What is Apparel Management Software?
Apparel ERP software is also known as garment ERP software which is designed for managing the apparel industry from scratch & raw material products, orders, sales, and operations can be extremely difficult if done manually. That is where an apparel management software can come to your rescue. It helps streamline and perform the most complex tasks that otherwise eat up your entire day. Apparel is a fast-moving industry that deals with multiple variations of colors and sizes requiring an immense amount of planning. Since this industry changes its trends with each season, it needs software that could manage its day-to-day processes effectively.
Why Do We Need Apparel Management Software?
From sampling to shipment, as a merchandiser, you should have full visibility of each and every order. You need to meet the delivery timelines without adding to the cost. The last-minute shortage of a product can affect the entire consignment. Or, you can even lose that customer forever. That is why you should have an apparel inventory management software that could meet all these challenges.
It can help you manage your business processes, finance and accounting, warehouse management, efficient manufacturing process, supply chain management, customer relationship management, and business analytics.
Key Features of Apparel ERP & Management Software
Apparel Inventory Management
It automatically receives and transfers orders, and distribute goods. It also generates sales forecast for you to be prepared beforehand. There are a variety of features that an apparel inventory management software provides. Be it supply chain management or tracking your finances, you don't have to use pen and paper, or ask your employees for every little information anymore. It can do a lot of things to ease your day-to-day tasks. Here are some of the features that you will get with any apparel ERP software.
Track Your Costs
You can track each and every penny you spend, right from maintaining costs for material purchases, cutting, and manufacturing to monitoring transportation and duty expenses. You can also control the prices that are shown to the customer.
Sales Channel Support
From EDI to direct-to-consumer, you can track and analyze all aspects of your sales. Apparel production management software enables you to access any information online. It makes things easier for you as well as your customers.
Supply Chain Management
Apparel management gives you and your suppliers a detailed insight into your supply chain. Be it tracking raw material or finished products, you can have all functions integrated into the apparel production management software.
Warehouse Optimization
If your warehouse productivity is decreasing, consider getting an apparel manufacturing ERP software. Apparel manufacturing ERP provides accurate data with real-time transaction reports.
Finance Management
Integrate the apparel ERP software with your payables, receivables and general ledger modules for effectively understanding your finances. You can also track your financial data with the help of apparel manufacturing ERP software.
Business Analytics
Apparel ERP software provides you with detailed analysis, deviations, and comparisons. This analysis is configurable to your business needs. You can use these reports to various situations and analyze different consumer purchase patterns according to the market.
Document Management System
You can now stop searching for physical documents finally! That's because the garment software lets you store images of your products, customer receipt, vendor invoice and everything else in the software itself.
Supply Chain Visibility
Many apparel management software gives the option to every stakeholder to participate. Distributors and retailers can connect with each other. Even buyers can log in to check their orders.
Technology-Enabled Manufacturing
Apparel management software connects all the units and departments online with the help of barcodes and RF-based technology. Any production delay or shortage of labor can be tracked easily with the help of a garment software.
Benefits of ERP Software For Apparel Industry
It provides flexibility
Apparel Management software gives you the flexibility to configure your workflow, choose your database and develop your own user-defined reports. All the good apparel production management software applications are platform-independent.
It provides easy implementation
It can be implemented easily into any process. You can use it on the same day of installing the software, and you will not have to install or manage each client or process manually anymore.
It is highly scalable
Apparel ERP software has a multi-tiered architecture owing to which it is able to handle the growing number of users, transactions, departments, and divisions. It makes it ideal for a growing business.
It is customizable
Apparel management software is designed to adjust to specific business processes and needs of the customer with quick and easy customization.
It offers extreme security
Apparel ERP software ensures that only relevant data is available with the desired user. Some of the apparel management software applications also provide auto data back-up which can provide additional security against any data loss threats.
It supports database integration
Apparel management software can be easily integrated into your current databases. Once the system is installed, it will easily blend with your current traditional system.
It assists in customer management
With apparel ERP software, your processes will get automated for capturing and storing customer data, their activities and preferences.
It Improves sales
Sales are generally affected by three factors: price, order, and delivery. An apparel management system will help in improving these factors as well.
It reduces machinery downtime
Because of inefficient planning, a lot of machine downtime is connected with the non-availability of proper raw material. Apparel ERP software can help you bring down your machinery downtime.
Buy ERP Software for Apparel Business
Fix your objective
Every business has different needs. Make sure you select the kind of software that is suitable for your business. Figuring out the expectations from an apparel management software and then ordering the most suitable one is the way to go.
Ease of use
Most apparel ERP software tools are easy to use, but make sure that you are able to understand and operate the software easily once it’s implemented within your process. If there are features that you can’t use, it will result in the waste of both time and effort.
Vendor support system
If you face any issue with the software, you would need a vendor support executive to fix it. Make sure the vendor has an efficient after-sales service because any delay in fixing the issue can take a major toll on your business.
Ask for a demo
Before buying an apparel ERP software, make sure that you ask the vendor to give you a free demo. This will help you understand the software better and let you make a sound judgment of buying or rejecting the software.