Companies that require support often look to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications to manage their business. An ERP application typically consists of Accounting, Finance, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacture Resource Planning, Project Management and Human Capital Management. A SaaS ERP application is delivered via the Cloud meaning there is nothing to install.
Even the most focused businesses can get distracted in the ERP selection process. The effort of contacting vendors, watching presentations, building implementation plans and selecting a product that fits for the next decade generates an enormous burden that oftentimes companies end up with ‘No Decision’ as the final result.
One way of overcoming the ‘No Decision’ result is to select an ERP vendor that is delivered Software as a Service (SaaS). These applications come pre-configured to minimize disruption to the business, provide custom fields to tailor the application to the unique requirements and out of the box reporting for visibility across the organization. A company subscribes to the application meaning that if the SaaS application no longer fits the company at the end of the term, then payment is no longer required and the customer gets a copy of the transactional data.
The characteristics of companies who use ERP SaaS applications to support their revenue growth are wide and varied but exhibit the following traits:
A Workforce Spread Across Boundaries
The workforce is no longer confined to an office or a location and the company seeks growth in multiple locations. Organizations seek the freedom to enter invoices at the client site, purchase orders at the vendor location and manage inventory from the comfort of their own homes. SaaS applications are much less expensive to implement and adopt if a company has two or more locations.
A Technologically Savvy Culture
Companies that are technologically savvy take advantage of SaaS applications to reduce drag and increase focus on their core business processes. These companies will eliminate investment in IT infrastructure so that they can focus their assets on revenue.
A Growth Oriented Mindset
Companies seeking to invest in applications that scale the business. An organization may need to invest in warehouses or machinery as a capital asset. To grow, they understand that SaaS applications should be managed as a small part of their operating budget.
Avoidance of Business Disruptions
Companies seeking to avoid business disruptions should use SaaS applications. These applications should be free of implementation, come pre-configured and usable out of the box. Any consulting activity should be performed over the web and rollout using an internal train the trainer approach.
Mid-Sized high growth companies should avoid heavy infrastructure and seek out SaaS applications to support their business.
