You need an ERP for fashion firms

The fashion industry is one of the pillars of Spain's market economy. According to the most recent figures, it accounts for 2.8% of Spain's GDP and employs 4.1% of the population. The business generates around €6 billion in taxes for the country's coffers and, at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has caused eCommerce websites to grow spectacularly, it is one the sectors that is expected to grow most within online retailing. In order to manage the complexity of running the retail side of the sector, it's important to have systems that streamline the process. In this context ERP software is fundamental for fashion companies.

Inditex, El Corte Inglés, Mango and Desigual are some of the most powerful brands in all of Spain's business community, and as well as being among the most valuable they provide work to a large number of people throughout the country. All of them focus most of their business activities on fashion, although it's true that they've also diversified their sales into other kinds of products and services. They're the most tangible example of what the fashion industry means to Spain.

Alongside them, thousands of small stores and online fashion businesses constitute a retail and social milieu that in a way defines the Spanish economy. In order to establish themselves, grow and develop successfully, all of them need tools that impose order, control and structure to the complexity of the business.

Importance of ERPs to fashion companies

We're all aware of the complexity involved in the business cycle of the fashion industry. Production, distribution, stock coming in and going out, variables of colour and size within the same garment, accounting, information for customers, inventory, delivery times, employee productivity. Without the help of an ERP it would be impossible for fashion companies to coordinate such a complex management process.

Because in reality ERP software is nothing other than a management system capable of integrating the company's processes into a database such that the day-to-day work is streamlined. Whoever logs on to the ERP can determine if there is stock of a product, when it is due to arrive in store or at the customer's home, what characteristics it has, its price... Virtually everything about it should be known.

But in the case of the fashion industry this software takes on even greater importance. And the variables that should be recorded when the product is sold have even more nuances. The employee or whoever uses the ERP for fashion companies must know, for example, if a particular dress being requested by a customer is available. But this dress isn't unique, despite the fact that it's the same design and the same brand. Normally there will be dresses of various colours, with different sizes and it's even possible that the garment is reduced in some of its variants but not in others. In many cases the availability of the product will also need to be checked in other stores.

This is why it's highly advisable that all the firms benefit from software that streamlines management. Having an ERP for fashion companies is not only advisable, it's virtually indispensable. Because this solution has the capability of encompassing all the needs that distributors and manufacturers may have. That said, it's essential that the design of the ERP is optimal and user-friendly. It's a tool that's going to be used every day and needs to be simple to understand and easy to work with.

The best ERP software for fashion firms

The wide variety of data that fashion firms need to manage means that, sometimes, their ERPs are more expensive than for other types of business. However, as pointed out, they're essential. Which is why we wanted to offer our guidance and suggest what, in our opinion, is the best software that you can work with in your business.

Win Textil

This is one of the easiest-to-use software packages to be found on the market. It was developed by a company called Byte Factory, which specialises in the textile and footwear industries.

The agility of this tool makes it one of the most highly recommended. This combines with its flexibility. It includes stock management both for online businesses and physical shops, facilitates oversight of products by size and colour, has a multi-store management module and module for distribution and wholesalers. Very comprehensive.

Efficens-Textil

Efficens offer multiple solutions for a range of sectors, from food to pharmaceutical products. And, unsurprisingly, it also offers an ERP for fashion companies: Efficens-Textil

The tool integrates financial management, sales and marketing, manufacturing, sales and warehouse management. And it facilitates work significantly because it builds in automatic accounting, the ever-necessary stock control, automated tariffs, order tracing...Everything to ensure that nothing that takes place in your business happens beyond your control.

STM Textil

Perhaps the best feature of this STM solution is its intuitive interface, which will help you become quickly familiar with the software. It's easily capable of being customised, which will help you derive greater utility from it in accordance with the specifics of your business.

Like all the ERPs for fashion firms being covered here it offers a host of utilities. These range from business statistics, customer files, order tracking and the indispensable stock control tool. Particularly interesting is its customer GPS service, which enables the attention of users to be optimised depending on where they acquire the products.

G2iTextil

A notable feature in this case is the financial module, which enables a direct connection to be made with the AEAT (Spanish tax authority), and greatly facilitates the way VAT on your products is managed.

Apart from this, the software can encompass the entire supply chain the fashion industry works with, from the manufacture of the product to distribution and management at the point of sale, all of which is directly connected to the purchasing department.

As previously mentioned, the textile sector harbours enormous complexity. So much so that the business is run at very different levels, from raw materials to sales. For fashion companies, having an ERP is an unavoidable requirement if they want to retain control of the whole process, evaluate where their strengths and weaknesses lie and, above all, provide customers with the best service.

Digitalisation is a fact, which is why the entire firm needs to take into account the finest digital solutions capable of turning it into a more efficient, competitive and profitable business. This is why at SeQura we offer you our payment methods for retailers with which your customers will be able to benefit from a range of payment facilities. Deferred payment, split payment, payment by instalments...Find the payment method solution you need at SeQura!