It is messy and
shortcut and not a long-term difficult to use.
solution.

Problems you can anticipate

with a 20th century ERP
l Incomplete and siloed l Difficulty leveraging data to
systems of information generate reports and
across the organization. analytics.

l A mix of out-of-date software l Not-so seamless integration

and time-consuming manual between finance and plant
processes. floor operations.

l Frequent system glitches that l Critical data is distributed

require reboot. across multiple screens,
requiring multiple clicks.

Beware of ERP that doesn't grow with you

As you add more users and process more data, you'll need 21st century ERP
with the processing power that can scale with your growth without ever
holding you back or slowing your business down.

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Choose a 21st century platform that can grow with you and you
won’t need another ERP platform in your lifetime.

Business challenges facing small and midsized manufacturers

55% of manufacturers 40% say costs are

say operational unsustainably high.
inefficiencies are a
huge business
challenge.

50% cite faster time 33% say too many

to market needed to product integration
meet customer lead targets are missed.
times.

46% cite need to fix

defects in product
performance, costs
and services.
80%
of new ERP selections
are upgrades from
Source: ERP’s role in the modern manufacturer. existing ERP systems
Aberdeen Report. February 2017

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 2
Industry-specific
ERP solution How manufacturing
and functionality specific ERP works
Manufacturing ERP mirrors your
During your ERP selection process, key processes, introducing
make sure that the ERP software standardization, automation,
you select is actually designed for collaboration and real-time
your manufacturing business. information for intelligent
Purpose-built industry applications decision making across your
deliver functionality that fits the way manufacturing operations.
your discrete manufacturing
business works. Optimize your business
processes and shop floor
Eliminate ERP vendors who insist operations with manufacturing-
that your processes can be molded specific ERP. It's ready to work
to work with their software. If the the way your business does - only
application doesn’t fit from the get better. And it's ready to help you
go, it won’t fit later. And you will have grow, without spreadsheets and
wasted valuable time and energy. stand-alone software.

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The benefits of manufacturing-specific ERP

Provides full visibility

and transparency

Automates and streamline

processes
Achieves full
production control

Standardizes
operations

Improves data
accuracy

Uses real-time data for

informed decisions

Enables just-in-time
inventory

Identifies bottlenecks

Corrects inefficiencies

Increases on-time
deliveries

Ensures quality
control

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 3
Future-ready ERP that helps you compete
in the digital age
First, there was on-premise ERP.
Then the cloud came along, enabling Defining Digital
access to a single source of
operational data. Now, industry Digitalization is the conversion of
experts are talking about digital as analog (paper-based processes)
the next big thing. In reality, digital is into business processes that
already here. That’s why it’s so leverage cloud technology and
important to select an ERP solution ERP application innovation.
whose platform can usher you into
the 21st century without holding you
back.

How to identify digital-ready ERP

l Advanced infrastructure that

delivers rapid-loading screens,
fewer clicks to user-defined data
and robust performance. 60% of all enterprises
will be in the process of
l Automatic application updates implementing a new
driven by a commitment to digital experience (DX)
research and development. platform by 2020.
Source: IDC, October 31, 2017

l IoT, machine learning, predictive

analytics and optimized
processes are available on a
digital-ready ERP platform.

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 4
An ERP partner with deep
industry expertise

Your ERP partner should act as a trusted guide during every step of the
process, beginning with selection and throughout discovery, implementation
and customer care. Find out where the ERP vendor stands by asking these 4
questions.

4 questions to ask yourself

1. Do the ERP vendors think 3. Do the vendors fully
of themselves as just understand your
software companies? manufacturing business
and use technology to
2. Do the vendors think of
provide solutions?
themselves as advisors and
partners who map complex 4. Do the vendors have
business process problems? enough time for you?

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What you should look for in your ERP provider

l A singular focus on delivering

industry-specific solutions for
your discrete manufacturing
Expect thought
business. leadership from
l A deep understanding of your ERP vendor
manufacturing processes and
business requirements. l Insight into industry trends
about your business
l A purposeful discovery process priorities.
that both maps your business
requirements and informs the l Informed about the

way you think about your competitive landscape.

business priorities.
l Understanding of process

l An understanding of the improvements from next-

particular business challenges generation digital initiatives.
that small and midsized
manufacturers must overcome.

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 5
ERP sized-right for small and midsized
manufacturers
Bigger isn't always better. Keep looking until you find your Goldilocks ERP
solution. Just right for what you need to do right now but future-ready for
what lies ahead.

Why sized-right ERP matters

It’s industry-specific rather than a generic ERP (for multiple

industries or even broadly for manufacturing as a whole).

It’s focused on your business rather than solutions your

business doesn’t need.

It’s priced within reach of small and midsized manufacturers.

It has fewer screens and mouse clicks between you and what
you want to do.

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 6
Anywhere, anytime ERP with cloud
and mobile
Your ERP solution should let you run your business with real-time access to
what’s going on, whether you are in the office or not. And your shop floor
employees should know what job they’re working on next without leaving
their work center.

Why cloud ERP and mobile solutions matter

Track material, job status, operator and machine availability from

a smart device without being tied to the shop floor.

Give workers visibility and clarity about what jobs they’re working
on and eliminate paper-driven job logs.

Communicate machine down time or work center changes to

operators in real time.

Get an accurate reflection of your operations and inventory in

your financials.

Run real-time reports and monitor pre-determined KPIs to

assess cash flow and confirm or adjust pricing strategies.

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What we hear from discrete manufacturers
It’s deeply satisfying for us to help small and midsized manufacturing
businesses maximize their success by delivering a 21st century, industry-
specific ERP solution. We talk with a lot of business owners and execs and we
listen to what they say. Here’s an abbreviated wish list of things that discrete
manufacturers tell us they need from their ERP solution:

A solution that will take in orders, help estimate the cost for jobs,
send out quotes and plan out business processes.

A solution that allocates labor and materials for each order and
delivers detailed updates and reports on the process in real time.

A solution that includes inventory management and barcode

tracking of stock items.

A solution that includes a full accounting suite with GL, AR, AP,
purchasing and reporting functions.

A solution to track product quality, making sure everything is

compliant and up to customer standards.

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About OptiProERP
OptiProERP makes the complex simple with comprehensive cloud
manufacturing ERP on the world-class digital platform, SAP Business One.
With over 20 years of experience serving more than 3,000 customers,
OptiProERP focuses 100 percent on the unique, advanced and dynamic
needs of manufacturers and distributors. Its expert solutions serve
customers in specific, niche industries regardless of how they engineer their
products: made to order, made for stock, engineering to order, repetitive and
mixed-mode.

For OptiProERP customers, it’s the best of everything ERP: the unparalleled
SAP Business One platform plus OptiProERP’s deep industry functionality,
innovation, knowledge and expertise. The end result is a trusted, cutting edge
and sized-right ERP solution designed for manufacturers and distributors.
OptiProERP customers get full visibility and control from start to finish with
access to information no matter where you are. Run simple, accelerate
profitable growth and compete in a digital world with OptiProERP.

Ready to take the next step in your ERP selection process?

Drop us a line and let us know how we can help.

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OptiProERP
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23191 La Cadena Drive Suite 101 World Trade Center Ciudad de México
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Montecito 38, Piso 6, Oficina 27 y 28
Ph: (949) 340-7262 Colonia Nápoles, Ciudad de México
[email protected] CP. 03810
Ph: +52-55-9001-0545
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[email protected]
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Plot No. 8, Scheme No. 78, Part-2,
Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001
Ph: +91-731-400 8000 Ext. 312
[email protected]