The Best Manufacturing ERP Software for 2023

The best manufacturing ERP software is the technology companies use to help track crucial processes throughout their business. With ERP technology, it’s much easier for manufacturing companies to examine everything from the flow of inventory to HR information and supply chain issues.

Used correctly, an ERP solution in manufacturing will give business leaders access to all the tools they need to combine information from around the company. This comprehensive visibility into critical operations means companies can make decisions more rapidly. What’s more, employees and groups in the business are more likely to operate efficiently with their colleagues.

The question is, which company offers the best ERP solution specifically for the manufacturing sector? With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best manufacturing ERP tools for 2022 and beyond.

1. Katana

Another tool specifically built to support companies in manufacturing, Katana is an immersive ERP solution which gives businesses absolute visibility and control over the various parts of their ecosystem. With a 14-day free trial to get you started, the ERP software includes features like inventory tracking, sales management, and order controls.

With a clean and simple back end, it’s easy to start using Katana almost immediately, and the free trial means you’ll have plenty of time to get used to the functionality before you start spending cash. You can track the manufacturing floor with end-to-end statistics and data, track omnichannel order management, and even trace batches, materials, and expiry dates.

Katana’s rich selection of features makes combining essential parts of your business operations as simple as possible. Your ERP can move as quickly as your sales and inventory, which means you never have to worry about inaccuracies in your report. You can even use barcodes with your stock, keep track of committed stock, and manage product variants.

Pricing 💰

Pricing for Katana is quite affordable. If you choose the annual pricing package, you can pay $99 per month for the Essential package, which gives you most of the major feature you need for one full-access user, and up to 3 warehouses. The Pro version of the product is $299 per month, with support for all of the features that Katana has to offer, including unlimited warehouses, and the option to add additional full-access users and shop floor operators.

Pros:

• Access to multiple warehouses at once
• Batch and expiry date tracking, with barcode scanning
• Full access to integrations with tools like QuickBooks and Shopify
• Email and chat support
• Designed for manufacturing companies

Cons:

• Can get expensive for multiple users
• Some limitations for certain kinds of manufacturing

Who is it Best For? ✅

If you’re looking for a quick and clean solution to help you track your inventory and manufacturing processes, Katana will help you to get up and running fast. The simple user interface is easier to get used to than many of the alternatives on the market.

2. Poka

Available for both web and mobile access, the Poka app is one of the most popular on the market for driving better connectivity between workers, and stronger manufacturing productivity. This ERP solution powers companies like Bosch and Nestle, so you know it’s got plenty of industry clout. The technology supports frontline workers in sharing knowledge and helps you to get an insight into what’s going on within your manufacturing business.

The comprehensive Poka platform covers everything from knowledge management, so you can keep your teams informed, from HR management, communication and collaboration features, troubleshooting, forms, learning tools, and a range of additional solutions. More than just a way to keep track of how tools are moving in your factor, Poka is about connecting the knowledge, training, and collaboration needs of your team.

The Poka ERP software easily integrates with a host of other leading systems in your business too, such as your learning management system, your CMMS and MES. Although you may need to connect things like supply tracking separately, you will have an all-in-one environment for standardizing employee asset tracking and support.

Pricing: Like many of the top tools available for manufacturing companies today, Poka isn’t quite as transparent as it could be about pricing. You will need to send a request for a quote to the team, as the service is licensed per user according to your specific needs.

Pros:

• Excellent for knowledge and information tracking
• Helps to connect teams for better knowledge sharing
• Support for business training and development
• Powerful approval workflows and productivity tools
• Equipment tacking and issues management

Cons:

• No specific inventory management tools
• No supply chain management

Who is it Best For? ✅

Poka is best for manufacturing companies looking to improve communication and collaboration in their business. The factory feed feature, problem escalation workflows, skills matrix tools and similar features will help you make the most out of your teams.

3. Wrike

Wrike has earned a reputation around the world for being one of the most reliable project management solutions around. The company has attracted the attention of a number of major brands, ranging from Google and Okta, to Siemens, Dell, and Ogilvy. As part of the Ctrix ecosystem, Wrike is currently in the process of updating its already impressive set of features and functionality.

Although not designed specifically for manufacturing teams, Wrike is an excellent product for companies in search of a reliable way to empower their teams in any landscape. The extensive enterprise collaboration software means you can streamline your processes with ease, getting full visibility into company objectives, accomplishments, and even potential roadblocks.

If you tend to have trouble keeping all of your manufacturing information in the same place, the Wrike environment helps to eliminate silos and streamline the flow of data. You can collaborate in real-time with colleagues through chat tools, assign specific projects to different team members, and even streamline the approval process to get work done faster.

Pricing 💰

There’s a free version of Wrike for teams just getting started, where you can access virtualized task management tool for centralizing your teams. If you want a specific premium service built for your business, you’ll need to request a quote.

Pros:

• Makes it easier to improve transparency among teams
• Helps with keeping everyone on the same page
• Reduces silos within the manufacturing environment
• Great security features in place
• Free version for beginners.

Cons:

• Not designed specifically for manufacturing
• No inventory or supply chain tracking

Who is it Best For? ✅

Digitally transforming companies searching for a way to manage information and reduce silos will love Wrike. One of the best things about Wrike is its ability to promote more transparency in the manufacturing space. You can track exactly what’s going on from one segment of your company to another, pinpointing where bottlenecks may happen.

4. Dear Systems

Another excellent product for companies in search of a reliable ERP system, Dear Systems combines automation with supply chain tracking and inventory information. If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your on-premises MRP technology, Dear Systems is an excellent SaaS alternative. The ERP technology is rated highly around the world by customers of all sizes. Designed to streamline sales for smoother operations, the Dear Systems technology enhances business processes and business intelligence.

With Dear Systems, you can keep track of each customer relationship, your distributors, and even engineer to order requests and bill of materials documents. With all the right data connected at your fingertips, this ERP platform simplifies everything from forecasting to inventory control.

Highly rated among manufacturing ERP systems, the Dear Systems solution also comes with various integrations too. You can access VAT-compliant accounting as part of your production management process, and even create automated online portals for customers.

Pricing 💰

As a Top ERP among software systems for manufacturing companies, Dear Systems allows for 14 days of free access. You can also get one month of access for free with the annual subscription. For a premium subscription, you’ll need to pay around $2739 per year.

Pros:

• Access to lots of aligned information
• Excellent for integrations
• All cloud-based technology for easy access
• VAT-compliant accounting integrations supported
• Money savings on annual subscription

Cons:

• Can be a little expensive for a small business
• Lacking some field service and human resources features

Who is it Best For? ✅

If you’re looking for a fantastic cloud-based solution which helps with not just your ERP strategy, but financial management tool, Dear Systems gives you everything you need in one package. There are even deals for annual subscriptions.

5. Prodsmart

Prodsmart promises companies an effortless solution for production insights. The all-in-one ecosystem digitizes and automates your operations, so you can spend more of your time focusing on the things that matter most to your business growth. With a 14-day free trial, it’s easy enough to get started too.

Named a Gartner frontrunner for manufacturing software, and one of the leading solutions for manufacturing execution, ProdSmart is quickly gaining attention from companies worldwide. You can use the system to track everything from orders to shipping. There’s even the option to assign a “status” to something in your ecosystem, so it’s easy to assess the flow of your business.

Prodsmart is a beautiful, easy-to-use back-end, where you can unlock real-time visibility into your production processes, schedule and manage various aspects of your team, and experiment with customizable dashboards. You’ll even have segments of the dashboard dedicated to warehouse status, material resource planning and procurement.

Pricing 💰

Prodsmart is one of the few companies offering enterprise resource management with a pricing option on the website. The “Core” package is available for $600 per month, with access to unlimited seats, operators, and devices. You can also purchase additional products and services.

Pros:

• Fully comprehensive solution for tracking manufacturing
• Intelligent production insights
• Inventory management, lean manufacturing tools, and production orders management
• Convenient real-time support
• Great integrations

Cons:

• Lots to learn at first

Who is it Best For? ✅

If you need a truly end-to-end solution for tracking all of your production information, it’s hard to find something more comprehensive than Prodsmart. The all-in-one environment is clean and easy to use, with plenty of valuable information included.

Choosing the Best Manufacturing ERP Software

Choosing the right software for your manufacturing ERP needs can be tough. There are a lot of names out there to consider, from market-leaders like SAP, to Epicor, and IQMS. Whether you’re looking for an ETO software, or something that can help with supply chain management, process tracking and financial reporting, there’s a solution available for everyone.

Our best advice is to have a go at using some of the tools available with the demo versions you can access online. If you have questions about the tools you need, reach out to one of the professionals from the company you want to buy from.