Navigate COVID-19 disruption with ERP system automation

Many industries are adapting to COVID-19-related requirements by maintaining operations while employees work from home. While this can be an effective approach for some, it introduces significant challenges for companies that are attempting to execute key processes, operate complex systems, report accurately with data spread over multiple locations, or effectively communicate with teammates — especially if they don’t already have the infrastructure for these processes.

However, leveraging enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems can help companies automate key processes, manage complex systems with adherence to internal controls,  gain real-time visibility into their operations through better reporting, and save money through better use of technology.

Below are some of the key benefits ERP automation provides as well as ways these benefits can help companies navigate business disruption caused by COVID-19.

1. Help increase security and meet compliance standards

As business expectations rapidly change, many industries are experiencing pressure from regulatory reform — needing to simultaneously produce new products, protect their operations, and meet evolving compliance standards.

While some companies must spend significant time and resources monitoring data protection to determine if they’re meeting compliance standards, automated ERP solutions such as NetSuite allow a company to perform these analyses continuously and automatically from a single system — without requiring extra time or resources.

ERP solutions can also provide leadership with ongoing verification that operations are protected from data breaches and cyberattacks, while allowing a company to meet industry best practices — such as single sign-on and two-factor authentication — and remain compliant with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and data security standards. These verifications are increasingly important because fraud and cyberattacks typically increase during times of economic uncertainty.

2. Consolidate IT processes

An ERP solution can consolidate the number of systems IT needs to support and establish up-to-the-minute reporting, even while employees work from many different locations, helping IT support ensure users can work effectively.

This allows employees to spend more time on their specific roles and tasks and less time navigating separate software systems for operations, accounting, and customer relationships, because they’re all combined into a single platform. Ultimately, a reduction in the needed systems and the automation of key processes into a single system can lead to reductions in operational errors and inefficiencies that cause issues including: