A modern cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system gives you a lot of benefits – like better operational efficiency, scalability, and data-driven decision-making. By centralizing business processes in the cloud, your organization can gain even better real-time visibility into operations, improving collaboration and allowing the systems to evolve with your business.
I’ve been working with cloud-based core business solutions for over ten years. Here are the top ten business benefits I’ve found that a cloud ERP can help your organization:
1. Best practices for business scenarios
Nowadays, there are more than 50 pre-configured best practice business scenarios available in the world’s most advanced integrated cloud-based ERP solution: SAP S/4HANA Cloud. This makes life a lot easier when you can just pick and choose the relevant processes for your business needs, activate them, and start using the system. Business scenarios have been designed and tested by several other organizations beforehand – meaning you can benefit from them and just use the ones relevant to your business.
2. Industry-relevant functionalities as a standard
Modern cloud ERP solutions include industry-specific capabilities as part of the solution scope based on the industry in question. In Vincit’s solution offering, we have SAP S/4HANA Cloud, which supports several industries like professional services, wholesale, and manufacturing. In addition, modern cloud ERPs are nowadays modular, composable, and open for other solutions to be integrated and build an industry-relevant solution for your business needs.
3. The latest innovations in use
The value of public cloud solutions is that you benefit from all the latest technology and functional innovations provided by the software service provider – meaning no more expensive and time-consuming technical upgrades or custom developments. And business AI, sustainability, and many other capabilities are easily available as a standard.
4. Ensuring all the regulatory requirements are met
Cloud-based solutions are not limited to any specific country or region, meaning that you can use them for multi-country, multi-currency regulations – and changes in legislation and regulations are automatically updated in the system. This brings you peace of mind and trust that you can rely on your data correctness.
5. Secure and easy access anytime from any device, anywhere
Cloud solutions are used via a secure internet connection, so no local infrastructure or desktop installations are needed. This allows you to use the system in any location and with any device. Dedicated user IDs, passwords, and role-based authorization keep your data safe and secure. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers have dedicated security professionals and certificates in place, taking care of data center services, backups, upgrades, and data security services for you with the license fee.
6. An intuitive user experience
An intuitive user interface makes using the system easy. You can also personalize the screens, dashboards, reports, and any queries in the system yourself based on your role in the organization and ad hoc needs. Business AI can automate business processes and speed up decision-making. You can use the system via mobile devices, scan data, and even speak to your ERP via AI co-pilots.
7. Comprehensive support library and help portal 24/7
Modern cloud ERPs and other cloud-based business solutions include comprehensive and up-to-date user guides, support libraries, self-study materials and help portals accessible directly via the system at any time. Additionally, SAP cloud solutions have built-in support channels and services for customer key users at no extra charge.
8. A global and scalable solution
Global cloud-based solutions aren’t limited to a certain geographical region in terms of use or solution capabilities. You can easily design and start using the solution for the functions, processes, and countries you need at the moment and then extend and expand as your business grows. Local statutory regulations and many other common business requirements are met with standard solutions and you can always add more features in case your business needs them.
9. Strong partner network
Cloud ERP solutions like SAP S/4HANA Cloud are in the portfolio of several local and global service providers that have knowledge and experience of both the solution itself – as well as the industry and country-specific features relevant to building and running solutions for your business targets. This means that you’re not alone with your selected solution and aren’t locked with one or a limited number of service providers. In addition, you benefit from partner-developed and certified add-on solutions on top of your core ERP and can have local experts supporting your global business in your operational countries.
10. Fast time to value, lower TCO
You use cloud-based solutions as a service, meaning that you don’t need to implement or install any hardware or software servers – the SaaS provider will take care of that part in the initial implementation and provide regular updates as part of the license fees. You don’t need to spend money for technical upgrades any longer with public cloud ERPs.
Public cloud ERPs like S/4HANA Cloud provide a comprehensive list of best practices, standard business scenarios, and other features and functionalities that can be activated quickly. You can easily try out the solution capabilities with your own data and configure and adjust the solution based on your requirements.
Pay as you go means that you will pay only for the services and number of users in use. When you keep the core clean (meaning as standard as possible) your maintenance costs remain low and you receive new innovations via regular updates free of charge. You can focus on running your business and extending the solution based on new business requirements.
Vincit is your trusted partner to help explore the needed solution scope for your business and guide you with different license model options. Are you interested to find out how a cloud-based ERP and other business solutions can help your organization thrive? Contact us to discuss more!
And join Vincit and SAP at The Annual SAP BTP Afternoon by Vincit on the 23rd of January to learn more, discuss these topics, and network with colleagues across different industries.
