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Your End Of Year ERP Checklist

Two Business Colleagues at Computers Across from Each Other

Running ERP software in your business will make it much more efficient, and you will be able to get a lot more done this way. Many of the systems and processes that used to take a lot of time, or that you had to delegate either to a staff member or to a third party (which could be expensive) can now be done automatically by whichever ERP you are running.

It doesn’t mean, however, that you can just ‘set and forget’ at this time of year. As the year draws to a close, you should take the opportunity before heading off on your holiday break, to make sure that your ERP is working exactly as you want it to. Follow our handy checklist, and you can go home for the holidays without worrying about it at all.

Back It Up

Although everything you do on an ERP program should automatically be stored in the cloud, it is worth checking this to ensure that it actually is happening. If not, and something was to happy to your office and computers, would you be able to recover those files? It would be unlikely unless there were another backup somewhere.

Backing up your work is one of the most critical elements to being prepared and in control and Dobson.net offers some great reasons why. You do it in the hopes that you never have to use that backup, but it is there if you do need it and that offers you complete peace of mind. Plus, it is no longer such a time-consuming task. You can even leave it running in the background while you use the computer for other things such as online Christmas shopping or Unibet games.

It’s not just a matter of hitting the button and thinking it’s all done though; you should check that the file is readable and complete once the backup is finished. Then you can step away knowing that the backup is ready.

Check The Automation

The point of an ERP is to automate many processes. This could include, amongst other things:

  • Contract renewals
  • Customers data updates
  • Newsletters (check out TriDigital Marketing for why a newsletter will benefit your business)
  • Price changes across your business

However, when was the last time you checked that your automation was doing what you want it to do? Now is the perfect time to do just that. You can ensure that newsletters are being posted with the right information and that your lists are up to date. You can also check the frequency of any updates and backups. It won’t take more than a few minutes to check that everything is working in the way you want it to, but that check can save a lot of problems further down the line.

Make Hard Copies

Although this is not something that you will normally find advocated on many cloud pages, making a hard copy of the most important contracts, invoices, and other documents is a good idea. Print them out and keep them in a secure, fireproof safe, ideally away from the office if you can. It could include payroll information and financial records that will be needed for tax purposes. It is better to be safe than sorry, and having one extra copy of the most important documents for your business certainly can’t hurt. If the absolute worst were to happen, you could still continue trading.

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The Drive-thru Supermarket Shop of the Future

Factory EquipmentA concept dreamed up by a Russian inventor could mean the end of the weekly supermarket car park nightmare if it comes to fruition. There’ll be no more trawling around, waiting for shoppers to load up their boots and go, no more parent and child space faux-pas... It’ll be heaven in a Honda as consumers won’t have to even get out of their cars to stock up on life’s essentials!

Here’s how it’ll work, according to Semenov Dahir Kurmanbievich, who has previously filed a patent for an innovative dentist drill that can repair tooth cavities as it goes along.

The drive-through supermarket will look something like a fully-enclosed petrol station, with dozens of vertical conveyor carousels, all bearing the groceries and dry goods you’d expect to see in a regular shop. These belts will be in almost constant motion, so the durable industrial chains from Renold would be a good investment for the construction company.

Shoppers drive up to these belts and reach through their window to scroll through each shelf using a touchscreen, then they simply pick up their items and place them on another belt, which takes them to a staffed kiosk to be scanned. The scanner operator rings them up and bags them, then takes a card payment before handing the bags back to the driver in time-honoured fashion.

So far so good – this new idea speeds up the shopping process, prevents the huge frustration around parking spaces and then “losing” your car when you come out if you have a poor sense of direction. However, is Dahir’s idea likely to replace traditional supermarkets? The answer is no, not likely.

A handy addition

As great as a drive-thru supermarket sounds, it’s likely to occupy the same sector space as drive-thru fast food places – a handy option for those in a hurry. It’s possible that larger branches of traditional supermarkets will use drive-thrus as add-ons to existing premises for commuters and time-pressed customers, rather than rebuilding altogether.

Staffing levels in this Brave New Waitrose will need to be higher than in the main building – one operator per kiosk – and the upper floor warehouse workers are another cost consideration. They’ll be working constantly to keep their belts filled, and there may need to be on-site engineers to help with problems – “…frozen chicken jam in Kiosk Five…” might become a regular backdrop to a grocery run.

Because of these factors, it’s likely that the drive-thru shopping option (shoption?) will carry a surcharge to cover these increased costs. Given how willing customers are to pay online delivery charges, it shouldn’t be a problem, but it will limit the customer base somewhat.

There’s also the fact that there will be at any one time dozens of cars and motorbikes in an enclosed building. How will the emissions be dealt with? It’ll be impossible to keep the air clean and safe, quite frankly, so it may well be the case that only electric cars are allowed on the premises – brave new world indeed!

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Development and Renewal of the Industry

Old Factoryr

With more manufacturing facilities using robots and automatic computer software to control inventory and product quality, it seems that no mistakes could be possible. However, employees are still necessary to bring parts into the facility for use on the assembly line. Employers are constantly on the prowl for the next great innovation, such as TGI manufacturing software, but there are certain basic practices people must follow to help the software work as advertised.

Beginning in Receiving

Inventory accuracy begins in receiving. Warehouse workers must count all items received in each shipment rather than relying on a typed packing list. Any discrepancies from the shipper can be fixed at this point. When receiving allocates the wrong quantity to inventory at the point of entry, any manufacturing software won't work as efficiently with improper numbers. When receiving counts and inputs accurate inventory numbers, the entire company has a precise starting point to keep inventory loss to a minimum.

Precise Stocking

Whether the part is as small as a screw or requires a pallet to hold it, all parts need a specifically marked stocking area to keep accuracy high. Label all pallet areas with part numbers and descriptions, for instance. Small parts should fit into drawers or boxes with no holes or crevices for items to disappear into. A count of 100 screws suddenly becomes 88 when items fall between drawers or onto the floor.

Counting Accuracy

Counting inventory is critical and should be performed at least once a quarter. To achieve the proper accuracy, the counters should be familiar with the items. They'll be able to identify if a part is improperly stocked, such as a screw mixed with bolts. Companies hiring outside inventory counters are trying to streamline this process, but it can backfire since the counters aren't knowledgeable about certain parts. Your own employees who count will also be more aware of better inventory controls in the future to make their own job easier.

As more customers clamor for faster shipping times, manufacturing facilities are feeling the pressure of increased output. With the right protocols in place, both software and employees work in harmony to get products built and shipped correctly with little or no inventory discrepancies.