Since ERP software is essential for today’s many VSBs and SMEs, cloud computing is very much in vogue. Fully digital and highly flexible, SaaS cloud solutions offer many advantages. This post breaks down everything you need to know about cloud-based ERP software.
What is an ERP, and why should you opt for this type of software?
ERP software is essentially a multi-capacity assistant that helps your company grow. These types of software let companies:
- Manage their production and logistics
- Manage their accounts
- Manage their HR
- Manage most business issues
If this list appears to cover all angles, it’s because it does. It shows how essential ERP software can be to companies—especially when they’re looking for organizational and growth solutions.
Suitable for all business types, ERP software is available as either a traditional software solution or a SaaS solution via cloud computing. Let’s take a look at this latter option a little more in depth.
What is cloud-based ERP software?
Simply put, cloud-based ERP software decentralizes data via a cloud system. With a cloud system, you no longer need to integrate a software solution on site; rather, you license it monthly and access it remotely from dedicated servers.
Instead of installing your ERP software on your server and company computers, you simply log on anywhere with a username and password. In short, the entire system is hosted on the provider’s servers. Welcome to the innovative world of SaaS: Software as a Service.
Increasingly popular, SaaS solutions offer many advantages. Let’s delve deeper into their various strengths.
Advantages of the cloud
Until recently, the cloud was poorly understood. It was overly complicated for many and presented real challenges for others. Fortunately, that’s all a thing of the past. Today, the cloud offers a wide range of benefits for all businesses.
Among the many advantages of SaaS ERP software:
Improved productivity
With data decentralization, you can access—with a simple click—all your crucial company data. Each employee can easily retrieve the data they need, and you get to choose what you wish to share.
Additionally, any company employee can bring their software and their data home with them. This solution is particularly useful for those working remotely. Employees no longer need to be on site. If they wish, they can complete a file or resolve a problem right from their home. Undoubtedly, your team’s productivity significantly improves thanks to this simpler, more flexible solution.
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Increased security
Another advantage of SaaS ERP software is security. Thanks to decentralization, you can benefit from the latest technologies in data protection.
Your business will be protected by the cloud itself and, in turn, be much more impervious to computer attacks as well as questionable or fraudulent practices by certain employees.
More and more, SaaS is emerging as the most sought-after solution for security and data protection.
Substantially reduced costs
Cost reduction is also one of the main appeals of SaaS. Thanks to decentralization, you not only avoid costly software acquisition; you also don’t need any of the infrastructure associated with it.
Indeed, certain software can be quite demanding, requiring the most current IT tools to run smoothly. You must either invest in many computers or opt for a less efficient solution.
With cloud-based ERP software, you no longer need additional equipment. Get the most out of your software at a significantly reduced cost.
Of course, when assessing the extent of cloud-based ERP advantages, you need to consider whether you need solutions for a VSB, SME, or multinational.
Cloud-based ERP software and the future of SMEs
ERP software not only offers businesses, especially SMEs, valuable solutions; they also provide companies with a long-term vision. Specifically, two crucial factors contribute to your enterprise’s growth:
Flexibility
Alluded to above, the flexibility of cloud-based ERP solutions is incredibly powerful compared to conventional solutions. They adapt to the trajectory of your business.
Scalable, frequently updated, and never frozen in time, cloud-based ERP software is constantly maintained, always guiding your business forward.
These solutions adapt to your business’s evolving needs thanks to their various plans and subscriptions, which can scale with you. From your company’s launch to its transition to a SME or multinational, cloud-based ERP software remains an undeniable asset.
Accessibility
With ERP in the cloud, anyone can consult with and connect to the software and company’s data—provided they have access to it.
Business managers, accountants, suppliers, your HR department, and your logistics team now have the power to manage their tasks from anywhere. Adapted to the era of telecommuting, cloud-based ERP opens up a world of possibilities for companies and employees.
It’s a powerful tool not only for the current crisis but also during periods of rapid growth. Build strong teams around the world without needing employees on the premises.
Also, it’s a perfect outsourcing asset. With cloud-based ERP, you can outsource your employees or work with new talent from abroad. It’s an asset that lets you reduce costs while gaining flexibility and accessibility.
And as a business owner, you can fully access each sector of your company right from your smartphone. Manage your employees or staff with just a few clicks, from anywhere in the world. Remain flexible and connected while significantly reduce operating costs—and sometimes even payroll. Without question, telecommuting is a major benefit of SaaS ERP.
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Choose an ERP cloud solution for your SME
Now that you’ve learned about the many benefits of cloud-based ERP software, it’s time to choose which one works best for you. To make the task easier, we’re highlighting a few essential points to consider before making up your mind.
- Advanced security:If data protection is top of mind, you’ll want to invest in the latest generation of security. In other words, you want data encryption, a reputable and trusted ERP, as well as various protocols that let you assign different levels of security to different categories of information. There’s a lot to consider, especially if your business is vulnerable to attacks and data breaches.
- Data access for different user types:Keeping in line with the considerations cited above, access to various data within your organization must be properly assigned. Choose who accesses what, and grant permissions according to the type of user. This feature is crucial if your team consists of many different employees working in a wide range of departments.
- Automatic updates:Certainly, you’ll want a solution that notifies you of automatic updates. When using a cloud-based ERP, you should always benefit from the most recent and optimal solution on the market. So, check that updates are included and automatic. Doing so ensures your software will support you in both times of crisis and rapid growth.
- Flexibility and customization:If you need more flexibility and customization, consider how the ERP can accommodate your enterprise. Don’t go with just any solution—find the right partner. After all, ERP software should adapt to your business and not the other way around.
As you can see, there’s much to factor in when assessing which cloud-based ERP software works for you. By considering these four important criteria, you’ll get closer to finding a SaaS software solution most suited to your VSB/SME.
Choose Gestisoft cloud ERP software
Gestisoft stands out as one of the most advanced and flexible ERP software solutions on the market. With it, you can:
- Automate your tasks
- Collaborate with others on a project
- Automate logistics
- Centralize and analyze your data
- Optimize your after-sales service
This comprehensive list shows how much a cloud-based ERP (specifically, Gestisoft) can simplify the way you run your business.
Highly SME-focused, Gestisoft is among a new generation of SaaS ERP software—it offers some of the most powerful solutions available for very small businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises. Leverage its many tools for exponential growth, a smoother digital transformation, and improved organization.
Need help with your ERP software implementation? Chat with one of our experts.
