Four top ERP systems for small businesses

Today’s market offers all kinds of ERP values for small operators, particularly when it comes to niche segments. While these enterprises require the same kind of resources management that the big guys do, they also require some tailoring to ensure that their specific needs are met.

Find the right ERP for your small business with this step-by-step guide

Here are several standout ERP providers who offer best of class capabilities depending on the market sector and size of the target company:

CGS: Blue Cherry

This provider offers a host of ERP values for mid-sized companies operating in the textiles design and production market. The product is suitable for midsize apparel manufacturers, harboring from 50 to 100 employees, offering on-premise and cloud-based deployment. Major functional values include:

• Planning
• Design
• Product development
• Materials source management
• Integrated logistics
• Sales processing
• Dynamic workflow management  
• Order-to-cash management
• Financial management
• Purchasing and receiving
• Production management
• Predictive and actual costing
• Tailored reporting
• Business intelligence

Acquired data can be displayed in charts, graphs and in summary form that can be delivered via web browser, email or via text message. Pricing is per module, plus user license fees. Email and phone support are available.

xTuple Software

This open source ERP system is tailored to support small enterprises at the 20 or less employee threshold. The company offers both on-premise and cloud operation. Major functional values include;

• GAAP accounting
• Sales management
• Supplier-chain management
• Inventory management
• Production distribution

The system accepts various modes of manufacturing ranging from discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, and engineer-to-order manufacturing to made-to-order products.

xTuple offers online support to all its customers during business hours.

NetSuite

Originally designed to be a pure accounting system, over time, and after being acquired by Oracle, Netsuite has grown to become a sophisticated ERP system. The product is delivered as a SaaS (Software as a Service) value, and entirely capable of handing from 50 to 100 employees. Major functional values include;

• Financial management
• GAAP accounting
• Integrated analytics
• Payment management
• Order and billing management
• Supply chain management
• Inventory management

The system is also entirely compliant with Oracle’s ERP backend including its sophisticated RDBMS framework. The platform will operate with a range of browsers including; Microsoft IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera and others As a SaaS system data security is ensured through NetSuite’s data center and built-in security controls.

BizAutomation Cloud

BizAutomation Cloud ERP is designed to support the needs of smaller firms in the 10 or fewer employee range. As the brand name suggests this application it SaaS (Software as a Service) offering, and consequently harbors a low price-to-entry value. Major functions include:

• GAAP accounting
• Order management
• Inventory
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Sales commission
• e-commerce (including a business portal)
• Materials purchase planning
• Project management

The product is focused on small wholesale/distributors, retail sales and organizations with single-product manufacturing needs. The software is priced on a per-user, per-month basis.