Enterprise application software, or EAS, is designed to help solve the growing pains of larger businesses, providing a seamless way to integrate departments, increase communication gaps, and reduce errors. Enterprise applications help larger organizations streamline their data and manage their day-to-day operations in an organized manner.
Scaling your business often comes with tremendous growing pains. Whereas simple tasks, like payroll and inventory, used to be done manually, a growing employee roster can create new gaps in communication between expanding department divisions, leading to task redundancy and wasted manual labor on things that could otherwise be automated.
So what types of enterprise software are ideal for most companies? And when is it beneficial for your organization to start adopting enterprise tools for your business needs? Below, we’ve broken down the basic types of enterprise management software and compiled a list of some of the most popular brands currently available on the market.
What is Enterprise Software?
Enterprise-level software is integrative software designed to solve the needs of larger corporations as they scale to provide a seamless, efficient operating platform that improves automation and reduces otherwise repetitive processes.
Enterprise application software typically has a set of unique characteristics that set them apart from the standard business-to-consumer applications on the market, including:
- A high degree of customization
- They’re built for high performance to cope with the stress of daily usage throughout an entire company
- They’re usually wholly owned by the business that is using it
- They’re designed to accommodate scalability
- Built to be compatible with lots of different integrations
- They have a high degree of cybersecurity measures
- Designed so that data can be exported easily if necessary
Types of Enterprise Software
Enterprise-level software isn’t a singular software program. Instead, it’s usually a conglomeration of a few different types of software programs designed to fit a company’s specific needs. Depending on a company’s needs, they may use one type of EAS software or a few different kinds. Some of the most common enterprise software applications include:
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software
ERP software is designed to be a virtual hub where various departments (such as HR/accounting/customer service/etc.) can enter data and have other departments utilize this same data to maintain consistency across the company.
ERP software streamlines workflow by integrating with other software systems, such as CRM/POS/supply chain management, to ensure processes are standardized, and errors are minimized.
For example, an ERP system could track item sales, adjust inventory levels, and mark low-stock items for future orders to simplify a store’s processes.
Learn more: ERP Integrations Explained: Types, Benefits, and Challenges
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
One of the most common types of enterprise software applications, CRM software is used to store and track all of your client information. Like a virtual black book, CRM software allows a platform to access essential client details like phone numbers and addresses while also providing a way to communicate with leads and track things like order status.
CRM software can be used in various business industries and is often deployed through on-premise storage or by utilizing cloud-based storage options. In general, it helps businesses to improve their relationships with customers, promote customer loyalty, automate marketing processes, and drive growth by measuring customer behavior and retention rates.
- Supply Chain Management (SCM) Software
SCM software helps businesses manage their supply chain operations, including inventory, production, shipping, logistics, and distribution processes. From a supply chain standpoint, SCM software also helps monitor vendor relationships and ensure production schedules and coordinating logistics occur on schedule.
While most commonly used in manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries, SCM software can still be utilized by businesses needing to optimize their supply chain operations. When used correctly, it can help increase efficiency and reduce production costs.
- Human Resource Management (HRM) Software
HRM software is primarily used to automate various human resources tasks like payroll management, hiring, workforce planning, and employee management. Additionally, it can be used to track and scout for new hires, helping with recruitment tasks such as candidate matching.
HRM software is excellent for managing job applicant data and providing a base for employment management tasks like performance appraisals, training, and development. It ultimately serves to attract and retain top employee talent.
- Project Management Software
Increasingly popular in today’s digitized world, project management software seeks to provide an online hub for teamwork where projects can be tracked, tasks can be managed and scheduled, and collaboration and reporting can be managed as well.
Typical features of project management software include things like file sharing, collaborative forums, virtual meetings, activity coordination tools, virtual calendars, and project updates. In general, project management software helps to align team goals by increasing communication and ensuring project deadlines and objectives are met on time.
- Marketing Automation
Marketing automation software is an enterprise tool designed to help businesses automate their workflows and marketing tasks, such as social media management, email newsletters, marketing campaigns, lead generation, and more. By streamlining time and resources, marketing automation software creates more significant ROI through increased lead optimization and data analysis.
- Accounting Software
Accounting software, as the name implies, helps organizations manage financial transactions, reporting, and analytics. Best for large corporations with significant accounting needs, it often includes features such as ledgers, accounts payable, financial reporting, tax management, budgeting tools, and assets management.
Examples of Enterprise Software
So now that you understand the main types of enterprise application software, here are a few of the most popular brands available on today’s market:
| Type of EAS | Best for | Features | Price | |
| Zendesk | Sales CRM | Improving productivity and processes; anyone looking for an all-in-one CRM | Logging and recording calls, email tracking and automation, scheduling meetings | From $19.99 to $150 a month |
| HubSpot | CRM | An affordable solution for mid-sized companies in need of CRM software | Lead generation, content management, analytics, customer feedback, social media tools | For the full CRM suite: $1600/month for the Professional version $5000/month for the Enterprise version |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 | ERP | Small and mid-sized businesses looking for a variety of apps that can be used for several different functions | Order management, procurement, financial management, CRM, detailed customer insights, fraud protection | Depends on which options your business opts to have; plans start from $20 a month and up to $1500 a month |
| Oracle SCM | SCM | Small and mid-sized businesses looking for better supply chain management solutions | Supply chain planning, inventory management, manufacturing management, ordering fulfillment, margin analysis, detailed analytics | $300 per month and up |
| Mailchimp | Marketing Automation | Businesses of any size looking to improve their marketing efforts across various platforms | Customer journey builder, transactional emails, retargeting adds, social media integrations, data analytics, customer feedback tools | From $20 to $350 a month |
| Asana | Project Management | Teams of any size looking for a streamlined way to manage group tasks and projects | Real-time insight into project progress, team timelines, project outlining, task organization, simplified workflows, calendar scheduling, team productivity analytics | $0 for Basic $10.99 for Premium $24.99 for Business |
| Monday.com HR | HR | HR departments looking for a cohesive platform to simplify daily tasks and employee management | Employee development management, recruitment management, onboarding processes, attendance tracker, employee engagement, applicant tracker | $0 for Individual $8 for Basic $10 for Standard $16 for Pro Price available upon request for enterprise pricing plans |
| QuickBooks | Accounting Software | Any company looking for a central solution for tracking business expenses | Bill management, expense tracking, tax deduction calculator, inventory status, invoicing and payment tracking, job cost analysis, payroll management, time tracking | $15 for Simple Start $27 Essential Plan $42 Plus Plan $100 Advanced Plan |
Enterprise Software Pros
ERP systems provide an excellent solution for larger businesses to manage various departments in a cohesive, integrated platform that can provide insights into future decisions. ERP systems enable a company to access information from anywhere, especially when utilizing a cloud-based system. This promotes easier data accessibility and remote work options for employees. Employee satisfaction can also be promoted through software designed to collect employee insights and feedback, encouraging more consistent team collaboration and project management.
Additionally, ERPs can simplify analyzing complex data by providing detailed financial insights into the efficacy of various business practices. They can also promote further efficiency by automating processes that were once done manually, thereby reducing department redundancies and simplifying day-to-day operations.
Enterprise Software Cons
While most of the pros of ERP systems tend to outweigh the cons, there are still a few less favorable aspects of adopting an ERP application to consider.
First and foremost, the cost and time it takes to get an ERP system fully functional and running can make it challenging for an entire workforce to dedicate themselves to the cause. As businesses must allot a certain amount of time and resources to integrate an ERP application, train employees, and work through the initial kinks and bugs of the installation process, it may or may not be worth the benefits to proceed with adopting an ERP system.
Furthermore, outside specialists may need to be hired to migrate an immense amount of data and paperwork into the new system, taxing financial resources even more. Convincing shareholders and board members that an ERP is worth the extra effort may also take facing considerable initial resistance.
Final Thoughts
Enterprise software systems provide a fantastic solution to help businesses cope with the problems they often encounter as they scale. With various enterprise software applications to choose from (such as CRM, HR, accounting, project management, SCM, marketing automation, and ERP software), there is certain to be a great solution for your company’s specific needs.
And if the exact solution isn’t on the market yet, the good news is that developer companies like our team here at Designli can help you buy and modify or build your own ERP solution.
So whether you simply need to tweak and customize a few options from pre-existing enterprise software or build something from the ground up to address your company’s specific needs, our team of expert developers is here to guide you every step of the way!
Contact us today to set up your free evaluation— we’d love to address any questions you might have about incorporating your own enterprise software!
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