Many company administrators have worked their way up through the ranks and so they know what the right piece of software can do for the day to day operations of a company. Perhaps you are now an administrator who has an online MBA degree from a highly ranked school such as Norwich University and are in the market for something that will benefit your company to the point of increasing cash flow in the short and long run. The one thing to keep in mind is that the fewer programs you use, the easier it will be to streamline front and back end operations, internal and external, in order to keep things moving as smoothly and quickly as possible.
The Answer to What You Are Looking For
Too many times, a small to medium sized business uses software for accounting, software to track sales, software for production and the list goes on. What you are looking for is one software program that integrates all aspects of your business and can be accessed departmentally as needed, but all tying together in the end. That would be an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) program. There are several on the market so it is in your best interest to take your time here. Look at the features each one offers and above all, whether or not they are user-friendly. If you need to spend weeks, if not months, learning the program, you haven’t invested wisely.
What an ERP Can Do
When studying for your online business administration degree you were probably introduced to ERPs in one or more of your classes. These are what every administrator should be familiar with, but if you haven’t had the benefit of seeing one first-hand, you should be looking for how easily the software integrates various functions within your company. ERPs can speed up what is called a cash cycle so that from the time a customer submits an order until the time you are paid is significantly decreased. This, in turn, increases your cash flow, which enables you to put more money where it needs to go in a much quicker time period. There is no stalling future orders based on the availability of cash so typical with more traditional methods of accounting. But that is only a small part of what you are looking for.
Reach and Productivity
Not only can the right ERP help increase productivity because of the interoperability between departments (i.e. sales and production), but it can also provide integration between regional offices. One system can be used in Dallas, for example, and at the same time in Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. A good ERP is a truly integrated system that can tie all loose ends together so that the right hand always knows what the left hand is doing, and in a business that operates in multiple locations, this is a game changer in many cases.
Whether you are the CEO or a company administrator in upper levels of the organization, take the time to investigate several ERPs that could help you streamline business operations on all levels throughout all departments and locations. ERPs just made your life easier and that, at the end of the day, is what every administrator wants to hear.
