Spreadsheets, those faithful companions of entrepreneurs, have long been the preferred solution for managing data. But in a world of rapidly evolving technology, it’s time to leave those cumbersome spreadsheets behind and move on to a more powerful and intelligent tool: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). But wait, don’t think that ERPs are just for big companies! Smaller structures can also benefit enormously. Let’s find out why.
At Aplose, we are PreferedPartner of the Dolibarr France association. As such, I always present the ERP as an Excel Killer… To adopt it is to reduce the need to use a spreadsheet by 80 to 90%. The spreadsheet then reverts to what it was designed to do: provide a rapid prototyping and data presentation tool, but not a key piece of business software.
1. An end to data management nightmares
If you’ve ever spent hours juggling complex Excel spreadsheets, you know how frustrating it can be. ERP eliminates these nightmares by centralizing all your data in a single platform. No more files scattered across your computer, no more tedious manual updates and no more risk of human error. Everything is under control, in real time.
As an example, at an alternative electricity supplier (they’ll recognize themselves 😉 ), I brought Dolibarr in to manage billing a few years ago. At the time, the spreadsheet was used to generate unique invoice numbers (even though it’s a single-user tool) using a file on a cloud shared by everyone. As the company grew, a change of perspective was needed, and the adoption of ERP was essential.
2. Save time and increase efficiency
ERP systems automate many tasks, saving you precious time. No more manual data entry or juggling Excel formulas. Your ERP takes care of everything, from inventory management to invoicing and order management. So you can concentrate on more strategic business tasks.
The first impact of adopting Dolibarr for a customer is to manage the customer file. This is followed by the management of the price list for products and services (sold and purchased), so that in just a few minutes a professional quotation can be produced and sent to the prospect. With just a click or two, it’s easy to turn this into a purchase order or invoice. Subsequent bricks are added as the product is adopted more and more widely within the company.
3. Total visibility of your operations
With ERP, you get a complete overview of your business. You can track sales, expenses, inventory and much more in real time. This visibility enables you to make informed decisions and better anticipate your business needs.
In addition to the data-visualization tools natively integrated into Dolibarr, it is possible to add extensions to add additional views. As data is stored in a free database, you remain the owner of your data (unlike proprietary software), and can export it for injection into a suitable tool (ElasticSearch or other…) or even connect it directly.
4. Suitable for small structures
Contrary to popular belief, ERP is not just for industry giants. Many ERP solutions are specially designed for small businesses, with features tailored to their needs and budgets. So you can start small and grow as your business grows.
On our Ma Gestion Cloud solution, we offer an Open Source ERP (Dolibarr), and most of our customers are small structures, or even one-person companies. They range from large French administrations to micro-businesses.
5. Easier collaboration
With ERP, collaboration within your team is simplified. No more e-mailing Excel files and juggling versions. Everyone can access the same data in real time, improving communication and collective decision-making.
In Dolibarr, activation of the calendar module enables you to keep track of all the events taking place throughout the life of your company, such as meetings, email messages, etc… This greatly simplifies communication, both internally and with partners. Email templates will also help to standardize and professionalize communication and speed it up. Today, I’m able to prepare and send a simple quote to a prospect who hasn’t yet registered in less than 2 minutes… how about you?
In short, ERPs are more than just a replacement for spreadsheets. They are powerful tools that can transform the way your small business runs its operations. So say goodbye to the frustrations of spreadsheets and explore the possibilities offered by an ERP. Your business will come out of it stronger, more efficient and better prepared for the future. Don’t let technology pass you by – it’s time to take your business to the next level!
To try Dolibarr ERP/CRM for free for 15 days, please use our registration form here : My Cloud Management!
If you liked this article, if you know companies or managers who are having a hard time with their management, send them this link 😉 you’ll make some happy people who’ll sleep better and thank you!
See you soon at Aplose.
Olivier.
