The advantages of an
ERP system stem from having a unified database for all financial and operational data. This has a significant effect on reporting - encompassing both regular monthly reports and on-demand reports requested by leadership. A consolidated source of financial and operational data empowers employees to delve into reports and reveal financial insights without relying on IT or finance teams to perform the analysis and reporting. This enables businesses to make quicker, data-informed decisions that can impact everything from profitability to new growth opportunities to enhancing efficiency across the organization.
Another advantage of transitioning to an ERP system that companies often mention is a quicker financial close. Using spreadsheets or basic accounting systems typically involves labor-intensive manual work, data entry, and coordination with different departments for financial information. However, by employing a centralized ERP system to automate many of these processes, companies have reported significant reductions in monthly close times, with this task now taking only a week to just a few days.
Additionally, ERP systems bring about much stronger financial controls within an organization. With a centralized system and role-based permissions, only individuals with appropriate job functions have access to sensitive data, which enhances audit trails and reduces financial risk.