As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) grow, manual processes make it harder for finance to match the increasing speed of operations.
Teams might spend hours juggling spreadsheets, chasing invoice approvals across departments, and reconciling data from multiple systems — frantically trying to piece together a coherent picture of finances for any given project. It’s not just frustrating, it also slows down decisions.
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system solves this by centralising data from different departments in a single platform. It restores control and visibility across finance and operations by giving teams access to cross-functional information, enabling faster decisions.
For finance leaders, the challenge is choosing an ERP business software that fits their size, industry, and future plans. In this guide, we’ll break down what ERP systems are and why they’re critical to scaling businesses. We’ll also review the best ERP systems and show how Moss complements them with automation that keeps financial processes simple and transparent.
What is an ERP system?
The best ERP systems help organisations integrate and manage their core business processes within a single platform. An ERP system connects finance, operations, supply chain management, and other key functions to provide a unified view of overall business performance.
ERP platforms are typically modular, allowing organisations to implement the components they need most and expand over time as their requirements evolve. For finance teams, an ERP serves as the backbone of daily operations—tracking transactions, automating accounting entries, and aligning budgets with real-time activity across departments.
Unlike standalone finance tools that handle isolated tasks, such as invoicing or expense tracking, ERP accounting software unifies these workflows into one system. This eliminates duplicate data, reduces manual entry, and improves consistency across the organisation.
Why growing SMBs need an ERP system
As teams grow and finance operations expand, reporting and compliance become harder to manage. An ERP solution helps keep that complexity under control by connecting data and standardising workflows across teams. With consistent information and a single source of truth, finance leads can anticipate issues instead of reacting to them.
For finance leaders in SMBs, this visibility into workflows leads to more efficiency and better compliance. They can monitor budget performance in real time, align spending with forecasts, and make confident decisions supported by accurate data.
Core benefits of ERP software
With an ERP system centralising every transaction, supplier, and approval, leaders can see how decisions in one area affect the rest of the business.
A well-run ERP system offers these advantages:
- Centralised data: Consolidated data eliminates duplicate records and ensures every department works from the same information.
- Automated workflows: Automated processes reduce manual entry and free up time for strategic analysis.
- Improved forecasting: Current and consistent information across departments lets teams plan confidently and compare projections against live results.
- Better decision-making: Real-time visibility enables leaders to adjust budgets before issues escalate while maintaining control over inventory.
Challenges for SMBs
Implementing an ERP demands time, resources, and clear planning. The upfront investment in software, training, and change management can feel significant for a smaller business, especially when daily operations can’t slow down.
For SMBs, common hurdles to ERP adoption include:
- High implementation costs: The financial burden can strain budgets, particularly for businesses with under 50 employees.
- Complexity: Many SMBs underestimate how processes differ between departments, leading to integration gaps or delays.
- Data migration: Without proper alignment, moving data from legacy systems causes disruptions instead of improvement.
While these challenges are real, an ERP — once implemented — becomes a foundation that strengthens as your organisation matures.
The best ERP systems for SMBs
Once a company commits to implementing an ERP system, the next challenge is finding a system that truly fits its size, processes, and growth ambitions. For SMBs, the best ERP systems strike a balance—providing scalability for future expansion without overwhelming teams during setup and adoption.
Below are some of the most trusted ERP system examples for small and midsize businesses, known for their usability, flexibility, and value.
NetSuite↗
Oracle NetSuite is a leading cloud-based ERP system designed for growing SMBs that need enterprise-grade finance management. It covers everything from accounting and inventory to procurement and analytics.
NetSuite excels in consolidation and multicurrency reporting, making it ideal for companies operating across multiple regions. Moss integrates with Oracle NetSuite↗ to connect spend records with your ERP for better expense tracking and reporting. This includes automated expense categorisation and journal entry creation to reduce errors and speed up closing.
Dynamics 365↗
Microsoft Dynamics 365 combines ERP and customer relationship management capabilities in a single cloud platform. It integrates seamlessly with Excel, Outlook, and Power BI.
Its modular design lets companies start small and add features as they grow.
Odoo↗
Odoo is an open-source ERP software known for its flexibility and affordability. It offers more than 30 business applications covering finance, sales, and inventory management.
Since the apps can be installed individually, companies can start with core finance tools and expand as operations grow.
SAP Business One↗
SAP Business One is an ERP solution built for small and medium-sized companies that have outgrown basic accounting software. It centralises finance, inventory, and customer data in a single database, reducing duplication and manual reporting.
Designed for product-based businesses like manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution, it provides detailed inventory control and supply chain management. Moss also connects to SAP Business One↗ via a powerful native API for automated synchronisation of spend data.
SAP S/4HANA↗
SAP S/4HANA is a next-generation ERP system built for larger organisations or fast-scaling SMBs that need deep automation and advanced analytics. It processes high data volumes in real time, helping finance leaders manage complex reporting and forecasting with precision.
Pro tip: Pair your ERP with Moss
An ERP system gives structure to business processes, but managing it can still be a heavy lift. Financial automation tools like Moss make that easier.
Moss integrates with ERP software to automate invoice processing, handle approvals, and keep every transaction traceable in real time. This means faster month-end close and more visibility into spend. Explore Moss’ approach to invoice management↗ and procurement management↗.
How to choose the right ERP business software
Choosing the right ERP system is about scalability and fit. Start by evaluating these criteria:
- Business needs: Define what your business needs today and what it’s likely to need in three to five years. Choose an ERP aligned with both.
- Ease of use: Look for intuitive interfaces and strong vendor support to reduce training time for employees who’ll use the system.
- Integration capability: Check how well the ERP connects to any existing tools, like accounting, accounts payable automation, and reporting, to prevent duplication and simplify audits.
- Reporting and analytics: A good ERP software solution turns information into insight so finance leaders can plan ahead.
When ERP isn’t enough
As businesses grow, their needs often evolve faster than their ERP systems can keep up. Upgrading or expanding an ERP can be a lengthy process—but solutions like Moss help finance teams stay agile in the meantime.
Moss complements existing ERP systems by automating accounts payable, spend management, and reimbursements. This extends the value of your ERP through faster processes, real-time visibility, and tighter spend control—without adding implementation complexity. Moss also integrates seamlessly with XERO↗, ensuring smooth accounting workflows and consistent financial data.
Use Moss to enhance ERP efficiency
Imagine a growing SMB with a lean finance team using an ERP system to manage reporting and compliance. As transactions increase, manual invoice entries and approvals begin to slow the team down.
Moss connects directly with leading ERP systems to automate tasks like invoice capture, approval routing, and payment processing. This integration reduces manual work, minimizes errors, and accelerates month-end closing.
Finance teams gain back valuable time and benefit from real-time visibility into company-wide spending—enabling them to identify trends, enforce policies, and prevent issues before they escalate.
Together, Moss and ERP systems create a cohesive financial ecosystem: ERP provides structure and control, while Moss adds speed, automation, and agility to day-to-day finance operations.
