With ERP software, all data is centralized in one place. Logistical information - from orders to inbound and outbound sales, deliveries, and inventory management - can be managed from a single source.
This information, once recorded and centralized, enables the company to adopt the best practices for forecasting and decision-making related to management, inventory, goods and/or personnel.
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Manage your logistics more effectively
Decision-makers, with the aid of ERP software, can forecast trends, sales and even delivery times while making, of course, the necessary changes in relation to this information.
Thanks to data recorded in real time, managers are immediately notified of inventory status, order progress, as well as any problems or delivery failures encountered. To put it simply, an ERP system enables you – at the logistical level – to:
- Reduce inventory
- Ensure inventory accuracy
- Maximize monthly profit margin
- Ship each order on time
ERP software also gives you access to other, more advanced tools, with which you can manage your business with the utmost efficiency:
- Predicting the right time period in which to replenish your inventory. Built-in intelligence will ensure perfect inventory forecasting so as to avoid unsold and out-of-stock items and as a result optimize your company's inventory flow.
- Getting an overview of your inventory. You will be able to track every transaction and every item movement. This will give you a full view of your warehouse to calculate storage capacity. A simple tool that can create an inventory control system for identifying items and all their relevant information.
- Calculating inventory levels and lead times. Go one step further and calculate your inventory levels, replenishment lead times, as well as your out-of-stock forecasts. A powerful mathematical tool giving you accurate estimates on when and how to manage your inventory and lead times.
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Some core features of an ERP logistics system:
Inventory lists
This is one of the most useful features: displaying all your products in a list. You will be able to sort, classify, organize these goods in groups or classes. You'll find here a comprehensive display of inventory, cost, weighted average cost, replenishment, and inventory history. A complete display panel giving you open access to each of the data relating to the products in a listing for which you alone specify the criteria.
Don't forget to read our article on the advantages of ERP inventory management!
Variables and details pay off
Here you can add information to each product and to each product category. Add both variants and details: from SKU codes, to barcodes, to vendor codes. Size, weight and purchase price options can be added as well. You will also be able to manage costs and visualize them through price display panels such as: wholesale, retail, tax, etc.
Product history
Each product will have a particular tracker, that is, a history tracing each movement of the product in question. This feature is useful in many ways. It aids in the replenishment process and helps teams with planning and allocation; it also logs dates to track each step from receipt to product shipment.
Barcode scanner
The barcode scanner will enable you to search for any product having a barcode. Here you will enter the details of each item, as well as set the order and purchase date. An optimal system that works with all existing barcodes.
Replenishment report
All the help you need with inventory replenishment is found here. It will enable you to forecast replenishments and provide you with the name of the vendor, the number of products to replenish, the variables to consider as well as a link to the full report page.
Running a smooth organization
Managing your staff can prove to be very challenging at times, even more so when you're heading a logistics company where your employees can be anywhere at any time.
In this case, employee management can become a real business problem. An ERP system simplifies this process to the point of ease. Thanks to such software, you will be able to:
- Manage your employees' hours and lunch breaks
- Manage the information related to each employee as well as their file
- Follow your staff on the road
- Manage salary increases and bonuses
- Increase employee productivity
- Manage sick Leave
- Manage temporary or seasonal staff
- Provide a complete list of staff (permanent or temporary) present in case of emergency
Reducing your handling and shipping costs
The enhanced data accuracy ERP software provides will greatly help with expense management. It will enable you to identify your major business expenses, to reduce them, and to make quicker and better decisions. No more relying on unsolicited or bad advice, ERP software will ensure that your decision-making is strictly data-driven.
Solving problems as soon as they arise contributes directly to cost management, which, in return, significantly reduces the cost of risk for your business. Furthermore, you will increase productivity while maintaining perfect logistics through real-time visibility of your operations and instant access to your global supply chains.
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The advantages of ERP software for managing your logistics
A quick but detailed look at the advantages of such software:
1. Controlled inventory transfers between warehouses
Easily create an inventory transfer document. Manage, analyze, move your inventory between each of your warehouses without any surprises…and on time.
2. Receive your inventory in a specific warehouse
Receive inventory at any warehouse. Here you will specify both the warehouse where you wish to receive the inventory, and its location once the order is received.
3. Fulfill orders from a specific warehouse
Specify the location from which you wish to ship your goods. The inventory in that specific location will automatically decrease when the sales order is filled.
4. Track order status
Manage the location of your orders in different warehouses. Track and print order lists once the shipping process is concluded for optimal tracking and management.
5. Log and sell your products
Set up a new warehouse. Transfer inventory within and deliver or ship sales orders from this new location.
6. Manage your warehouses by location
Manage your warehouses remotely. Select a location and check: inventory, orders, last purchased inventory item, replenishment rate, profit amount and your profit margins.
As you can see, ERP will save you money. In fact, research show that, with an ERP, operational and administrative costs are reduced by 23 to 22% respectively. Companies requiring a tailor-made ERP system will have the freedom to customize the software to perfectly fit their needs. Another research study has confirmed that 93% of users do just that: customize their ERP system according to their needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an ERP system enables optimal inventory management to make for an overall, more effective business management strategy. But that's not all; not only will you improve your logistics through each of the various software tools, you will also save time.
By keeping your warehouse inventory well organized, ERP software ensures both product traceability and effective employee management. With access to a wealth of data on every aspect of production, you will be able to optimize your costs and increase employee productivity.
Last but not least, you will be able to identify and reinforce any weak links within your production line, which, by doing so, will result in a more efficient operation.
Choosing an ERP solution is therefore essential for any company wishing to increase productivity all while reducing the logistical and administrative costs that are inherent in business management. Contact us to discuss your ERP implementation needs.
