Dispelling the 4 Myths Keeping Greenhouses from Adopting a Business Management Solution

Many small greenhouse growers dismiss the idea of implementing an end-to-end business management solution, also known as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools. They may think that modern technologies running in the cloud are meant only for large businesses.

But by taking a forward-looking perspective and investing in technology that allows your business to gain greater insights, you can enable operations to scale and become one of the larger players in your market. The more intelligence you collect on inventory availability, customer demand, and product margins, the more easily you can make decisions that help your business operate profitably as you grow.

4 Myths Keeping Greenhouses from Adopting a Business Management Solution

Without modern technology to drive automated processes and provide access to real-time data, you won’t be able to keep up with all the orders that come in as your business experiences success. Your margins will start to dwindle, and your team may suffer from burnout as they struggle daily to manually keep the business running.

In this blog, we examine four myths that keep small greenhouse growers from adopting an end-to-end business management solution that allows them to gain greater market share:

1: It takes too long to implement a business management solution

When Velosio collaborates with greenhouses to implement business management solutions, we typically see them go live in just 4-6 months. Because it’s best for the technology to be fully tested and deployed in advance of your busy spring season, we recommend kicking off your project in the fall. Our ERP experts will streamline your implementation by tailoring the solution to fit your exact business needs and focusing on the specific functions you require.

2: It’s hard to learn how to use an ERP solution

Even people who aren’t used to technology will have an easy time adapting to an ERP solution like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Velosio examines your processes and learns about your business so we can set up Business Central and train you on the functions you need help with. Microsoft also provides handy online tools for follow-up training. With these resources, your team can adopt the solution quickly and become comfortable completing daily tasks.

3: Greenhouse growers need unique functionality ERPs don’t offer

Dynamics 365 Business Central gives you the strong ERP foundation every business needs—general ledger, bill of materials, costing, and purchasing. And then Velosio layers SilverLeaf on top of Business Central. We built SilverLeaf for the horticulture industry with specific features to meet the needs of today’s growers. With this combination, you get the best of both worlds—an ERP solution used by hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world along with the specific workflows that greenhouses require. You can accurately track inventory, manage the financial side of the business, and streamline production—all in one integrated system.

4: Growers need a dedicated IT team to support and secure an ERP system

With SilverLeaf running on Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud, there’s no software for you to install. Plus, Microsoft takes care of all server and system administration while also making sure your data is secure. With your solution running in a world-class Microsoft Azure data center, you benefit from the latest cybersecurity controls (such as multi-factor authentication) and experts who manage your cloud environment to deliver optimal performance and ensure the system stays up and running 24×7. Your users simply connect to the Internet, and your IT team can focus on helping them generate analytical insights from the data.

The ROI of a Business Management Solution

The ultimate ROI of a business management solution like SilverLeaf running on Business Central is how the solution allows your business to operate more efficiently. It minimizes your manual processes so you’re less dependent on individuals and the information they have stored inside their heads, which mitigates your risk of people leaving the company. You can also free up time for your staff and redeploy them into higher-value activities while gaining insights that help with strategic planning.

To learn more, check out our e-book, Is it Time for Your  Agribusiness to Evolve Beyond QuickBooks and Spreadsheets? We examine the risks of using QuickBooks and spreadsheets to run your business

and how upgrading to a cloud ERP like SilverLeaf running on Dynamics 365 Business Central delivers a long list of benefits you can’t afford to ignore. And if you have any questions about implementing an ERP solution for your greenhouse business, contact Velosio today. We would be glad to help!