How to Leverage Last Mile Technology to Get More Out of Your New ERP

According to the folks at Oracle NetSuite, there are 6 stages of the ERP implementation process, from discovery and planning down to deployment and support. If you’ve been through the process recently, you can probably attest to the fact that there are about a thousand sub-phases in between each one.

With any serious software implementation undertaking, there’s always an underlying worry that after all the effort of getting the system integrated you won’t be able to get the most out of it. After all, you might uncover gaps that didn’t come up in the gaps analysis, or you might find that your team doesn’t use the platform as intended (or even implements shadow IT to cover gaps). 

Or, it could turn out that, now that you’ve digitized the activity that your ERP covers, you have other areas in your operations that are reliant on disconnected or manual processes—e.g. within your logistics operations.  

All of this raises a critical question: now that you’ve implemented a new ERP system, how do you make sure you get the most out of it?

You’ve Implemented a New ERP: Now What?

Okay, so you’ve implemented your new ERP system (maybe NetSuite or SAP Hana), and you’re looking to make sure the digital transformation sticks. What’s your next move going to be to solidify your gains and ensure an effective deployment?

If your business deals with last mile logistics at all, the logical next step is to invest in last mile logistics software that integrates seamlessly with your ERP. 

Here, the temptation might be to leverage a TMS or something heavy duty in the same arena, but the beauty of an effective ERP system is that it puts you in a position to leverage lighter, more specialized software solutions for each area of your business. 

In the case of last mile delivery as a function, your ERP acts as a foundation on which you can establish smarter, smoother, more connected operations with the right technology. 

How Last Mile Logistics Technology Enhances Your ERP’s Value

When it comes to getting the most value out of your technology stack, you have to look at the situation holistically. Every function should ultimately come together to form a cohesive whole—and with something like NetSuite or SAP under your belt, you’ve established a foundation for making that happen. 

By taking the next step and turning to a last mile logistics technology solution as your next IT undertaking, you can gain a few impactful benefits:

• Real-time insights into delivery and logistics costs: When it comes to actually planning out how you’re going to leverage your resources as a business, it can be valuable to be able to visualize exactly how your logistics processes are contributing to your overall costs. That’s exactly what you can achieve with a last mile solution integrated into your ERP. 
• Standardization and digitization across the supply chain: With the right solution, you can gain proof of exchange and proof of pickup, clear documentation at every leg of the fulfillment journey, standardized processes for drivers, and repeatable customer delivery experience workflows. This makes your entire last mile process visible and legible from across functions, so you can integrate it more closely with your larger corporate strategy. 
• Reduced logistics costs through optimization: Whether you have an ERP or not, you can leverage last mile delivery technology to optimize your delivery routes, improve your delivery performance, and increase efficiency across the board. When you have more data and increased connectivity beyond the four walls of your logistics function, those effects are enhanced even further. 
• Improve customer experience: At the end of the day, a huge portion of what determines success or failure comes down to how the customer perceives your efforts. So when it comes to all of the efficiency and visibility improvements being driven by your ERP, the best way to make sure those translate into actual CX improvements is to connect your ERP with last mile software that’s designed to keep that efficiency going for the final leg of the fulfillment journey. 

5 Steps to Integrate Last Mile Logistics Software with Your New ERP

Those four key benefits can add up to significant savings and can help integrate your logistics operations across the board. But how do you actually achieve that level of integration between your ERP and your last mile delivery software?

Here are a few steps:

1. Choose the right provider: This might feel like it’s easier said than done, and the process could involve RFPs and multiple rounds of demos, but a good starting place is: does this last mile solution provider integrate with my new ERP? 
2. Assemble the right team: In other words, figure out who the most critical stakeholders are and make sure they’re all playing meaningful roles in the implementation project. This will ensure that you have an accurate needs analysis and a clear understanding of what the integration actually needs to accomplish. 
3. Create a robust migration plan: Your plan should involve a detailed, step-by-step plan that spans across roles and functions within the company. Ideally, your solution provider will be on hand to make sure you have a smooth rollout. 
4. Focus on training and change management: The last piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting the most out of your technology is to make sure your teams are using it in the right way. This doesn’t happen by accident—rather it happens as a result of concerted efforts at effective change management, as well as dedicated trainings for the teams that are impacted. 
5. Measure your results over time: Once the integration is finished, it should be easy to find operational data without hunting for it—which means you can quickly visualize the impact of your digital transformation across different functions. Ideally, you’ll have a clear window into improved coordination between delivery and other functions, plus lower costs and happier customers. If that’s not what you’re seeing, then you either need to fix something in your data visibility stream or you need to address operational issues within your supply chain.

In this way, you can ensure that your digital transformation efforts continue into your logistics processes—resulting in reduced costs and improved visibility.  

How DispatchTrack Powers Success in Digital Transformation 

DispatchTrack’s connected logistics platform is designed to slot seamlessly into enterprise tech stacks to improve visibility, connectivity, and efficiency in logistics operations. 

We help thousands of businesses around the globe optimize their delivery routes, improve customer delivery experience, and increase logistics visibility across the board. For businesses that have just undertaken a major ERP implementation project, we make sure that they can take the next step and affect a digital transformation in logistics as well. 

If you’re implementing a new ERP system, DispatchTrack has the power to help you maximize the value of that deployment by extending easily into delivery logistics. We integrate easily with major ERP systems, and our team is dedicated to supporting our customers all the way to go-live with whatever support they need—which is why so many of our customers have been able to significantly boost visibility and optimize logistics costs. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experts to learn more about how we can support you in your digital transformation.