7 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Wholesale Distribution Software
An obsolete wholesale distribution software suite can significantly hinder a business, leading to issues ranging from inventory mismanagement to data dysfunction.
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- The system isn’t integrated with other key platforms.
- Can’t take advantage of mobile device features.
- Software is slow and clunky.
- System needs frequent patching and hardware updates.
- Lack of access to critical data and reports.
- Lack of inventory visibility is causing supply chain issues.
- Software is no longer supported by the original vendor.
Businesses that want to stay ahead of the curve in wholesale distribution need to ensure that they’re using technology that’s up to the challenge. The innovations of 21st century commerce can create a great deal of value and efficiency, but to take advantage of them, it’s important to have integrated wholesale distribution software that’s ready to grow and evolve with the business.
Of course, upgrading to a brand new or trendy system isn’t always the right move, and there’s value in maintaining what’s worked before. But any business that starts noticing one or more of the following seven signs should give serious thought to upgrading its wholesale distribution software system.
The system isn’t integrated with other key platforms.
Wholesale distribution relies on an interconnected network of moving parts, and a quality ERP system is a critical part of getting those parts working together. In an integrated world, most businesses simply don’t have time for a system without seamless, interconnected performance. A software system that creates barriers between key components like manufacturing, CRM, sales and distribution isn’t doing anyone any favors. Today’s ERP systems create a common platform for these essential systems and make them accessible to anyone in the organization who needs them.
Can’t take advantage of mobile device features.
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are increasingly a must-have for efficient warehouse operations. But many legacy software systems just aren’t designed for it — they might have poorly-implemented mobile features or they might have none at all. Businesses struggling to implement mobile functionality on legacy systems will often have no choice but to upgrade if they want to implement these features, and with the direction the industry is headed in, businesses without them may be left behind.
Software is slow and clunky.
Poor processing speeds can indicate hardware issues, but they can also mean that the technology simply isn’t up to date. Even the best software has an eventual expiration date, beyond which it’s not cost-effective to maintain an older system rather than upgrading. Checking with the IT department on the reason for the system’s slow performance will usually help reveal the problem.
System needs frequent patching and hardware updates.
Legacy enterprise software systems, particularly ones with on-premises deployments, can be notoriously resource-intensive. As hardware and software begin to age, they wear out and replacing and patching them can be a daunting task for strained IT department resources. Newer cloud-based ERP software shifts most of the burden of hardware updates onto the cloud provider and can help free up valuable IT labor and budget resources. Even better, most cloud ERP systems deploy automatic updates through the cloud with little or no labor required on the user end.
Lack of access to critical data and reports.
Business has entered the Information Age, so having the right data at the right time has suddenly become mission critical. One of the biggest advantages of today’s ERP systems is that many of them are designed with data at the forefront, with robust reporting drawn from a centralized database. These sophisticated programs can prepare a huge range of reports, as well as using their advanced algorithms to sift through data for key insights. Many legacy systems simply can’t match the centralized data and reporting features of contemporary ERP systems.
Lack of inventory visibility is causing supply chain issues.
The world of commerce today demands high-performance inventory management, and systems that don’t provide adequate inventory visibility are unlikely to create consistent performance. Issues with inventory accuracy can be a huge barrier to productivity and to a well-coordinated supply chain. That lack of coordination, in turn, can cause shortages, surpluses, difficulty filling orders and many other problems. A business that’s experiencing these phenomena needs to take a hard look at its inventory software to determine if it’s still meeting performance needs.
Software is no longer supported by the original vendor.
This one might seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many businesses will continue to use an obsolete software product out of sheer inertia or lack of budget space. Using a software product that’s no longer receiving support risks downtime and outages at critical points, even if the system still offers adequate performance most of the time.
Staying with a legacy distribution software system beyond its life cycle endangers performance in multiple ways, so it’s important to be on the lookout for these signs that a piece of software is no longer fulfilling essential performance needs. To make the right choice from the many excellent wholesale distribution software solutions available, it’s essential to have robust information on each option and to be able to compare them. Top 10 ERP has a comprehensive database of software specs, white papers, free demos and more, designed to help wholesale distribution businesses choose the ERP solution that’s right for them.