The software sector evolves at a rapid pace, and with the advent of generative AI and improvements in machine learning, that pace has increased over the last few years. If you’re still using software from ten or even five years ago, or you have scaled or pivoted since your last major implementation, it could be time for a system upgrade.
But with several options at your disposal and your future success hinging on your decision, it’s not something you should rush into. You need to make sure you have the right software at an appropriate cost.
So, if you’re thinking of upgrading your metal fabrication software, ask yourself the following questions first.
Can You Scale Your Business?
Scaling your business can be frustrating work if your current software solutions are rigid. You don’t know what the future will bring, so look for business software that will grow alongside you, accounting for all of the extra clients and projects you may acquire, as well as any additional features you may need when the time comes.
Is it Cost-Effective?
Good business software can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. If it’s properly integrated, it can be worth its weight in gold and will save you much more than it costs. However, you don’t want to fall into the trap of paying for features or services that you don’t need.
Sure, you might need them in the future, but that’s where the benefit of scalability comes into play. You should be able to add extra features as and when they are needed, and you shouldn’t be coerced into buying them now on the off chance that you will need them in the future.
Can Your Chosen Software Properly Manage Your Inventory?
Inventory management is a key consideration when choosing software for metal fabrication. It eliminates the need for manual inventory checking, thus saving valuable resources and reducing costly mistakes. But it doesn’t simply record incoming orders and monitor ongoing stock levels.
Good inventory management software will also record the specific dimensions of your inventory, as well as its quality. It optimizes purchasing decisions and ensures you only keep the stock you need. There will be no more overstocking or understocking, and by keeping track of all available materials, it should streamline the production process.
Eliminating costly stock issues and expediting the production process will ultimately lead to happier clients, better relationships, and greater customer demand.
Check out the RealSTEEL™ real-time inventory management solution to learn more.
Can You Expedite the Quote to Order Process?
A shorter quote-to-order process leaves you more time to meet customer needs and focus on other aspects of your business. Your business software should offer an integrated business management solution that automates this process, taking the information from a quote and feeding it into the order process.
AI order solutions not only automate and streamline this process, but they do it with fewer errors. What’s more, as these programs learn through practical application, they will improve with every order that they process, effectively becoming a valued and experienced employer that provides more and more benefits for your business.
Will it Increase Profit Margins?
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is whether a new business software solution will actually benefit your bottom line. This software isn’t free, and depending on the size and nature of your chosen solution, it could come with costly implementation charges.
If you pay all of that money and don’t see any benefits, it’s probably not worth it.
Of course, without such a software solution in place, it can be difficult to see where those benefits lie and how big your profit margins are.
Business management solutions provide a clearer overview of production costs and profit margins, giving you more insights into how much you’re making from each run. They can also highlight areas that need improvement, making it easier to optimize your business and eradicate costly processes.
Will it Improve Customer Service?
Keeping the customer happy should always be your main goal. It doesn’t matter how good your product is and how streamlined your production processes are if customers aren’t buying or aren’t happy with their purchases.
In addition to creating a solid foundation that should result in greater capabilities and happier customers, business management software may also include customer relationship management solutions. As the name suggests, these applications are all geared toward keeping your customers happy, such as by integrating support tickets and live chat solutions, as well as improving the customer returns process.
Consider how each integration will benefit your customers, as well as your business. After all, if you don’t have happy customers, you don’t have a business.
Can it Do Everything You Need it to Do?
Your business software should be tailored to your industry and your business. Enterprise resource planning software, for instance, is a suite of applications designed to manage every aspect of your business. You can choose the applications and features that you need and omit the ones that you don’t.
Look for software designed for the steel and metal fabrication sector, something that can manage everything from inventory and sales or processing to client relationships. At RealSTEEL™, we offer personalized, cloud-based ERP solutions designed to suit businesses of most sizes within the steel and metal sector, spanning solutions such as:
- Metal nesting software
- Steel service center software
- Metal fabrication software
- Sheeting and leveling software
- Multi-line processing
This steel optimization software will streamline your business operations from the moment you send a sales order to the time you process, pack, and ship an order to a client.
Conclusion: Asking the Right Questions Before Upgrading Your Metal Fabrication Software
A successful software implementation can optimize your business, speed up production, divert resources, and improve supplier and client relationships. As the above guide shows, though, there are various options available, and asking the right questions will help you determine which one is best.
For more information, download our 12 Questions eBook for steel service centers.
