David Hughes, Business Development Manager at Business Computer Projects Ltd, looks at the essential tools wholesalers need to cut costs and maximise their business development opportunities – and how to tell if your ERP system needs replacing.
The ERP system is the heart of a modern wholesaler’s business, so it needs to be a cost-effective, scalable solution that delivers real benefits and excellent return on investment. If it doesn’t perform, it could be slowing your business down. BCP’s Accord ERP system comes with a range of integrated applications designed to maximise revenues and streamline workflows. With Accord, you will be able to do the following:
Cut costs with a comprehensive range of purchasing tools
It’s estimated nearly £1.9bn worth of food produce is wasted throughout the supply chain every year because of ineffective procurement processes. BCP has developed a wide range of tools within the Accord ERP system to make it easier for wholesalers to monitor the entire purchasing process, from goods inward through to the purchase ledger. The system includes dynamic demand forecasting capabilities to track seasonal trends, so wholesalers can ensure they always have an ideal level of stock. For food and drink wholesalers concerned about reducing waste and saving money, Accord is essential.
Remain competitive with tailored ordering and pricing options for customers
The heart of Accord is the customer, product and price maintenance module. This consolidates all customer information and ensures it is up-to-date across the Accord system. This allows you to set customer-specific pricing or change pricing as needed and be confident that your sales team has access to the latest information. They will be able to see price rises, contract prices, quantity discounts and promotional offers, such as multi-buy or mix and match.
Maximise business development opportunities with Field Sales Solutions
Accord’s customer relationship management (CRM) system is optimised for mobile and tablet systems. It can work off-line, then synchronises the latest information when network coverage is available. This means your field agents can see the latest area/account performance and trends based on the latest sales information. It also has tools to capture prospective new customer information, including offer prices, which can be used to prepared quotations and contracts.
Improve business performance with The Perfect Order dashboard
Accord includes a unique system to help identify when issues arise during the fulfilment process. The Perfect Order dashboard enables you to assess areas causing problems so you can make improvements and increase the percentage of perfect orders to customers.
Simplify rebate management with automated business processes
Keeping track of a large number of complex contracts, pricing structures and retrospective payments can be difficult to manage. With Accord you can streamline the whole process by automating supplier contract alerts, purchases and rebate calculations. This not only saves valuable time and resources but also ultimately improves cash-flow through faster rebate claims.
Four Signs Your ERP System Needs Replacing
If you have a legacy ERP system you risk creating digital debts, infrastructure holes and data gaps. These will ultimately slow your business down and leave you trailing behind your competitors. These are the four most common signs that it’s time to replace your ERP system:
1.You can’t update or change elements of your system
The key issue with a legacy system is that it’s often no longer supported or maintained by the provider. Don’t let your old ERP system hinder your growth potential! Instead find one that enables staff to spend less time on paperwork and more time maximising your revenue.
2.You rely on individuals for information, not your system
Wholesalers today require real-time information to remain competitive and respond to business issues. With legacy systems you have limited reporting capabilities and can’t make time-critical decisions.
3.You have multiple systems that don’t integrate with each other
If your systems can’t communicate effectively with your ERP, you risk them becoming a burden to your business. If your staff have to import information from one system to another, or export data into spreadsheets for further analysis, your business isn’t as efficient as it could be.
4.Your system isn’t mobile friendly
If your sales team work out of the office, you need to ensure they have access to the latest product trends and sales performance. Your CRM system needs to be optimised for mobile and tablet systems while they’re on the go. If not, your team could be missing out on a range of new sales opportunities.
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to consider replacing your ERP system with Accord, a cutting-edge supply chain solution to help you cut costs and maximise business opportunities.
Transform your wholesale business with Accord ERP
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