Disconnected legacy solutions that don’t “talk” to one another are quickly giving way to unified, cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that bring all departments, functions, processes and people onto the same platform. In most cases, any outside applications can also easily be integrated into an ERP like NetSuite using application programming interfaces (APIs) or other tools.
For contract furniture dealers, being able to bring all of their business processes onto a single, unified system is much like flipping on a light switch in an otherwise darkened room. Literally overnight, the company has the dashboards, reporting and insights that it needs to run its end-to-end operation.
Marketing knows what sales is doing, sales knows what finance requires, and the shipping department knows what’s coming down the pike. Everyone can prepare in advance, work more proactively and better serve their customers at a time when disruption and uncertainty seem to be lurking around every corner.
“ERP software allows total access to every vital process in your business by making data from every department easily accessible to you and your senior management,” SelectHub points out.
For example, contract furniture dealers can monitor inventory levels daily, including future consignments that are yet to be received and inventory currently in transit. “By knowing precisely where you stand regarding inventory levels,” the publication adds, “you can control your working capital on a more precise level.”
With all company information in a centralized location, companies can also increase collaboration and streamline task completion. “This complete visibility provides more coherent workflows and grants interdepartmental processes to track with maximum efficiency,” SelectHub states.
A three-pronged approach for dealers
When contract furniture companies implement NetSuite and ERP Success Partners’ CFI Suite, they gain access to a wide variety of capabilities that fall into three distinct buckets:
NetSuite’s core functionalities
- Business intelligence and reporting
- Customer relationship management (CRM) and commission management
- Order management
- Ecommerce
- Financial management
- Workflow automation
ERP Success Partners’ SuiteApps/CFI Suite extensions
- Line import tool
- Multi-line edit tool
- Project insights
- Manufacturer specific connectors
- Work in progress (WIP) accounting/pre-sold inventory
Direct integrations with Contract Furniture Industry applications
- Warehouse management – RF-Smart
- Sales tax integration – Avalara
- Process automation – Avanto
- 3rd party integrations – Celigo
- Electronic signature – DocuSign
- Field service management – NextService
On top of NetSuite’s robust functionalities, CFI Suite can be further customized to suit the dealership/business model of furniture dealers, based on each company’s unique needs or requirements.
Reaping the rewards of a unified business system
When contract furniture companies implement NetSuite and ERP Success Partners’ CFI Suite, they gain access to a wide variety of capabilities that fall into three distinct buckets:
Standardized & centralized data
An ERP standardizes all of your critical data. Since it’s all in one system, everything will be in the same format so you don’t run into issues when running reports or analytics. Standardized information allows you to get all the insights you need to make more informed decisions that help the business save as much time and money as possible.
Mobile workforce support
NetSuite automates many basic, repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to work on other projects that bring more value to the organization. It can also allow them to complete a variety of tasks faster by making processes more straightforward and reducing the time spent searching for the information they need.
Increased productivity
NetSuite automates many basic, repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to work on other projects that bring more value to the organization. It can also allow them to complete a variety of tasks faster by making processes more straightforward and reducing the time spent searching for the information they need.
Improved compliance
Having accurate, up-to-date records that are easy to find and searchable can really reduce the work required to comply with any regulations your company must adhere to.
Better operational visibility
Visibility into the status of processes and data managed by other teams ultimately helps all teams and individual contributors do their jobs better. It also eliminates the time and effort spent trying to simply find this information.
Organized workflows
Much like an ERP standardizes data, it also standardizes workflows. The way one department handles a certain process may differ from that of another department. Even two employees within the AP department may not follow the same steps to make payments, for example. An ERP system should eradicate those discrepancies, ensuring everyone is following the same best practices.
These are just some of the benefits that contract furniture companies can count on when they trade in their antiquated, disconnected systems with an ERP that offers industry-specific integrations.
