Category Archives: International

What Wholesale Companies Should Know If You’re Planning a Technology Upgrade in 2026

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For wholesalers, an ERP system isn’t just accounting software, it’s the engine that keeps your business running. It manages inventory levels, tracks orders, controls margins, and connects suppliers to customers. When your ERP can’t keep up, your operations and profitability start to suffer.

If your wholesale company is planning to replace its ERP system within the next six months, now’s the time to take a structured approach. The right preparation can mean the difference between a smooth transition and a costly disruption. Here’s what you need to assess, who to involve, and the key considerations before making your move.

1. Understand Why You’re Replacing Your ERP

Start by identifying your driving factors for change. Common reasons wholesalers replace their ERP systems include:

  • Lack of real-time visibility into stock levels across multiple warehouses
  • Inefficient or error-prone order fulfillment processes
  • Difficulty integrating with eCommerce or EDI systems
  • Inaccurate pricing, discount, or commission tracking
  • Poor reporting or limited analytics
  • Outdated technology that can’t scale with business growth

When you define why you’re replacing your ERP, it becomes easier to prioritize what your next system must deliver from automation to analytics.

2. Map Your Current Operations and Pain Points

Before selecting a new system, document how your business operates today. Examine your entire order-to-cash process, including:

  • Purchasing and vendor management
  • Inventory tracking across multiple warehouses or locations
  • Order entry, picking, packing, and shipping
  • Customer pricing tiers and discounts
  • Returns and backorders

Identify where bottlenecks, duplicate data entry, or delays occur. The goal is to ensure your new ERP system solves current problems, not replicating them in a more modern interface.

3. Build a Cross-Department Evaluation Team

ERP decisions impact everyone, from warehouse staff to accounting. Create a team that includes:

  • Executive Sponsor: Ensures alignment with business strategy and budget approval
  • Operations/Warehouse Manager: Evaluates inventory control, warehouse workflows, and fulfillment processes
  • Sales and Customer Service Representatives: Identify order management, pricing, and customer visibility needs
  • Finance Team: Defines accounting, reporting, and margin tracking requirements
  • IT Lead: Oversees data migration, integrations, and system performance

A cross-functional team ensures your ERP selection supports the entire wholesale operation, not just one department’s priorities.

4. Create a Realistic Six-Month Plan

If you aim to replace your ERP within six months, you are taking on a very tight timeline. But if you are organized and focused, you can achieve your goal. Structure your project into clear phases:

  • Month 1: Define goals, requirements, and pain points
  • Month 2: Research vendors specializing in wholesale and distribution ERP
  • Month 3: Shortlist systems, conduct demos, and evaluate fit
  • Month 4: Select your ERP and begin implementation planning
  • Month 5–6: Data migration preparation and plan user training

Having a defined timeline keeps the project focused and prevents costly delays.

5. Budget for the Full Scope (Not Just Software)

ERP projects often exceed budget when companies underestimate the “extras.” Be sure to include:

  • Implementation and configuration services
  • Data migration and integration with third-party systems (e.g., eCommerce, shipping software, etc.)
  • User training and onboarding
  • Ongoing support and maintenance costs

A complete budget helps you evaluate ROI and build realistic expectations across the organization.

6. Prioritize Real-Time Inventory and Order Visibility

For wholesalers, real-time visibility is critical. Look for ERP software that provides instant access to:

  • Stock levels across all locations
  • Reorder points and purchasing automation
  • Sales order tracking from quote to shipment
  • Drop-shipping and backorder management
  • Profitability by product line or customer

These capabilities help you make faster, smarter decisions and deliver a better experience for your customers.

7. Choose Flexibility and Customization Over Limitations

Every wholesale operation runs differently, from pricing structures to fulfillment methods. Your ERP should adapt to your business – not the other way around.

AccountMate’s customizable ERP gives wholesalers the flexibility to tailor workflows, reports, and features to match their unique processes. Whether you manage complex pricing tiers, high-volume orders, or multiple warehouses, AccountMate lets you configure the system around your specific operational model.

8. Plan for Change Management

Replacing an ERP system can be disruptive. Communicate early with your team, involve users in testing, and provide adequate training to build confidence in the new system. When employees understand how the change benefits them; faster processing, fewer errors, clearer visibility so adoption happens more smoothly.

9. Partner with a Vendor Who Understands Wholesale Distribution

Your ERP vendor should have deep experience in the wholesale industry. Evaluate providers based on:

  • Proven success with wholesale and distribution clients
  • Responsive implementation and support teams
  • Strong inventory and order management capabilities
  • Scalable functionality as your business grows

The right ERP partner will act as an extension of your business, helping you get the most value from your investment long after go-live.

Replacing your ERP system can transform how your wholesale business operates, improving order accuracy, speeding fulfillment, and providing the real-time insights you need to make profitable decisions.

If your company is planning an ERP replacement, consider how AccountMate’s customizable ERP for wholesale and distribution can help you manage inventory, pricing, and customers more efficiently. With full source-code access and flexible modules, AccountMate gives wholesalers complete control to tailor the system to their business needs.

To get started with AccountMate, you need to work closely with experienced ERP consultants who can guide you through the selection and implementation process, ensuring that your ERP system aligns with your business’s immediate needs and long-term vision.

Are you considering a new ERP system? Contact our experts! We have local solution providers who can help you navigate the process. Contact us now or call 707-774-7537 to talk to someone about your specific needs.

Planning a Technology Upgrade? The Nine Steps Manufacturing Leaders Should Take to Evaluate ERP

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For manufacturers, replacing an ERP system isn’t just an IT upgrade – it’s a strategic decision that impacts your entire production and supply chain ecosystem. From shop floor operations to inventory management, purchasing, and financial reporting, your ERP system is the backbone of how your business runs.

If you’re planning to replace your ERP system in the next six months, now is the time to get organized. Here’s what your manufacturing company needs to assess, who should be involved, and the critical steps for ensuring a successful transition.

1. Identify Why You’re Replacing Your Current ERP

Start by clarifying what’s driving your decision. Common reasons manufacturers replace their ERP systems include:

  • Outdated technology that can’t integrate with modern tools or equipment
  • Limited visibility into production schedules, inventory, or costs
  • Inefficient manual processes and data silos between departments
  • Poor inventory accuracy or difficulty managing multiple warehouses
  • Lack of flexibility to handle make-to-order, make-to-stock, or mixed-mode manufacturing

Understanding why you’re replacing your ERP helps define the “what” – the features, functionality, and reporting capabilities your new system must deliver.

2. Evaluate Your Current Processes and Production Pain Points

Map your end-to-end manufacturing processes, from materials procurement to order fulfillment, and identify bottlenecks. Ask:

  • Where are delays or inefficiencies happening on the shop floor?
  • Are production schedules and material requirements aligned?
  • Do you have real-time insight into inventory, WIP (work in process), and finished goods?
  • How accurate and timely is your cost reporting?

Documenting your “as-is” processes gives you a clear foundation for building your “to-be” system requirements. This step also prevents replicating broken workflows in your new ERP.

3. Build a Cross-Functional Evaluation Team

Manufacturing ERP decisions shouldn’t be made in isolation by IT or finance. Your evaluation team should include representatives from:

  • Executive Leadership: To ensure alignment with long-term growth goals
  • Operations and Production Management: To evaluate scheduling, routing, and work order handling
  • Inventory and Supply Chain Teams: To ensure material planning and procurement visibility
  • Finance: To validate costing, job tracking, and profitability analysis
  • IT: To assess data migration, integrations, and system architecture

Each department brings a unique perspective that will help you choose an ERP system capable of supporting every stage of manufacturing operations.

4. Establish a Six-Month ERP Replacement Timeline

A six-month window is aggressive, but achievable for a mid-sized manufacturer with a clear plan. Consider breaking the process into these phases:

  • Month 1: Define goals, document current workflows, and establish requirements.
  • Month 2: Research ERP vendors that specialize in manufacturing.
  • Month 3: Conduct demos and assess how each solution handles your production, costing, and inventory needs.
  • Month 4: Select your vendor, finalize the contract, and plan implementation.
  • Month 5–6: Begin data migration, user training, and phased deployment.

Strong project management and vendor collaboration will help you stay on schedule and minimize disruption.

5. Budget Beyond Software Costs

Your ERP replacement budget should include:

  • Implementation and data migration services
  • Shop floor hardware or integration updates (e.g., barcode scanners and other devices)
  • User training and change management
  • Ongoing support, upgrades, and maintenance

A total cost of ownership (TCO) approach will help you avoid surprises and justify the investment to stakeholders.

6. Prioritize Flexibility and Customization

Manufacturing businesses are rarely “standard.” You may have unique costing methods, production sequences, or order configurations. Look for ERP systems that can be tailored to your processes –not the other way around.

AccountMate ERP, for example, is fully customizable at the source-code level. That means your system can be configured to support your exact manufacturing model, whether it’s job shop, process, or discrete production. This flexibility ensures you can adapt your ERP as your business evolves, rather than being locked into rigid workflows.

7. Focus on Real-Time Visibility and Reporting

In manufacturing, decisions made too late cost money. Your new ERP should give you real-time visibility into inventory levels, production status, labor utilization, and cost tracking. Look for features like:

  • Shop floor data collection and scheduling tools
  • Real-time material requirements planning (MRP)
  • Integrated quality control tracking
  • Advanced costing and variance reporting

When everyone, from production supervisors to the CFO, works from the same real-time data, efficiency and profitability improve dramatically.

8. Plan for Change Management and Training

ERP replacements can be disruptive, especially in production environments where every minute counts. Communicate early, involve shop floor users in testing, and schedule hands-on training sessions before go-live. The smoother your user adoption, the faster you’ll see ROI.

9. Choose a Vendor That Understands Manufacturing

Your ERP partner should know manufacturing inside and out; not just from a software perspective, but from a business operations standpoint. Evaluate vendors based on:

  • Industry expertise and case studies in manufacturing
  • Strong implementation and training support
  • Long-term scalability and upgrade path
  • Ability to integrate with equipment and third-party logistics systems

Replacing your ERP system can redefine how your manufacturing business operates, improving visibility, streamlining production, and driving cost efficiency across every department. But success depends on planning, stakeholder engagement, and selecting a flexible, industry-specific solution.

If your company is preparing to replace its ERP system, consider how AccountMate’s customizable ERP for manufacturing can help you take control of your production, inventory, and financial processes. With its modular design and full source code access, AccountMate empowers manufacturers to configure the system to their exact requirements, ensuring a lasting fit for your business today and the future.

To get started with AccountMate, you need to work closely with experienced ERP consultants who can guide you through the selection and implementation process, ensuring that your ERP system aligns with your business’s immediate needs and long-term vision.

Are you considering a new ERP system? Contact our experts! We have local solution providers who can help you navigate the process. Contact us now or call 707-774-7537 to talk to someone about your specific needs.

Making Tariffs Less Taxing

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The Role of Tariffs in U.S. Business

Tariffs have long been a key factor in international trade, affecting businesses that import goods into the United States. These government-imposed duties can significantly impact the cost of products, supply chain decisions, and overall profitability. Companies must decide how to handle tariff-related costs – whether to absorb them as expenses or incorporate them into product pricing. This decision should always be made in consultation with a financial professional, as it can influence financial statements and tax obligations.

For businesses using AccountMate, managing tariffs is straightforward and flexible. Whether a company chooses to capitalize or expense tariffs, AccountMate provides the tools to properly account for these costs, ensuring accurate financial reporting and cost tracking.

Capitalizing Tariffs Using Landed Cost in AccountMate

If a company decides to capitalize tariffs – meaning they add the cost of tariffs to the value of their inventory – AccountMate’s Landed Cost feature within the Purchase Order (PO) module makes this process seamless. The Landed Cost feature allows businesses to allocate the tariff costs in a way that best fits their operations, including:

  • By weight – Distributing the cost based on the weight of the imported items.
  • By item value – Allocating costs in proportion to the value of each item.
  • By user input – Allowing users to manually assign costs per item based on a variety of factors, including business strategy, supply chain considerations, and specific operational requirements.

By capitalizing tariffs, businesses can better reflect the true cost of their inventory, which may be beneficial for pricing and profitability analysis.

Expensing Tariffs Using AccountMate’s AP Module

For businesses that choose to expense tariff costs instead – meaning they treat it as an operational cost rather than adding it to inventory value – AccountMate’s Accounts Payable (AP) module provides an easy way to record these expenses. Using the AP Invoice Transactions function, companies can track tariff costs as an expense without affecting inventory valuation.

This approach may be preferable for businesses that want to separate tariff costs from inventory pricing, particularly when they view tariffs as an operational cost rather than a component of product value.

AccountMate’s Flexibility in Managing Tariffs

Regardless of how a company chooses to handle tariffs, AccountMate offers the flexibility to manage these costs efficiently. The system has long supported both capitalization and expensing methods, allowing businesses to adapt based on their accounting strategies. However, AccountMate does not dictate how tariffs should be handled – that decision is best made in consultation with a financial professional.

With AccountMate’s robust features, businesses can confidently manage tariffs while maintaining financial accuracy and compliance. Whether integrating tariffs into inventory costs or tracking them as expenses, AccountMate ensures companies have the tools they need to stay in control of their finances.

To get started with AccountMate, you need to work closely with experienced ERP consultants who can guide you through the selection and implementation process, ensuring that your ERP system aligns with your business’s immediate needs and long-term vision.

Are you considering a new ERP system? Contact our experts! We have local solution providers who can help you navigate the process. Contact us now or call 707-774-7537 to talk to someone about your specific needs.