Get in the Driver’s Seat. Choose the Right Automotive Aftermarket ERP for You.
If you are in the market for a new automotive aftermarket ERP solution, you’ve already learned that all good Enterprise Resource Planning solutions provide end-to-end integration for core business processes, phenomenal support for financial processing, and a welcome relief from error-prone and time-consuming manual processes.
But as an automotive aftermarket manufacturer or distributor, you need more than just the basics. You need an ERP that truly fits your needs. And you’re here reading this blog because you suspect SAP won’t fit your needs.
Luckily, you have options.
Acumatica: One of the Top Alternatives to SAP in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry
Acumatica Cloud ERP has been the fastest-growing business application globally for the past 8 years and their 8,000+ global customers can attest to the fact that Acumatica is a leader in customer satisfaction on all review platforms, everywhere.
But, honestly, who cares about what Acumatica is? What really matters is what Acumatica can do for you that SAP can’t do. During their research, most automotive aftermarket business leaders discover that Acumatica provides a few critical benefits that make it the right ERP.
3 Differences Between Acumatica and SAP as an Automotive Aftermarket Industry ERP
Business leaders in the automotive aftermarket industry must stay conscious of their cash flow, their inventory and production management capabilities, and their need to eliminate paper catalogs and irritating parts spreadsheets. With unique resource-based pricing (instead of per-user pricing) and dedicated distribution and manufacturing editions, Acumatica easily meets your automotive aftermarket business’s need for cost savings and deep functionality.
However, when you turbocharge Acumatica with AutoFitmentPlus, the fully integrated solution specifically built for automotive aftermarket companies, your Acumatica edition gains a lot more horsepower.
This is because AutoFitmentPlus, powered by Acumatica, stands out from SAP in 3 key areas:
- Costs
SAP: As you’ve discovered by now, SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign both stumble when it comes to industry vertical integration. Whether you want to use barcoding or mobile service apps, SAP will typically require you to purchase an add-on solution. Not only do all those add-ons increase your cost, they also increase your administrative work because you’ll have more IT solutions to manage – and more help desks to call when you have a problem.
Acumatica: Acumatica’s AutoFitmentPlus solution is fully integrated with Acumatica and the combo provides everything you need to run your automotive aftermarket ERP seamlessly for manufacturing, distribution, service, and eCommerce. Though AutoFitmentPlus is an add-on, the price sure is right (read on for more info).
- Built-in functionality
SAP: Both SAP Business One and SAP ByDesign offer only the lightest of lightweight capabilities when it comes to distribution. For Business One, the solution relies 100% on third-party add-ons for key functions like barcoding. Similarly, ByDesign has its own weaknesses in manufacturing: Make-to-Order and Engineer-to-Order capabilities don’t stack up to the competition, and manufacturing project management isn’t one of SAP ByDesign’s strengths.
Acumatica: As a modern cloud ERP with specific industry editions engineered to meet the precise needs of manufacturers and distributors, Acumatica with AutoFitmentPlus delivers end-to-end integration from your shop floor to your back office, warehouse, eCommerce store, and brick-and-mortar retail location. Multidimensional inventory management with filtering by year, make, model, engine type, color (and more) is a particular element that AutoFitmentPlus provides (and others don’t).
- Database integration
SAP: The main problem with SAP is that their automotive aftermarket ERP is missing a key feature that your industry needs: database integration for parts, products, and equipment. Though this information can be added in manually to the powerful HANA database for Business One at least, it’ll take significant time, effort, cost, and customization to include these databases in your SAP ERP. In the meantime, you’ll still be stuck using spreadsheets and paper catalogs.
Acumatica: Built by auto enthusiasts for auto enthusiasts, AutoFitmentPlus powered by Acumatica includes fully up-to-date ACES, and PIES database data in the system automatically. Even better, AutoFitmentPlus automatically updates all this information for you and includes VIN Validation and Identification capabilities to make your job easier.
AutoFitmentPlus: One of the Most Complete Automotive Aftermarket ERP Solutions on the Market
When researching ERP options, it pays to perform due diligence. You must look into costs, capabilities, total costs over time, and flexibility for the future. ERP consultants know this, which is why they will sell you on all the future benefits you stand to get from your ERP – after you’ve customized it to fit your needs.
But remember to also look into how your new ERP will perform right when you get it. Will it help your automotive aftermarket business take care of inventory right now? Will it help you finally ditch those auto parts spreadsheets right now? How much will it cost for you to get the functionality you require right now?
Well, as it turns out, not as much as you think.
AutoFitmentPlus is included at no additional cost when you purchase Acumatica from PC Bennett.
Contact the ERP experts at PC Bennett for more information.
PC Bennett Solutions offers a personalized, full-service experience for customers by implementing business management technology. Through a hands-on approach, PC Bennett Solutions helps companies get the most out of their software system. The team provides training, implementation and customization of Acumatica. Headquartered in the Seattle area, PC Bennett Solutions is one of the largest exclusive Acumatica resellers.
