The FMCG industry in the Philippines is growing and evolving. With the shift to online shopping and changing consumer behaviours, it is crucial for businesses to adapt. The good news is the market is strong, with people spending on essentials like food, drinks, and personal care products. The industry is resilient, too, showing healthy growth of 2.8% in the first quarter of 2023.
For many years, manual management systems were the norm. Still, they can no longer keep pace with the recent shift to e-commerce and omnichannel retailing. FMCG companies deal with a large number of transactions daily. Managing these manually or with outdated systems can lead to errors and inefficiencies.
This is where specialized FMCG software becomes essential, and it is tough to choose one.
On one hand, having many options is a plus. On the other hand, it increases the risk of making a poor choice. With so many choices, it can be tough to pick the right one. If you don’t know what your business needs, you might choose software that doesn’t fully meet those needs.
This article will help you select the right FMCG software solutions for your business. We’ll provide insights and recommendations to help you navigate the options.
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Why Do FMCG Companies Need Integrated FMCG Software?
Manual management of inventory and supply chains creates big problems in the FMCG industry. When planning is inaccurate, it leads to running out of stock or having too much stock, resulting in lost sales and wasted resources.
This inefficiency also causes delivery delays and lost sales. Moreover, it’s hard to keep track of products’ expiration dates, leading to waste and losses. Manual data entry is slow and prone to mistakes, decreasing productivity while increasing costs.
These problems greatly impact the company’s success and consumer safety, making it clear that better management systems are needed. Furthermore, implementing FMCG software can help overcome these challenges and bring numerous benefits.
Here are some benefits that FMCG companies can gain by implementing FMCG solutions:
- Improved forecasting and planning: FMCG software helps companies accurately predict demand and adjust their production and inventory accordingly.
- Reduced stockouts and overstocking: By optimizing inventory levels, FMCG software minimizes the risk of stockouts and overstocking, ensuring the right products are available at the right time.
- Increased sales and revenue: With accurate forecasting and planning, companies can increase sales and revenue by ensuring products are always available to meet customer demand.
- Reduced waste and storage costs: FMCG software helps companies reduce waste and storage costs by minimizing excess inventory and optimizing warehouse space.
- Real-time tracking of product expiration dates: FMCG software provides real-time tracking of product expiration dates, minimizing waste and losses due to expired or spoiled products.
- Faster delivery times and increased customer satisfaction: With improved supply chain visibility, companies can optimize their logistics and shipping operations, leading to faster delivery times and increased customer satisfaction.
5 Important Modules for FMCG Software
A comprehensive FMCG software typically consists of several modules designed to address specific business needs. Below are five important modules that FMCG software should have:
1. Procurement Module
This module automates the procurement process, enabling companies to manage their suppliers and negotiate better prices. With real-time visibility into procurement operations, companies can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and increase transparency.
2. Sales Management Module
The sales management module revolutionizes the sales process, providing a simplified and centralized approach to orders, invoicing, and performance tracking. With real-time insights, businesses can ensure efficient delivery and strong relationships with distributors and retailers through optimized route planning and enhanced communication.
3. Supply Chain Management Module
This module follows shipments and deliveries in real-time, allowing companies to manage their logistics more effectively. With real-time updates on supply chain operations, companies can speed up deliveries, lower transportation costs, and make customers happier.
4. Inventory Management Module
Companies can make accurate forecasts and plans by tracking inventory levels in real time. This real-time visibility also allows companies to automate stock replenishment, which reduces the chances of running out of stock or having too much stock on hand. As a result, companies can avoid costly mistakes and improve their overall efficiency.
5. Accounting Module
The Accounting Module is the financial backbone of FMCG software, expertly handling all monetary transactions, from accounts payable and receivable to billing and invoicing. As the central hub for financial management, it ensures accurate bookkeeping, tracks cash flow, and guarantees that every transaction is accounted for.
Seamlessly integrated with inventory management and sales, this module provides a unified view of financial data, empowering businesses to make informed decisions, optimize costs, and drive profitability in the fast-paced FMCG industry.
By implementing FMCG software with these modules, companies can overcome the challenges of manual management and unlock efficiency, productivity, and profitability. With real-time visibility, automation, and data-driven decision-making, FMCG companies can stay ahead of the competition and thrive in today’s fast-paced market.
Top 10 FMCG Software for Philippine Businesses
Finding the right FMCG software for your business can be overwhelming. However, we are here to assist you. We’ve compiled a list of the best 10 FMCG software in the Philippines, considering factors like affordability and flexibility. Check out our recommendations and discover the perfect fit for your business.
1. HashMicro FMCG Software
HashMicro is a cloud-based ERP system for FMCG businesses that was originally founded in Singapore but has now expanded globally to help enterprise companies in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.
HashMicro FMCG software offers superior features that can help you beyond the standard FMCG management, such as automated inventory tracking, real-time stock updates, and optimized distribution planning. Therefore, this software will be a huge advantage for simplifying tasks like supply chain management and demand forecasting.
Furthermore, HashMicro FMCG software excels in multi-warehouse and multi-distribution operations, real-time product tracking, and automated customer follow-up.
It also seamlessly integrates with other modules, such as CRM, accounting software, sales force automation, and logistics management. This gives you a clearer view of your operations and helps you make better decisions.
Below are some of HashMicro’s key features:
- Inventory Management: HashMicro helps you track inventory levels, reduce stockouts, and improve order fulfilment efficiency.
- Customer Management: The CRM module helps you manage customer interactions effectively, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Sales Operations: This software helps manage sales processes and track your sales team’s performance to ensure they meet targets, which is important, especially in industries like FMCG, where sales are crucial.
- Automate Financial Transactions: HashMicro’s software can automate your company’s financial transactions for full transparency and accurate records.
- Maintain Stock Availability: The inventory module helps you maintain stock availability.
- Supply Chain Management: HashMicro provides real-time visibility into supply chain operations.
- Retail Billing Software: HashMicro FMCG billing software emphasizes inventory defects in advance, helping you identify and resolve issues before they become major problems.
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2. Oracle FMCG Solution
Oracle Retail Cloud Services provides a comprehensive cloud infrastructure platform for FMCG businesses to strengthen their merchandising core. With Oracle Retail Merchandising Cloud Service, retailers can manage and control crucial merchandising activities, including inventory management, replenishment, and financial tracking.
Features:
- Approval process workflows and tracking
- Revision management
- Data model
- Reporting and analytics
- Real-time data
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3. SAP FMCG Software
SAP is comprehensive FMCG software designed to help FMCG companies stay flexible and competitive. This software enables FMCG companies to optimize supply chain management, tailor marketing campaigns, and streamline product development.
Features:
- Production planning
- Warehouse optimization
- Inventory tracking
- Order processing
- Mobile apps
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4. Trax Retail
Trax Retail is a retail analytics and insights platform that helps retailers and consumer goods companies optimize their operations and improve customer satisfaction. It uses automated data collection and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time insights on-shelf availability, pricing, and promotions.
Features:
- Automated data collection
- Real-time insights
- Machine learning algorithms for predictive analytics
- Retail analytics and insights platform
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5. Gofrugal FMCG Software
GoFrugal is cloud-based FMCG management billing software. It aims to streamline business operations, boost efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction. Key features include real-time business intelligence, mobile apps, and cloud-based solutions.
Features:
- Inventory management
- Customer relationship management
- Real-time data visibility
- Mobile apps
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6. ERPNext
ERPNext is an open-source FMCG ERP software designed to assist businesses in managing various aspects of their operations, including FMCG management. It offers a range of features to streamline business processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
Features:
- Manufacturing management
- Website management
- Production planning
- Inventory management
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7. Focus Softnet FMCG ERP Software
Focus Softnet is ERP software for FMCG company, which helps optimize their operations. Its ERP software, Focus 9, is designed to meet the specific needs of the FMCG industry, offering a range of features to manage various aspects of business operations.
Features:
- Inventory management
- Supply chain management
- Financial management
- Regulatory compliance reporting
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8. IBM Sterling WMS
IBM Sterling WMS (Warehouse Management System) is FMCG wholesale billing software to help businesses optimize their warehouse operations and improve supply chain efficiency. It offers a range of features to manage inventory, orders, and shipments.
Features:
- Inventory management
- Order management
- Shipment management
- Supply chain optimization
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9. Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence tool that helps FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) businesses gain real-time insights for decision-making. It offers a range of features to streamline business operations and improve supply chain efficiency.
Features:
- Unified analytics
- Supply chain dashboard
- Campaign analysis dashboards
- Finance dashboards
- Data visualization
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10. RetailGraph FMCG Solution
RetailGraph is a complete retail and distribution management system that helps FMCG businesses manage their retail operations efficiently. It offers a range of features, including a robust customer management system, analytics, and developer API, to streamline business operations and improve customer satisfaction.
Features:
- Catalog management
- Customer management
- Accounting management
- Email integration
- Billing & invoicing
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Tips on Choosing the Best FMCG Software
Selecting the ideal FMCG software for your business in the Philippines can be daunting. Each FMCG software provider in the Philippines offers a unique set of features, catering to specific business needs. They also offer various pricing plans that differ in user count, features, and so forth.
To simplify your search, consider these key factors when choosing the best FMCG production ERP software for your business.
- Budget: When choosing FMCG software, consider your monthly budget and potential savings. Review pricing plans to ensure you get the necessary features without hidden fees.
- Features: Identify the core features you need, such as inventory management and supply chain tracking. Ensure the software meets your industry requirements and integrates with other tools.
- Scalability: Choose FMCG software that grows with your business, offering flexibility and customization. This will save you time and resources in the long run.
- Integration: Look for software that integrates seamlessly with other systems, reducing manual entry and errors. This enables more effective supply chain management.
- Security: When choosing FMCG software, prioritize data security. Look for providers with certifications like ISO to ensure the highest security standards.
Conclusion
Selecting the most suitable FMCG software can be challenging, especially with numerous vendors offering different functions and features. To make the best choice, consider your business’s specific needs and size. Look for software that can manage your FMCG operations efficiently and effectively while also being user-friendly and within your budget.
You may want to consider HashMicro as your FMCG ERP system provider. With comprehensive features, seamless integration with other tools and systems, real-time inventory tracking, and scalability, this will be the solution to your FMCG management concerns.
Experience the power of HashMicro’s FMCG software firsthand. Try our free demo today, or contact our expert team to discover how we can transform your business operations!
