Manufacturers have a lot to gain by switching from outdated manual processes or even a legacy planning system to a mobile ERP solution. This article elaborates on the many benefits and modern capabilities of mobile ERP software in the manufacturing industry.

Topics of interest

What is Mobile ERP?

Most manufacturers are familiar with or have long utilized ERP software, or enterprise resource planning software. It helps production, operations, finance, accounting, human resources, and other teams track and manage fundamental manufacturing processes. ERP connects and consolidates those various aspects of a manufacturing business for greater visibility, awareness, insight, and control over its operations.

However, many manufacturers still rely heavily on manual, paper-based, or spreadsheet-driven processes. Alternatively, manufacturers limp along on outdated legacy systems that lack the modern interfaces and capabilities needed in today’s ever-evolving working environment.

Mobile ERP provides an easy and modern transition for manufacturers. It’s an ERP solution that can be accessed through a mobile device such as a phone or tablet, in addition to the traditional browser-based user interfaces. Let’s explore the benefits of mobile ERP over legacy ERP and manual processes.

woman-taking-inventory-with-mobile-ERP-software-in-warehouse

Mobile ERP Software Benefits

Mobile ERP software provides a series of notable benefits to manufacturers, including enterprise mobility for creating an agile business. Below are the most important ones to ensure that you understand what it can bring to your operations and that your selection has what you need.

1) Real-Time Access to Reporting Data

Mobile ERP software allows employees at all levels of an organization to access data in real-time from cloud-based systems using a phone, tablet, or any connected device. Being able to store and retrieve information instantaneously and with just a few clicks facilitates more accurate insights, improved decision-making, and increased collaboration. Additionally, it eliminates the need for purchasing and maintaining IT systems, servers, and data storage infrastructure and equipment, as well as training employees how to use and maintain them.

2) Mobile ERP Can Be Accessed from Anywhere

Having the freedom and flexibility to collect or retrieve data from any connected mobile device increases productivity and efficiency. Shop floor employees can save time since they don’t have to find a tethered computer to access or document relevant data; they can simply interact with ERP for mobile from anywhere they have a wireless mobile, wi-fi, satellite, or other internet connection. Furthermore, manufacturers managing production at multiple facilities and locations, and at customer sites, can be sure remote, service, and field workers have access to the data they need at each location.

By providing manufacturers with universal, real-time access to the critical data workers need through their mobile phone or tablet, Rootstock mobile ERP, launched in 2017, has become the trusted choice of manufacturing enterprises all over the world.

3) Print & Scan QR Codes and Bar Codes

Barcodes and QR codes significantly expedite and simplify the process of inventory and logistics management, cutting costs and saving time for your manufacturing enterprise. Barcode scanning is reliable, fast, and easy to use, allowing employees to track products and equipment with effortless efficiency. Mobile ERP software enables your employees to print and scan barcodes and QR codes on the shop floor, in the warehouse, and virtually anywhere else without interrupting their work. It also enables manufacturing workers to capture pictures, scan important documents, and upload files to the cloud so critical information can be accessed and seen collaborators, colleagues, suppliers, customers, and others.

4) Improve Collaboration with ERP for Mobile

With access to company, worker, inventory, operations, supply chain, and other critical data available through their mobile devices, ERP software for mobile facilitates effective communication and collaboration amongst your employees. Collaboration is blocked or slowed if workers have no access to data and insights outside of their immediate field of view. Mobile ERPs, especially ones with real-time social collaboration features like Salesforce Chatter, enable your employees to stay connected and up to date, sharing files and information easily and communicating promptly and efficiently from anywhere on the shop floor, on the road, or a customer’s facility.

5) Create Custom Mobile Applications Tailored to Business Needs

Mobile apps have become ubiquitous for easy and on-the-go access to information. Many mobile ERP software provides the ability to build applications customized to your unique business needs. The Salesforce Cloud Platform includes a feature called Flow, which allows users to quickly build mobile apps to suit unique business processes, custom workflows, and role-specific tasks using a simple point-and-click interface. These features let even non-technical users build entire applications just the way you want, tailored to your business, using clicks, not code. With Rootstock, these customized applications can be published and utilized quickly to reduce training time and costs, increase productivity, speed up tasks, and more.

See the team at Equipter, a leading construction equipment supplier, use Rootstock Mobile ERP in action.

Mobile ERP Applications for Manufacturers

Using ERP for mobile with Flow, manufacturers can build their own application workflows specifically tailored to their manufacturing processes and operational needs. Here are just a few examples.

Mobile Inventory Management

With Rootstock’s mobile inventory application, users can check stock levels at various locations, adjust inventory status and location, add or remove inventory from inventory containers, and a plethora of other inventory management functions, all from their mobile device and in real-time.

Purchase Order Management

Using Rootstock mobile applications’ purchase order management feature, manufacturers can view and manage purchase orders, purchase order receipts, and changes to inventory resulting from recent purchase orders from the shop floor, a customer’s location, or anywhere using a mobile phone or tablet.

Mobile ERP purchase order software dashboard on mobile screen for enterprise resource planning.

Work Order Management

Rootstock’s work order management application enables your employees to view, process, issue, and manage work orders from their mobile device, including material selection and receipt.

Sales CRM

Rootstock’s mobile application is natively integrated with Salesforce CRM so manufacturers can view and manage sales order fulfillment as well as manage material allocation, issue, packaging, and shipment from a mobile phone or tablet.

Rootstock Cloud ERP Mobile App is Available on Android and iOS

Manufacturing is currently undergoing a digital revolution. Manufacturers that are falling behind are put at a distinct disadvantage. Large manufacturers are expected to have mobile capabilities for instant answers, and even small manufacturers now have access to cloud ERP and mobile ERP capabilities without the expense of traditional software.

Rootstock mobile ERP on Salesforce provides the features your manufacturing company needs to stay ahead of the competition. It empowers teams with easy-to-create, customized applications tailored to your business’s unique needs.

Rootstock Cloud ERP Mobile app is currently available for download on both iOS and Android devices, or can be accessed via any browser on mobile Windows and Mac laptops.

See How Salesforce and Rootstock Mobile ERP Solutions Improve Manufacturing Efficiency

We can write all day about the benefits of mobile, but it’s always more effective for you to see it yourself. Check out this demo of Rootstock’s Manufacturing Goes Mobile today.