ERP Developer and Business Processes: How They Work Together

The Enterprise Resource Planning market is projected to reach $40.6 billion by 2033. ERP software helps company do business, establish processes, and collect statistics. Developers who create and set up ERP systems are in high demand in the modern services market, as they can provide extreme customization levels to monitor inner processes and increase profits. Automation is the future, and ERP systems are attractive to businesses looking to secure a faster return on investment (ROI).

An ERP developer is a programming expert who knows business processes from top to bottom and can take ERP software from ideation to implementation. Company should be careful about choosing their partner when it comes to ERP creation, as this partnership will determine how smoothly the new software will fit in with current processes.

An average ERP system has at least six modules that coordinate a company's work. All of them are customized and integrated into current processes. An ERP developer plays a key role in creating and adapting these systems to meet specific business needs.

Finance is the central module in any ERP system. It has a variety of blocks that provide the workflow for the company, one of which is accounting, which collects and analyzes information about all business transactions. The next block is controlling, which involves measuring expenses and income, calculating the net price, and advising how to adjust actions to achieve specific aims. Treasury, which handles interactions with banks and cash flow, is also an important part of this module, along with investment and risk management.

The human resources management module takes into account all aspects of labor resources, meaning it controls personnel records, time tracking, work order management, business trips, labor force productivity calculation, wage management, bonuses, compensation and payroll calculation, pension records, personnel assessment, qualification management (professional skills, training), and personnel selection. This data strongly impacts employees and their comfort level in the company.

All operations connected with procurement are controlled by a supply chain management module, which has a history of relationships with suppliers, so you can easily find contacts and see the inner product ratings. Also, supply chain and transportation management are closely connected with warehouse inventory. Records in this module help manage all stock balances in one program.

Production planning and quality management are the parts of the production module, which works with process manufacturing bills and receipts. Also, it can be combined with the existing production programs and become the specific place to manage all work. Most company with ERP systems appreciate this module's capabilities.

The customer relationship management module stores all the information about clients, uniting sales, marketing, and support team functions. Calls and email history, notes, and reminders help you analyze communications with each customer and stay in contact with them. This software is highly recommended for company that work directly with clients. Usually, you'll see the benefits during the first month of use.

The progress of your company's projects is tracked in the project management module. It connects functions like time tracking and budgeting. It also takes into account specific tasks for each project according to priority, for example as part of event planning. This module is very useful for company that have a project-based system of planning.

Besides the modules listed above, an ERP system can also have a billing module to track all payment data and transactions, a warehouse management module to order products, a marketing automation module, and more. The number of modules depends on the company's needs and can be customized.

When you decide to develop a custom ERP system, one of the main decisions you'll need to make is between a freelancer and a dedicated ERP developer. Usually, the choice is based on project size, budget, and the company's long-term plans. If you build a custom ERP system, the best option is a dedicated team. Let's talk about why.

Freelancers are appealing for their flexibility and lower costs, but these qualities don't always play into your hands. Usually, they have several projects going at the same time, so it's hard to be sure that your ERP system is a priority. This situation can influence the time and therefore the cost of development.

Lower costs at the beginning could become higher in the long run. Also, you might run into the problem of needing to search for a new freelancer to update the system, which isn't ideal for security reasons.

On the other hand, a dedicated ERP developer has a support team for any questions and can be more profitable over the long haul. These professionals are trained to fully understand your business processes and work closely with your team.

You can be sure that your ERP developer will only work on your project until they finish it, which they'll do as soon as possible. Usually, company that have experienced a dedicated team installation respond positively and come back with new projects.

One of the risks of working with freelancers is that they can lose motivation to work on your project. Also, it's hard to estimate the development and implementation terms, especially, when a client can't picture the final result and makes frequent changes as work progresses. Dedicated ERP developers are ready for these scenarios and updates. Usually, they work with the Agile methodology, where changes can be made from release to release.

To make sure you choose the right specialist, ask to see his or her portfolio and find reviews of their work. Experienced developers protect their reputations, so you should easily find this information.

If you're going to work with a talented young specialist who doesn't have a portfolio yet, ask them for a short demonstration to see the quality of their work. Or, you could conduct a technical interview to assess their skills as a developer.

One of the hard-and-fast rules of working with a new specialist (whether a freelancer or a dedicated developer) is to clearly spell out all rights and obligations in the contract. You should be sure that both sides understand the guidelines and expectations for the final result. A dedicated ERP developer usually has more experience in this area and will have a contract template. Either way, make sure your requirements are taken into consideration.