A growing business simply cannot thrive off the same systems and processes that were once used when the company was a startup. At first, introductory accounting systems are used, and inventory management is likely managed manually with excel spreadsheets but small businesses implementing wholesale inventory management software can streamline and integrate processes expiring manual actions.
Wholesale Inventory Management Software
Even though this kind of inventory management software is designed to help you run your business more efficiently, obtaining it is not a simple task that can be done quickly. Preparing for wholesale inventory management software requires budgeting, team planning, and a possible change in processes. For smaller businesses, it can be shocking to discover the increase in price or timeline for implementation but rest assured, this is the time and place to be picky! Understand how much you want to spend, the kind of support and relationship you want to have with a vendor, and be prepared to change. Being open to automation or a new way of doing things can help your business not harm it.
Budgeting
Before you even reach out to vendors… Do. Your. Research.
We can’t stress this enough! Wholesale Inventory Management Software is not made equally by each vendor and you’ll need to do the research to start determining what tier of software you need and the kind of budgeting you’ll need to plan for. Doing this kind of research can help you prepare for the cost differences between introductory software and wholesale inventory management software. For example, some vendors use base prices for each new implementation while others will charge based on time spent. Think of it this way:
- One business has over 10 years of data, 20,000 contacts, 3,000 SKUs to migrate over and 75 employees to train.
- Another business is fairly new having only been in business for over 3 years with 1,000 contacts, 400 SKUs to migrate and 5 employees to train.
The first business is going to take a lot longer to implement compared to the second business just based on the amount of data that needs to be migrated and the number of employees that need to be trained. Any small to medium-sized business should be paying for services that are custom to their business; one-on-one training is advised so your team can ask questions on the spot. When preparing the budget be sure to include:
- # of users with login and password
- Cloud-based vs on-premises and further cost considerations
- Out-of-the-box functionality and potential integrations
- Industry-specific feature requirements
- Training and data migration
- Implementation Costs
As your business continues to grow, you’ll find your own way of doing business and some processes that you develop may be specific to you. The right vendor for your wholesale inventory management software.
Conclusion
Arionerp software systems enable businesses to streamline their processes and improve efficiency while complying with strict regulations. ERP systems can simplify workflows at every point from manufacturing to delivery. Business manufacturers can utilize ERP systems to track raw materials, maintain inventory, and improve formulation protocols.