ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software integrates core business functions into one system. While features vary by vendor and industry, the most common ERP features include:

  • Financial Management: General ledger, accounts payable/receivable, fixed assets, multi-currency.
  • Inventory Management: Stock tracking, warehouse management, lot/serial traceability.
  • Production Planning & Scheduling: MRP, capacity planning, shop floor control.
  • Supply Chain Management: Procurement, supplier collaboration, demand planning.
  • Order & Customer Management (CRM): Sales orders, pricing, quoting, customer history.
  • Human Resources (HR): Payroll, time tracking, workforce management.
  • Quality Management: Compliance, audits, nonconformance tracking, corrective actions.
  • Reporting & Analytics: Dashboards, KPIs, forecasting, predictive insights.
  • Integration & Mobility: APIs, cloud access, mobile apps for remote use.
  • Scalability: Modular design to add capabilities as the business grows.

Industry-specific ERP systems (manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, etc.) may also include advanced scheduling, regulatory compliance, or IoT integration.

At WM Synergy, we help manufacturers and distributors select ERP systems with the right feature set—ensuring technology supports efficiency, compliance, and long-term growth.

ERP Software Features List: What to Expect in a Modern ERP

ERP platforms are comprehensive business management systems that connect finance, supply chain, production, HR, and customer management into one source of truth. But with so many vendors and modules available, it’s important to know which features are most critical when evaluating ERP software.

Below is a detailed list of common ERP features, along with insights into how they benefit manufacturers and distributors.

  1. Financial Management

The backbone of any ERP system, financial features include:

  • General Ledger (GL)
  • Accounts Payable (AP) & Receivable (AR)
  • Fixed Assets
  • Multi-currency support
  • Budgeting & Forecasting

Benefit: Real-time financial visibility ensures leaders can monitor profitability, cash flow, and compliance.

2.    Inventory & Warehouse Management

Modern ERP tracks materials and products across the supply chain:

  • Lot/serial traceability
  • Barcode/RFID scanning
  • Multi-warehouse management
  • Replenishment rules

Benefit: Reduces stockouts, overstocking, and improves order fulfillment accuracy.

3.    Production Planning & Scheduling

For manufacturers, ERP includes advanced production tools:

  • Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
  • Capacity Planning
  • Bill of Materials (BOM) management
  • Shop Floor Control
  • Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS)

Benefit: Aligns material, labor, and machine capacity with customer demand, reducing delays and waste.

4.    Supply Chain & Procurement

ERP connects internal operations with suppliers:

  • Supplier portals
  • Automated purchasing
  • Demand forecasting
  • Logistics and shipping management

Benefit: Improves supplier collaboration and lowers procurement costs.

5.    Order & Customer Management (CRM)

ERP often integrates CRM functionality:

  • Order entry & tracking
  • Pricing & discounting
  • Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ)
  • Customer service history

Benefit: Creates a seamless link between sales, customer service, and operations.

6.    Human Resources (HR)

ERP can manage people as well as processes:

  • Payroll
  • Time & attendance
  • Workforce scheduling
  • Employee self-service portals

Benefit: Simplifies HR compliance and improves workforce efficiency.

7.    Quality Management

  • Especially important for regulated industries:
  • Nonconformance tracking
  • Corrective & preventive actions (CAPA)
  • Audit trails
  • Compliance documentation

Benefit: Ensures traceability and adherence to industry standards like ISO, FDA, or AS9100.

8.    Reporting & Analytics

ERP turns raw data into actionable insights:

  • Real-time dashboards
  • KPI tracking
  • Predictive analytics & AI
  • Drill-down reporting

Benefit: Enables data-driven decision-making and proactive problem-solving.

9.    Integration Capabilities

Modern ERP systems must work in a larger ecosystem:

  • APIs and web services
  • Integration with MES, PLM, CRM, and e-commerce
  • iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) support

Benefit: Creates a connected enterprise with seamless data flow.

10.   Mobility & Cloud Access

Cloud ERP platforms now deliver:

  • Web-based access
  • Mobile apps for shop floor, warehouse, or sales teams
  • Automatic updates

Benefit: Improves collaboration and ensures teams can access ERP anytime, anywhere.

11.   Scalability & Modularity

ERP systems often allow businesses to add functionality as they grow:

  • Start with core financials and inventory
  • Add production, quality, CRM, or HR modules later
  • Scale to multiple sites or global operations

Benefit: Reduces upfront cost and ensures ERP evolves with the business.

Industry-Specific ERP Features

Manufacturers and distributors often need specialized features, such as:

  • Engineer-to-Order (ETO) and Make-to-Order (MTO) capabilities
  • Shop floor IoT and machine integration
  • Compliance tracking (FDA, ITAR, ISO, etc.)
  • Supply chain risk management

Why WM Synergy for ERP Feature Evaluation

At WM Synergy, we help businesses evaluate ERP software features not in isolation, but in the context of your operations. With 35+ years of experience and 1,800+ successful projects, we guide manufacturers and distributors through ERP selection and implementation.

Our expertise includes:

  • Software-Agnostic Advice: We compare platforms like Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine), Acumatica, Infor VISUAL, and Infor XA.
  • Operational Alignment: We ensure ERP features support lean manufacturing, efficiency, and scalability.
  • Customization & Integration: We connect ERP with CRM, MES, PLM, and analytics systems.
  • Change Management: We help employees adopt and leverage ERP features fully.

Final Thoughts

ERP software comes with a long list of features—but not all are equally important for every business. The key is selecting an ERP system with the right features for your industry, scale, and growth strategy.

With WM Synergy’s guidance, manufacturers and distributors can cut through complexity, identify essential ERP features, and invest in a solution that truly drives performance.