- Jul 27, 2021
- Category: Enterprise Resource Planning
No tool or solution is perfect; you just need to find exact one aligned with your requirements. So, when you’re finalizing the ERP or enterprise resource planning software, sift through features of all, to check the best fit.
We would discuss two popular software Lawson ERP and SAP ERP in market that are serving professionals right way. Besides offering them access to right information, these solutions are making process synchronized to reach goal.
As we compare these two ERPs, it becomes clear both of them have specific features that sync with processes of different businesses.
First, let’s understand what ERP is?
ERP or enterprise resource planning is the solution that connects each department with the other. It enables them to communicate information easily, leading to increased productivity. It’s a fact every department has a crucial role to play, so when all of them support or assist the other even indirectly in executing their process, it leads to best results. The important ERP modules are human resources management, order management, supply chain management, customer relationship management, project service resource management, warehouse management and many more. ERP combines all these in a unified system.
The users in different departments might not get step-by-step guidance, but yes, they can overview what is happening in other departments. They can use it for better decision-making process by referring to that information.
Although ERP offers these benefits to organizations, there are also specific limitations. It is business process useful to organization needs to be aligned with ERP solution and sometimes complex integration can prove to be costly. And the next disadvantage is end-user needs to be trained on a daily basis. Despite all these disadvantages, enterprise resource planning is seen as a highly beneficial software with more advantages than disadvantages. With its ability to integrate every area of a business process including sale and distribution, manufacturing, logistics, accounting, warehouse management, the solution leads to streamlined workflow. It lets save time and overall expenses, offers real-time information whenever required, provides effective data sharing among all units, single data source, tracking of every transaction and many more. It addresses every crucial function in a business.
Some of the industries that use ERP are food & beverage, consulting, financial services, advertising and digital media, transportation and logistics, IT services, wholesale distribution, non-profit, healthcare and others.
What is SAP ERP?
It is SAP enterprise resource planning software with different modules. The solution is built on advanced analytics and machine learning technologies. It has a fast deployment process and users can access it through any device. SAP ERP is not only flexible but also scalable, to the delight of users. And if you’re an innovative company, you can go for continuous innovation and later update with the help of cloud.
It captures all the data into system. With the upgradation of solution, now SAP ERP can harness technologies like cloud, analytics and machine learning to complete advantage.
The modules are procurement module, accounting module, accounts receivable, human resources module, project management module, supply chain management module, customer database, accounts receivable and others. All these modules make the process streamlined across all departments. The human resource module is for the HR department in an organization where the process goes on managing human resources, accounting module is for the finance department and so on.
It acts as a binding factor that guides them to have proper communication. The solution helps large enterprises.
The platforms are desktop, mobile and cloud.
What we know is that licenses cost around $3,213 for professional users while for limited users it is around $1,666.
In general, SAP ERP pricing starts at $94 per user/month.
What is Lawson ERP?
It is the enterprise resource planning software that offers accurate services to improvise functioning of departments across organization.
The common Lawson ERP features are supply chain management module and human resources module; this solution is mainly designed to meet complex needs of manufacturer, though it serves other industries as well. It is popular among small and mid-sized businesses and leads them to achieve their target. The solution has 2 products- M3 and S3.
Now these two products help different industries in varied ways. The M3 product helps any industry that maintains processes: the distribution, or the manufacturing. Lawson S3 product gels well with service industry. It is efficient for financial services, healthcare, retail and others. Thus, you see the software is one-stop solution for different sectors in market. The platform is desktop.
The Lawson software doesn’t offer the pricing information for the HCM application and for the payroll software. But still its considered affordable as compared to SAP ERP; also, the costs are directly proportional to the number of employees working in an organization. It has a flexible pricing model which has an annual subscription fee including managed services, license, maintenance amongst others.
Many users have opted for this software due to effective cost management.
The solution is integrated into many organizations around 40 countries. According to finding, S3 is primarily used in industries in USA, while M3 is used outside USA.
Conclusion:
Both Lawson ERP and SAP ERP are popular among users. Each has its USP and can help different sized businesses, industries in best way. As an organization, if you’re looking to finalize from these two, you need to check the pros and cons of both carefully.
Besides that, you need to see whether it would align with your business process. Remember, even if the solution is high-end and has many features, but if it doesn’t serve your purpose, it is a waste of time, energy and money. You obviously don’t want the same.
So, execute your own research and check each feature and whether you and your team are going to use it, does it align with your budget and many other such questions. You would find the more you analyze, you could come to the right conclusion beneficial for your organization in long-term.