The direct–to–consumer model is disrupting the manufacturing industry, becoming an attractive choice for business owners, who are ready to cut the middleman to maximise profitability.
But this approach comes with its own challenges, requiring modern manufacturers to find innovative ways to eliminate waste, keep costs under control, and focus on efficiency. The key to achieving these goals is adopting the right tools, implementing cloud manufacturing software, improving processes and adapting to the ever–changing market environment.
This short guide will help you understand what questions you need to ask yourself before choosing manufacturing software, in order to avoid wasting time on trial and error.
Table of Contents
1. Your business requirements
Before anything else, you need to ask yourself what challenges your company struggles with. Is it managing inventory of finished goods and raw materials? Or perhaps your production data is not all organised in one place, creating chaos. Maybe you need to improve efficiency and cut waste. What capabilities are you currently missing that would enhance your organization’s work processes?
Don’t rush this step and be as detailed as possible. You know what they say: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
2. SaaS vs On–Premises
SaaS solutions are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. First of all, there’s no need to install anything on your computer; you can have access to your software on the go, meaning that no matter your location or device, you are always kept in the loop. You also don’t need to worry about updating your software or adding your own servers as infrastructure.
Large production companies might still benefit from on–premises software, but small and medium sized businesses are certainly better off using cloud–based solutions.
3. Available solutions on the market
Search for different providers on the market and take a look at their pricing and functionalities. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, make sure you try them out. Most software companies offer free trials, so you could get a general idea of how you could benefit from implementing their solution. And if they don’t, perhaps they shouldn’t make your list in the first place.
4. Software functionality and integration capabilities
As discussed in step 1, it is vital to understand what problems you need to solve with manufacturing software. Avoid going for a complex solution, with bells and whistles you don’t need, as they tend to make a significant dent in your budget. Once you figure out what your specific needs are, it’s much easier to validate a software.
Most business owners sell on various channels, including online. If that’s your case, make sure the manufacturing software integrates with your e–commerce platform. Bookkeeping integration is another great advantage; and if you use other channels such as marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, check for integration capabilities with these, too.
5. Customer support availability
There are very few manufacturing software solutions out there that are easy to use and implement. Customer support availability is paramount for any business owner or production manager looking to adopt such software. The nitty gritty details of implementation could be easily handled with the help of a software specialist; and if you run into troubles, it’s always nice to have a team of professionals to help you out.
