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ERP Software Solutions: 7 Trends for 2020 and Beyond

in: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Company News

ERP software solutions have come a long way since they first appeared in the late 1980s. Although once only affordable for large enterprises, today’s ERP solutions are accessible for small and mid-sized companies, too.

And why not? ERP software solutions enable companies to manage their accounting, financial, and operational data efficiently. Systems generate reports quickly, share data across departments, and provide ready access to critical information.

As ERP systems continue to grow and evolve, we’ve put together our list of the 7 top trends for ERP software solutions, looking ahead to 2020—and beyond. If you are shopping for a new ERP system for your company this year, keep in mind these trends and look for software such as Acumatica, Sage ERP, and other software solutions that incorporate these forward-thinking trends into their design.

Seven ERP Software Trends for 2020 and Beyond

Although no one can predict the future with 100% certainty, what is certain is that ERP continues to incorporate the best trends from the IT world into its design and functionality. Voice recognition, natural language processing, machine learning, and many other features that debut in search engines, home management products, and other areas are becoming features in ERP systems.

But there’s more in store for 2020 and beyond.

Trend #1: Agile ERP

What is Agile? Agile refers to project management or a software development term that uses constant feedback to improve the next iteration of a project. Unlike traditional waterfall methods, which wait until the prior stage is finished before moving on to the next, the components of an Agile project may co-occur. Feedback goes into each phase of the project to ensure that no one waits until the end to find out they’ve created a bug-ridden product.

Throughout the tech industry, Agile has become the new gold standard, and it’s making inroads into other environments, too, such as marketing agencies and product development companies. It’s also making great strides into ERP. Agile ERP appears to be a growing trend and one gaining steam as ERP heads into the next decade.

Trend #2: Customer-Centric ERP

Along with Agile, customer-centric ERP is also growing in popularity. Customer-centric ERP focuses on the end customer’s needs rather than supply packages the ERP maker deems essential. Currently, most ERP software makers create packages or editions that incorporate key features such as accounting, finance, human resources, CRM, and other valuable business services. A customer-centric approach to ERP would take into account precisely what the end customer might need and bundle together packages in such a way that a flexible model becomes the norm.

Traditionally, this wasn’t possible due to the way software was made, sold, and distributed. Cloud software changed this model. Cloud-based systems offer more flexibility in delivery and use than older systems. Companies are likely to experiment with a flexible, customer-centric model, especially as pressures build to provide more software to smaller businesses, who often need specific features from various packages but cannot afford to buy all the packages offered.

Trend #3: Improved Functionality

Dovetailing the concept of customer-centric ERP is the push for improved functionality. It’s no longer acceptable to create and sell ERP software that’s difficult to use or doesn’t provide all the functions that end-users need. In the past, companies may have accepted less than stellar functionality for a lower price point, but no more; more software entering the market has forced ERP software solutions to offer better functionality at competitive prices.

Trend #4: ERP Transforming Infrastructures

It’s subtle but powerful: ERP systems have the potential to change the infostructure of companies. First, ERP systems often eliminate work that was done by multiple people. For example, a data entry clerk may no longer need to type copious amounts of data into spreadsheets to prepare reports. Such reports run automatically from the ERP system. Data silos, which kept rigid although invisible barriers between departments, are wiped away by the easy access to data from an ERP system. Because workers no longer have to rely solely on the data within their department, they can collaborate teams across the company, thus changing the infrastructure by blurring the lines between departments.

It’s a gradual transformation that starts when an ERP solution provides people with what we call “ah-ha moments.” These are collaborative, creative moments that occur with the easy availability of data. Suddenly, marketing and operations see opportunities for collaboration; production looks at financial data and grasps the importance of tighter supply chain management. ERP transforms the infrastructure gradually, naturally, and logically through easier data access.

Trend #5: Augmented Human-AI Interactions

Many reading this already have AI-based devices or “smart devices” in their homes: systems to turn on music or turn off lights, Alexa, Siri, and other ubiquitous voice-activated devices. Such devices are getting better at understanding the nuances of human speech thanks to projects like Google’s BERT, which provides breakthrough open-source natural language processing technology to other companies to better the entire industry.

ERP makers are looking at other industries and adding such features to their products, too. There will come a day when the accounting department merely asks the ERP system, “Bring up the Jones invoice,” and the invoice appears on the screen.

Machine learning, in which systems grow smarter after multiple queries, is already part of most software, and these augmented human-AI interactions will only get better as time goes by. How this eventually shapes the ERP industry, no one is quite certain, but what is certain is that ERP will get better, faster, and more intuitive to its users.

Trend #6: Improved Business Intelligence

Data isn’t much use if you can’t interpret and use it. Business intelligence bridges the gap between simple reports and exporting and manipulating data in spreadsheets by providing an easy way to run data visualizations to interpret information. The marriage of ERP and BI offers the best option for companies that rely heavily on data for planning and forecasting, and new and improved analytics is on the horizon. Although many companies provide BI packages separately from ERP, at some point soon, they may be included as one, with enhanced packages provided independently. More companies demand business intelligence as part of their operations to use data to drive decision making.

Along with the demand for BI, another area that’s on the horizon is the need for training to help people use and interpret the data and analytics in business intelligence reports. Charts, graphs, and other visualizations can be confusing if you aren’t used to explaining them. Selecting the best one to represent the data under discussion can be difficult if you don’t have training in data and analytics. Enhanced training may include both how to use the software and how to interpret the results.

Trend #7: Improved User Interfaces

Many ERP systems offer intuitive user interfaces, but the more the interface can be customized to the user and their role, the better. Personalized dashboards and user interfaces save a lot of time and hassle by making sure frequently used items are right on the dashboard. Accounting may not use the CRM often, and marketing may never need to check accounts receivable, so giving them identical dashboards doesn’t make sense.

User interfaces also deal with navigation, presentation on the screen, and how people move through the system itself. Smart ERP makers are looking at how people use their software in offices and on the factory floor to see what they access and how they want to navigate through the system. From there, better user interfaces are being built which provide enhanced navigation, more accessible access, and additional features that users demand.

Training Needs Are Changing, Too

While not necessarily an ERP prediction, there’s one area of ERP implementation that’s also changing: training. Most training is conducted in groups with extensive training completed during implementation and follow up afterward as needed.

In the future, we may see more pre-recorded, on-demand training replacing the large-scale training that’s been so prevalent. Few people need complete in-depth, in-person training that often occurs during implementation. Most users just want to know how to do their job with the new software and how to find what they need. Specialized training can be recorded and shared to help each department learn the aspects of the new ERP system they need and use the most, rather than one immersive training for all.

Catch the ERP Wave of the Future With Mindover Software

Mindover Software offers Acumatica, Sage 100, Sage 300 support, and ERP software solutions for many industries. Catch the wave of the future of ERP with our software and services. If you’re looking at buying an ERP system or upgrading an existing system, talk to us first. We offer assistance in finding the right ERP for your needs, migration, and implementation, and training to use it to its fullest capacity. For more information, please contact us or call 512-990-3994.

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Started in Austin, Texas in 2000, Mindover Software has been providing award-winning software and consulting solutions spanning the business lifecycle to small and medium sized business. Now, with consultants in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Boise, and San Diego, Mindover Software provides strong local support with the resources of a national company.

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