Best ERP Software for the Automotive Industry

If you own or manage an automotive business, you must already be aware of the ever-growing needs of the industry. Changing customer preferences, strict government regulations, and rising demand for skilled personnel are some common challenges facing the automotive industry. So to avoid losing clients and employees, you must have streamlined business processes.

An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can streamline manufacturing and distribution processes across departments to help you overcome bottlenecks such as delayed production, poor customer service, and labor inefficiencies. It can also automate routine tasks, including production scheduling, materials planning, customer support, and employee management, to help you save time. 

It’s up to you to decide which automotive ERP software is most suited to your needs, but to provide a complete picture of the top options, we’ve created a list of the best ERP tools for automotive companies like yours.

Why do we call them “best”? All of these tools feature in GetApp’s Category Leaders reports (an annual ranking of top software tools) for manufacturing and engineering, customer relationship management (CRM), and human resources (HR). They have user ratings higher than 4 (out of 5) and 10+ user reviews on GetApp. Read the full selection methodology at the bottom of the article.

Manufacturing and engineering software can support your automotive company in many ways. It can help with product designing, production planning, inventory monitoring, and supply chain management. Using the software, you can automate and streamline the entire production process, from project planning to execution.

Let’s see how you can best use manufacturing and engineering tools:

• Automate production activities, such as resource scheduling and materials planning.

• Track the rate of resource utilization and the status of work orders in real time.

• Maintain optimum inventory levels to reduce the chances of stockouts.

To help you find the right manufacturing and engineering software, we’ve created a list of the three best tools (listed alphabetically).

1. Katana MRP

User ratings: 4.8/5

Number of reviews: 68+

Katana MRP is cloud-based manufacturing ERP software that helps automate routine operations, such as sales and purchase management and inventory tracking. It lets you track customer and supplier orders, create bills and invoices, schedule production activities, and generate reports to monitor your business performance.

Tracking inventory levels in Katana MRP (Source)

Pricing info: The tool’s paid plan starts at $99 per user per month (billed monthly). A 14-day free trial is also available with the plan.

Think Katana MRP is right for your automotive company? Click here to read user reviews. 

2. ProShop

User ratings: 4.9/5

Number of reviews: 58+

ProShop is a manufacturing process management solution that offers prebuilt templates to create time and cost estimates for your manufacturing tasks. It helps monitor inventory levels, schedule production tasks, create customer quotes, assess product quality, and manage shipping, among other processes. The software can be deployed on the cloud or on-premise.

Managing machine schedules in ProShop (Source)

Pricing info: ProShop’s subscription plan starts at $500 per month for seven to eight employees (billed annually). Users can also choose to buy a software license. 

Think ProShop is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

3. ShopVOX

User ratings: 4.6/5

Number of reviews: 184+

ShopVOX is cloud-based manufacturing and engineering software that helps automate processes such as job scheduling and resource planning. Its vendor management module lets you create purchase orders, track the price of materials, and assess the performance of your suppliers based on various criteria such as order turnaround time and discounts offered. 

Checking the status of work orders in shopVOX (Source)

Pricing info: ShopVOX’s paid plan starts at $10 per user per month (billed monthly). A 15-day free trial is also available.

Think shopVOX is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

CRM software can help your auto company build and maintain strong customer relationships. It can track sales, automate client communication, and save the details of past interactions with customers as well as prospects. Its reporting function offers customer care and sales teams the insights required to understand and address customers’ needs effectively. 

Let’s see how you can best use CRM tools:

• Maintain accurate records of business interactions with customers and prospects.

• Use task lists, calendars, and reminders to follow up regularly with your customers.

• Send personalized messages to customers on their birthdays, anniversaries, or so on.

To help you pick the right CRM software, we’ve shortlisted the three best options (arranged alphabetically).

1. Freshsales

User ratings: 4.7/5

Number of reviews: 451+

Freshsales is cloud-based sales CRM software that lets you attract, manage, close, and nurture leads. It offers a 360-degree view of customer activities to help you plan relevant conversations, track all touchpoints, and manage support activities. It also provides a built-in phone system that lets you call your contacts directly from the CRM tool. 

Viewing customer details in Freshsales (Source)

Pricing info: The tool’s paid plan starts at $12 per user per month (billed annually). A 21-day free trial is also available.

Think Freshsales is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

2. Pipeliner CRM

User ratings: 4.7/5

Number of reviews: 162+

Pipeliner CRM helps you manage communication with customers and prospects. You can identify leads that are more likely to convert and target them with personalized messaging. You can also track your sales pipeline, generate reports, and automate follow-up activities, such as sending thank you emails after receiving payment. The tool can be deployed on the cloud or on-premise.

Tracking the status of leads in Pipeliner CRM (Source)

Pricing info: The tool’s paid plan starts at $25 per user per month (billed annually). A 14-day free trial is available with all plans.

Think Pipeliner CRM is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

3. VipeCloud

User ratings: 4.9/5

Number of reviews: 65+

VipeCloud is a cloud-based sales and marketing CRM tool. It lets you track leads, schedule and run email campaigns, collect customer details, and store related documents. You can send personalized video messages to target leads better. You can also scan customers’ business cards and automatically record their contact details into the CRM system.

Storing the contact details of customers in VipeCloud (Source)

Pricing info: VipeCloud’s paid plan starts at $20 per user per month (billed annually). A 15-day free trial is available with all plans.

Think VipeCloud is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

HR software helps you recruit, hire, manage, and develop your workforce. You can run payroll, track time and attendance, administer benefits, and monitor employee performance. The software also lets you customize your organization’s leave policies, salary structures, and more.

Let’s see how you can best use HR software:

• Recruit and hire candidates with the right skills and capabilities.

• Create individualized career paths and development plans for your employees.

• Comply with state and federal laws related to employee compensation, benefits, workplace safety, etc.

To help you pick the right HR software, we’ve shortlisted the three best options (arranged alphabetically).

1. BambooHR

User ratings: 4.5/5

Number of reviews: 1,152+

BambooHR helps you manage job applications, handle employee onboarding and exit formalities, administer payroll and benefits, and review employees’ performance. You can also access reports to track employee work hours, project profitability, individual performance, etc. The software can be deployed on the cloud or on-premise.

Managing employee performance in BambooHR (Source)

Pricing info: The tool’s paid plan starts at $99 per user per month (billed monthly). A seven-day free trial is available with all plans.

Think BambooHR is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

2. Gusto

User ratings: 4.7/5

Number of reviews: 2,516+

Gusto is a cloud-based integrated HR platform that helps you hire, pay, insure, and engage your workforce. You can onboard new hires, run payroll, view timesheets, maintain tax documents, and approve leave and time-off requests. You can also integrate the tool with third-party accounting platforms, such as Xero and QuickBooks. 

Running employee payroll in Gusto (Source)

Pricing info: Gusto’s Basic plan starts at $25 per month (base price of $19 plus $6 per person per month).

Think Gusto is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

3. Rippling

User ratings: 4.9/5

Number of reviews: 555+

Rippling is an HR solution that helps you handle employee onboarding and offboarding, run payroll, administer benefits, and approve leave and time-off requests. It also lets you manage your employees’ work apps (G Suite, Slack, etc.) and devices (Apple as well as Windows). The software can be deployed on the cloud or on-premise.

Managing employee payroll in Rippling (Source)

Pricing info: Rippling’s paid plan starts at $8 per user per month (billed monthly).

Think Rippling is right for your automotive business? Click here to read user reviews.

Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting the right automotive ERP solution for your business: 

• Take a demo: Schedule a product demo before finalizing any tool. It’ll help you get an up-close view of software features, and you can also discuss any queries with the ERP vendor. Prepare for the demo by researching the tool and jotting down any questions you come up with. 

• Check out related software: See if you would benefit from any related tools that complement your preferred ERP software solution. For example, business management, inventory management, and supply chain management tools may come in handy.