5. What types of analytics should a women’s clothing store consider when creating an online presence?
9 Costly Mistakes Made By Women’s Clothing Store Owners When Selecting an ERP and How to Avoid Them
Businesses today need an ERP system to run their operations and fulfil customer demands in an efficient manner. However, many small business owners, especially those in the women’s clothing industry, make a few costly mistakes when selecting and implementing an ERP system. In this article, we will take a look at what an ERP system is, the common mistakes store owners make and how to avoid them, and a summarized table of mistakes and solutions.
What is an ERP?
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a business process management software. It is an integrated software platform comprised of various modules, such as accounting and finance, customer relationship management, supply chain, and inventory management among other things. An ERP system is able to capture and store data from each of these modules in one single database, and greatly increase the efficiency of businesses by providing visibility and insights into operations.
Measurement of Successful ERP Selection
Before we look at the mistakes made in ERP selection, it is important to understand the main criteria by which an ERP system is measured. The main criteria include cost of purchase and implementation, functionality, scalability and compatibility, and more importantly, end-user adoption.
5 Common Mistakes and solutions in ERP Selection
While selecting an ERP system, there are many potential mistakes that can be made. Below are the five most common mistakes and their solutions:
- Not consulting with all roles in the business:
Store owners should ensure that they consult with a number of roles in the business, including the IT team, finance, operations, marketing, and customer service teams. This ensures that all the needs of each of the roles within the business are met before an ERP system is chosen. - Choosing the wrong vendor:
Store owners should always select a vendor that has an understanding of the industry, along with the desired technology stack. This can help the store in managing the system for the long term. - Not considering scalability:
An ERP system should be scalable so that it can grow with the store’s business needs. The store should also ensure that they have the resources to address software and hardware upgrades as needed over time. - Improper Training:
Store owners should ensure that their team is trained properly on the ERP system in order to ensure proper use and adoption of the system. Too little or too much training can lead to users not wanting to work with the system. - Not Considering Cloud:
Stores should consider a cloud-based ERP system as they tend to be cheaper to maintain and have fewer hardware requirements.
Summarized Table of the Mistakes and Solutions
| Mistake | Solution |
|---|---|
| Not consulting with roles in business | Consult with IT, finance, operations, marketing and customer service teams |
| Choosing the wrong vendor | Select a vendor with industry knowledge and desired technology stack |
| Not considering scalability | Choose scalable system and resources to address software and hardware upgrades |
| Improper Training | Provide team with proper training on system |
| Not Considering Cloud | Consider cloud-based ERP system |
Conclusion
Selecting the right ERP system is a critical decision, and one that should not be taken lightly by store owners in the women’s clothing industry. By following the guidelines outlined above, store owners can avoid potential costly mistakes and select a system that will help their businesses thrive.
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