How to Make Your First Apparel ERP Software Purchase Your Last

How to Make Your First Apparel ERP Software Purchase Your Last

How to Determine When It's Time to Assess the State of your System

Apparel ERP software is a big investment. You should expect its presence to make a noticeable difference daily and at very least, quarterly. Below are some signs that your return on investment is less than it should be and that it may be time to engage your ERP provider in helping with your needs. Here are some examples:

CHANGES IN OPERATIONS
If you’re taking full advantage of your apparel ERP software it will be connected to every aspect of your business. For example, ABS software offers features that streamline the process for Product & Inventory, Production & Manufacturing, Sales & Ordering, Logistics & Fulfillment, Finance & Accounting and E-Commerce. ABS also has the capability to double as a Warehouse Management System, and facilitate EDI communication as well as communication between your business, your employees and your vendors.
The pros of this all-encompassing integration are considerable, because when you begin using apparel ERP software, you have the tools to enhance efficiency within every area of your business. This translates to a potential for increased profitability organization wide. The cons, however, are if you wish to continue reaping the benefits that apparel ERP software provides, you need to continually reevaluate how you interact with the product and reassess how the product is used whenever there is significant change to any part of your operations. For instance, if your company adds a sales channel, switches pick and packing methods or engages a new set of vendors, and you don’t change how your ERP is used it’s likely to be assumed that the software is no longer as effective as it once was. Luckily, there’s an easy fix! Effective Apparel ERP software is easy to adjust, and so you simply change how you use the software in order to meet evolving needs.

The difficult part is typically deciding which practices to change and where to start. If ABS is your apparel ERP, you can contact ABS for guidance. One of our experts can advise you on how to optimally use ABS software, work with you to determine what changes need to be made and create a plan to train your employees on how to execute the new processes. You can select one of ABS’ training options or a subject-matter expert to lead a specific session. 

YOUR COMPANY EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF HIGH TURNOVER
While not ideal, it’s inevitable that all companies experience periods of high turnover at some point or another– whether it’s due to a decline in the global market or because of a competitive labor environment. Whatever the cause, you’re going to have a large percentage of employees who were never trained on how to use your ERP software.

Learning from senior employees is only a band aid. It’s not ideal, and certainly not as effective as formal training. You face the risk that those senior employees are passing on bad habits, unnecessary workarounds and/or outdated tips. Your seasoned staff may also need a training, a refresh or more if their initial training was years ago. When you’re welcoming new employees, it’s best to have training materials from your apparel ERP vendor and schedule actual training sessions. The rewards are invaluable. 

YOU NOTICE A REDUCTION IN ERP USE

Perhaps the most obvious sign that it’s time for training is a reduction in ERP usage. When your company goes through a period of growth proper use of your apparel ERP software can be perceived as too time-consuming or difficult, or employees have started to forget about key software features that improve operations. It’s then that your staff will begin using workarounds. This could start reverting to old practices, such as manual data entry within data sheets. They may even continue using the apparel ERP software but in a roundabout way that negates the efficient nature of the software system. This is expensive (because employees will be using a greater amount of time to do the same task), dangerous (because manual data entry leaves room for errors), and both because it affects your bottom-line.

If your team has begun using these workarounds, it’s time to schedule training. Before scheduling, it would be helpful to talk to those employees that use the ERP software the most, gather their feedback, and insight about the way they are currently utilizing the system. Then, either you or one of your top users can discuss creating relevant training with your ERP provider. 

YOUR ERP PROVIDER RELEASED SIGNIFICANT UPDATES
If ABS is your software provider, the way you receive updates will differ depending on the software license: on-premise, SaaS or Cloud options. One thing that remains constant, however, is that we provide our users with quality updates that include additional features to help your company stay competitive in a constantly evolving market. While we strive to make our applications intuitive and user-friendly, your employees may need training in order to take advantage of new or improved functionality. ABS's experienced team provides training sessions that can help your business continue to reach maximum efficiency and include awareness of relevant updates that can improve your operations. 

PROACTIVELY SCHEDULE A WELLNESS CHECK-IN

While these are helpful signs that it may be time to schedule an employee training session, keeping an eye on them doesn’t guarantee that you’ll catch every missed opportunity when it comes to your apparel ERP software. It’s good practice to also set a date where by you do a ‘check-in’ to see if you can do more to further streamline operations through your ERP software. For best results, use the ‘check-in’ to get feedback from all relevant parties.

• MAIN SOFTWARE USERS: Ask your employees that use the software most where they see obstacles with the system. They may believe they’re stuck working around a software inadequacy when there is actually a way to use the system that would provide a much better fit. Your employees can also give perspective on how the company can better utilize the software.

• ERP PROVIDER: Continually communicate with your ERP vendor. At least once a year, schedule a meeting with your apparel ERP provider. This is a great opportunity to share feedback you receive from your main software users, learn ways to use the software to bring greater benefit to your business, and ensure there were no updates missed that would help your company’s growth. The more often you speak with your vendor about ERP software utilization and addressing your business needs / requirements the more likely you will see an increase in ROI.

In reading this blog you may walk away thinking that your apparel ERP software is still doing a great job at keeping your operations streamlined and efficient. If you’ve engaged your ERP provider for help and are still struggling, or if you are a growing business looking for streamlined automation and visibility, schedule a chat with us today. Apparel Business Systems is the last ERP solution you will ever need.