Why Digital MRP Is Essential for Manufacturing Growth
In the evolving world of small- and mid-sized manufacturing, companies are under increasing pressure to deliver on time, minimize cost, improve quality, ensure traceability, and compete globally. Legacy spreadsheet systems, manual processes, and scattered tools hinder growth and compliance. Enter MRPeasy—a cloud-native manufacturing ERP that empowers teams of 10–200 to manage the entire operation, from production planning and shop floor control to inventory, purchasing, sales, and accounting, all in a single, unified platform.
This in-depth article explores MRPeasy’s platform capabilities, workflow impact, industry fit, real-world stories, and how it stacks up in today’s digital manufacturing world.
What is MRPeasy?
MRPeasy is a modern, SaaS-based manufacturing platform tailored for small manufacturers and distributors. It enables full production, inventory, material planning, procurement, and traceability without the complexity, cost, or risk of traditional ERP. With intuitive navigation and rapid adoption, it replaces disconnected spreadsheets so teams can focus on growing their business, not fighting their systems.
Who is it for?
MRPeasy’s sweet spot is organizations with 10–200 employees—especially those outgrowing spreadsheet workflows. It’s used in industries as varied as electronics, automotive, plastics, food, medical devices, cosmetics, engineering, textiles, and more.
Platform Overview: Core Features and Functionality
1. Production Planning and Scheduling
- Automatic MRP & Gantt Scheduling:
Plan and schedule manufacturing work orders with drag-and-drop simplicity via interactive calendars and Gantt charts. Forward and backward scheduling modes are supported. The system factors real-time availability of parts, workers, and workstations to optimize the plan and prevent bottlenecks. - Materials & Capacity Planning:
Instantly see gaps in material or capacity. Push low inventory warnings and generate purchase orders to keep production flowing. - Shop Floor Control (MES):
Employees get personalized digital work plans—accessible on shop floor tablets or kiosks. Supervisors can monitor progress, reassign operations, and streamline reporting on labor, materials, and equipment usage.
2. Inventory and Traceability
- Lot and Serial/Batched Tracking:
Maintain full audit and traceability for every incoming lot, serial number, or batch—meeting industry standards for food, pharma, automotive, and GMP compliance. - Real-Time Inventory Overview:
Always know on-hand, in-transit, or allocated stock. Use critical on-hand reports to see shortages early, optimize stock, and avoid excess. - Multi-Site and Multi-Channel:
Out-of-the-box support for multiple warehouses, production locations, and sales channels.
3. Sales, CRM, and Order Management
- Quoting and Sales Pipeline:
Convert quotes to orders in one click; track status from opportunity to shipment. - Automated Lead Times and Costing:
System calculates projected delivery dates and true costs, so sales teams quote with confidence and protect margins - Integrated Shipping and Returns:
Create invoices, packing slips, shipments, and returns directly within the platform.
4. Purchasing and Supplier Management
- Smart PO Generation:
MRPeasy can auto-generate pre-filled purchase orders from demand forecasts or low inventory alerts, reducing delays and out-of-stocks. - Vendor Management:
Manage lead times, pricing, and performance; partial deliveries and receiving are fully supported.
5. Accounting, Reporting, and Compliance
- Bundled Accounting or Integration:
Choose built-in accounting or integrate instantly with Xero or QuickBooks Online for end-to-end business visibility. - COGS, COGM, Financial Reports:
Track true cost of goods sold (COGS), manufacturing costs (COGM), work in progress, and full P&L, with audit trails for regulatory compliance. - CSV/Excel Export:
Analysis, financial audits, and backup are simplified. Auditors can easily retrieve all relevant data in a couple of clicks.
6. Powerful Integrations
MRPeasy connects with 16+ industry-leading platforms for e-commerce, shipping, fulfillment, CRM, and finance:
- Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, and Amazon for sales/fulfillment.
- Xero, QuickBooks for accounting and finance.
- Zapier for workflow automation (access 5,000+ other apps).
- API & Webhooks for custom integrations on higher-tier plans.
How MRPeasy Transforms Small Manufacturing: Real-World Outcomes
Instant Visibility, Drastic Time Savings
- Production at a Glance:
Manufacturers report a 67% boost in stock accuracy and a 54% improvement in operational efficiency. Finance and production teams are now in sync, with real-time data visibility, fewer spreadsheets, and less guesswork. - Traceability for Compliance:
Food manufacturers and GMP-compliant industries can instantly pull historical trace data, saving hours and de-risking audits or recalls. - Remote and Multi-Site Operations:
Secure cloud access enables managers to monitor and operate production from anywhere, on any device.
Case Study Snapshots
- Packaging Manufacturer Hovat
After replacing 1970s-era systems, Hovat gained:- Instant digital PO and invoice delivery—thousands saved in postage/year.
- Real-time traceability cut order splits/tracking from hours to minutes.
- True margin insight, addressing cost increases in real time, not after the fact.
- Value Added Packaging
After adopting MRPeasy, grew by 40% in 10 months. The team could now optimize pricing, eliminate bottlenecks, and visualize opportunities for efficiency. - FarSounder (Maritime Nav Devices)
Procurement and inventory calculations shrank from a day’s manual work to under one hour. Critical parts were never missed, and purchasing was automated.
Customer Voices
- “With MRPeasy, our capacity doubled. It streamlined our production and procurement so well. I’m now able to spend a lot more time on growth and sales.”
- “We have eliminated manual errors and improved workflow efficiency, with real-time centralized data. It is the best value in the small manufacturing space by far.”
Implementation, Onboarding, and Support
- Guided Onboarding:
MRPeasy’s accredited partners and detailed online documentation ensure a smooth setup. Teams report rapid learning, with most core workflows adopted within weeks—not months. - Online Training Materials:
Rich in-app help, video tutorials, and support ticketing are praised for clarity and responsiveness. - Continuous Updates:
MRPeasy is constantly improving, with new features released regularly at no extra cost to users.
MRPeasy vs. Traditional ERP and Key Competitors
Choose MRPeasy if you need:
- Robust manufacturing and inventory with core CRM and accounting—no excess modules or heavy customization.
- A pure SaaS/cloud product with quick implementation (days/weeks).
- Lower TCO: Transparent user-based pricing, no capex, and affordable add-ons.
Choose NetSuite/SAP/large ERP if you need:
- Extensive multi-subsidiary, global, multi-currency, or advanced HR features.
- Deep customization, vertical-specific modules, or advanced business intelligence out of the box.
| Feature Area | MRPeasy (SMB Focus) | NetSuite/SAP (Enterprise) |
|---|---|---|
| Production Planning | Yes, drag-drop, MRP, Gantt | Yes, with advanced options |
| Inventory Management | Comprehensive batch/serial | Comprehensive + advanced |
| Pricing (2025) | $49–$149/user/month | $100s–$thousands/user/mo |
| Implement Time | 7–30 days (typical) | 6–12 months |
| Customization | API, basic workflow | Full code/app platform |
| Minimum Users | 1 | 5–20+ |
| Target User | 10–200 employee mfg/distrib. | 200+ employees |
Pricing and Plans (2025)
- Four Editions: Starter, Professional, Enterprise, Unlimited.
- Base Price: $49/user/month (Starter), $69 (Professional), $99+ (Enterprise/Unlimited).
- User Scaling: Additional users in blocks (e.g., $79/10 users).
- Free Trial: 30 days with all plans.
- No surprise add-on fees—all manufacturing, stock, sales, and purchasing included in all but Starter.
Limitations and Considerations
- Reporting Customization:
While core reports and CSV export are strong, advanced dashboards require workarounds or API/reporting tools - Onboarding Complexity:
While praised for simplicity, some manufacturers with complex, multi-stage BOMs or unique quality/approval chains may need extra setup time or consultation. - Advanced HR, BI, or deep customization:
Larger ERPs outperform MRPeasy if you require deep HR/payroll, real-time predictive analytics, or industry-specific compliance modules.
Is MRPeasy Right for My Business?
MRPeasy is built for small- to mid-sized manufacturing and assembly operations that need to digitalize, gain control, ensure compliance, and scale. If you’re struggling with spreadsheets, legacy systems, or overlooked handoffs between departments, it’s a transformative choice. If you require one system to manage production, inventory, purchasing, sales, financials, and integrate with e-commerce and accounting, MRPeasy offers best-in-class value, speed, and usability.
Conclusion: Digital Manufacturing for the Next Generation
In a world where speed, certainty, and compliance are mission-critical for manufacturing, MRPeasy stands out by bridging the gap between entry-level inventory apps and heavyweight ERP. It empowers teams to scale without bureaucracy, eliminates spreadsheet headaches, and brings world-class production discipline within reach for companies of all sizes.