The Digital Advantage: Unveiling the Power of ERP Systems

ERPs are somewhat of the 'holy grail' regarding business operations. They touch on almost every aspect of the supply chain while significantly reducing the need for manual data entry across most business functions.

But what does this look like for AR teams, and are the benefits of ERP software enough to truly impact your competitive edge, considering the niche challenges and unique business needs within accounts receivables?

Let's take a look.

What is Enterprise Resource Planning Software?

To understand the full spectrum of a modern ERP system, it's important that we first look at the core business operations within a company. We're looking at everything from finance, HR and manufacturing to supply chain management, inventory management, services and procurement.

At its most basic level, ERP solutions help companies manage all these processes and streamline operations in one integrated platform. Your ERP system holds business data from across the entire organization and uses said data for better resource management and increased efficiency.

So, where's the catch? Considering the various benefits of ERP software, why even look into additional software?

How to leverage ERP benefits for AR processes

When it comes to elevating business processes, ERP integration boosts Accounts Receivable management in significant ways. However, to fully appreciate these benefits, it's important that we first focus on some of the critical limitations regarding ERP software, especially for AR teams.

While ERPs touch on a wide range of business/accounting processes, sometimes the nuances of each specific process aren't properly recognized or accounted for by the ERP. Additionally, leveraging ERP capabilities for specfic AR challenges requires complex data requests that aren't manageable or sustainable, considering that most AR teams already function at maximum capacity. This by no means makes ERP redundant, though.

In fact, it simply means that you're sitting on a goldmine of untapped value - you just need the right tool to leverage it.

In other words, Accounts Receivable (AR) functions perform optimally when they share a common dataset and seamlessly integrate with business processes via integration with an ERP system. This revelation falls into one of the common misconceptions of ERP systems: Your ERP data is much like a sleeping giant, rich with untapped potential to revolutionize your accounts receivable (AR) processes.

However, without the right tools, it holds little to no value regarding operational efficiency. In fact, without the right tools, AR teams remain in the tight grip of manual processes and repetitive tasks, resulting in resources being drained, slower AR processes and a stalling of cash flow.

Fortify your competitive advantage: AR automation x ERP system benefits

Business leaders often believe that on-premise or cloud ERP systems are the be-all and end-all to proactively manage operations. We now know that this is not the case. Here's how the key benefits of enterprise software are enhanced by integrating it with other software that can elevate its core functionality.

Effective risk management

When it comes to businesses identifying and investigating risk within the financial department, companies need insight into real time data within the business environment. This becomes increasingly more challenging and time-consuming (and essential) as your business expands.

Now, your ERP system may have this data stored somewhere. However, your on-premise or cloud ERP is not trained to translate this information in a way that speaks to the specific risk landscape within AR. Therefore, by integrating ERP software applications, like AR automation, you can centralize your company's financial data and effortlessly access and store all financial records. This not only leads to improved data navigation, but the insight to real time data reduces vulnerabilities and exposure as you gain visibility into your AR exposure and the risk areas that need to be addressed.

Finally, this takes the burden of running after paperwork off your shoulders, as it offers recordkeeping and archival benefits.

Improved customer relationships


What do ERP solution benefits have to do with a better customer service experience? Well, when integrating the right tool - everything. AR automation tools ensure better customer service by improving customer relationship management as a whole.

It does this in two main ways: by improving resource allocation and improving the way customers engage with and experience the entire collections process. AR automation taps into real time data, which it then leverages to automate manual processes. Not only does this increase productivity and customer turnaround times, but it also frees up your team to focus on more value-driven tasks, such as client management.

Moreover, AR automation significantly improves collaboration across various departments, as well as with clients, providing a single source of truth regarding the collections process where clients, stakeholders and AR teams can track and manage all workflows in one single platform, leading to transparent processes with reduced operational costs.

How System1A works with your ERP platform

Ultimately, just like any powerful duo, each one needs to play its part. Cue System 1A.

At System1A, we integrate directly with your ERP to help your AR team streamline its multiple systems within the overall AR process to increase productivity and reduce business costs in one go.

Ready to make the switch? Read more about the benefits of integrating AR automation with your ERP: ERP for finance: Beyond your ERP systems.