In the modern business environment, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have become essential for many companies interested in optimising their operations. When they first emerged in the 1990s, these solutions were complex software suites intended only for large enterprises. However, they have evolved into affordable, customisable options for companies of all sizes and industries.
One stands out the most among the many ERPs available on the market. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central allows you to centralise key business processes into a single, integrated software system. The result is improved visibility and control across the entire company.
While any business can benefit from this software, some industries benefit significantly.
Who will be the primary users of ERP systems in 2024? If your company operates in one of these sectors, Microsoft Dynamics can offer tailored solutions that match your specific challenges and requirements.
Is your company exploring ERP systems?
Know the amazing things you can do with ERP+CRM
Primary Users of ERP Systems
Do you want Microsoft Dynamics to meet your unique needs and boost productivity? Let us lend you a helping hand. Mercurius IT is an expert in maximising the potential of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Contact us to learn how we can improve your operations.
Manufacturing
For manufacturers, ERP allows connecting various business units (such as finance, purchasing, production, inventory, sales, etc.) into a single platform. With it, they can create and share information in real-time across the entire enterprise.
The finance department, for example, can have modules for financial projections, analysis, planning, and so on. At the same time, the production team may receive reports about inventory levels, equipment issues, product quality control, and recall management. Sales departments can benefit from information about product availability, order status, lead times, etc.
Overall, improved communication across various operations allows manufacturers to promptly provide accurate production estimates and fulfil contract obligations.
Retail and Ecommerce
In retail, ERP systems optimize inventory and order fulfilment. They provide up-to-date stock levels and inventory positioning by connecting brick-and-mortar and online sales channels. As a result, retailers can improve forecasting, reduce stockouts and waste, and rationally minimise inventory. ERP systems are also helpful in managing drop shipping and backorder processing.
Also, Microsoft Dynamics ERP can help gain insights into customers’ needs, buying cycles, behaviours, and spending patterns. Sales teams may use this information to capitalise on buying habits and increase sales. It can also help deliver personalised shopping experiences.
Healthcare
Professional services such as management consulting, accounting, IT, etc., are among ERP systems’ primary users. They appreciate these solutions for their ability to centralise and improve resource planning, project costing, staff utilisation reporting, customer profiling, and other vital components of their businesses.
Regarding project management, Dynamics 365 Business Central allows for optimising resource allocation and workloads and tracking project budget variances. On the other hand, executives can monitor staff utilisation rates and make timely resource decisions. For client-focused companies, ERP systems enable managing the entire client lifecycle, from lead generation to project/service delivery. In the end, ERP systems help these businesses rationally use their resources, increase productivity, and bring service quality to a new level.
Marketing
ERP systems are indispensable for marketing teams to analyse customer buying patterns and develop campaign strategies. Dynamics 365 Business Central may store historical transactional records providing data on customer behavioural patterns. Marketing departments can use them to understand seasonal purchasing trends, average order values, buying cycles, etc.
Thanks to such insights, it is possible to segment audiences for personalised promotions and messaging based on purchase history. Overall, this helps marketing develop targeted campaigns and eventually increase sales.
Construction
Construction typically involves collaborative work by multiple departments, such as project planning, materials procurement, cost accounting, document management, etc. By uniting them in a single, centralised platform, enterprise resource planning systems improve visibility into the construction lifecycle. Ultimately, this helps deliver projects on time and within budget.
The software allows procurement departments to control better the sourcing, purchasing, and allocation of building materials. Project managers may benefit from Gantt charts, document workflows, and real-time project updates. The finance team can track project budgets against actual data.
Finance
General ledger, payable/receivable, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, risk assessment, profitability tracking – ERP systems can enable seamless management of all these key financial functions and more.
In the financial sector, enterprise software helps eliminate redundancies, automate manual processes, and provide timely data about a company’s financial health. Rather than dealing with disconnected spreadsheets, finance can control the full spectrum of financial operations within the ERP. This results in greater productivity, transparency, and insights for data-driven financial planning. Audits and reporting also become simpler since all financial data is kept in a single place.
Want to speak to a Dynamics 365 Business Central expert?
Contact our team today to find out how our 15+ years of experience can transform your business processes and help you achieve your objectives with a comprehensive ERP solution.
Human Resources
HR is also among the primary users of ERP systems. Human Resources staff rely on Dynamics 365 Business Central to automate key functions, including applicant tracking, onboarding, payroll, performance management, and more. Thanks to a single solution, HR teams can spend more time on strategic initiatives involving talent development, workforce analytics, and employee experience.
Transform Your Business With ERP Systems
The modern business landscape is highly competitive. Today, more than a great idea is needed to win a competition. You must also ensure you can promptly control, analyse, and manage your operations. Microsoft Dynamics ERP can help you with that. Its ability to connect and analyse data from various sources within an organisation is key to success.
While the primary users of ERP are retail and commerce, manufacturing, finance, HR, healthcare, and other sectors, you, too, can reap multiple advantages of implementing it. The best thing about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is that it is configurable to your needs.
At Mercurius IT, we know how to make the most of Microsoft Dynamics to transform your business operations. We can help you:
- Customise Business Central to fit your business processes, not the other way around;
- Automate routine tasks and free up more time for strategic thinking;
- Get accurate information about your performance and make data-driven decisions;
- Improve connectivity across departments.
Contact us today to learn how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can help you achieve your goals.
