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PalletCentral • January-February 2023 27 production and piece rate activity, which can reduce inaccuracies and repair costs as well as identify high performers. Effective inventory management with an ERP allows for more timely customer order fulfillment and the ability to identify potential losses. Measuring how long trailers sit at each customer location with an ERP, for instance, can help to maintain the proper fleet size." Advantages include: Supply chain management: Complications resulting from several years of global crisis is a good reason to manage business data with software. "e reality of the current supply chain environment has greatly improved the business case for ERP implementation. As we've all seen through the last few years, business cycles are happening much faster and the right software solutions can help by giving managers quick, actionable data that enables them to make better decisions faster. is, along with labor issues and other factors, makes implementing an ERP a slam dunk for nearly any business," says Kevan Grinwis, e PalMate Group. Accessibility: Convenience of having data accessible from any location and stored safely off-site is significant. "Cloud-based ERP systems offer the convenience of cloud-based technology. ese systems can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection," says Philip Varley, Pallet Connect. "is means that businesses can access their data and systems even when employees are working remotely, and managers can easily monitor and manage operations from their own devices. is flexibility can be especially beneficial for companies that have employees working on the road, such as pallet businesses often do." Inventory management: Keeping a pallet business operating at peak performance means having the right assets available to complete work efficiently. "When it comes to inventory in a pallet plant or sawmill, the only way you can accurately track inventory is by using plant floor data collection," says Alan Miceli, Pallet- Track®. "Kiosks, tablets, and handheld devices out on the floor allow you to track every stick from purchases to cut-up to WIP to assembly and finally to shipping. Real-time, plant floor tracks this at every step. If you're not tracking it this way, you will never have an accurate inventory. e key is to keep it simple and make the process faster and easier than what your staff was doing previously. is is a winning combination for tracking inventory in a pallet shop. If your inventory process is in real-time, you will save time and money by simply viewing what you need and how much you need. ERP will schedule your MRP, and production needs based on what you have in-stock, so you don't over build or over cut material." Increased profitability: Quick business decisions can easily be made with accurate real-time data. "ERP is important for progressive pallet makers because it allows them to effectively manage and track all of their resources, including pallets," shares Rob Zesch, Helioz Technologies, the creators of Pallet Insights. "With a cloud-based software, pallet makers can have a centralized location to track inventory, production, sales, and other important business information, to make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and ultimately increase profitability. Additionally, it allows them to have real-time visibility into their operations, We use our ERP to help manage almost every part of our business. From customer orders, tracking production, inventory management, piece rate calculations — even tracking our trailers are all managed with our ERP system. — says Mike Hachtman, CEO, Relogistics Services iStock/ananaline

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