Many manufacturers have been responding to supply chain disruptions and other industry challenges by replacing their outdated technology. If you’re thinking about following suit, this list of the top manufacturing ERP systems is for you.
The 2023 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report is designed to help manufacturers across verticals understand what kind of functionality is available in the market today.
(Note: The vendors featured in this report were chosen by our ERP experts based on what vendors they are most frequently asking for RFPs and demos for manufacturing clients. The order of listing is alphabetical and not based on ranking.)
The Top ERP Systems for Manufacturing
1. Acumatica
Acumatica Manufacturing Edition is a suite of connected business applications that provides manufacturing depth for production, estimating, engineering, material planning, scheduling, product configuration, and manufacturing data collection.
2. Epicor Kinetic
Epicor Kinetic is a manufacturing tool that connects various workflows and departments within a business. It has a cloud-based deployment option and contains a full range of supply chain management capabilities.
3. IFS Cloud
IFS Cloud is a single solution that includes Enterprise Resource Planning capabilities alongside Service Management and Enterprise Asset Management. It is designed for large and mid-sized organizations.
4. Infor CloudSuite
The Infor CloudSuite solution is suitable for enterprise and SMB manufacturing companies. It features an end-to-end planning system for specific manufacturing industries. The solution connects suppliers and manufacturers, brokers, 3PLs, and banks to the supply chain.
5. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is a cloud-based ERP system designed for large or diversified companies. Manufacturing companies can perform supply planning and production planning multiple times per day using the system’s in-memory services.
6. Oracle NetSuite
NetSuite ERP automates and centralizes processes across departments, including tasks such as financial management, distribution, CRM, and supply chain management. This software is cloud-based, customizable, and has automated software maintenance.
7. Oracle
Oracle Supply Chain Management (SCM) & Manufacturing is a full suite of supply chain and manufacturing applications that run in the cloud. It is a unified solution for sales, service, and supply chain management.
8. Sage Business Cloud X3
Sage X3 has on-premise and cloud deployment options and caters to all industries and businesses of any size. Users may customize it to fit their business requirements and permit APIs to utilize external services.
9. SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA is made for businesses of all sizes and offers on-premise, cloud, and hybrid deployment. It’s designed to meet industry-specific requirements, and it leverages AI and machine learning. It provides operations management functionality that allows organizations to perform system-optimized monitoring of all shop floor operations.
SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud
SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud is a suite of five applications with IoT capabilities. Some of its features include data analytics, integrated scheduling, and shop-floor execution. Manufacturing companies can use the system’s preconfigured analytics to analyze global and plant-level manufacturing performance and associated causes.
10. Syspro
SYSPRO ERP is a scalable solution that can be deployed in the cloud, on-premise, or both, and accessed via the web on any device.
You can find more information on the functionality of each system by downloading our 2023 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report:
2023 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report
Are you a mid- to large-sized manufacturing firm? This report is for you. Download it now to learn what kind of advanced functionality is available in the market today.
In the meantime, we’d like to share a few best practices for selecting the best ERP for manufacturing companies. We’ll share expert insights that will prepare you for a successful ERP selection and implementation in the manufacturing industry.
The First Step in Manufacturing ERP Selection: A Business Case
Before beginning ERP selection, you need executive buy-in and clearly defined business goals. An ERP business case can help in both regards.
When developing a business case, consider what has sparked your search for new manufacturing ERP software. Was it the need for advanced analytics for production scheduling? Was it the recognition that your order management or customer experience could use improvement?
Regardless of the reasons, it’s important to outline them and quantify your expected ERP business benefits. A strong business case that outlines tangible benefits and ties these back to bottom line revenue works wonders in convincing executives to invest in ERP.
The benefits of modern manufacturing ERP software are numerous. For example, as a manufacturer, you likely have hundreds, if not thousands, of SKUs, and you know how daunting it can be to track inventory. This is especially true if you’re manufacturing either a large product with many pieces or small widgets with thousands of SKUs.
If this sounds familiar, you can make the case for implementing a modern manufacturing ERP system by demonstrating how the system could integrate various departments and simplify inventory management and inventory control. This is possible because the CRM functionality within most modern ERP solutions fully integrates with your shop floor and enables more accurate reporting.
Another example relevant to today’s manufacturers? Say you want to meet your customers’ expectations regarding a flexible purchasing process. In your business case, you’ll want to highlight ERP’s ability to facilitate the user-friendly purchasing that B2B consumers have come to expect.
Once you understand your business goals, you can evaluate the top ERP systems for manufacturing based on their ability to support your goals and your digital strategy. This will help you find not only the best ERP for manufacturing but the best ERP for your unique needs.
3 ERP Implementation Success Factors
Our manufacturing clients have historically been in industries such as industrial manufacturing, chemicals, food and beverage, and consumer products, among others. Through this experience, we’ve found that regardless of a company’s sub-vertical, it likely faces similar challenges and opportunities as its peers.
With this in mind, here are some ERP implementation best practices that manufacturers should follow to rise above the challenges in their industry and take advantage of opportunities for growth.
1. Focus on Integration
ERP platforms, especially those with IoT capabilities, can gather and analyze masses of data from a variety of sources.
However, this data only benefits your organization if you have processes that enable data integration.
Be sure to define these integrated business processes before ERP selection and implementation. During these early stages, we recommend focusing on designing processes that turn data into actionable information by integrating data across functional areas.
For example, your demand forecasting and advanced planning processes should be integrated with your inventory and sales processes.
2. Consider Usability
Usability is an important consideration when evaluating manufacturing software systems because younger people are entering the workforce. These employees have different expectations for the user experience, and they are unenthused by much of the old technology that manufacturers use.
Evaluating the user interface of each system you consider will help you find a manufacturing ERP system that ensures high employee retention.
3. Prepare Your Workforce
User adoption is essential if you want to realize expected ERP business benefits. Unfortunately, most people naturally resist change, and thus, most organizations experience low user adoption.
Those that experience high user adoption focus on what is known as organizational change management.
Developing a change management plan helps you manage change resistance and equips your workforce with the knowledge to embrace new manufacturing processes and technology.
The Best ERP for Manufacturing Doesn’t Always Equal Success
ERP success doesn’t begin with a list of the top manufacturing ERP systems, but it’s an important part of the journey.
To learn more about manufacturing ERP functionality, download our 2023 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report, and to learn how to find the best ERP for your company in particular, request a free consultation below. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with our ERP consultants and discuss your unique business needs.
