How 6 Leading Companies Use ERP to Drive Success

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is one of the most useful investments an organization can make. Though ERP can be designed for a single type of company, it’s common to see more broad-reaching ERP systems in virtually every industry.

This article describes the benefits of ERP and project-based ERP systems and provides examples of companies that use ERP. 

In This Article:

• What is ERP Software?
• What is Project-Based ERP?
• Which Industries Use ERP?
• 6 Companies that Use ERP to Drive Success

ERP software is a comprehensive management tool businesses use to streamline, coordinate and automate their core processes.

ERP solutions can handle various business functions including financial management, human resources, production, supply chain operations, purchasing and customer relationship management (CRM).

Running these functions in separate business applications or with paperwork can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

Implementing an ERP helps organizations streamline and integrate their most essential processes—and it provides employees in every department with a single, reliable source of business information.

A typical ERP solution will provide:

• Unified Process Management: Different departments can log onto an ERP to collaborate and share information.
• A Centralized Data Repository: ERP systems eliminate the need to enter data into multiple systems because they feature a shared database that everyone across the organization can trust.
• Up-To-The-Minute Insights: ERP systems enable decision-makers to take immediate action when business conditions change by providing real-time data.
• Task Automation: Businesses can waste countless hours on manual tasks. ERP systems automate repetitive tasks such as data entry so that organizations can devote more time to product development, revenue generation and customer service.
• A Scalable Platform: Although some software vendors design their ERP systems for smaller companies, any ERP solution should be able to scale up as a company increases its number of transactions due to growth.

Since they became popular in the 1990s, ERP systems haven't stood still. Software vendors have continued to add innovative features.

For example, many ERP solutions are now available as cloud-based or software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings.

It’s also becoming more common to see artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) functionality built into ERP solutions.

Project-based ERP is an enterprise resource planning solution designed for organizations whose business model revolves around managing projects. A typical project-based ERP system will offer:

• A Focus on Project Management: Traditional ERP systems focus on manufacturing or supply chain processes. Project-based ERP systems can help organizations manage all aspects of their projects.
• Integration Of Project Management and Business Processes: Project-based ERP integrates project management capabilities with core business functions such as accounting, resource management and CRM.
• Project Accounting: The system will provide detailed financial tracking and reporting for individual projects, including budgeting, cost tracking and revenue recognition.
• Resource Management: Organizations can use project-based ERP to allocate and schedule team members and material resources across multiple projects.
• Time and Expense Tracking: A project-based ERP system enables employees to log time and expenses against specific projects to ensure accurate billing and cost tracking.
• Project Planning and Scheduling: Project-based ERP solutions provide organizations with tools for creating project timelines, milestones and task dependencies.
• Collaboration Features: These project-focused systems will facilitate communication and document sharing among project team members.
• Analytics and Reporting: There are insights available on project performance, profitability and resource utilization.
• Industry-Specific Functionality: Project-based ERP solutions are often tailored to industries such as professional services, construction, architecture and engineering or government contracting.
• Scalability: The system can handle overlapping projects of varying sizes and complexities.

To summarize, project-based ERP is especially useful for organizations that:

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Bill clients based on project milestones or time and materials.
• Track profitability at the project level.
• Need detailed resource planning and allocation.

Organizations in many industries use ERP systems to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. Here are some of the key industries that commonly use ERP:

• Manufacturing companies use ERP to manage production processes, inventory, quality control and the supply chain.
• Construction firms rely on ERP for project management, resource allocation and cost estimation.
• Professional Services firms—such as consulting and IT services providers—use ERP for project and resource management, time tracking and billing.
• Marketing Agencies use ERP to build customer relationships, bill and deliver service.

Across industries, ERP systems can deliver improved efficiency, better data integration, enhanced decision-making capabilities and streamlined business processes. Organizations can customize their ERP systems to meet the specific needs of their industries.

1. Leonardo DRS Boosts Efficiencies, Cuts Costs

Leonardo DRS, a leading defense technology supplier for over 50 years, delivers innovative defense products, systems and solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied customers.

This 6,000-person firm deploys its platform-agnostic technologies across thousands of military platforms globally.

After 20 years of acquisitions, DRS wanted to consolidate its IT systems and reduce costs. That’s why the firm transitioned all its business units to an ERP solution designed specifically for government contractors.

Since implementing their new ERP solution, DRS has:

• Shared supply chain data across all business units in dashboards, despite data living in separate databases.
• Established common controls and security management.
• Made it easier to replicate best practices.
• Reduced software maintenance costs.
• Made better use of headcount.

2. Moss Adams Lifts Client Data Integration

Moss Adams is a professional services firm that offers accounting, tax, consulting and advisory services to clients around the world.

As Moss Adams experienced a period of rapid growth, the firm realized it needed to upgrade its ERP system. Because their current platform wasn't integrated, client data was spread across different applications and staff often had to enter the same data in multiple places.

Moss Adams implemented their cloud-based ERP software for large professional services firms in 2020 and now uses the solution across its firm.

Since going live, Moss Adams has:

• Eliminated redundant data entry.
• Freed up headcount to work on impactful projects.
• Onboarded five acquired firms and integrated their personnel on day one.
• Streamlined client billing from multiple manual steps to an automated process.
• Increased consultant efficiency by rolling forward project tasks.

As Moss Adams’ consulting line of business continues to grow, the firm aims to become a client-centric advisory firm. Moss Adams now uses Deltek for online billing, replacing spreadsheets.

3. SSOE Moves to a Seamless ERP System

SSOE Group is an internationally ranked architecture and engineering (A&E) firm headquartered in Ohio. With 1,600 employees, the firm manages more than 2,000 projects per year, including 1,700 at any time.

In 2019, the firm implemented its legacy ERP system, which proved inadequate for handling multi-company, multi-currency operations and resource planning.

Seeking a common data platform to support its growth and reduce reliance on custom applications, SSOE implemented a cloud-based ERP solution designed specifically for A&E firms in 2023.

With Deltek, SSOE has:

• Given project managers direct visibility into their projects through comprehensive dashboards.
• Streamlined management of contracts with complex billing types.
• Enabled efficient timesheet entries and expense report submissions through a mobile app for 1,600 employees.
• Enhanced project planning and resource management.
• Eliminated the need for custom financial applications.
• Simplified budget management by keeping data synchronized across all records.

4. Franson Civil Engineers Streamlines Projects

Franson Civil Engineers designs and plans water infrastructure projects across the Intermountain West. In an industry where efficiency and precision are the main pillars of business, the firm has embraced modern technology to streamline operations, enhance productivity and reduce costs.

Franson Civil Engineers uses several integrated Deltek solutions to power its project lifecycle.

With Deltek solutions, the firm:

• Streamlines financial and project management by storing timesheets, project invoices and employee records in one place.
• Improves resource usage by identifying and prioritizing backlogged projects.
• Gives clients a fast, secure way to make electronic payments.
• Enables engineers to access and retrieve documents within a unified file storage system, saving time and reducing errors.
• Creates accurate specifications for project manuals, ensuring consistency across projects and engineers.

By integrating Deltek’s A&E industry-specific solutions, Franson Civil Engineers minimizes double data entry and ensures data consistency across platforms.

5. Connexus Strengthens Economic Development Internationally

Connexus Corporation, an SMB government contractor and subcontractor, designs sustainable market-based strategies to improve economies across global markets in ways that increase livelihoods for the disadvantaged.

After a period of rapid growth, Connexus needed to transition from QuickBooks® to a cloud-based ERP solution that could scale and support its contract requirements.

Connexus implemented a solution designed specifically for small government contractors to support its global workforce. This new solution helps the firm ensure compliance with USAID regulations while managing multiple projects.

With their new ERP solution, Connexus has:

• Increased annual revenue by 163% in a four-year span.
• Saved $150,000 per year in overhead costs.
• Streamlined project management, accounting and reporting.
• Gained real-time visibility into project performance and financial status.
• Improved automation and compliance with government regulations.
• Managed international projects with local compliance requirements.

Because government agencies know and trust Deltek’s industry-leading solutions, Connexus has had an easier time negotiating and landing new government contracts. All parties can be confident that the system will enforce the appropriate checks and balances for each contract.

6. George P. Johnson Pushes the Boundaries of Marketing Innovation

George P. Johnson (GPJ) is a global experience marketing agency within the Project Worldwide network.

Facing resource management challenges in 2022, the agency implemented Deltek’s complete agency management solution across its EMEA operations in just eight months. The implementation covered key offices in the UK, Germany and Dubai.

With Deltek, GPJ has:

• Handled multiple tasks—such as building schedules, creating price quotes and pulling purchase orders—within a single integrated platform.
• Enabled event teams to manage multiple projects while away from the office.
• Quoted jobs in multiple currencies.
• Increased visibility into resource management, utilization rates, time entry and job lifecycle workflows.
• Spent more time serving clients and less time on administrative tasks.
• Standardized processes with flexibility for regional needs.

Project Worldwide’s implementation partner, Tangram, has helped GPJ build reporting solutions by collecting data sets to accommodate governmental tax reporting requirements. Tangram has also helped drive user adoption of Deltek.

Gain Real-Time Visibility Into Your Business

A cloud ERP system can help companies in nearly any industry increase productivity and make faster, better-informed decisions.

Explore Deltek ERP