Many pallet companies have implemented the use of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to serve as the master brain of their business.But are you getting the most out of your solutions? And are you aware of how ERP software can help you with some of the most recent challenges to emerge in the industry?
While any new software takes time to learn the intricacies, there may be aspects that your company is not aware of that could boost performance, reduce waste and improve customer service. We want to encourage you to take a second look at how you are using or underutilizing ERP solutions. The Enterprise recently approached several companies that specialize in ERP solutions to go beyond the basics of their software and share their thoughts. For this article, we reached out to Alan Miceli of Innovative Data and Pallet Track, Kevan Grinwis of PalMate Group, Philip Varley of PalletConnect and Rob Zesch of Pallet Insights by Helioz Technologies.
One of the biggest misconceptions companies have about using and deploying ERP software is that their company is not large enough for the software to be beneficial. Small to midsized companies often feel that they don’t need an ERP software until they grow to a larger scale. They are comfortable with the more manual processes running their day-to-day operations and are not ready for change. Rob Zesch challenges these misconceptions. He noted, “These companies may not appreciate that adopting an ERP before you ‘need’ it positions you to grow your business faster and more profitably.”
Another misconception is that implementing and using an ERP system is more complicated than it really is. These systems are built with usability in mind, for every level in the company. Pallet Track offers plant floor data collection with “extreme simplicity” using pictograms and bilingual labels. This allows employees to operate the system within 30 minutes of training. With extensive onboarding teams, video training, and support portals, ERP software companies are waiting and willing to do everything possible to make the implementation process seamless for your company.
Some companies wrongly believe that ERP solutions are just another added expense. Kevan Grinwis, business development & strategic partnerships at PalMate Group, said, “The real truth is that a good ERP is designed to add to your bottom line, not take away from it. So, the more you implement, the more value you should be receiving in return.”
Across the board, ERP software companies are continuously adding new features and updating systems. One feature offered by PalletConnect (PC) is the ability for customers to submit requests for new features. As common requests gain more traction with other users, the PC team dedicates time and resources to explore and develop those new capabilities.
Philip Varley pointed out, “We’re passing over that ownership to our customers in a sense. We’re like, ‘What do you guys want? What do you want to see?’ and then they have that ability to go in and track it, monitor the feature request, and get other team members in the company to upfill that request.” For PalletConnect, one new feature is order templates. This allows a user to set up a template that can submit 20-30 bulk orders in less than two minutes.
Pallet Track has now added the ability to set pictures with simple drag-and-drop technology instead of drawings for a specific product within the “Mill Manager” program. These pictures aid in accurate production. Alan Miceli noted another recent update, “We added new accounting system integrations and the ability to move from other ERP systems to ‘Mill Manager’ without having to re-enter your data or drawings. Everyone loves the changes.”
The PalMate Group has a large development team and is always adding features to the software. Grinwis noted a number of new features intended to provide greater efficiency in manufacturing and inventory management. He described, “PalMate now offers new ways to handle barcode tagging between production and other plant processes like shipping as well as new ways to schedule and track production of complex assemblies like HT pallets. In addition, The PalMate Group has released a Web-Based eCommerce module and new advanced reporting features leveraging Microsoft’s PowerBI Data Analytics platform, providing more real-time information about your business.”
Helioz has made updates to support new and custom pallet production. “We are offering customers visibility to identify what items are most profitable to manufacture. This allows companies to focus sales efforts on more profitable items and make efforts to improve the profitability of less profitable items,” explained Zesch.
In order to gain the full benefits of these systems, it is vital for a customer to continually expand the usage of the systems, especially as new features are added. One easy way to do this is to set a goal to roll out key advancements twice per year. For example, integrations with other systems like accounting and payroll can reduce data entry time. Also, the more people who are using the software at all levels, the more the software can aid in production efficiency with fewer interruptions. As more employees become familiar with ERP, they can see how their seemingly small decisions can make an impact on the company as a whole.
Experts suggest deploying new features and capabilities with the goal of widespread understanding by all stakeholders involved. The goal is not to rush the process or create shortcuts, but taking the time necessary to make sure all users are fully trained. If you can show your employees that the software will actually save time in the long run, buy-in will be much higher.
If deploying the information is a challenge, do not hesitate to reach out to your provider for support. Grinwis explained the collaborative approach at PalMate. He said, “While everything takes effort on the part of the user and may require the organization to adapt to new systems and methodologies, our collaborative model is intended to ease those efforts through partnership. Realistically, which advanced features to choose and how to implement them depends largely on the specific client’s application, their overall business, their process, their goals, etc. The PalMate Group has a long history of helping clients identify just such opportunities and adopt those new technologies with success.”
You can also contact other users of the software for tips when deploying features in their companies. Be aware that not asking for help could take 3-5 times longer to fully implement the software.
The use of AI within the ERP software is being carefully approached across all four companies. They each have different ideas and visions for future use of AI. Helioz is looking at creating one data warehouse for a business to then utilize “integrated intelligence tools to recommend areas to focus improvement efforts or ways to optimize your business.” Pallet Track sees the potential of AI to help process data behind the scenes and automate error corrections. They are also looking at the possibilities of using AI to schedule production to save time and increase accuracy. PalletConnect is looking to utilize AI in their logistics module as a plug-in tool to calculate the best possible routes for drivers. And PalMate is evaluating using AI to automate data processing for A/P, removing the manual interaction involved in processing vendor invoices.
In the current economy, having an ERP system that is able to assist companies in forecasting lumber and pallet inventory management is vital. Miceli shared, “Having a dynamic inventory solution like ‘Mill Manager’ accounts for all products required for production, then compares what is in-stock, what has been purchased, and what has been produced so far. This enables you to process orders without overcutting or overbuilding.”
One of the key ways that PalMate ERP assists users with inventory management is through its Material Requirements Planning (MRP) modules. Grinwis suggested, “Utilizing Bill of Material (BOMs) and other information in the software, PalMate ERP is able to help clients forecast precisely when they will need to take action to maintain desired inventory levels, whether through purchasing raw materials, producing components, or building finished assemblies.”
Similarly, PalletConnect allows users to set minimum and maximum stock levels, then send alerts when stock is below or above these thresholds. It also estimates future costs for upcoming purchase orders. Helioz also has a BOMs feature that informs customers what components are necessary for manufacturing as well as what lumber is needed to produce those components. Integrating information into one central system enables the software to match customer demand for a product.
With ERP software, there are always new features available to utilize and explore. As the world continues to advance, staying with the same methods may put you behind the competition. No matter which ERP system you are currently using or leaning towards giving a try, consider these thoughts from Phillip Varley. He suggested, “Just don’t be scared. Get on board and start using some ERP system. It’s never going to be a good time. It’s always going to be the wrong time. There’s 101 reasons not to do something, but the longer you wait, the more potentially your competitors are using technology for their process, the more difficult it’s going to be for you to catch up with your competitors.”
