Enterprise Resource Planning Software is at the heart of every modern business organization nowadays and CMMS integrations have become a no-brainer. ERP software alone is not enough and needs to be customized to match with an organization’s workflow, including doing preventive maintenance (PM) and managing work orders (WO).
Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) bridge the gaps faced by ERP software and help businesses cut down costs. In the past, CMMS integrations with ERP would require custom coding and configurations but these days it takes as little as just 5 minutes.
Table of Contents
Why ERP & CMMS Integrations?
Maintenance software integrations used to be expensive in the past. However, off-the-shelf solutions and customized software are affordable options these days. CMMS systems cost a fraction of ERP software and deliver a host of advantages to businesses when it comes to managing and planning their maintenance work.
There are full-suite ERP solutions available but those might be costly. Best-of-Breed CMMS software is becoming a popular choice due to its ease of integrations and price point.
There are various benefits to carrying out ERP and CMMS integrations for organizations. Here’s a list of the following:
1. Removes Redundancy
Managers don’t have to input the same data twice between two systems. By integrating CMMS with ERP platforms, it’s easier to sync data automatically and make updates.
2. Improves Decision-Making
CMMS integrations are used for optimizing inventory orders and automatic reordering in the ERP. CMMS systems give detailed information and insights about parts and their replacements, which makes stocking up in time easier for organizations.
Duplicate records are automatically marked and eliminated. Reduced redundancy results inaccurate information provided to managers and no slip-ups in maintenance processes. Managers know exactly what they’re working with, how many parts are there, and how much to reorder to do the repairs and other work.
3. Easy Invoice Generation
Integrating CMMS with your ERP pipeline makes it easy to generate invoices and send them to suppliers. All invoices are created on one platform and automatically sent according to schedule.
4. Instant Reports
Since the data is synced between ERP and CMMS systems through effective integration, it also means that managers can get quick access to reports. No need to wait for days or manually generate new reports when these CMMS ERP systems are connected.
5. Boosts Business Productivity
CMMS integrations make it easier for managers to handle their inventory and log-in data. There’s no need to be trained separately on how to use ERP software since maintenance tasks can be managed directly on the CMMS system. There are optimized workflows, easy-to-navigate UIs, and simplified digital experiences that are offered by CMMS platforms.
6. No Time Lags
Managers don’t have to enter data into the ERP or update records since CMMS systems automatically do it. This results in zero time lags and faster management of work orders, inventory levels, and other maintenance activities conducted within the organization.
7. Zero Error
There’s no room for human error when syncing data between ERP and CMMS systems since the entire process is automated. You don’t have to worry about missing deadlines or forgetting to update the ERP system since CMMS solutions take care of it.
Scheduled maintenance activities become a lot easier this way. There’s also the added advantage of seamless communications between team members since data on CMMS systems are kept organized and accessible.
Getting Started With ERP & CMMS Integrations
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to CMMS and ERP integrations. Different CMMS solutions meet different sets of needs and offer a distinct advantage. It’s important to analyze the requirements of the organization before deciding to go ahead and invest in CMMS. Importing and exporting data between the two systems should be easy.
Getting the right CMMS integrations for your ERP software can reduce business spend by up to 23%! And you won’t have to sacrifice productivity or face downtimes either.
Here’s what you need to consider when implementing ERP and CMMS integrations for your organization.
Make A Project Plan & Follow Through
Create a project plan and make it a point to stick with it no matter what. Talk to your project manager, make a timetable, set milestones, and work on setting out to achieve them.
Talk To Your Stakeholders
Hold a board meeting with your stakeholders and explain to them the benefits of CMMS and ERP integrations. Identify all the issues faced by the business and outline what these integrations can do to resolve or remediate them. Stakeholders can also plan ahead and you’re much more likely to get the buy-in from them once they’re on board with it.
Consider Your Budget
From purchasing the initial equipment, integration, costs involved in setting up CMMS and ERP systems, and connecting everything to the cloud – you will have to evaluate your budget before beginning. Working with a third-party vendor can assist with managing complex IT servers, hardware, networks, configurations, and security patches. Daily file backups and maintenance becomes convenient too.
Write Down Your Required Specifications
Before committing to a CMMS system, write down your list of required specifications for the business. There are a variety of CMMS systems out there and each one is niche-specific. Both CMMS and ERP systems must feature APIs and have workflows that improve shared data efficiency during transfers and migrations.
Look For Ease Of Use
When considering a CMMS solution for your business, look at the usability factor.
- Is it easy to use?
- Do managers require any technical training or expertise?
- Are both the ERP and CMMS systems simple and intuitive?
- Does it cause downtimes in business operations or any delays when setting up?
These are questions you should ask yourself before deciding to invest in them. Ultimately, managers will be spending a lot of time on CMMS solutions after they’re set up and running. An easy to use interface that’s simple, intuitive, and doesn’t take up a lot of time makes the process of management and maintenance so much easier.
Conclusion
Use a step-by-step wizard for doing your CMMS and ERP integrations. Consult with the vendor before buying the software and see if it satisfies your business requirements. You can integrate CMMS solutions with your payroll, accounting software, ERP systems, and other software systems as well. That’s the best part about it and most CMMS suites support other third-party integrations.
