Advances in technology such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the internet of things (IoT) have created the ability for humans to feed their need for instant gratification. Online orders can be delivered in one or two days, TV shows can be called up just with voice commands, and cars can be locked right from an app on a mobile phone.
This growth in technology usability has heightened expectations for all software interactions, including ERPs. Customers have high ERP usability expectations now, as well they should. And while legacy ERP systems have historically been cumbersome and not user-friendly, more modern cloud-based ERP solutions are the opposite. Not all are created equal, however. Thus, usability should be a top priority when looking to update, upgrade, or replace your current ERP system.
Analyzing ERP Usability
This simplifying of our everyday personal and professional lives through user-friendly technology such as Alexa, Siri, and Google has become the norm, and we’re now wired to expect the same usability from other software such as ERP solutions. To meet these expectations, many ERP vendors have improved their ERP’s usability with intuitive user interfaces, personalization capabilities, mobile applications, and more.
It’s up to the buyer to factor ERP usability into an ERP evaluation. Selecting an ERP based on its usability provides multiple benefits, including:
- Increased user and employee satisfaction
- Reduced time, effort, and money to train users
- Better data management
- Improved collaboration
- Enhanced forecasting
- Increased productivity and business growth
Finding the right ERP solution with the usability your team needs doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. Resources such as Nucleus Research can help, with analysis that rated 23 cloud ERP software vendors based on usability, functionality, and potential ROI in their 2020 ERP Technology Value Matrix.
Acumatica Leads in ERP Usability
In the 2020 ERP Technology Value Matrix, cloud ERP solution Acumatica was once again named an overall Leader, as well as the single ERP offering with the Highest Usability, the software’s fifth year holding the title. Nucleus Research supported its rating by noting:
“Customers note that the solution’s usability is a differentiator during initial evaluation and implementation, but the software can then scale to handle complex and high-volume data processing as well. New users can be onboarded quickly and collaborate efficiently across departments and geographies. Acumatica’s flexibility enables users to configure their implementation to match existing best practice, while promoting the move away from siloed data and processes. The vendor has made significant investments in bringing Industry 4.0 functionalities to both its General Business and Industry Editions, demonstrating its commitment to providing long-term value for customers.”
Acumatica’s ERP usability differentiates the solution from many others, and twice-yearly releases focus on usability enhancements to the mobile application and industry editions.
Award-Winning ERP Usability With Acumatica and ASI
Acumatica’s 100 percent browser-enabled ERP solution—accessible from anywhere and from any device—provides users with a single, centralized source of truth. With unlimited user licensing, teams can share and analyze information across all departments in real time through personalized dashboards and built in BI, resulting in faster, more informed decision-making through company-wide collaboration. In addition, Acumatica provides a single look and feel across all applications, which contributes to overall usability.
If your team is looking for the full capability of an ERP with the simplicity for all users to take advantage of the system, it might be time to consider adding Acumatica cloud ERP to your technology stack. As an authorized Acumatica Partner, ASI can help you find exactly what you need and prove just how profitable ERP usability can be for your business. Get started with ERP usability today.