As your startup scales, tools like basic accounting software and spreadsheets that once supported your business can start holding you back. Manual processes become time-consuming, financial data lives in silos, and teams lack the visibility they need to operate efficiently. If you can relate to these challenges, your business might be ready for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
What is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)?
ERP is a category of business software that integrates core business processes into a single system. By centralizing data from accounting, finance, supply chain management, sales, marketing, and HR, ERP systems provide automation, insights, and internal controls that drive efficiency and scalability. Without an ERP, critical business information is often scattered across multiple disconnected systems. This can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and wasted time. For example, accounting and FP&A teams may rely on separate spreadsheets with conflicting numbers for expense tracking, leading to confusion and misinformed decisions. An ERP solves these challenges by consolidating data and improving cross-departmental visibility, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions with confidence.
6 Key Benefits of ERP for Startups
1. Automate Repetitive Tasks & Work Smarter
Running a startup means making the most of your time. An ERP automatically handles repetitive tasks like reconciling accounts, sending invoices, and processing orders. This frees up your team to focus on growing the business instead of getting bogged down in manual work.
2. Make Faster, More Confident Decisions
When all your financial and operational data is in one place, making informed decisions becomes easier. No more sifting through conflicting reports or outdated spreadsheets—an ERP provides real-time insights and analytics, so you can quickly see where your business stands and make smart moves accordingly.
3. Greater Workflow Visibility & Transparency
As your startup grows, keeping track of everything happening across different teams gets harder. An ERP system helps by giving you a clear, real-time view of sales, expenses, order fulfillment, and more. You won’t have to chase down updates—everything is accessible in one system, keeping your team aligned and operations running smoothly.
4. Enhanced Data Security & Compliance
Startups handle sensitive financial, customer, and operational data that must be protected. ERP systems offer built-in security features like encrypted connections, access controls, and compliance tools to help safeguard your financial and customer data while ensuring you stay on top of regulations.
5. Improve Team Collaboration & Efficiency
When teams work in silos, communication suffers, and tasks get duplicated. An ERP connects different departments including finance, operations, sales, and customer support, so everyone has access to the same up-to-date information. This means fewer bottlenecks, better coordination, and a more efficient workflow overall.
6. Retain and Attract Investors
Did you know that PEs/VCs prefer to see companies that are already on a technology solution that can support their growth from birth to billions? Migrations from outgrown systems are typically more disruptive than new implementations.
Burkland x NetSuite ERP for Growing Startups
Contact Burkland today to learn how our team can help you implement NetSuite ERP and set your startup up for scalable success. NetSuite x Burkland has a special carve out program designed for startup and emerging clients of all sizes. This program is separate from Direct NetSuite Sales, and can offer significantly reduced pricing for many qualified clients. Many high-growth startups turn to NetSuite ERP to streamline their financial operations and scale with confidence. As an all-in-one cloud business management solution, NetSuite provides real-time insights, automation, and cost-saving for startups.
Burkland has an experienced team of ERP consultants who help startups seamlessly integrate NetSuite, ensuring proper setup, implementation, and ongoing optimization. Through our non-exclusive partnership with NetSuite, our clients also receive significant discounts, making ERP adoption more accessible for growing companies.
Not every startup is ready for an ERP, but if you’ve reached a point where ERP software can add value to your business, it’s wise to start evaluating your options — sooner than later.