Things to consider before choosing an ERP Solution
“ End results modeling and pilot room testing with the company can eliminate surprises and uncover almost all “invisible” ghosts in the closet. “
Small and medium-sized businesses, often called SMEs, are a major part of the economy. They create jobs, serve local communities, and help industries grow.
But many SMEs still manage important work with separate Excel files, emails, paper notes, and different software tools. This can make it hard to control finances, customer information, stock, orders, and employees.
The good news is that modern ERP systems are no longer only for large companies. Today, a good ERP can be affordable, easier to use, and ready to grow with the business.
What Is an ERP System?
ERP means Enterprise Resource Planning.
In simple words, it is one connected system for managing daily business work. It can bring together sales, CRM, purchasing, warehouse, production, accounting, HR, projects, and reporting. Instead of entering the same information into several programs, employees can work with one shared source of data.
It Should Be Easy to Use
An ERP system should make work easier, not more confusing.
Employees should be able to learn the parts they need for their daily work without becoming software experts. A warehouse employee needs warehouse screens. A salesperson needs customers, offers, and sales information. An accountant needs finance tools. The system should fit the real way your company works. Before choosing an ERP, check that it supports your main processes, such as:
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Sales and offers
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Purchasing
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Warehouse and stock
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Invoices and payments
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Production or service work
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Customer communication
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Reporting
Seamless is an understatement — SIX ERP just works for you.
Choose the Right Hosting: Cloud or Your Own Server
An ERP can run in the cloud, on your own server, or in a mixed setup.
With a cloud-based ERP, users can normally access the system from anywhere with a secure internet connection. This is useful for remote employees, sales teams, managers, and companies with more than one location. A cloud system can reduce the need for an internal IT team. The provider may manage updates, backups, technical maintenance, and security support.
With a self-hosted ERP, the company has more direct control over its servers, data, and technical setup. This can be a good choice when a business has its own IT team, special security requirements, or complex integrations. There is no single right answer. Compare the full cost over time, not only the first monthly price. This is called Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO.
Consider:
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Server and hosting costs
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Software licences
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User fees
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Backup and security
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IT support
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Updates and upgrades
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Internal employee time
It Should Be Affordable and Clear in Price
SMEs need to control costs carefully. An ERP should save time and reduce mistakes without creating confusing or unexpected expenses. A good ERP can automate repeated work, reduce manual data entry, and give managers better information. This can save money over time.
Before making a decision, ask clearly:
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What is included in the price?
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Are there costs per user?
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Are there extra costs for important modules?
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What does support cost?
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What does implementation cost?
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What happens when the business grows?
Transparent pricing is important. The cheapest system at the start is not always the most affordable system after three or five years.
It Should Grow With Your Business
Your business may have more customers, more orders, more products, more warehouses, or more employees in the future.
Your ERP should be able to grow with you.
For example, it should support:
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More users
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More products
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More warehouses
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More business locations
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New sales channels
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New countries
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New currencies
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New legal requirements
Changing ERP systems every few years is expensive and stressful. It is better to choose a system that can support your next stage of growth.
It Should Show Real-Time Information
Good decisions need current information.
A modern ERP should show what is happening in the business now, not only at the end of the month.
For example, managers should be able to see:
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Current stock levels
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Open sales orders
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Unpaid invoices
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Purchase orders
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Production status
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Sales performance
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Costs and profit margins
This helps the team react quickly when there is a problem or an opportunity.
If stock is running low, the business can order in time. If an invoice is overdue, the team can follow up. If one product is selling well, the company can plan for more demand.
It Should Connect With Other Software
Most businesses use more than one digital tool. They may use an online shop, payment provider, barcode scanner, shipping system, e-invoicing service, website form, or BI platform.
A good ERP should be able to connect with these tools through integrations or APIs. This reduces manual work. For example, online orders can enter the ERP automatically, stock can update, and the warehouse can receive a picking task.
The goal is simple: enter information once and use it everywhere it is needed.
It Should Automate Repeated Tasks
Many business tasks are repeated every day. Entering orders, sending reminders, creating invoices, updating stock, and preparing reports can take a lot of time.
An ERP can automate many of these steps.
For example, it can:
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Create tasks after a customer enquiry
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Reserve stock after an order is confirmed
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Suggest purchase orders when stock is low
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Create invoices from deliveries
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Send payment reminders
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Update stock after warehouse movements
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Prepare regular reports
Automation does not remove the need for people. It removes unnecessary repeated work, so people have more time for customers, planning, and problem-solving.
It Should Support Languages and Currencies
Many SMEs work with customers, suppliers, or partners in other countries. An ERP should support multiple languages and currencies if your company works internationally. This can help with foreign invoices, price lists, exchange rates, sales documents, and reporting. The system should make international business easier, not create extra Excel work.
It Should Protect Business Data
Business data is valuable. Customer details, prices, financial records, employee information, and supplier agreements should not be visible to everyone. A good ERP needs role-based security. This means each person receives their own user account and only sees the information needed for their job.
For example:
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A warehouse employee can manage stock movements
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A salesperson can manage customers and offers
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A manager can view reports
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An accountant can access financial information
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A system administrator can manage user permissions
Employees should not share accounts. Shared accounts make it difficult to know who changed information and can create serious security risks.
It Should Support Remote Access
Many people no longer work only from one office. Sales teams visit customers. Managers travel. Service technicians work in the field. Some employees work from home.
A modern ERP should allow secure remote access when needed. This means authorised users can check customer data, enter orders, review stock, approve documents, or view reports from different locations.
Remote access should always be protected with strong passwords, user permissions, and, where possible, two-factor authentication.
Final Thoughts
The right ERP can help an SME become more organised, faster, and more ready for growth.
When choosing an ERP, look for a system that is:
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Easy to use
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Affordable and transparent in price
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Ready to grow with the business
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Connected to other tools
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Able to automate daily work
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Secure for every user
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Available from anywhere
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Ready for multiple languages and currencies
SIX ERP brings sales, CRM, warehouse, purchasing, production, finance, HR, and reporting together in one connected platform. It is built to help SMEs work with clearer processes, better data, and less manual effort.
Contact SIX ERP to discuss what your business needs and how the right ERP setup can support your next stage of growth.
