How to avoid over-investing in the wrong wholesale ordering software

When manual, disconnected systems are no longer enough to keep up with the demands of your thriving supply business, it’s time to invest in wholesale ordering software that will support your next stage of growth. However, the step up to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system like NetSuite or Microsoft Dynamics is often too expensive and resource-intensive to be viable. The result is that many suppliers stick to manual, piecemeal processes because the risk is too significant.

So how do you as a supplier meet your growing needs for a system that drives efficiency and supports increased output without risking everything on an overambitious ERP implementation that may not work for you?

Why the wrong wholesale ordering software will hold you back

Although MYOB, Xero and spreadsheets may have been sufficient when your business first started, at some point, they’re simply not enough. Manual processes and disjointed systems slow down operations to the point where they can stunt your business’ growth​. Your staff get stuck performing costly, labour-intensive and time-consuming tasks that plug gaps but don’t deliver additional value to you or your customers. And as your business grows, so does the impact on your operations and customer satisfaction.

While it’s fundamental to upgrade your outdated and piecemeal solutions to an integrated wholesale ordering software, making the leap to an enterprise-level ERP system can be risky and actually lead to a decline in efficiency and a blowout in costs. For example, the functionality may be overly complex for your current needs, leading to poor uptake by staff. Or the system may be too expensive and time-consuming to implement properly, impeding your business output instead of streamlining it.

Instead, you need wholesale supplier software that strikes the right balance between stepping up your systems without over-investing in a poor-fit solution. 

‍Finding the next step solution that will grow with your business

The right, total wholesale ordering software will meet you at your current level, with a straightforward implementation process, simple onboarding and training, a lower price point and the right functionality to provide immediate value to your business. In other words, you can start small and go big on your own terms.

Practically, this means looking for a system that is intuitive and simple to use, with capabilities that will help you meet your specific business requirements and streamline end-to-end ordering processes. Your chosen platform should also have advanced order management features that will allow you to continually improve your business operations and customer experience as you grow. This will help you avoid the need to upgrade to a new system every few years or try and bolt on some other manual system that just costs you time, money and resources along the way.

‍Why TOM is an obvious choice for suppliers 

‍TOM’s wholesale ordering software offers a surefire way to mitigate the challenges that rapidly growing suppliers commonly face in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment.

With a super simple setup process and frictionless integration with your existing financial systems, it can dramatically increase efficiency and streamline your end-to-end operations in a matter of days, compared to weeks or months for the average enterprise-level ERP. Plus, you’ll have access to sophisticated features like real-time route optimisation for complete delivery visibility, automated invoices to get paid faster, predictive procurement for more accurate planning, advanced pricing, smart inventory management, swift pick and pack, and simple online ordering.

TOM also provides agile business intelligence and reporting functionality to track your performance and output so you can make faster, data-driven decisions to help you sustain business growth and increase profitability. And for the clincher, TOM is completely scalable, giving you the option of different pricing plans and features that suit your  business needs and size, so you can satisfy demands as they emerge or change. It’s this kind of flexibility that will empower your business to keep growing and expanding – now and in the future.

A wholesale ordering software like TOM puts the power back in your hands, as a simple, all-in-one business solution for suppliers. To learn more about how you can ensure the ongoing growth and success of your business via the right systems, download our Supplier of the Future Guide. Or contact TOM today to book a demo.