Many accounting platforms and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems come equipped with built-in reporting modules. While these native tools provide some flexibility for data extraction and analysis, they often prove inadequate for the complex, dynamic needs of modern businesses.
As organizations seek deeper insights to drive strategic decisions, the limitations of standard ERP reporting capabilities become increasingly apparent.
As you evaluate your current ERP setup, consider if your system truly meets your industry’s needs.
Neat Data is a food-specific ERP solution that goes beyond standard reporting—delivering real-time, visual insights tailored for manufacturers and distributors in the food sector.
Pros of ERP Reporting Modules
ERP reporting modules offer several benefits that support basic data extraction and analysis needs.
Efficient Data Extraction
One of the primary advantages of ERP reporting modules is their ability to generate lists or flat files that can be easily exported to Excel or CSV formats.
This functionality allows users to extract raw data from the ERP system for further analysis in more familiar tools, creating a bridge between the ERP database and external analysis applications.
Complete Database Schema Access
Most ERP reporting modules provide full access to the underlying database schema. This access enables users to understand how data is structured within the system, which tables contain relevant information, and how different data elements relate to each other.
Custom SQL Query Capabilities
For technically proficient users, ERP reporting modules typically allow the creation of custom SQL queries.
This feature empowers users with SQL knowledge to bypass the limitations of standard report templates. You can enable them to extract precisely the data they need in exactly the format required for their specific purposes.
Cons of ERP Reporting Modules
Despite their advantages, ERP reporting modules come with limitations that can hinder strategic business insights.
Restricted Access Requirements
One significant drawback of ERP reporting modules is that they usually require users to have direct access to the ERP system itself. Many leadership teams are hesitant to grant widespread access to these critical systems. Reasons include security concerns, data integrity risks, licensing costs, etc.
This restriction creates a bottleneck where only a limited number of users can create or access reports.
Limited Visualization Capabilities
Modern business intelligence relies heavily on visual representation of data to identify trends, patterns, and outliers quickly. Unfortunately, most ERP reporting modules offer minimal graphics and data visualization options.
Without robust visualization capabilities, important insights may remain hidden in tables of numbers. That can making it challenging for users to gain meaningful business insights at a glance.
Inadequate Time Intelligence
Effective business analysis often requires tracking performance over time and identifying trends.
ERP reporting modules typically lack sophisticated time intelligence features. This makes it difficult to perform trend analysis, year-over-year comparisons, or rolling averages calculations. This limitation severely restricts users’ ability to understand how business metrics evolve over time.
Poor Cloud Integration
In an era where remote work and information sharing are essential, many ERP reporting modules still lag in cloud presence.
This deficiency hinders the democratization of data across the organization. Reports cannot be easily shared, accessed remotely, or integrated with other cloud-based business intelligence tools. The result is information silos that prevent collaborative analysis and decision-making.
Technical User Orientation
ERP reporting modules are typically designed with technical users in mind rather than business users. The interfaces often require knowledge of database structures, query languages, and report design principles.
This technical focus creates a significant barrier for business users who need insights but lack the technical expertise to navigate complex reporting tools.
Conclusion
While ERP reporting modules serve basic data extraction needs, their limitations become obstacles for growing organizations with sophisticated data requirements.
Substantial businesses should invest in enterprise business intelligence solutions to overcome these constraints.
Advanced systems provide the comprehensive analytics capabilities that modern organizations need, including robust visualizations, time intelligence, cloud integration, and business-user accessibility.
By implementing dedicated BI solutions that complement their ERP systems, companies can democratize data access, enable better decision-making, and gain a competitive advantage in today’s data-driven marketplace.
Ready to turn your ERP data into business intelligence?
Neat Data brings clarity and control to food operations with a modern ERP system built for visibility, growth, and data-driven success. It’s time to eperience ERP reporting that works as hard as your team.