Can you imagine trying to run a galactic empire for a minute? Just thinking about keeping track of the amount of workers and resources needed to operate and maintain a fleet of that size is giving me a headache. While a galactic scale example may be a slight exaggeration, there are plenty of sizable professional service businesses here on planet earth that employ large mobile workforces. What does that mean? How are they able to do it? Will this blog post earn us a cease & desist letter from Disney?
The Industry
Not so long ago, in this very galaxy, companies with employees constantly on the go had to tediously keep track of their time, inventory usage, billing and more. This process was done on paper and was anything but instant. There wasn’t much flexibility in terms of billing. Resource scheduling involved a lot of guesswork and for many, payroll was a never ending nightmare.
The Challenges
Let’s jump back to the present. While most professional service companies aren’t completely reliant on paper, many ARE still reliant on outdated computer systems that are only providing information from the rear-view mirror. While these systems have been useful in exposing problems after they have happened, wouldn’t it be great to have a system that detects problems BEFORE they become problems? Instead of a service truck running out of a part it needs for a repair job, a system with real-time inventory re-stocks the truck when the supply is running low. Even with current ERP systems, it can be challenging to manage a workforce with limited access to the system in the field.
The Ultimate ERP Power in the Industry
Still, ERP solutions are changing the game for the professional services industry. Several systems have competitive functionality for field service, architecture, engineering, emergency response companies and more. When looking for ERP, it is important to look at the present and future needs of your business in terms of functionality and ability to grow. Imagine an ERP system that gives people back at the home office:
- Capacity to handle multiple business models simultaneously - Support for a variety of billing methods such as milestone, progress, percent complete or whatever else the fleet commander needs - Vibrant HR capabilities for identifying and tracking skill sets - Resource forecasting and scheduling based on availability & skills - Ability to track time and resources in real time
This is the powerful ERP solution provided by Microsoft and Ellipse Solutions. As the flagship system from Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics AX provides the power and the versatility to flourish in the professional services industry. Now it’s getting even better.
Imagine that your people out in the field can:
- Access project information from any device anywhere, anytime - Enter time, inventory usage and project billing information from their cell phones - Communicate directly with IoT enabled machinery with their mobile device - Communicate with the home office in real time
Mobile Workforce, Mobile ERP
With the new Dynamics AX, access to the system is browser-based so your mobile workforce is no longer limited when in the field. Whether you see your business as project-based, service-based or a mixture of the two, the new cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics AX provides the tools you need to heighten performance and grow your business from wherever you are. This is the ERP solution you are looking for.
