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What is an ERP system?

By Grace Barton Updated
What is an ERP system?

Can you answer this question: “What is an ERP system?”

Unless you’re already well into the stages of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) research and evaluation, this question may prove to be a challenge. While it’s well established that integrating ERP software can be transformative for a distributor or wholesaler, a fundamental understanding of ERP is essential for correctly identifying the perfect ERP software for your specific company.

For your convenience, we are sharing information pertaining to core ERP functionality.

So, with this understanding of what’s to come, let’s get down to basics and answer, “What is an ERP system?”

At its core, ERP is a comprehensive software technology that unifies a company’s entire distribution process around data access and efficiency. Comprised of interconnected applications, ERP software encompasses the entire distribution process: order entry, CRM, financial management, inventory control, warehouse management, purchasing, shipping, reporting, dashboard analytics, and more.

Put another way, your entire company operates out of one unified software system. No more stacks of printed spreadsheets, weekly manual inventory counts, or excuses for deadstock. Once implemented, ERP software synchronizes departments, eliminates manual processes to maximize productivity, and ensures the accuracy of your business data.

Of course, this just scratches the surface of all there is to know about ERP. Cloud deployment, mobile applications and connectivity, e-commerce and Amazon integration… there’s a lot more to discover. To help you pull back the curtain on ERP software.

Built using best practices from over 400 successful ERP implementations, the 5 key steps are:

  • Recognize the Need for ERP
  • Identifying Vendors
  • Evaluating Software
  • Choosing the Right Vendor
  • Implementing ERP

We hope this free guide helps you identify the correct ERP software solution for your company.

Grace Barton

Marketing Specialist

About the Author Latest Posts

Grace Barton is a digital marketing and competitive intelligence professional who crafts strategic narratives by bridging marketing insights with analytical expertise. At Advantive, she creates engaging, data-driven content tailored to the distribution, manufacturing, packaging, and quality industries. Her goal is to deliver impactful messaging that drives engagement and growth based on specific gap closure needs, whether responding to sales organization requirements, pinpointing gaps in content, or meeting immediate market trends.
She thrives on transforming competitive intelligence into actionable insights for the sales organization. Grace manages Advantive’s competitive intelligence platform, Klue, to equip the sales team with the battlecards and market data they need to stay ahead of competitors. Since launch, she’s built 28+ battlecards across four lines of business, ensuring the GTM strategy stays sharp.
Grace has a passion for leveraging market insights with storytelling to guide strategic decision-making, empower sales organizations, and nurture organizational growth.

Areas of Expertise: Digital Marketing, Competitive Intelligence, Strategic Narratives, Marketing Insights, Analytical Expertise

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