The business case for ERP has never been stronger — especially if you’re running a food or wholesale business. Let’s be honest — running a food or wholesale business isn’t for the faint-hearted. Between juggling inventory, delighting customers, and wrestling with compliance, you’re probably spinning more plates than a tap-dancing octopus. And if your systems are cobbled together with spreadsheets and hope? Even harder.
That’s where ERP comes in. But we’re not going to throw jargon at you. This is the business case for ERP, backed by real stats, and written in plain English — with a side of humour.
- You Could Be 66% More Efficient (Yes, Really)
If you feel like you and your team are constantly putting out fires, you’re not imagining it. According to Techaisle, 66% of businesses saw improved operational efficiency after implementing an ERP system.
Think about it: fewer manual tasks, more automation, and less time spent chasing spreadsheets or tracking down missing orders. More time for growth. Or tea. Or both.
- Your Stockroom Could Stop Being a Mystery
“Wait — how do we have six pallets of that thing we don’t even sell anymore?” Or worse: you’ve promised a delivery and suddenly discover… it’s not in stock.
ERP helps you take control. Companies report up to a 30% reduction in inventory carrying costs after implementing ERP. That’s money saved — and fewer stock-related meltdowns.
You’ll know what’s in stock, where it is, what’s running low, and what’s flying off the shelves. No more educated guesses. No more panic restocks.
- Save Money (and Your Sanity)
Cost savings are a major part of the business case for ERP — and the numbers back it up. A whopping 62% of businesses reduced operational costs after implementing ERP. We’re talking better purchasing, smarter warehousing, and stock control that actually works.
If you’re constantly patching problems instead of preventing them, this is your sign. ERP gives you the kind of control your spreadsheets just can’t.
- Make Compliance Less… Dreadful
In food manufacturing and wholesale, traceability isn’t optional — it’s a full-time requirement. Whether it’s BRCGS, SALSA, or your own high standards, you need to track exactly what’s going where, and when.
This is where the business case for ERP really proves itself. ERP systems make compliance simple, with built-in batch and serial number tracking. When an auditor asks for the paper trail, it’s right there — no mad scrambles, no sweating bullets.
Bonus: your customers will trust you even more when your compliance is watertight.
- Growing? ERP Grows With You
If your systems are being held together with copy-paste and crossed fingers, they’re not going to last. As your business scales — more orders, more SKUs, more complexity — ERP keeps pace.
Scalability is a massive part of the business case for ERP. It’s the difference between growing smoothly… and growing painfully. Nobody wants to be re-platforming again in 18 months because the wheels fell off.
- Make Smarter, Faster Decisions
ERP doesn’t just run your operations — it makes them smarter. With built-in reporting and dashboards, you’ll have a real-time view of your sales, stock, margins, and more.
Which customers are your most profitable? What’s your most wasteful process? ERP helps you answer these questions with actual data — not gut feel (though we respect your instincts too).
- Work From Anywhere (Yes, Even the Garden)
Modern ERP is cloud-based, which means your office is wherever you are. Whether you’re checking stock from home, approving a PO from your phone, or doing your month-end in a coffee shop — ERP gives you freedom and flexibility.
Remote access isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore — it’s a big part of the business case for ERP. If you’ve got teams across multiple sites (or just like a change of scenery), this could be one of the biggest perks of all.
So… Is ERP Worth It?
If your business is growing, your team is firefighting, and your systems are stuck in the past, it’s probably time. The business case for ERP isn’t about buying software — it’s about freeing up your time, cutting waste, and putting yourself firmly in control of your operations.
At Signum Solutions, we help UK food and wholesale businesses get the right ERP in place — with less jargon, more clarity, and a team that actually speaks your language.
Want help building the business case for ERP?
Let’s chat. We’ll help you figure out what your business actually needs, and how ERP can support your growth — without turning it into a full-blown IT project drama.
Source: https://www.saasworthy.com/blog/top-erp-statistics