The Ultimate Guide to Manufacturing ERP Software for Small Businesses

The Ultimate Guide to Manufacturing ERP Software for Small Businesses

Are you a small business looking for an effective way to manage your manufacturing operations in 2023?

Investing in a reliable Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system could be just the solution you need. This ultimate guide to manufacturing ERP software provides key information on the benefits and advantages of utilizing ERP software for small businesses.

It covers the various types of ERP software available, how to choose the best ERP system for your needs, and lists the top 10 ERP systems for small manufacturing businesses in 2023 .

We also look into industry-specific solutions, cost-saving capabilities, how ERP software facilitates data centralization, process automation, and much more.

With this guide, you will be able to make the right decision when looking for a tailored ERP system to streamline and simplify your small business operations.

Short Summary

• Manufacturing ERP software is a suite of integrated applications that streamlines core business processes and provides real-time insights.
• It offers small businesses the advantages of improved customer service, cost savings, scalability, and streamlined operations.
• Small manufacturing businesses can access various types of ERP software, with providers offering specialized software for this purpose.

What is Manufacturing ERP Software?

Manufacturing ERP software is a comprehensive suite of integrated applications, designed to streamline core business processes, automate tasks, and provide real-time visibility to enhance efficiency and minimize costs.

The intent of manufacturing ERP software is to streamline core business processes, automate operations, and deliver real-time insights to enhance efficiency and minimize expenses. 

This type of software typically includes financial management, costing, CRM , human resources management, inventory control, and MRP (Material Resource Planning).

By utilizing this type of software, small businesses in the manufacturing industry can benefit from a comprehensive view of the main processes within a single system, thus creating a central hub for the entire company. 

This eliminates the need for repeated software training across departments, allowing businesses to focus on their core competencies.

Benefits of Manufacturing ERP Software for Small Businesses

Manufacturing ERP software for small businesses offer a variety of advantages, such as enhancing customer service, reducing costs, scalability, and optimizing operations.

Investing in an appropriate ERP system can help small businesses save money, as the primary objective of a well-selected ERP system is cost reduction. Additionally, a well-selected system can help small businesses reallocate labour resources and provide comprehensive analytics.

Small business manufacturing software offers benefits such as improved customer service, cost savings, scalability , and streamlined operations.

With the help of small business manufacturing software, businesses can centralize business data and processes into one hub, track inventory quantities and costs of inventory items, allocate materials, equipment, and labour to each job, and display calendar views and graph charts.

It can also enable rapid scaling of the business and optimize existing systems with minimal expenditure, and provide increased visibility, automation, and control.



Key Features of Manufacturing ERP Software

Manufacturing ERP software is designed to facilitate and streamline the entire manufacturing process. It includes a variety of key features that enable businesses to maximize their efficiency and profitability.

These manufacturing software features include project management dashboards, comprehensive inventory management, accounting and financial management modules, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

At Manu Online, our manufacturing ERP solutions provide:

• Ease of Use: It’s simple and very easy to deploy. Give time back to other tasks.
• Customizability : Configure the system to meet your exact requirements.
• Traceability : Keep an eye on what’s going on. Trace your items, materials, batches, expiry dates and much more.
• MRP in Real-time: Never again are critical components “forgotten” and remembered only when it is time to ship to the customer.
• Inventory Control : Reduce inventory costs, speed up throughput, and increase profit. Full visibility on your products and materials.
• Integrations : Use native applications already available in Manu Online or connect others through our modern Open API.

Types of ERP Software for Small Manufacturing Businesses

Small manufacturing businesses can access Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software on-premise, cloud-based, or as a hybrid solution.

1. On-premise ERP software provides businesses with a high degree of control and responsibility, allowing them to install and maintain the software on their own premises. The advantages of on-premise ERP software for small manufacturing businesses include enhanced control over data and security, as well as the ability to tailor the software to meet particular business requirements.
2. Cloud-based ERP software for small manufacturing businesses has several advantages, such as the ability to access the software from any location with an internet connection, decreased risk of damage to physical servers, and freedom from being restricted to the office.
3. Hybrid ERP is a type of ERP that provides the capability to access both on-site and in the field. The advantages of utilizing hybrid ERP software for small manufacturing businesses include the ability to access data both locally and remotely, as well as the versatility to select the deployment option that best meets the business’s requirements.

Understanding Industry-Specific Manufacturing ERP Software

Having tailored small manufacturing ERP software that can meet your industry-specific needs will help ensure the success of your new ERP system.

Industry-specific manufacturing ERP software is designed to meet the needs of specific types of manufacturers. It is a specialized software solution that is tailored to the requirements of each industry’s unique production processes.

The different types of industry-specific manufacturing ERP software include solutions for all different types of manufacturers, from food manufacturers and custom manufacturers , to process manufacturers and medical manufacturers. 

Process manufacturing software is designed to meet the process-specific requirements of manufacturers that produce batches of goods, such as lot traceability and compliance with industry standards. 

Medical manufacturing software solutions, on the other hand, can be utilised more for meeting industry regulations and ensuring compliance.

How to Choose the Best ERP System for Your Small Manufacturing Business

Selecting an appropriate ERP system for small manufacturing businesses is highly beneficial, as it can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and augment profitability.

When choosing an ERP system for small manufacturing businesses, it is essential to evaluate budget , scalability, industry-specific requirements, and customer support. It is recommended to first identify the specific requirements of your business, conduct research on different ERP vendors and compare their offerings based on these elements.

Additionally, you can read reviews and seek recommendations from other small manufacturing business owners.

Top 10 ERP Systems for Small Manufacturing Businesses in 2023



Selecting an appropriate ERP system is key for small manufacturing companies to maximize efficiency and reduce costs .

The following are the top 10 ERP systems for small manufacturing businesses in 2023:

1. Manu Online: The ultimate manufacturing ERP solution Manu Online takes the top spot on the list. It offers a comprehensive and flexible solution that can be tailored to meet particular business needs and requirements and integrates with a number of platforms. With Manu Online, users can access real-time data, automate processes, monitor progress and performance, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and reduce costs.
2. Katana Manufacturing ERP provides real-time inventory tracking, production planning, and scheduling, as well as integrations with popular e-commerce platforms.
3. MRPEasy provides production planning, scheduling, and inventory management tools, as well as integrations with popular accounting software.
4. Fishbowl provides inventory management, manufacturing, and warehouse management capabilities, in addition to integrations with leading e-commerce platforms.
5. NetSuite provides industry-leading inventory, supply chain, warehouse management, and financial management capabilities.
6. Cetec offers production scheduling, inventory management, quality control tools, and integrations with popular accounting software to maximize efficiency.
7. SAP provides robust and cost-effective ERP solutions for small manufacturing enterprises, such as SAP Business ByDesign and SAP Business One.
8. SYSPRO provides inventory management, production planning, and scheduling capabilities, as well as integrations with well-known accounting software.
9. Rootstock offers a range of tools for production and capacity scheduling, shop floor control, inventory, purchasing, and financial management, as well as additional modules for computer-aided design, engineering, change management, sales order management, returns and repairs, and other services.
10. Sage Business Cloud Enterprise Management provides financial management, inventory management, and production planning tools, as well as integrations with popular accounting software, to optimize business operations.

How ERP Software Helps Small Manufacturing Businesses

ERP software facilitates process automation, which can streamline operations and minimize manual data entry. ERP software also centralizes data, consolidating multiple software systems into one and minimizing the potential for errors due to duplicate data entry.

This provides small manufacturing businesses with real-time visibility, allowing them to make better decisions and respond quickly to any fluctuations in demand or supply chain issues.

Ultimately, ERP systems and solutions can help small manufacturing businesses save time and money, as it enables them to optimize their operations by increasing productivity, facilitating collaboration, and automating processes such as inventory management, supply chain management, and financial management.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, this comprehensive guide offers a valuable resource for business owners who are seeking innovative solutions to optimize their organizational processes and create a path to success.

By leveraging the insights provided, small businesses can be better prepared to decide which software solution best meets their present and future requirements.

With a thorough understanding of how ERP software helps small manufacturing businesses leverage their resources, businesses will be empowered to streamline their operations and gain a competitive advantage in 2023.

Discover Manu Online…

With Manu Online, small manufacturing businesses can access the best possible ERP software solutions for their business needs. From production planning to inventory management, Manu Online offers comprehensive solutions designed to help small manufacturers streamline operations and reach their goals. 

We’re leaders in the ERP software and services industry, ensuring our clients receive the best possible services and support available. Our team of experts is here to provide personalized advice on selecting an ERP system that’s right for you.

By leveraging Manu Online’s expertise, small manufacturing businesses will be well-equipped to implement the software solution that best meets their operations and budget. We look forward to partnering with you on this journey!

Manufacturing ERP Software Small Business - FAQs

Can ERP be used for small businesses?

Yes, ERP can be used for small businesses. It helps to streamline operations, maintain compliance and automate administrative processes. This helps with reducing overhead costs and promoting higher efficiency levels within the business.

How much does ERP software cost for small businesses?

For small businesses or startups, enterprise resource planning software costs can vary greatly, and range anywhere from £1,740 to over £10,000 annually. Factoring in implementation fees, user numbers, and any additional features needed will help you find the best plan that meets your budget needs.

What would be an example of manufacturing ERP software?

An example of manufacturing ERP software is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, which is a cloud-based system designed for large or diversified companies with the ability to perform production and supply planning multiple times per day.

How do I choose an ERP for my small business?

To help choose the right ERP solution for your small business, consider factors like the number of employees, the total revenue, the complexity of processes, the number of users needing access, the budget and the complexity of requirements. Do your research to find the solution that best fits your unique needs.New Paragraph