Forward ERP Implementation
A single-source ERP for manufacturers, distributors and industrial service providers — finance, manufacturing, warehousing and project management on one real-time platform.
Why Forward ERP?
Forward ERP is a single-source platform: financials, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, project management and CRM, built on a unified data model rather than stitched together from acquired modules. Performance scales from a handful of users to hundreds of concurrent users on the same architecture.
As an authorised Forward ERP implementation partner, Aglink takes responsibility for the implementation end-to-end — not just the configuration. We map your processes onto the platform, integrate it with the surrounding systems (MES, weighbridge, payroll, document control), train your operators and finance team, and stay through cut-over and the first month-end.
Forward ERP runs continuously through month-end and year-end — no batch-window, no overnight outage. That matters in continuous operations where finance can't ask the plant to pause posting because the books are closing.
Key Advantages
Scales without re-platforming
One architecture from ten users to hundreds of concurrent users — no separate edition for larger sites.
One data model, real time
Modules share a single transactional source — no overnight syncs, no reconciliation between finance and operations.
No month-end blackout
The plant keeps posting while finance closes the books. Critical for 24/7 operations and shift-based sites.
Core Functionality
A comprehensive suite of integrated modules that form the backbone of your operations
Financial Management
Complete financial control with real-time ledger integration, multi-currency support, and comprehensive reporting.
- Accounts Payable & Receivable
- General Ledger & Cashbook
- Fixed Assets management
- Multi-currency trading
- Budget creation & comparison
- Credit management & financial ratios
- Business Units for profit/cost centres
- Tax reporting
Manufacturing
End-to-end manufacturing control from BOM to finished goods, with real-time shop floor visibility.
- Manufacturing orders & component management
- Bill of Material (BOM) with waste percentages
- Work-in-progress visibility
- Operations with routing & scheduling
- By-products & co-products management
- Outsourced manufacturing support
- Costing, variance analysis & scrap/rework
- Gantt chart scheduling
Inventory Management
Full inventory control across multiple warehouses with real-time stock visibility and traceability.
- Item creation & classification
- Multiple warehouse support with bin locations
- Stock transactions & inquiries
- Manual & real-time stock counting
- Customer & supplier-owned stock
- Non-conformance reporting
- Inter-site tracking & transfers
- External serial/batch tracking
Supply Chain & Order Processing
Streamlined procurement, sales, and logistics with full traceability from quotation to delivery.
- Material Resource Planning (MRP)
- Landed cost tracking for imports
- Shipment tracking with progress visibility
- Sales orders & quotations
- Purchase orders & RFQ management
- Credit limit checking
- Job cards for repairs & manufacturing
- Stock reorder interface
Warehousing & Distribution
Efficient warehouse operations with mobile scanning, dispatch management, and delivery tracking.
- Dispatch management via mobile scanners
- Warehouse transfer requisitions
- Delivery tracking with workflow
- Proof of delivery documentation
- Barcode label printing & scanning
- Integrated RF scanner system
- Tracking units (pallets, crates)
- Weighbridge integration
Project Management
Comprehensive project tracking from WBS to billing, with time and material management.
- Work breakdown structure (WBS)
- Project budgeting & cost tracking
- Time & material billing with rate matrices
- Timesheet collection
- Repetitive billing with escalation policies
- Fixed-price contract management
Shop Floor Management
Real-time shop floor data collection with scanner and biometric integration for accurate production tracking.
- Shop floor data collection via scanners
- Biometric reader integration
- Shifts & clocking systems
- Material substitution capabilities
- Operations tracking & routing
- Field sales mobile functionality
Reporting, Integration & Administration
Native Excel and Word export, role-based access control and an audit trail across every module.
- Standard & customised report formats
- Data grid for spreadsheet-like analysis
- Dynamic, real-time report generation
- MS Office Suite native integration
- Data migration from external sources
- Consolidation between databases
- Role-based permission templates
- Document management
Industry-Focused Solutions
Forward ERP configured and optimised for your industry's unique requirements
Manufacturing
Forward ERP provides manufacturers with end-to-end production control — from raw material procurement through to finished goods dispatch. With real-time BOM management, shop floor data collection, and integrated costing, manufacturers gain complete visibility over production efficiency, material usage, and product costs.
Key Capabilities for Manufacturing
- Bill of Material (BOM) — Multi-level BOMs with waste percentages, by-products, co-products, and material substitution
- Production Scheduling — Gantt chart scheduling with operations routing for optimal resource utilisation
- Shop Floor Control — Real-time data collection via scanners and biometric readers for accurate labour and material tracking
- Costing & Variance — Actual vs standard cost analysis, scrap tracking, and rework management
- Quality Control — Non-conformance reporting integrated with inventory and production
- Outsourced Manufacturing — Track and manage outsourced processes as part of the production workflow
- MRP — Material Resource Planning driven by demand forecasts, sales orders, and minimum stock levels
- Work-in-Progress — Real-time WIP visibility across all production stages
Mining Operations
Mining operations need asset management with teeth, safety compliance that holds up to a section 54, and material traceability from face to load-out. Forward ERP supports this with integrated project costing, equipment maintenance scheduling, weighbridge integration and the financial controls capital-intensive operations require — including fixed-asset registers that survive an external audit.
Key Capabilities for Mining
- Asset & Equipment Tracking — Fixed asset management with maintenance scheduling and lifecycle cost tracking
- Weighbridge Integration — Automated weighing and recording for material movements and dispatches
- Project Cost Management — WBS-based budgeting for exploration, development, and operational projects
- Inventory & Stores — Multi-warehouse management with bin locations for spares, consumables, and critical components
- Procurement & Supply Chain — Purchase order management with landed cost tracking for imported equipment and materials
- Safety & Compliance — Non-conformance reporting and document management to support SHEQ requirements
- Financial Controls — Multi-currency support, business unit cost centres, and capital expenditure tracking
- Reporting — Real-time operational and financial dashboards for mine management decision-making
FMCG & Distribution
Fast-moving consumer goods and distribution operations require speed, accuracy, and full traceability across the supply chain. Forward ERP delivers high-volume order processing, barcode-driven warehouse management, batch/serial tracking, and integrated distribution logistics to keep your products moving efficiently from production to point of sale.
Key Capabilities for FMCG & Distribution
- High-Volume Order Processing — Bulk order activation, credit limit checking, and automated pricing for rapid throughput
- Warehouse Management — RF scanner-driven picking, packing, and dispatch with bin location management
- Batch & Serial Tracking — Full traceability from supplier through to customer with expiry date management
- Distribution & Logistics — Delivery tracking with proof of delivery, route optimisation, and dispatch management
- Field Sales — Mobile sales functionality for representatives in the field with real-time stock visibility
- Demand Planning — MRP and stock reorder interfaces driven by sales trends and minimum stock levels
- Customer Management — Credit management, trading terms, and multi-contact maintenance for key accounts
- Promotional & Pricing Control — Flexible pricing structures with quotation management and bulk activation
Petrochemical, Oil & Gas
Petrochemical and oil & gas operations require rigorous process control, strict regulatory compliance, and the ability to manage complex, capital-intensive assets. Forward ERP supports these environments with integrated project management, comprehensive financial controls, and the traceability and quality management capabilities essential for hazardous material operations.
Key Capabilities for Petrochemical, Oil & Gas
- Process Manufacturing — BOM management with by-products, co-products, and waste percentage tracking for process industries
- Asset Lifecycle Management — Fixed asset register with depreciation, maintenance scheduling, and capital expenditure tracking
- Project & Shutdown Management — WBS-based project management for turnarounds, shutdowns, and capital projects
- Compliance & Documentation — Document management and non-conformance reporting to support HSE and regulatory requirements
- Procurement & Landed Costs — International procurement with landed cost calculation, multi-currency trading, and shipment tracking
- Weighbridge & Material Movement — Integrated weighbridge for bulk material receipts and dispatches
- Contractor Management — Timesheet collection, time & material billing, and contractor cost tracking
- Financial Consolidation — Multi-entity consolidation with business unit reporting for complex organisational structures
Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical operations demand strict quality control, full batch traceability, and validated processes that comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Forward ERP provides the inventory traceability, non-conformance reporting, and document management capabilities critical for maintaining regulatory compliance while optimising production efficiency.
Key Capabilities for Pharmaceutical
- Batch Traceability — Full forward and backward traceability of raw materials through to finished goods with batch/serial tracking
- Quality & Non-Conformance — Integrated non-conformance reporting with quarantine management and disposition tracking
- Document Control — Document management for SOPs, batch records, validation protocols, and regulatory submissions
- Manufacturing Controls — BOM management with precise ingredient tracking, waste recording, and yield analysis
- Expiry & Shelf Life Management — Batch expiry tracking across inventory with FEFO (First Expiry, First Out) picking
- Supplier Qualification — Supplier management with qualification status, approved supplier lists, and procurement controls
- Audit Trail — Comprehensive audit trail across all transactions for regulatory inspection readiness
- Warehouse Controls — Temperature-sensitive storage zone management with bin location tracking
Automotive
Automotive manufacturers and component suppliers require just-in-time delivery precision, complex BOM management, and the ability to manage high-volume production with full traceability. Forward ERP provides the manufacturing depth, supply chain integration, and quality management capabilities needed to meet OEM requirements and industry standards.
Key Capabilities for Automotive
- Complex BOM Management — Multi-level BOMs with configurable options, material substitution, and engineering change control
- Production Scheduling — Gantt chart scheduling aligned with customer delivery requirements and production capacity
- Supply Chain Integration — MRP-driven procurement with supplier scheduling, landed cost tracking, and shipment management
- Serial & Batch Tracking — Component-level traceability from supplier through assembly to customer delivery
- Quality Management — Non-conformance reporting, scrap and rework tracking for continuous quality improvement
- Job Card Management — Repair and service job cards integrated with inventory, labour, and billing
- Outsourced Processing — Track components through external processing operations as part of the production flow
- Customer & OEM Management — Credit management, trading attributes, and delivery schedule management for OEM accounts
Our Implementation Approach
A proven methodology that ensures successful ERP adoption and lasting value
1. Discovery & Assessment
Comprehensive analysis of your current systems, business processes, data structures, and integration requirements to define the project scope and implementation roadmap.
2. Design & Configuration
Configure Forward ERP modules to match your business processes, set up organisational structures, chart of accounts, workflows, and user permissions.
3. Data Migration
Clean, transform, and migrate master data and opening balances from existing systems with full validation and reconciliation.
4. Training & Testing
Role-based user training combined with comprehensive system testing — unit, integration, and user acceptance testing to ensure readiness.
5. Go-Live & Support
Managed go-live with on-site support, post-implementation review, and transition to ongoing support to ensure sustained success.
6. Optimisation & Growth
Continuous improvement through process refinement, additional module activation, and advanced reporting as your business evolves.