Which ERP and MRP Software?

Manufacturing companies are increasingly looking towards ERP and MRP software to create business efficiencies but aren't sure which solutions are the best for their requirements.

Both enterprise resource planning (ERP) and materials requirements planning (MRP) systems can streamline sales, planning, production, supply chain, finance, accounting and customer service business processes and when used correctly can be a competitive advantage for your organization.

In this post we'll look at ERP and MRP software, explore why companies use them and which software could be a good fit for your organization.

MRP & ERP Software

Let's look at ERP software that is well used by manufacturing companies and includes strong MRP features and capabilities:

Infor CloudSuite Industrial

Infor CloudSuite Industrial is a cloud-based ERP system that offers a suite of features, including MRP (Material Requirements Planning), which helps businesses manage and plan their inventory and production processes. Its real-time data analytics, demand planning, and quality management tools are crucial for optimizing operations, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency.

Read our full Infor CloudSuite Industrial Guide >>>

Plex ERP

Plex ERP is another cloud-based solution designed specifically for manufacturing companies, offering a broad range of features to manage their production, inventory, supply chain, and financials. Its MRP feature is integrated with its production management capabilities, enabling businesses to manage their inventory levels, schedule production runs, and track materials usage. Moreover, its user-friendly interface and robust analytical tools enable businesses to optimize their supply chain and production processes, resulting in improved efficiency and profitability.

Read our full Plex ERP Guide >>>

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a flexible and powerful ERP system that provides advanced features for manufacturing companies. Its MRP feature enables businesses to manage their inventory and production processes, optimize their supply chain, and gain insights into real-time production data. With advanced forecasting, planning, and scheduling features, businesses can make informed decisions about production runs, material orders, and capacity planning. Furthermore, its integration with other popular business applications and tools, including Microsoft Office, improves collaboration and streamlines operations.

Read our full Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guide >>>

Acumatica

Acumatica is a cloud-based ERP system designed for small and mid-sized manufacturing companies, offering a suite of features to manage their supply chain, production, inventory, and financials. Its MRP features are integrated with its production management capabilities, enabling businesses to create and manage production schedules, track materials usage, and manage their inventory levels. Its flexible platform allows manufacturers to customize their system to meet their unique needs, and its user-friendly interface and robust analytics and reporting tools enable businesses to optimize their operations and streamline their supply chain.

Read our full Acumatica Guide >>>

SAP Business One

SAP Business One is a comprehensive ERP system designed for small and mid-sized manufacturing companies, offering end-to-end solutions for managing their supply chain, production, inventory, financials, and customer relationships. Its MRP features enable businesses to manage their inventory levels, track materials usage, and optimize their production processes. Additionally, its forecasting and planning features enable businesses to make informed decisions about production runs, material orders, and capacity planning.

Read our full SAP Business One Guide >>>

Oracle NetSuite

Oracle NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP system that offers a suite of features to manage manufacturing operations, including supply chain, production, inventory, and financials. Its MRP features are integrated with its production management capabilities, enabling businesses to track their materials usage, manage their inventory levels, and optimize their production processes. Its flexible customization options and robust analytics and reporting tools make it easy to optimize operations and gain insights into business performance.

Read our full Oracle NetSuite Guide >>>

QAD ERP

QAD ERP is a comprehensive ERP system designed for global manufacturing companies. It offers end-to-end solutions for managing everything from production to financials and supply chain. Its MRP features enable businesses to plan and schedule production runs, track inventory levels, and optimize their production processes. Additionally, its supply chain management features enable businesses to manage their suppliers and streamline their operations.

Read our full QAD ERP Guide >>>

SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA is an intelligent ERP system that provides advanced features for manufacturing companies, including MRP. Its MRP features enable businesses to manage their inventory levels, plan and schedule production runs, and optimize their production processes. Furthermore, its predictive analytics and machine learning features provide businesses with real-time insights into their production data, enabling them to make informed decisions and identify new opportunities.

Read our full SAP S/4 HANA Guide >>>

Epicor

Epicor is a cloud-based ERP system designed to manage the entire manufacturing process from production to financials. Its MRP features enable businesses to create, manage, and track materials requirements, optimize production schedules, and gain real-time insights into their inventory levels. Its modular design allows manufacturers to customize their system to meet their specific needs, and its robust analytics and reporting tools enable businesses to make data-driven decisions.

Read our full Epicor Guide >>>

Sage X3

Sage X3 is a scalable ERP system that offers comprehensive solutions for manufacturing companies to manage their inventory, supply chain, production, and financials. Its MRP features enable businesses to manage production scheduling, optimize inventory levels, and track materials usage. Sage X3 also offers features like production planning, demand forecasting, and order management to help businesses optimize their production processes.

Read our full Sage X3 Guide >>>

Deacom

Deacom is a comprehensive ERP system designed specifically for process manufacturers. Its MRP features include batch processing, formulation management, and inventory control, allowing businesses to track their materials usage and manage their production processes effectively. Its financial management and CRM features are integrated, enabling businesses to manage their customer relationships and operations efficiently.

Read our full Deacom Guide >>>

What is ERP?

ERP software, also known as enterprise resource planning software brings multiple departments and systems from your business into one system and database. This can include sales, service, operations, inventory management, production, manufacturing, supply chain and more. 

By centralizing your business data and processes into one system, ERP software can help you to get faster insights into your business information and automate your business processes to increase your efficiencies and improve your business KPIs.

What is MRP?

MRP systems, also known as Materials Requirements Planning is software which plans the flow of materials for an organization based on supply, sales and demand signals. By coordinating your supply chain using MRP software, an organization can optimise the inventory levels of parts and inventory levels.

What's the difference between ERP & MRP?

The difference between ERP & MRP software is that MRP software is limited to optimising inventory levels and optimising supply chain processes, whereas ERP is a business wide system which optimises materials, labour and accounting.

ERP software often includes MRP functionality which in a sense can make a standalone MRP system obsolete.

Do I need ERP or MRP software?

You don't need to choose between ERP or MRP software as ERP software provides the same capabilities and functionality as MRP software, allowing your manufacturers to streamline and improve their business processes for manufacturing as well as inventory, sales, distribution, customer service and much more.

ERP software is essentially the evolution of ERP software, taking the benefits that MRP software brings to the rest of your business.