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ERP Software and Security: What to Know to Stay Protected

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It’s no secret that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software plays a critical role in helping companies manage operations from accounting and inventory to human resources and customer relationships. But with all that valuable data in one system, ERP software becomes a prime target for cybercriminals.

If you’re using or considering an ERP system for your business, it’s not just about what it can do for your operations, it’s also about how well it protects your sensitive data from scams, breaches, and internal misuse.

Here’s what businesses need to know about ERP software and security, and the must-have features to protect your organization.

The Rising Threats to ERP Systems

ERP systems are attractive targets because they hold the “crown jewels” of a business – financial data, employee information, supplier details, customer records, and more. A single breach can lead to:

  • Financial loss from theft or fraud
  • Legal liabilities due to data privacy regulations
  • Operational disruption that halts business activities
  • Reputational damage that affects customer and partner trust

Common ERP security threats include:

  • Phishing attacks targeting user logins
  • Ransomware locking down access to ERP systems
  • Internal threats from disgruntled employees or poorly managed permissions
  • Unpatched vulnerabilities in outdated software
  • Fake or malicious plugins or third-party integrations

What to Look for in a Secure ERP System

When choosing or evaluating ERP software, here are essential security features and practices businesses should prioritize:

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Ensure users only have access to the data and features necessary for their job. This minimizes exposure and reduces risk from internal threats or compromised accounts.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Strong ERP systems should require MFA – especially for users accessing financial data or administrative settings. This extra layer significantly reduces unauthorized access.

Data Encryption (At Rest and In Transit)

Data should be encrypted both when stored in the database and when it’s transmitted across networks. Look for end-to-end encryption protocols.

Audit Logs and Activity Tracking

A secure ERP should log user activity and changes to data, providing an audit trail that helps identify suspicious behavior or errors.

Regular Software Updates and Patch Management

ERP vendors should actively maintain their systems, releasing updates that fix known security vulnerabilities. Make sure updates are applied promptly.

Secure Cloud Hosting (if applicable)

If your ERP is cloud-based, ensure the vendor uses reputable cloud infrastructure providers and complies with security certifications.

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Even with the best security, things can go wrong. Reliable backup and recovery options help restore operations quickly after an incident.

Third-Party Integration Controls

ERP systems often connect with other software (e.g., e-commerce platforms, payroll systems). These integrations must be secure and come from trusted sources.

How Businesses Can Protect Themselves

Security isn’t just the vendor’s responsibility. Your organization plays a big role in keeping your ERP system safe. Here’s what you can do:

  • Train your staff: Educate employees on phishing scams, strong passwords, and security best practices.
  • Limit admin privileges: Only a few trusted individuals should have full administrative access to the ERP.
  • Review user permissions regularly: Especially after employee role changes or departures.
  • Work with trusted vendors: Choose ERP providers with strong security track records and clear privacy policies.
  • Get cyber insurance: This can help mitigate financial losses in the event of a breach.

Red Flags: Signs of an ERP Scam or Unsafe System

Watch out for these warning signs when choosing or using ERP software:

  • Unrealistically low prices or “lifetime access” deals with no ongoing support
  • Lack of transparency about where and how data is stored
  • No mention of compliance with data security standards
  • Outdated user interface or slow response to support inquiries
  • Pushy sales tactics or reluctance to provide a demo or references

An ERP system can streamline your business and give you a major operational edge but it must be secure. Data breaches or scams can undo all your hard work. Investing in a secure, trustworthy ERP solution, and following smart internal practices, is one of the best moves a business can make.

Don’t just ask what an ERP can do for your business. Ask how it protects it, too.

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.

9 Pain Points for Businesses Still Relying on QuickBooks

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Do you use QuickBooks for your business?

QuickBooks has long been a go-to solution for small businesses seeking to manage their finances with ease. While it’s a reliable entry-level tool for bookkeeping, many growing companies soon realize they are outgrowing QuickBooks. As businesses expand in complexity, QuickBooks often becomes inadequate, leading to various limitations that can hinder growth, efficiency, and financial accuracy.

Here are nine pain points businesses face when they continue to rely on QuickBooks:

1. Limited Scalability

QuickBooks is designed for small businesses, and while it performs well for basic bookkeeping, it struggles to meet the needs of larger or rapidly growing companies. As your business expands, you’ll likely face challenges like handling large volumes of transactions, multiple users, and more complex financial reporting requirements.

For instance, QuickBooks has limited multi-user capabilities, making it difficult for teams to collaborate in real-time. As more departments or business units come into play, the software’s lack of scalability forces businesses to consider upgrading to more robust systems.

2. Inadequate Reporting and Analytics

Financial reporting becomes increasingly crucial as businesses grow, but QuickBooks’ basic reporting features often fall short. The platform lacks advanced analytics tools that allow you to gain deeper insights into your financial data. This can make it difficult to identify trends, forecast accurately, or make data-driven decisions.

QuickBooks users often struggle to generate customized reports, particularly those that need to pull data from multiple sources or offer a more granular view of the company’s performance. This lack of reporting sophistication limits your ability to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) effectively.

3. Manual Data Entry and Errors

As businesses grow, so do the complexities of their financial processes. However, QuickBooks still requires a significant amount of manual data entry, which can lead to inefficiencies and human error. This becomes especially problematic when handling large volumes of transactions, payroll, and accounts payable/receivable.

Manual processes not only slow down operations but also increase the risk of inaccuracies. A simple error in data entry can lead to incorrect financial statements, which could result in poor decision-making or compliance issues.

4. Lack of Automation for Key Processes

QuickBooks lacks the automation capabilities needed to streamline complex workflows in areas such as payroll, inventory management, and procurement. As a result, employees may spend too much time on repetitive tasks, reducing productivity and increasing the chances of errors.

For example, if your business requires recurring invoicing or automatic payment processing, QuickBooks may require manual intervention to execute these tasks. More advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, in contrast, can automate these processes, saving time and reducing costs.

5. Limited Integration Capabilities

Modern businesses rely on a range of software solutions to manage everything from customer relationship management (CRM) to project management. However, QuickBooks has limited integration capabilities, making it difficult to sync seamlessly with other essential tools.

Without proper integration, businesses are forced to manually transfer data between systems, which not only wastes time but also increases the risk of data inconsistencies and errors. This can slow down operations and make it harder to maintain a holistic view of the business.

6. Poor Inventory Management Features

Inventory management is another area where QuickBooks falls short. While it offers basic functionality, such as tracking stock levels, it lacks the sophisticated features needed for businesses with complex or high-volume inventory needs. As your inventory grows, the limitations of QuickBooks become more evident, particularly when dealing with multiple locations, large product catalogs, or assembly processes.

For businesses in retail, manufacturing, or wholesale, inadequate inventory management can lead to stockouts, overstocking, and inaccurate order fulfillment, all of which can hurt profitability and customer satisfaction.

7. Compliance and Audit Challenges

As businesses scale, staying compliant with evolving tax laws, industry regulations, and audit requirements becomes more challenging. QuickBooks, while capable of handling basic tax reporting, struggles with the more complex compliance needs of larger organizations, especially those operating in multiple states or countries.

QuickBooks users often find it difficult to create detailed audit trails, track changes, and ensure that financial data meets the rigorous standards of auditors and regulatory bodies. This increases the risk of errors during audits or tax season and could lead to penalties or fines for non-compliance.

8. Lack of Real-Time Financial Visibility

QuickBooks doesn’t offer the real-time financial visibility that growing businesses need. Financial data is often delayed or requires manual updates, which can hinder your ability to make timely decisions based on current information.

For example, if your sales team doesn’t have real-time access to the latest financial data, it may make it difficult to manage cash flow, forecast sales, or assess profitability on the fly. Businesses using QuickBooks often experience lag times between data entry and reporting, which can hurt decision-making and limit agility.

9. Inability to Customize for Specific Business Needs

QuickBooks, while popular and widely used, has limitations in customization that can hinder a business’s unique operational needs. Its standardized features are designed to suit a broad range of companies but often lack the flexibility for tailored adjustments. Users often find that specific industry requirements, nuanced workflows, or specialized reporting needs are challenging to accommodate.

Lack of customization can restrict growth and adaptability, as businesses may have to alter their processes to fit the software rather than having the software adapted to them. For companies that need more than just basic bookkeeping, these limitations can lead to inefficiencies, workarounds, and a reliance on third-party integrations that might not fully align with their goals.

AccountMate offers customizable ERP software that empowers businesses with tailored solutions for their specific needs. Unlike QuickBooks, AccountMate’s platform allows companies to build in customizations that support their unique operations, giving them a strategic advantage over competitors using standard, non-customizable software. This flexibility means AccountMate clients can compete using processes that align with their strategic vision and industry demands. With AccountMate, businesses can optimize for efficiency, scale with ease, and drive growth without being constrained by the one-size-fits-all approach.

Businesses at a crossroads with QuickBooks should consider transitioning to more robust ERP software solutions (like AccountMate), which offer greater scalability, automation, integration, and real-time insights. By making the switch, you can eliminate these pain points and ensure that your financial infrastructure is aligned with your long-term business goals.

If you are ready to transition to an innovative ERP solution, it’s essential to work closely with experienced ERP consultants and vendors 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.

Considering a new ERP solution? Talk to our experts! AccountMate has local experts who can help you navigate your ERP solution needs. Contact us now or call 707-774-7537 to talk to someone about your specific needs.

What’s the Difference Between Configurable and Customizable ERP Software?

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One of the most crucial parts about determining what ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is right for you is the flexibility of the software to fit your business processes. Two terms often used in this context are configurable and customizable ERP software. While they might sound similar, they refer to two very different approaches to adapting ERP software to your company’s needs.

Understanding the distinction between configurable and customizable ERP systems can help you make an informed decision and ensure that your ERP investment aligns with both your current and future business requirements.

What Is Configurable ERP Software?

Configurable ERP software is designed with flexibility built into its core. It allows users to change or adjust certain features, settings, and processes to match specific business requirements without altering the underlying code. These adjustments are typically made through settings, templates, or modules within the software that can be turned on, off, or adjusted to suit the user’s needs.

For example, a configurable ERP system might allow you to choose how financial reports are displayed, set specific approval workflows for procurement, or define user permissions – all without requiring technical development.

Key characteristics of configurable ERP software:

  • No coding: Configuration changes can be made by non-technical users or system administrators using the software’s built-in tools.
  • Defined parameters: The system offers different options for cookie-cutter business processes within a structured framework.
  • Faster implementation: Since no custom code is involved, the configuration process is generally faster, leading to quicker deployment.

Examples of configurable options in ERP systems:

  • Customizable dashboards and reporting templates.
  • Setting up multi-currency options or tax rules for different regions.
  • Creating different approval workflows based on user roles or departments.
  • Defining pricing rules, discounts, or promotional offers.

What Is Customizable ERP Software?

Customizable ERP software, on the other hand, goes beyond configuration by allowing businesses to modify the underlying code to meet specific business needs. Customization involves altering or adding new features that aren’t available within the system’s out-of-the-box settings.

Customization can be necessary for businesses with unique processes that aren’t supported by a configurable ERP system. For instance, if your business has proprietary workflows, specific regulatory requirements, or specialized industry needs, you will likely require customization to ensure that the software aligns with your operations.

Key characteristics of customizable ERP software:

  • Coding required: Customization often requires technical expertise, either from your in-house IT team or from an external ERP developer.
  • Tailored to your specific needs: Customization allows for unique and specific functionality to be built into the system that is not available in the standard configuration.
  • Longer implementation time: Since customizations involve coding and testing, the implementation process takes longer compared to an out-of-the-box option.

Examples of customizations in ERP systems:

  • Developing a custom reporting module that tracks specific industry-related metrics.
  • Creating a tailored workflow that automates processes unique to your business model.
  • Building an integration with a niche third-party software that isn’t supported by default.
  • Developing new features or modules that aren’t included in the standard ERP package.

Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between configurable and customizable ERP software depends on several factors, including your industry, the complexity of your operations, and how unique your business processes are. Here’s a breakdown of when each option might be the better fit:

When to Choose a Configurable ERP System:

  • Standard business processes: If your business follows relatively standard processes, a configurable ERP system with pre-built workflows and modules may fill your needs.
  • Faster implementation: If you need to implement an ERP solution quickly, configuration is the way to go.
  • Lower cost and complexity: Configurable ERP solutions are generally less expensive because you won’t have to spend resources on development or ongoing support for custom code.

When to Choose a Customizable ERP System:

  • Unique processes: If your business has unique or complex processes that go beyond what is typically offered by out-of-the-box solutions, customization is often necessary. This is common in specialized industries like manufacturing, healthcare, or government entities, where specific workflows and compliance needs may not be supported by standard ERP features.
  • Scalability and differentiation: Custom ERP solutions can provide a competitive edge by aligning the software exactly with your business model, allowing for scalability as your business grows.
  • Specialized reporting or integrations: If you require custom reporting capabilities or need to integrate the ERP system with niche software solutions not supported by default, customization is the way to achieve these goals.
  • Industry-specific compliance: For highly regulated industries with stringent compliance requirements, customizing the ERP system to meet those needs can be essential.

What About a Hybrid Approach?

Many modern ERP systems offer a combination of configurability and customization. This hybrid approach allows businesses to use standard configurations for some of their needs while customizing specific areas that are critical to their unique processes. This balance can provide what a lot of businesses need – flexibility to adapt.

AccountMate’s Customization Stories

When choosing an ERP software, you should consider how your business will grow in the coming years. Do you have a straight-forward business that can incorporate an “out-of-the-box” software, or does your business have more considerations and future goals that will likely need a custom solution? It’s also essential to work with an ERP vendor that offers strong customer support and can help guide you. AccountMate specializes in creating customized solutions for businesses who need more than the out-of-the-box software’s can provide.

Here are some examples of customized solutions:

1. Manufacturer of Test Equipment for the Paper Industry

  • Problem: Workers forgot or lost the “Certificate of Analysis” required when shipping products.
  • Customization: Created an input screen for entering the necessary data and automated the system to print the correct certificate when each serialized product is shipped.

2. Water Filtration System Service Provider

  • Problem: Employees were regularly not invoicing filters during maintenance services.
  • Customization: Configured the system to trigger frequent cycle counts for high-turnover items, which helped the company identify inventory discrepancies and reduce lost invoices.

3. Medical Device Manufacturer/Distributor

  • Problem: The company serves international clients, and shipping documents and invoices needed to be in multiple languages.
  • Customization: Modified the ERP system to automatically print shipping documents and invoices in the language of the customer, supporting over a dozen languages.

4. Seed Corn Distributor

  • Problem: Seed corn is packaged by kernel count rather than weight, and shipping pallets have weight restrictions.
  • Customization: Changed the picking list to optimize loading by specifying which bags and how many to pack, ensuring that no pallet exceeded the 2,000-pound weight limit.

5. Produce Distributor

  • Problem: Carton quantities for cantaloupes vary based on fruit size, leading to discrepancies between purchase orders and actual deliveries.
  • Customization: Modified the ERP system to reconcile carton counts, unit counts, cost per unit, and other attributes for variable items like cantaloupes, ensuring accurate inventory management.

6. Alligator Hide Supplier

  • Problem: Alligator hides are categorized by multiple attributes, making inventory tracking and order fulfillment complex.
  • Customization: Developed a system to serialize and track alligator hides by 14 measurements, top or belly cut, and a grading system. The sales order process includes these attributes, and the picking list recommends which hides meet or exceed customer specifications, with preference for the oldest items. The system also tracks which specific serialized hide was picked and shipped.

Considerations for Future Growth

Understanding the difference between configurable and customizable ERP software is key to choosing the right solution for your business. Configurable ERP systems offer flexibility within a standard framework, allowing for faster implementation and easier maintenance. Customizable ERP systems allow for deeper tailoring to meet unique needs but often come with longer timelines.

The choice ultimately depends on the complexity of your operations and your business’s long-term goals. Regardless of the path you choose, making an informed decision will ensure that your ERP system supports your business as it grows and evolves.

To get started with AccountMate, you need to work closely with an experienced ERP consultant and vendor 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.