At its most basic, an EDI is a tool that converts file formats, letting you take documents (such as customer orders) and convert them instantly to a format that works with your ERP.

Why is this important? Many large retailers, supermarkets, and government bodies – the types of businesses that will buy at the scale required to fuel your next wave of growth – will work with their own systems and procedures, and they’ll expect you to process their order their way—not yours. Having an EDI in place means that you can immediately start fulfilling the order, rather than spending large chunks of time decoding the information and inputting it into your system.

In short, an effective ERP with a cloud-based EDI solution is the ideal way to help your company operate more intelligently.

And the benefits don’t end there. Several ERPs, such as SAP Business One, provide mobile connectivity to empower sales teams in real-time.

With a mobile device and the SAP Business One app, a sales rep can be on-site with a customer and instantly check stock, place orders, and offer alternatives.

Not only does this allow the employee to focus on actually selling rather than logistics, but it also instils trust in the customer that your business can handle orders in an efficient, reliable way.

This mobile functionality is a bonus at events and exhibitions, too, thanks to the ability to process orders from the public quickly and easily.

The app acts as a digital catalogue, allowing your sales reps and exhibition employees to showcase products and place orders without reams of paperwork and admin.

Finding a partner, not just a fix

It’s important to remember that, as with any potential business solution, the partner you choose to work with when putting together an ERP solution is as crucial as the tool itself.

Here are two things to consider when seeking out an ERP partner:

An experienced partner will add value

Any system that you put in place must be carried out by a business who has a proven track record in building effective solutions.

Always look for independent Managed Services partners that offer multiple ERP solutions — that way you’ll know you’re getting the right solution for you, rather than the most convenient one for them.

To see how we helped the skincare brand Bulldog, check out our case study here.

Seek support beyond the sale

Getting up and running with any new business solution requires careful onboarding and support for you and your people during the early phases. With that in mind, it’s essential to work with a supplier who will continue to offer ongoing account support after the initial product has been implemented.

Question your chosen supplier early on about their processes for supporting you in things such as software updates and product maintenance. Make sure you pick a partner with a strong track-record in customer service, and one which looks after your needs first.

In summary

The opportunity to see your business grow at the scale it deserves is the dream for many retail distribution and warehousing business owners. Putting in place the right ERP solution means that you’ll have the perfect tool to take advantage of your big break, leaving you to focus on the next horizon.

If you want to know more about how Thinc helps customers build class-leading ERP solutions, you can speak directly to our team. Contact James Peel (Head of SAP) or Contact Gary McKnight (Sage team member) today.