ResourcesERP for finance:  A powerful tool for financial transformation
Jun. 02, 2024
ERP

ERP for finance:  A powerful tool for financial transformation

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What is finance ERP

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a business tool that helps organizations streamline, manage, and automate different business processes. It helps businesses reduce manual work, eliminate human errors, and ensure access to advanced reports and business insights, allowing businesses to make the right decisions at the right time. ERP consists of modules for managing various business functions, like finance, procurement, production, inventory, and much more.

The finance module of an ERP system helps businesses handle the organization's accounting and financial functions. The financial module is essential for keeping track of all financial activities in an organization. It helps manage the general ledger, handle various financial transactions, and generate reports. The module provides real-time transparency into the organization's financial health by unifying all financial data on a centralized database.

Who needs finance ERP & why

You're probably wrong to assume you don't need an ERP. Every successful business needs a finance ERP, regardless of size, from small organizations to large multinational corporations. An ERP system helps eliminate spreadsheets and the prevalent issue of siloed data, which can lead to issues like the inability to access real-time and updated information, poor collaboration between teams, inconsistent messaging, and inaccurate reports.

Additionally, Finance ERP software helps businesses comply with tax regulations based on their jurisdiction. With real-time financial monitoring and reporting, companies can easily submit compliance reports and make accurate forecasts, which helps make informed business decisions. If your organization still relies on manual financial management, it is time to switch to a finance ERP.

ERP finance module features

General ledger & revenue recognition

The general ledger is a core record-keeping mechanism containing all debit and credit transaction-related data. It helps generate income statements, balance sheets, and other essential financial documents. An ERP finance module updates the general ledger in real-time, eliminating manual entries and errors.

Further, the finance ERP helps organize and simplify the revenue recognition process. The finance ERP automatically acknowledges revenue as it is earned. In the case of eCommerce businesses, this could be when a product is delivered to the customer as opposed to when the payment is received. In the US, for example, this helps comply with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Accounts payable & receivable

Accounts payable (AP) refers to the money owed to vendors, suppliers, and other stakeholders, while Accounts receivable refers to the payment received from customers.

Accounts payable are short-term debts and liabilities that play a role in sustaining day-to-day business operations. They do not cover payroll, debt, or mortgage.

ERP system enables the automatic recognition of all accounts payable to ensure timely payment to suppliers and vendors and prevent any delays in production or procurement.

Furthermore, a Finance ERP module supports accurate accounts receivable management by enabling businesses to manage their invoices by tracking payments received and automatically recording them in the general ledger, eliminating potential double entries and ensuring accurate financial data.

Financial reporting

ERP Financial reporting enables businesses to track their growth and success, provides a comprehensive view of the financial standing of a business, helps identify areas of improvement and potential risk, and maintains credibility with stakeholders.

The financial reporting process involves verifying a business's financial health, which is crucial for both creditors and investors.

Financial reporting is legally required for businesses to remain compliant and avoid penalties. To simplify this process, a Financial ERP system utilizes a centralized platform to gather all necessary data and prepare accurate and insightful reports. It draws data from your general ledger to ensure the reports are error-free and support informed business decisions.

Budgeting and forecasting

Budgeting allows businesses to allocate resources based on expected revenues within a given timeframe, while financial forecasting estimates the expected revenue or income for a specific period. These tools help establish financial policies and plans to drive your business in the right direction.

An ERP system automates the process of creating both budget and forecasting plans. As budgeting doesn't always go according to plan, the finance module of an ERP helps modify forecasting and align it with actual spending to reduce debts and enhance revenue in the short and long term.

Asset management

Asset management is a process that allows businesses to assign a value to all owned assets. It involves developing, operating, upgrading, and disposing of tangible and intangible assets.

A Finance ERP lists all tangible and intangible assets and ensures they are maintained and disposed of cost-effectively. For instance, when tangible assets such as manufacturing components need upgrading, the Finance ERP prioritizes and allocates resources accordingly.

This helps reduce faulty asset management, which leads to poor revenue and ROI. Most importantly, a Finance ERP streamlines active and passive asset management, leaving no room for ambiguity or confusion.

Tax management

Managing different types of taxes, such as Value-Added Tax (VAT), Goods and Services Tax (GST), and sales tax, can be a difficult and time-consuming task, and mistakes made by finance teams in the process could result in significant tax penalties.

A Finance ERP system automates the calculations of different types of taxes and creates invoices and reports that adhere to the tax laws of various countries. This allows for seamless international trade while ensuring compliance with tax regulations.

Financial modules should include advanced tools beyond just basic accounting.

Financial modules should include advanced tools beyond just basic accounting.

ERP finance module benefits

Automation: streamline processes, reduce errors

At its core, an ERP helps streamline, automate, and reduce errors in different business processes. When it comes to financial management, an ERP proves indispensable. A financial ERP system ensures that all financial data is synchronized in real-time, minimizing errors such as duplicate entries or outdated transaction data. This results in accurate financial reports and balance sheets without extensive manual effort. With the assistance of financial ERP, businesses can focus on more critical matters rather than stressing about numbers.

Complete financial transparency

Financial transparency is essential to establishing credibility with different stakeholders and complying with government and industry regulations. A finance ERP helps maintain transparency by recording every event and transaction on a centralized platform. This allows your staff to generate financial reports and access updated information when necessary.

Data accuracy

Inaccurate financial data can result in expensive lawsuits and claims, harming the reputation and credibility of the organization. With a finance ERP, you can ensure data accuracy and reliability as it updates data in real time and ensures compatibility across different platforms. Whether you integrate your ERP with a third-party tool or not, your financial data will be synchronized seamlessly, enabling you to derive richer and more accurate insights.

Compliance: reporting & regulatory standards

An ERP system seamlessly ensures compliance with all relevant regulatory standards, avoiding hefty fines and professional fees. Access to accurate reports facilitates decision-making while allowing companies to further their business agenda.

Cross-department collaboration

Financial information is a crucial aspect for almost every department in a business. Each team, from sales and marketing to stock management, must allocate budgets, purchase necessary materials, and ensure enough funds for day-to-day business operations. Since these functions are often interrelated, the finance ERP is an intermediary between different teams and facilitates collaboration.

Choosing the right ERP for finance

Selecting the appropriate ERP system for financial management can be a daunting task, especially if you are not well-versed in the requirements of your organization. Engaging your vendor in a consultation is essential to determine whether an ERP system's finance module is aligned with all your objectives.

Needs assessment

  • To begin with, make a list of all your business requirements.
  • Conduct an audit of your business processes and identify who needs to use the finance module.
  • Speak to the concerned staff and identify their pain points.
  • Make a list of your organization's needs based on feedback from different stakeholders.

Integration

  • Your finance module must be compatible with various software products you already use.
  • Ensure that the API of the Finance ERP is amenable to third-party integrations.
  • Confirm if integrations can be done automatically or if they require vendor support.
  • Evaluate the ERP finance module's pros and cons, especially its data compatibility.

Scalability & customization

  • Every business needs to scale up or down, depending on circumstances. The finance ERP module should be able to do so just the same.
  • The finance ERP should handle increasing volumes of data, especially in larger organizations.
  • The tool should be convenient to customize without requiring intense effort or budget allocation.
  • The finance ERP should also retain its efficacy and performance after customization.

Vendor evaluation

  • Choosing the right vendor can make or break your ERP deployment.
  • Ensure that you have access to adequate after-sales support.
  • Explore the different kinds of training resources that the vendor offers.
  • Ask the vendor if they offer on-site support and training if necessary.

Financial modules should include advanced tools beyond just basic accounting.Choose a tool that is easily customizable

Consider choosing a finance Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that is adaptable and can be tailored to your unique business practices and workflows. This means that you can make adjustments to suit your preferences and needs. By doing so, you won't have to alter your existing business processes to fit the ERP's system structure.

Contact us today to learn more about how Priority ERP's finance module lends itself to customization and personalization.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Product Information & Overview

What is Priority Software and what does it offer?

Priority Software is a leading provider of scalable, agile, and open cloud-based business management solutions. It offers ERP systems, retail management, hospitality management, and school management platforms, serving over 75,000 companies across 70 countries. These solutions help organizations streamline operations, gain real-time insights, and grow efficiently. Learn more

What is an ERP finance module?

An ERP finance module is a core component of enterprise resource planning software that helps businesses manage accounting and financial functions. It centralizes financial data, automates processes, and provides real-time transparency into financial health, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, reporting, budgeting, asset management, and tax compliance. More details

Who needs a finance ERP and why?

Finance ERP is essential for businesses of all sizes, from small organizations to large multinational corporations. It eliminates spreadsheets and siloed data, improves collaboration, ensures real-time access to updated information, and supports compliance with tax regulations. If your organization relies on manual financial management, switching to finance ERP can enhance accuracy and decision-making. Learn more

What industries does Priority Software serve?

Priority Software serves a wide range of industries including retail, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, professional services, hospitality, and education. Solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of each industry. Industry solutions

What are the main products offered by Priority Software?

Priority Software offers ERP systems, retail management solutions, hospitality management platforms, and school management systems. It also provides professional and implementation services, partnership opportunities, and a dedicated marketplace for extended solutions. ERP, Retail Management, Hospitality Management, School Management

Features & Capabilities

What are the key features of Priority ERP's finance module?

Key features include real-time general ledger updates, automated revenue recognition, accounts payable and receivable management, comprehensive financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, asset management, and automated tax management. These features help businesses maintain accuracy, compliance, and transparency. Feature details

How does Priority ERP automate financial processes?

Priority ERP automates financial processes by synchronizing data in real-time, reducing manual entries and errors, and streamlining tasks such as invoicing, payment tracking, budgeting, and reporting. This automation enables businesses to focus on strategic activities rather than manual data management.

Does Priority ERP support compliance with regulatory standards?

Yes, Priority ERP supports compliance with regulatory standards such as GAAP, IFRS, FDA, GDPR, SOX, ISO9000, ISO27001, and SOC 2 Type 2. It automates tax calculations and reporting, helping businesses avoid penalties and maintain credibility with stakeholders.

Can Priority ERP be customized to fit unique business needs?

Yes, Priority ERP is easily customizable. Businesses can adjust workflows, layouts, and field names without IT support, ensuring the system adapts to unique business practices and requirements. Contact sales

What advanced tools are included in Priority's financial modules?

Priority's financial modules include advanced tools for asset management, tax management, budgeting, forecasting, and comprehensive reporting. These go beyond basic accounting to provide deeper insights and support strategic decision-making.

Does Priority Software offer an open API for integrations?

Yes, Priority Software provides an Open API that enables seamless integration with third-party applications. This allows businesses to create custom integrations and tailor their systems to specific operational needs. API documentation

What integration options are available with Priority Software?

Priority Software offers over 150 plug & play connectors, unlimited API connectivity, embedded integrations, and options for file integration via SFTP. It supports integrations with hospitality, ERP, and retail marketplaces, including partners like SAP, Webhotelier, Verifone, and more. Marketplace integrations

Is technical documentation available for Priority ERP?

Yes, Priority Software provides comprehensive technical documentation for its ERP solutions, covering features, supported industries, and product details. Access documentation

Use Cases & Benefits

What problems does Priority ERP solve for finance teams?

Priority ERP addresses issues such as manual processes, data silos, inaccurate reporting, compliance challenges, poor asset management, and inefficient collaboration. It automates workflows, centralizes data, and ensures real-time accuracy, helping finance teams make informed decisions and maintain compliance.

How does Priority ERP improve financial transparency?

Priority ERP records every event and transaction on a centralized platform, enabling staff to generate accurate financial reports and access updated information as needed. This transparency helps maintain credibility with stakeholders and supports regulatory compliance.

How does Priority ERP help with budgeting and forecasting?

Priority ERP automates the creation of budget and forecasting plans, aligns forecasts with actual spending, and provides tools to modify plans as needed. This helps businesses allocate resources efficiently, reduce debts, and enhance revenue.

How does Priority ERP support cross-department collaboration?

Priority ERP acts as an intermediary between departments by centralizing financial information, enabling teams such as sales, marketing, and stock management to collaborate effectively on budgeting, purchasing, and operational planning.

Who can benefit from using Priority ERP?

Priority ERP benefits retail business owners, operations and supply chain managers, sales and marketing managers, CFOs, IT managers, and organizations in manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and hospitality. Its scalability and adaptability make it suitable for both SMBs and large enterprises.

What customer pain points does Priority Software address?

Priority Software addresses pain points such as lack of real-time insights, operational inefficiencies, inventory inaccuracies, disconnected systems, high IT costs, poor quality control, fragmented data, and manual processes. It provides centralized management, automation, and tailored solutions for specific industries. Read more

Can you share specific customer success stories using Priority ERP?

Yes, Priority ERP has helped Solara Adjustable Patio Covers accelerate workflows, Dejavoo grow without increasing headcount, Nautilus Designs achieve 30% order volume growth, and Dunlop Systems improve data accuracy. For more, visit Priority's case studies page.

What feedback have customers given about Priority ERP's ease of use?

Customers consistently praise Priority ERP for its intuitive interface and user-friendly design. Reviews highlight its efficiency, quick learning curve, and user-configurability. On G2, Priority ERP has a rating of approximately 4.1/5, with users noting its simplicity and effectiveness. Customer feedback

Competition & Comparison

How does Priority ERP compare to Microsoft Navision?

Microsoft Navision has reached end of life, forcing businesses to migrate. Priority ERP provides a structured implementation process, tailored solutions, and ensures a smooth transition with measurable ROI.

How does Priority ERP compare to Acumatica?

Acumatica focuses on cloud ERP but lacks industry-specific features, has limited WMS, a steep learning curve, and unpredictable pricing. Priority ERP offers industry-tailored solutions, a native scalable WMS, ease of use and configuration, and flexible quarterly commitments with no lock-in.

How does Priority ERP compare to Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Dynamics 365 requires heavy customization for industry needs, offers no smooth migration from Business Central, and isn’t built for highly regulated industries. Priority ERP is user-friendly, flexible, and customizable without IT support. It grows with your business and ensures compliance with major regulatory standards.

How does Priority ERP compare to SAP Business One?

SAP Business One is powerful but complex, expensive, and lacks multi-company capabilities. Its Version 10 will also reach end-of-support in 2026. Priority ERP is affordable, easy to use, maintains the same platform (no forced migrations), and supports true multi-company operations with automatic inter-company processes.

How does Priority ERP compare to Sage X3?

Sage focuses on accounting, not full ERP. Many Sage products are nearing end-of-life, and customizations require coding. Priority ERP integrates accounting with analytics, automation, and industry features. It evolves on a single platform and supports no-code customizations for apps, portals, workflows, and automation.

How does Priority ERP compare to NetSuite?

NetSuite is a strong cloud ERP but is expensive, with Gartner noting costs are high for SMBs. It also enforces contract lock-in. Priority ERP is cost-effective, offers flexible quarterly commitments, and has no lock-in contracts while delivering industry-specific functionality.

How does Priority ERP compare to Microsoft Business Central?

Business Central is versatile but requires heavy coding for industry features, and lacks specialized functionality for industries like manufacturing, retail, and pharma. Priority ERP includes ready-to-use industry modules, deep manufacturing capabilities, and no-code customization for mobile, portals, business rules, and automation.

How does Priority ERP compare to Odoo?

Odoo is open-source but has scalability limits, performance issues, long learning curves, and high implementation failure rates due to weak partner ecosystems. Priority ERP provides structured implementation, scalability, proven methodologies, experienced partners, and quick user adoption.

Technical Requirements & Support

What technical requirements are needed for Priority ERP?

Priority ERP is cloud-based and designed for scalability, requiring only internet access and compatible devices. It supports integration with existing systems via APIs and connectors, and offers technical documentation for setup and customization.

Does Priority Software provide professional and implementation services?

Yes, Priority Software offers professional and implementation services to ensure smooth onboarding and optimal utilization of its solutions. These services include training, support, and consultation. Implementation services

What support resources are available for Priority ERP users?

Priority ERP users have access to technical documentation, product tours, webinars, case studies, and customer support. On-site support and training are available as needed. Support resources

How can I schedule a demo of Priority ERP?

You can schedule a demo of Priority ERP by visiting the demo booking page. This allows you to see the product in action and discuss your specific requirements with an expert. Book a demo

Pricing & Plans

Where can I find pricing information for Priority Software?

Pricing information for Priority Software is available on the official pricing page. Plans are designed to fit various business sizes and needs. View pricing

Does Priority ERP require long-term contracts?

No, Priority ERP offers flexible quarterly commitments and does not require lock-in contracts, making it cost-effective and adaptable for businesses.

Customer Proof & Recognition

Who are some notable customers of Priority Software?

Notable customers include Ace Hardware, ALDO, Adidas, Estee Lauder, Columbia, Guess, Toyota, Flex, Dunlop, Electra, Outbrain, Brinks, eToro, GSK, Teva, and more. These organizations leverage Priority Software for retail, ERP, and industry-specific solutions.

Has Priority Software received industry recognition?

Yes, Priority Software has been recognized by leading analysts such as Gartner and IDC, and ranked #1 by TEC in 2025. It is consistently featured in the Gartner Magic Quadrant and IDC MarketScape for cloud ERP solutions. Gartner recognition