Managing materials and personnel is critical for companies that manufacture chemicals. To mitigate various hazards, establish systems that prioritize worker safety according to regulatory requirements and productivity optimization. And as the company grows, those challenges grow with it, so you’ll need the best enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for chemical manufacturing to help you.
Here, we’ll talk about why ERP, in general, is fundamental to a growing business, what chemical industry ERP solutions are out there, and what to do next.
Managing materials and personnel is critical for companies that manufacture chemicals. To ensure worker safety and productivity, implement systems that comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate hazards. And as the company grows, those challenges grow with it, so you’ll need the best enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for chemical manufacturing to help you.
Here, we’ll talk about why ERP, in general, is fundamental to a growing business, what chemical industry ERP solutions are out there, and what to do next.
What Is an ERP?
An ERP is a software designed specifically to help organizations run every aspect of their operations, from accounting to project management to supply chain operations.
An ERP suite streamlines operations for efficient business management, integrating planning, budgeting, and other processes.
Why Do Businesses Use ERPs?
Today, ERP systems are fundamental in the business world and are used globally for companies focused on smart growth and improving the overall efficiency of their operations, as well as providing a consistent experience for their employees.
Chemical manufacturers can use an ERP to modernize their operations and unite all aspects of the workforce, from manufacturing to sales to regulatory compliance, onto one platform.
Because of the industry you’re in, your ERP challenges are unique. You’ll need a solution that can integrate plant and management systems, eliminate bottlenecks, better conduct warehouse management, improve quality control, and conduct an analysis of potential hazards to keep workers safe and reduce injuries on the job.
Chemical Industry ERP: Key Features
But what exactly does ERP software offer, and how can it help chemical manufacturers? Here are some key areas of your business where an ERP typically provides the most value:
- Manufacturing: For chemical manufacturers, an ERP solution can help you source raw materials, forecast shortages, and plan products.
- Supply chain management: To ensure your chemical manufacturing operations continue to run smoothly, an ERP will automate and integrate your supply chains and help you conduct inventory management.
- General automation: An ERP can automate time-consuming business tasks like payroll, invoicing, and reporting.
- Integration: An ERP prevents data silos by integrating all of your data into reports that a manager can use for business analysis, both internally and externally.
- Accounting: ERP software typically gathers your financial data and makes it easier to do budgeting and forecasting.
- Human resources (HR): ERP can handle all aspects of human resources, from tax deductions to benefits to onboarding.
- Customer relationship management (CRM): ERPs help companies manage their customers by tracking purchase orders, organizing contacts, and more. It can even automate tasks like following up with a prospect.
- Marketing: ERP software helps marketing teams build marketing campaigns and operate them with maximum efficiency.
ERP for Chemical Manufacturing: Top Options
So what ERP solutions are out there for your business? Here are the top three options that we would recommend for a chemical manufacturing company.
Tally.ERP 9
This software solution offers features such as accounting and asset management, as well as an audit trail feature that is specially tailored for the chemical industry. You can generate reports, manage taxes, organize orders and purchases, and much more.
Pro:Â Tally.ERP 9 is a versatile software that presents a dashboard showcasing your balance sheet and business ratios immediately after login, offering various options for report customization.
Con: This platform is entirely web-based and meant for PCs, and as such there is no iOS or Android option.
AlignBooks
AlignBooks is a suitable cloud-based option for managing accounting and human resources in the chemical industry, offering an all-in-one solution.
Pro: Alignbooks is powerful software that can automate and assist with many of the fundamental aspects of your business.
Con: The software has a broad scope and isn’t tailored to chemical manufacturing, possibly lacking essential features.
Oracle NetSuite ERP
We highly recommend this robust and versatile software as the top ERP solution for chemical manufacturers, suitable for startups and large enterprises.
Accounting, asset management, audit trail features, and much more are available with this software. It is an all-in-one cloud-based business management solution that automates many of the core processes that are fundamental to chemical manufacturing operations.
Pro:This is the optimal choice for chemical manufacturers since it encompasses all the features needed to streamline operations and manage the intricacies of this industry.
Cons: May be too powerful for some smaller users, who just need a couple of different processes managed and may just need a simple HR tool.
Why You Shouldn’t Install and Set Up Oracle NetSuite ERP Yourself
Many companies prefer Oracle NetSuite ERP service to manage personnel, enabling them to focus on business growth. Oracle NetSuite ERP reviews are excellent and for good reason. But installing and setting up this software isn’t like installing just any piece of software.
Here are three key reasons why trying to handle the Oracle NetSuite ERP application set up on your own is generally not the best idea.
1. It’s a Difficult Process That Requires Technical Knowledge
You’re trying to get Oracle NetSuite ERP to eliminate headaches, not add new ones. Without technical knowledge, setting up the system will be challenging and likely result in outsourcing the task.
To give you an idea of what you’d be in for, a typical Oracle enterprise software installation and configuration guide can be hundreds of pages.
2. The Software Must Be Customized for Your Organization
You are a unique company, and you don’t want a one-size-fits-all solution. Oracle NetSuite ERP is not designed to be that way. You need to customize this solution to your business to achieve maximum benefits.
3. It Needs Maintenance
As this software is extensive and integrated into your organization, it requires proper maintenance as your business evolves. You will need the individual who set up your system to also maintain it as a result.
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What steps should I take to set up Oracle NetSuite ERP at my organization?
Fortunately, you don’t have to handle the installation, setup, configuration, and maintenance of your NetSuite ERP solution on your own. That’s what we do at NexInfo. We can take care of everything for you, so you can focus on other tasks, as soon as we start working together.
Still not sure? Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll discuss our services and solutions to address your organization’s unique challenges. The sooner we talk, the sooner you can get back to running your company on your terms.
