Data-driven decisions drive business growth for any small, medium, or large business because data analytics helps identify problems and present solutions. Therefore, companies that rely on data to view performance in real-time are proactive and innovative and stay ahead of the competition performance-wise. 

One way to create a sound data strategy for your business is to adopt Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Although multiple ERPs are available on the market, SAP (System Applications and products) is the global leader in the ERP space. The system optimizes data access to streamline business operations in the following ways. 

 

1. Data Integration 

Data integration entails consolidating data from various sources at a central-easily accessible location for a unified view. The process is integral to making data-driven decisions that spur profits and overall business growth.  

However, one study showed that 89% of businesses struggle with data integration and have a massive system integration backlog. 74% of respondents in the study cite limited resources as the primary hindrance to data integration in the enterprise. However, it also highlights “Integration platform as a Service (iPaaS)” solutions as the most viable solution to data integration woes in small, medium, and large companies. 

Unfortunately, most companies use siloed business software or software that does not accommodate point-to-point data integration. Siloed software means that each business operational unit uses a different system in their day-to-day operations, from HR to logistics. The result is siloed (disconnected) data that is only accessible to a limited audience.  

Siloed data has multiple disadvantages, including redundancies, cost overlaps, and time-consuming data aggregation. Moreover, decentralized reporting and delayed data analysis due to the time-consuming data aggregation process can render the data obsolete and unactionable.  

Fortunately, SAP can tackle all these data integration challenges. As stated earlier, leveraging reliable SAP services offer customizable data integration solutions catering to different businesses and diverse industries. The platform facilitates on-premise and cloud data integration for smooth operations.  

It has module packages for all conceivable business departments, including add-ons for customization, allowing everyone to view data in real time. SAP also features modular apps that can facilitate point-to-point integration for different data reporting software. 

 

2. Lower Operational Costs 

An ineffective data management strategy leads to high operational costs for a business, hampering its performance and growth. For one, running multiple data software for various departments is expensive and inefficient, often leading to cost overruns. Second, data aggregation requires hiring experts whose services would be unnecessary with an ERP system. 

However, SAP software can eliminate cost overruns, lowering your business’s operational costs. Moreover, the unified data view facilitates real-time business expenditure overviews, making it easier to trim unnecessary expenses and adjust budget allocations for each department. 

 

3. Boost Productivity 

Employees are a business’s lifeline because their deliverables influence product and service quality. Therefore, a highly engaged, highly motivated workforce is essential for optimum business performance. 

However, businesses using data silos have an inefficient workflow that lowers morale and productivity. For example, employees spend too much time on mundane tasks like manual data entry. That said, the SAP software can automate such tasks, freeing employees to prioritize more productive tasks. Moreover, automating such tasks eliminates human errors, lifting unnecessary pressure about the consequences of such from your employees. 

Second, data silos do not clearly depict your business’s vision and mission to your employees. Therefore, they feel less inspired to generate ideas and work towards an ambiguous overarching goal. Moreover, obsolete data resulting from delayed data aggregation limits employee productivity and leaves them demotivated to work towards achieving set KPIs. 

SAP eliminates slow business processes, streamlining the workflow. Efficient workflow processes spur creativity, innovation, and productivity, fast-tracking innovative product and service delivery.  

 

4. Increase Revenue 

SAP’s primary goal for your business is data integration for enhanced business efficiency. Efficient operational models enhance productivity and decision-making and lower operational costs, leading to improved product and service delivery.  

Improved service delivery helps set up your brand as a leader in your industry niche, generating higher revenue. 

However, SAP does more than streamline administrative functions to increase revenue margins. Its data integration function supports profit predictability functions like auditing and profit analysis.  

Internal audits are essential in enhancing business performance and profit verification by facilitating financial accountability. On the other hand, profit analysis entails dissecting profit reports to establish the actions contributing to revenue growth, including external factors like stakeholder relations. Therefore, it identifies actionable decisions that predict customer behavior and spur revenue growth. 

SAP services facilitate high-caliber financial reporting to help identify an accurate profit benchmark. The Benchmark helps identify viable reinvestment opportunities and set sound key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and review subsequent revenue growth. 

 

5. Scalability 

Due to limited resources and scale, most small and medium-sized enterprises commence operations using essential siloed software like accounting programs. However, they use a limited number of such software, making data aggregation and analysis for data-driven decision-making easy.  

However, siloed data challenges arise as the enterprise grows, expands its operation, and spends more on non-integrated enterprise software. Besides administrative challenges, siloed software makes staff training more complex and challenging than it should be to accommodate inter-departmental communication. 

Moreover, some siloed software designs cannot accommodate a growing business, yet individual upgrades are expensive and often require specialized labor. However, SAP’s hybrid on-premise and cloud data features facilitate low-cost scalability.  

A business can scale up its operations using cloud data storage features and eliminate the cost of expensive on-premise server rooms. The software’s flexible characteristics allow businesses to adapt to environmental changes like rising product demand and logistics, evolve, and grow with minimal disruptions. 

 

6. Regulatory Compliance  

Legal compliance is a requirement for any business to create a safe working environment and operate successfully. Therefore, a business should align its operations and goals with compliance regulations within its jurisdiction. 

Standard regulatory compliance requirements include state and federal taxes, record-keeping, stock transfer, data security, labor policies, and annual reports. SAP services and add-ons have integrated features that simplify compliance, including sending non-compliance alerts, to help a business avoid the legal repercussions of non-compliance. 

 

Conclusion 

SAP is an excellent tool for spurring business growth. However, it is a complex software requiring expert consultation, reasonable timelines, infrastructure, and system testing to function optimally. Therefore, consult an expert on a feasible SAP integration strategy aligning with your business needs and goals to enjoy long-term data integration benefits.