4 Compelling Reasons to Move Your Food and Beverage ERP to the Cloud

As more and more food and beverage businesses choose the cloud for deployment of their mission-critical enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, we’re left to wonder what’s holding back those organizations that are sticking with on-premise vs cloud ERP solutions and how they might be convinced to make the leap.

There is certainly some wisdom in resisting the urge to make change for change’s sake and relying on what’s familiar rather than “reinventing the wheel.” One can also imagine that some companies, having already sunk resources into their existing setups, might see making a switch like a waste of precious time, money and energy.

The fact of the matter, though, is that the comfort derived from traditional implementations and having servers physically on-site doesn’t compare to the several key advantages of cloud platforms. And it’s not just about being up-to-date and on-board with the latest technology—we’re talking real, tangible benefits that have considerable impacts on future success.

In this post, we’re going to run down the four most compelling reasons for food and beverage businesses to move their ERP solutions to the cloud, paying special attention to how this step is critical for preparedness in the disrupted marketplaces of today.

1. Save Money

For companies that are considering investing in their very first ERP solution, opting for a cloud deployment can save a significant amount of money. In many instances, choosing this route won’t require the purchase of any additional hardware or equipment—that’s the beauty of remote data hosting and software that doesn’t require a physical installation to use.

For those organizations that have already implemented their food ERP on-premise, there’s still potential for savings by coming over to the cloud in the form of lower IT costs and greater reliability of the system. In such a setup, the critical functions of applying updates, troubleshooting issues and maximizing uptime will all be handled by the providers’ specialists, lessening the burden on the client’s side.

2. Increase Resilience and Flexibility

Being prepared for disruptions is a must in the current climate. With many supply chains still in disarray, public health concerns lingering and transportation delays ongoing, operational resilience and flexibility are at a premium in the food and beverage industry.

A cloud system is the kind of lightweight, agile platform that companies operating in this era of uncertainty need. When employees only need a WiFi signal and internet browser to access the ERP system and complete their responsibilities, they can easily work from home or on the road as the situation calls for it.

Cloud implementations are also more resilient to interruptions that could be caused by inclement weather, like power outages and blocked roads. With your food ERP safely hosted offsite, these challenges become more manageable and don’t negatively affect results to the degree that they otherwise might.

Here at Aptean, we have dedicated cloud teams who focus solely on maintaining the stability of Aptean Food & Beverage ERP, and we’re proud to offer uptime of 99.9% or greater for those customers who choose the cloud.

3. Strengthen Security

Solid cybersecurity is also a priority for food and beverage businesses, as their proprietary recipe and formula information is extremely valuable, as are the details of their clients. By deploying your food ERP from the cloud, you build in an extra layer of protection for your data and make it much more difficult for unauthorized parties to gain access to the system.

Aptean Food & Beverage ERP stands out on this front with dedicated security features like IP address whitelisting, two-factor authentication, protection from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and a 31-day retention policy. Additionally, redundant servers act as further protection in the case of outages, immediately switching to a backup via a load balancer should the primary become compromised.

4. Drive Profits

While the ways in which cloud ERP implementations can boost profits may not be obvious, they are no doubt very real and significant. To a large degree, they are a byproduct of the benefits described in the above sections—for example, higher system uptime means fewer operational interruptions, allowing your company to meet or even exceed production goals.

Likewise, greater resilience to disruption and better security allow your organization to seize upon emergent opportunities in the market, especially when a competitor has been affected and your company can claim part of their market share while they are out of commission. The dynamic food and beverage marketplace never sleeps, and these advantages help you stay on your toes and ready for what’s next.

There are compelling numbers behind this point that came out of IDC’s Global Food and Beverage Industry Trends and Strategic Insights whitepaper commissioned by Aptean. According to the responses of participating business leaders, those companies with cloud solutions saw annual increases of 3.3% for revenue and 3.9% for profit, while those with on-premise systems reported more modest gains of 1.7% for revenue and 2.7% for profit.

Choosing a Vendor You Can Trust

Aptean is considered a leading provider of cloud ERP platforms for food and beverage businesses for a reason—we have a long track record of success and work hard to align our offerings with our clients’ evolving needs. We understand that there may be some hesitance in deviating from the tried and true, and that’s why our experienced professionals strive to provide guidance and advice throughout the implementation process.

From drawing up the roadmap and timeline to providing tips on best practices for training and rollout of additional features, we have the know-how and expertise because we’ve worked with the industry for decades. Whether it’s rolling out new features or advising on the best way to overcome a tough challenge, we’ve got your back.

What’s more, we continue to up our game with improvements to our products, and much of our focus is on cloud technologies and how companies like yours can leverage them for better results. In short, Aptean is the clear choice for food and beverage businesses that really want a best-in-class cloud ERP experience.

Want to hear more about Aptean Food & Beverage ERP and how a cloud deployment can give your organization the edge? Contact us today or request a personalized demo.