When you run a small business, you typically wear many hats. You might find yourself taking care of everything, including the operations, logistics, inventory, human resource management, and so on, entirely on your own or with very little help. In this article we will discuss about Sap Erp Alternatives for Small Businesses.
However, as your business grows, you will increasingly find yourself biting off more than you can chew and will eventually hire more people and create more defined systems and processes.
A Sap ERP system software solution can help you manage the growth of your small business. ERP software solutions are no longer just a feature in large organizations, but they are also making their way into small and mid-size companies.
About SAP ERP:
SAP ERP system is undoubtedly one of the foremost market leaders in the ERP software technology space. It collects and collates information from various business processes on a real-time basis to enable effective resource planning.
It comes with multiple modules related to operations, supply-chain, product lifecycle management, logistics, finance and accounting, human capital management, and corporate services. It unifies global operations and fuels efficiency.
It is intuitive, user-friendly, and secure. Its superior reporting and analytics tools further help businesses streamline their operations and distinguish themselves from the competition.
Why Do Small Businesses Need SAP ERP Alternatives?
In essence, the SAP ERP solution has been developed to solve some of the most complex business problems. It was designed for businesses with turnovers in billions of dollars, selling their products and services across the globe with multiple production units in various locations. It excels at serving large organizations.
The total cost of ownership of SAP ERP is considerably high. Implementing SAP ERP can cost anywhere between a few to several hundred million dollars, depending on the organization’s size. It requires a large amount of custom code and involves a lengthy implementation process.
You will also need diligent maintenance, internal and external support. The SAP ERP must process large amounts of data and be used frequently by a sizable number of users to yield a return on investment. If you run a small business, the SAP ERP solution may not be for you. There are excellent SAP ERP alternatives designed to cater to small businesses and can save you much time and money.
Choosing an ERP Solution for Your Small Business:
Consider the following factors when you have to select an ERP solution for a small business:
Cost:Â
On-premise ERP solutions require you to have your own servers and a technical team to maintain the solution and naturally cost a lot. Small businesses can consider cloud-based or hybrid (part-cloud and part-on-premise) solutions for more affordable options.
Integrations:
As your business grows, you will likely keep increasing your technology stack. You must invest in a solution that can integrate with your existing systems and those you are likely to use in the future.
Mobile App:
The best way for small businesses to secure rapid growth is by providing their customers flexibility and convenience on-the-go in the form of a mobile app. Choose an ERP solution that offers a mobile app as well.
User Reviews:
Consider customer reviews, testimonials, and ratings to ensure that you choose an ERP solution that is likely to perform as expected.
 Scalability:
Any ERP software you want must be able to scale quickly according to the growth in your business. It is impractical to reinvest in a different solution and go through the motions again when your business outgrows the current one.
Training:
Small business owners and employees do not necessarily possess the technical prowess to learn how to use an ERP system independently. Ensure that any solution you choose comes with simple training programs, materials, and resources.
Implementation:
There are a variety of ERP solutions designed especially for small businesses now that can be set up with as little as a few clicks within a matter of minutes. Avoid ERP solutions with elaborate implementation schedules.
Support:
Again, one must note that small businesses have limited to no in-house technical capabilities to troubleshoot or handle any challenges with the ERP system. Ensure that the vendor is willing to provide adequate customer support.
Regular Software Updates:
Any software solution requires periodic updates for bug fixes, new features, and security patches. Choose from one of those ERP solutions that are capable of carrying out such updates automatically.
Top SAP ERP Alternatives for Small Businesses:
Here are our top picks from SAP ERP alternatives that come highly-recommended for small businesses:
1. Sage Intacct
Sage Intacct has a finance management module at its core, along with a few other inventory and order management modules. It does not have as many modules as full-fledged ERP systems. For example, it does not have modules for human resource and customer relationship management.
However, its finance management module can effectively assist with managing cash and revenue, general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, time and expense, and also project accounting. The cloud-based solution also comes with mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. Its noteworthy features also include depreciation tracking and also 1099 reporting support. 1099 reporting support is also a feature in the SAP ERP solution.
2. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Thve Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive tool with a layout similar to Microsoft Outlook and Office 365. It contains various ERP and CRM features for small businesses. A great feature of this ERP solution is that you can choose the features you need and create a solution that is best tailored to your business needs. It is scalable, user-friendly, and quite intuitive. Implementation costs are also lower since the system allows cloud-based, hybrid as well as an on-premise deployment.
3. NetSuite
NetSuite offers small businesses cloud access. It is also mobile-friendly. Therefore, it affords its users, real-time data visibility, no matter where they are, and facilitates quick decisions. It also costs less as it is cloud-based and does not require much in the form of technical support. Its features can be customized, and more features can be added as your business grows. From billing and invoicing to other finance and account management capabilities and inventory management, NetSuite comes with adequate features for small businesses.
4. Epicor ERP
Epicor’s ERP solution comes with project management, supply-chain management, project management, product lifecycle management, customer relationship management, human resource management, as well as accounting modules. Therefore, this ERP solution is especially great for businesses that are into retail services, or manufacturing, distribution, and even professional services. It is a comprehensive solution that can track, measure, and monitor every aspect of your business, including your shop floor, inventory, plant operations, existing customers, customer leads, etc. on a real-time basis.
5. ePROMIS
ePROMIS contains most of the standard features and modules found in most ERP solutions, including supply-chain management, inventory management, customer relationship management, human capital management, finance management, and Business-Intelligence-driven reporting and analytics. Therefore, it is suitable for almost all kinds of industries like real estate, manufacturing, construction, retail, etc. Its unique features include fleet management as well as events management for events related to customers, suppliers, and distributors.
Conclusion:
SAP ERP, while being an exceptionally high-performing solution for large organizations, is too complicated and expensive for small organizations. SAP ERP alternatives for small businesses are far more flexible and more comfortable to deploy and use. Most importantly, SAP ERP alternatives cost much less.