Role of ERP solutions in the Apparel Industry | ControlERP

An Enterprise Resource Planning software is one of the latest high-tech solutions used to run businesses of all sorts with ease. A recent survey pointed out that 53% of the decision-makers in a business considered ERP as an investment priority along with CRM. Furthermore, 50% of businesses plans, acquire or upgrade to ERP solutions in the next couple of years. 

However, different ERP solutions and individual apparel management software are tailored to serve the specific needs and requirements of individual industries. Similarly, the apparel ERP is software managing the business processes of wholesalers, manufacturers, and retailers specializing in the fashion and apparel industry. 

Did you know? The global apparel industry is estimated to be worth $961 billion in 2021.

Implementing the right ERP for apparel businesses can help enhance overall efficiencies and operations. Therefore, it is very important to select the right ERP software that satisfies all the business requirements. Selecting the wrong ERP can turn out to be costly in terms of user adoption hours, implementation hours, replacement costs, and more.

Benefit of implementing Apparel ERP Systems

The apparel industry is highly competitive, and businesses are often looking for ways to stand out in the market. Successful implementation of ERP sales software can go a long way in providing an edge over competitors. Here are a few benefits of implementing an ERP system in an apparel business:

• Simplified processing of returns and orders: Return and order processing is a common aspect in the retail sector of the apparel industry. Therefore, apparel businesses must be equipped with tracking solutions to tackle these processes with ease. ERP software is very useful in managing and tracking returns and orders. Furthermore, these systems can facilitate better on-time deliveries and enhanced return management.

• Using data analytics for predicting future trends: ERP software provides businesses with accurate data and insights that can be used to understand and predict the changing nature of consumer demands with accuracy. These insights can help businesses enhance the customer experience while attracting new customers and effectively retaining the existing ones.

• Better overview of the inventory: Manual inventory management can often turn out to be more vulnerable to mistakes making it less efficient. However, ERP software provides businesses with a set of robust tools to effectively monitor the surpluses and shortages and keep track of the inventory.

• Simplify business operations: ERP software is very useful in bringing together all relevant data into one single platform, making it easy to access whenever required. Moreover, ERP software enables businesses to create role-based permissions to facilitate control over the information that can be accessed by the employees and giving permission only to the right employee or employees.

Finding the right apparel ERP software that suits the business

Selecting the right apparel ERP software for an apparel business is not an easy task as one has to consider various factors before making the right choice. It is for the best if a business considers these factors before choosing the perfect ERP software for the business.

• Cost and investment: Cost is one of the most important factors affecting the decision of implementing an apparel ERP software. However, it is important to understand that implementing ERP software is more of a strategic investment in the business. In the long term, ERP software can be very beneficial and yield a significant return on investment.
• Considering the requirements of the business: ERP software is configured to suit the needs and requirements of a business. It is normal to implement certain features and functionalities of ERP software and hold off the others. Any module specializing in handling one business process can be integrated with others to formulate a centralized version to enhance accuracy and reporting.

• Involve all potential users in the decision of choosing the right apparel ERP: An apparel ERP software is often implemented throughout the organization and many people involved use the software to deal with different problems. Therefore, it is highly recommended to involve all users in the process of deciding the right ERP software for the business.    

• Scalability: ERP software consists of different modules and each of these modules serves a different purpose. Whichever module one chooses to implement it is important to keep in mind the growth of the business. Various factors determine an ERP’s capability to scale and businesses must consider all factors before selecting the right apparel ERP solution for their business.

Conclusion:

When implemented successfully an ERP systems in logistics can benefit an apparel business immensely. However, there are certain barriers in implementing ERP software in an apparel business but these barriers are no different from the barriers faced by other industries. Furthermore, apparel ERP software can ease the operations of a business and accelerate the rate at which a business can grow.