Most, if not all established footwear and apparel business owners will tell you their apparel management ERP software plays an integral role in their success. Apparel ERP software has the power to reduce operation costs while streamlining shipping, production/manufacturing, order fulfillment and more. If this comes as a shock to you, you may be one of many who have fallen for some of the common myths surrounding apparel ERP software. We want to clear up any misconceptions you may have, so you can start confidently shopping for the right apparel ERP software for your company and begin your journey towards a more profitable and efficient future.
MYTH 1: ERP SOFTWARE IS WAY TOO COSTLY
A lot of misconceptions surrounding ERP software stem from outdated notions. When ERP software hit the market, it was geared towards companies that were already extremely profitable – companies that could afford thousands of dollars and feel comfortable waiting a few years to see their ROI.
Naturally, ERP software developers saw the huge market they were missing with smaller companies. Now, decades later, there are hundreds of ERP options on the market with a wide range of price points. If you are a footwear supplier selling digitally (e-commerce), or to small retailers and boutiques, or both, you may not require the software needs of say, Nike. Modern apparel management software solutions are designed to fit your company – they are customizable. Most importantly, they should be scalable and able to grow and shift as your business does. The investment in the right apparel erp software should be the last one you’ll need to make. Functionality and pricing options are built for your specific needs. While likely difficult to pinpoint with precision, the ROI of an apparel ERP system is significant in how it can drastically reduce production, inventory and other operational costs after the ERP is implemented. The reduction in data and operational vendor chargebacks is the first cost saving to consider.
MYTH 2: ERP SOFTWARE CREATES A SECURITY RISK
This is another example of an antiquated belief surrounding ERP software. Whether you choose a cloud, on-premise, or a SaaS ERP for apparel option, your data is secure. Developers have spent years perfecting secure technology for these systems with tools like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, monitoring, and improved backup processes. When new threats come to fruition in the cyber world, updates are provided. You will always have the best technology possible to protect your data.
Internally, your information is safe as well. You can pick and choose which employees have access to what information. All users will need secure login credentials to access your servers. You can easily add and remove access capabilities as you see fit.
MYTH 3: THE SETUP AND TRAINING IS TOO COMPLICATED
Think about all the applications or spreadsheets many businesses use right now and the process methods and systems they have to manage. They may have one application to track shipping, one for accounting and invoice tracking, one to support the sales team, one to manage inventory, and so on. Onboarding a new hire often means a lengthy and complex training period due to the number of siloed systems. When you think about the big picture, it quickly becomes clear that implementing a fully integrated apparel ERP software would help remove many repetitive and inefficient actions from your business model. Having one system with one general user experience and navigational behavior cuts training time drastically.
MYTH 4: THIS WILL OVERWHELM MY I.T. TEAM; WE’LL NEED TO HIRE MORE I.T. EMPLOYEES
In an age of cloud and web-based applications, this myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Consider a web-based apparel management software. The daunting tasks of server-based access per workstation and making sure the operating systems, memory, drivers, and .net settings are up to date are no longer necessary. Access to a leading ERP solution like ABS requires nothing more than a browser to access. Additionally, ABS offers SaaS and Cloud-Based options, meaning they will partner with you to manage external of hosting and maintaining of the application server. Even if you choose our on-premise option, our support team is experienced, highly skilled and capable of assisting your IT team when needed. Our team is always one chat, email or a phone call away.
MYTH 5: ALL ERP SOFTWARE IS THE SAME – I MIGHT AS WELL JUST PICK AT RANDOM
If you follow this approach, you are selling yourself short. Rarely in apparel and footwear would you find a one-size-fits-all SKU. Companies range in size and shape just like people do. First, as a company in the apparel, footwear or sewn goods industry, it could be beneficial for you to select an apparel ERP provider with expertise in that area. This saves you money as you only pay for functionality and technology relevant to your business. It also gives you security and peace of mind. An apparel management software should address your marketplace, the nitty gritty of its demands, its omnichannel needs, picking/packing processes, the importance of GTINS, sizing, pricing, customer compliance, chargebacks and so much more. The software’s professional service team should also be subject matter experts in your industry and understand how quickly it can change for better or worse. There is nothing random about an apparel erp software and its supporting team that understands and addresses your business in your industry.
OKAY, ONE MORE MYTH:
We have one final myth to bust: “There’s no harm in waiting to find and implement Apparel ERP software.” This is synonymous with saying “We don’t mind running less efficiently than what’s possible. We might as well reduce our operation costs next year and continue paying more now. Let’s run the risk of facing more accounting discrepancies as our employees struggle to transfer data sets between our many disconnected software systems.”
If you’re operating your apparel/footwear business without a fully integrated enterprise solution in place like apparel ERP software, these common busted myths should help ease concerns. The substantiated proof of drastic improvement in cost savings and operational efficiency is well documented.