How to establish a data strategy around your ERP system in manufacturing
If your business runs on an ERP, you may think all your data is handled. But in reality, your team is still scrambling for reports, manually stitching Excel sheets, and making decisions on outdated information.
Is an ERP a data tool?
Yes. All software is a data tool on some level. Every system: an ERP, CRM, or MES, is collecting, processing, and storing data. This data might be entered manually by users, pulled from a database, or updated automatically by machines. Once collected, it sits in a database, ready for processing and output.
So if your business already runs on an ERP, and that ERP is a data tool, why do you still need a data strategy?
You already have a data strategy, it just might not be a good one
For many businesses, their “data strategy” isn’t something they planned or think about. A common default strategy is:
Trust the ERP as the single source of truth.
If the ERP doesn’t provide what’s needed, stitch it together manually in Excel.
As the amount of data your business collects grows and the more software you add, the less effective this strategy is. If you are looking to adapt and grow your business, this approach becomes a bottleneck in getting people the information they need, when they need it.
Don’t put a round peg in a square hole.
Vendors of large ERP or CRM companies sell the idea that their product is an all-in-one unified solution for business data. They promise that once their system is implemented, everything will run a lot smoother.
To their credit, many of these software products are extremely valuable and worth the investment. But, they miss some key points:
Your business is different. It isn’t like every other business out there, and it has unique requirements that are evolving over time.
Customization is expensive, complex, and never-ending. To adapt an ERP to your needs, you need consultants, expensive add-ons, and internal specialists. Even then, you’re still working within the limitations of the system.
Add-on modules promise to fix gaps but often underdeliver. They can be overpriced, difficult to implement, and may not fully integrate with your existing processes.
What is the alternative?
Your business should rely on the core software that works for you, using it as a tool along with other software to accomplish your relevant business goals.
So what does this mean in the context of data strategy?
The Smarter Approach: Business-Driven Data Strategy
Instead of forcing your ERP to be something it’s not, you need a system that puts data in a format designed for decision-making.
Extract your data from the ERP. Your ERP is an operational tool, not an analytics tool. The solution isn’t to get rid of it, but to copy the data into a flexible, centralized system.
Build a cloud-based data warehouse or data lake. This structure frees your data from rigid ERP constraints and makes it available for deep analysis, reporting, and automation.
Integrate other business data into the same system. Instead of trying to jam everything into your ERP, you can now merge data from all key business sources: ERP, CRM, financial systems, supply chain data, and even external market data, into a strategic hub.
Why This Matters for Your Business
This new setup enables the following:
Faster, Smarter Decisions: Instead of relying on rigid ERP reports and Excel exports, you get real-time insights from a system designed for decision-making.
Scalability Without ERP Limitations: Your business changes over time. With a flexible data system, your analytics can evolve with you.
Eliminate Manual Work & Reporting Bottlenecks: No more copy-pasting data, hunting through spreadsheets, or waiting on IT for reports.
Morph Data Strategies: Your Data Partner
Most businesses don’t have a data problem, they have a decision making problem. Their teams are making high-stakes choices using incomplete, outdated, or disconnected information.
Morph Data Strategies helps manufacturers break free from rigid ERP limitations and build a real data strategy that fuels growth and makes decision making seamless.
You can start by get your current data set up assessed for free.
Or click here to contact us!
