Top 8 ERP systems for apparel manufacturing businesses

The apparel industry contributes a massive sum to the world’s economy. According to a Statista survey, the global revenue in the apparel market was forecast to continuously increase between 2025 and 2029 by 0.2 trillion U.S. dollars (+10.87 percent). After the ninth consecutive year of growing revenue, it is estimated that the revenue will reach 2.04 trillion U.S. dollars and, therefore, a new peak in 2029. 

But apparel manufacturing comes with its fair share of challenges—managing complex supply chains, fluctuating inventory levels, and maintaining consistent product quality are just a few.

To navigate these obstacles, it’s a must to have an ERP system for apparel industry, to streamline operations, from inventory management to production planning, helping businesses operate more efficiently and stay competitive.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the best apparel ERP software for manufacturers that can help you overcome these challenges and enhance your business processes.

Why is the ERP system for apparel industry critical?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can be a game-changer in apparel manufacturing. The right apparel ERP software system can transform your operations, boosting productivity and cutting costs.

Here’s how the best software for apparel manufacturers can make a significant impact on your business:

1.Enhanced efficiency and productivity

In the fast-paced world of apparel manufacturing, time is money. Apparel ERP software automates critical production processes, reducing the need for manual input and significantly reducing labor costs.

With automation, you can expect fewer errors, faster production times, and a smoother workflow. This enhanced efficiency means you can produce more garments in less time, helping you stay competitive in a crowded market.

2.Improved inventory management

Managing inventory is one of the most challenging aspects of apparel manufacturing. ERP system for apparel industry tools for tracking material usage and stock levels in real time.

No more guessing when to reorder fabrics or accessories—best apparel ERP software sends alerts when you’re approaching critical reorder points. This precision in inventory management ensures you always have the right materials on hand without overstocking, which can tie up valuable resources.

3.Streamlined supply chain management

Supply chain management is another area where apparel ERP software excels. Real-time visibility into every supply chain step allows you to identify bottlenecks before they become significant issues.

This level of insight means you can make informed decisions quickly, keeping your production lines running smoothly and your deliveries on schedule. By streamlining your supply chain, you’re not just improving operations—you’re also enhancing your ability to respond to market demands effectively.

4.Cost reduction

Ultimately, every apparel manufacturer wants to reduce costs without compromising quality. Apparel production software helps achieve this by automating processes requiring expensive manual labor.

Additionally, with accurate demand forecasting, you can better align production with actual market needs, avoiding overproduction and excess inventory. The result? Significant cost savings that directly boost your bottom line.

5.Multichannel sales integration

Today’s apparel businesses operate across multiple sales channels—from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to online marketplaces and ecommerce websites. A robust ERP system ensures seamless integration across all these channels, providing a unified and consistent customer experience.

ERP systems for apparel allow you to manage everything from a single platform by centralizing order management, inventory tracking, and customer data. This saves time, improves coordination between departments, reduces errors, and enables faster response times—no matter where the sale happens.

Top ERP Software for Apparel Manufacturing

Selecting the right ERP software for your apparel manufacturing business can significantly enhance your operations, from managing inventory to streamlining production. Here are some of the top ERPs for the apparel industry, along with their key features:

1.Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

MS Dynamics 365 BC is a flexible ERP solution best suited for apparel manufacturers operating in regions with limited local ERP support. It is feature-rich in finance and operations, and with the right industry-specific add-ons, it can be an effective solution for scaling apparel brands internationally.

Key features:

• Core ERP strengths: It offers robust foundational features that are especially valuable for companies outgrowing QuickBooks or entry-level ERPs.
• Vast ecosystem: Supported by one of the most active ERP ecosystems, providing a wide range of industry-specific extensions and integrations.
• Global flexibility: Well-suited for manufacturers needing localization and support in diverse regions.
• Apparel-specific add-ons: While not natively built for apparel, add-ons widely adopted in the industry make it a flexible choice for fashion and apparel brands.

2.Absolute ERP

Absolute ERP is a cloud-based solution accessible from anywhere, anytime. This flexibility is crucial for apparel manufacturers who need to manage operations on the go, with affordable pricing and a strong focus on the apparel industry. It provides tools for production planning, inventory management, and quality control. It’s designed to help manufacturers reduce costs while maintaining high-quality standards.

Key features:

• Cloud-based access: Manage your operations from any device, anywhere in the world.
• Affordable pricing: Cost-effective solutions tailored to fit the budget of apparel manufacturers.
• Comprehensive production planning: Tools for scheduling, workflow management, and quality control.
• Scalable solutions: Easily adjust to the growing needs of your business.

3.Infor Fashion

Infor Fashion is a highly configurable ERP system for apparel businesses. It offers comprehensive end-to-end resource management specifically tailored to the fashion industry. It seamlessly manages the entire apparel production software chain—from design and materials sourcing to manufacturing and retail distribution—with built-in flexibility and strong analytics capabilities.

Key features:

• Comprehensive ERP capabilities: Includes a tailored data model designed specifically for apparel manufacturing, ensuring smooth operations across your production lifecycle.
• Integrated suite: This combination of essential components, such as PLM, WMS, TMS, merchandising, and planning, within a single ERP for the apparel industry significantly reduces implementation complexity.
• Extensive customization: Provides greater customization flexibility, allowing businesses to adapt quickly to changing market demands.
• AI-driven analytics: Incorporates advanced analytics to predict fashion trends, optimizing production and inventory management in real-time.

4.World Fashion Exchange (WFX)

World Fashion Exchange offers a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive end-to-end integrated solution. This ERP software excels at tracking factory functions, including material planning, quality control, and supplier collaboration.

WFX is particularly strong in providing real-time visibility into your production processes, helping you identify and address issues before they escalate.

Key features:

• End-to-end integration: Covers all aspects of apparel manufacturing from design to delivery.
• Factory function tracking: Monitor every step of the production process, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Supplier collaboration: Facilitates seamless communication and collaboration with suppliers.
• Sustainability focus: Offers tools to minimize environmental impact, making it ideal for sustainable fashion manufacturers.

5.Ecotech Software

Ecotech Software is tailored for the apparel, garment, and textile industries. It integrates various factory modules to streamline business operations. It handles everything from point of sale to returns and garment processing tasks like weaving, knitting, and dyeing. Ecotech Software is an excellent apparel ERP system for manufacturers looking to manage complex production workflows efficiently.

Key features:

• Integrated factory modules: Combines multiple functions like production planning, quality control, and machine maintenance.
• Point of sale management: Manages retail orders, returns, and customer interactions efficiently.
• Garment processing capabilities: Handles complex garment processes such as weaving, knitting, and dyeing.
• Real-time production tracking: Keeps track of the production process, ensuring timely delivery and quality control.

6.Oracle NetSuite

NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP system for apparel businesses. It is particularly suited to small and medium-sized brands with global operations. Its lighter manufacturing features are ideal for apparel manufacturers who don’t require complex production processes. With a strong ecosystem and specialized apparel production software integrations, NetSuite is among the best apparel ERP solutions for growing businesses.

Key features:

• Highly adapted ecosystem: Strong integration with industry-specific solutions such as ISV, PLM, TMS, and WMS, which are widely adopted within the apparel sector.
• Apparel-friendly data model: Simplified data model tailored explicitly for apparel retail and distribution, reducing complexity.
• Scalable and customizable: Cloud-based architecture provides flexibility, scalability, and customizable dashboards delivering actionable insights.
• Effective financial management: Robust financial and cost management tools help apparel companies optimize resource allocation and efficiency.

7.Datatex

Datatex is a web-based ERP system for the apparel manufacturing industry. It manages critical aspects like inventory, quality control, and production planning.

The platform’s web-based technology ensures that your data is always accessible and up-to-date, providing the tools to make informed decisions in real time.

Key features:

• Web-based technology: Access your ERP system from any web-enabled device.
• Inventory management: Provides accurate and real-time tracking of materials and finished products.
• Quality control tools: Ensures that all products meet industry standards before reaching the market.
• Global support: Offers localized support across five continents, making it a reliable choice for international manufacturers.

8.Aptean Apparel ERP

Aptean Apparel ERP — a purpose-built ERP solution specifically designed for apparel manufacturers, tailored for small brands that strive for speed and flexibility with built-in adaptability at an affordable price. Providing pre-integrated solutions from design to distribution, this ERP for the apparel industry simplifies complex apparel production software processes. Its intuitive workflows and powerful integrations streamline operations, enabling rapid scaling like REBEL8.

Key features:

• Pre-integrated full suite: Includes built-in solutions such as merchandising, planning, WMS, TMS, and PLM, minimizing the need for custom integrations.
• Agile production planning: Quickly adapt to rapidly changing fashion trends through flexible and agile planning tools.
• Advanced supply chain management: Gain real-time visibility into inventory and supply chain operations, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
• Robust BI reporting: Comprehensive business intelligence for better decision-making, enabling brands like REBEL8 to increase profitability and scale efficiently.

Each ERP system for the apparel industry offers unique features that cater to the specific needs of apparel manufacturers. Integrating these ERPs with the best B2B sales platform can significantly enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain a competitive edge in the industry​.

Complete your ERP system for apparel with WizCommerce

Selecting the right ERP system for apparel is the first step, but integrating it with the best sales solutions to fully digitize your B2B sales, catalogs, and customer experience is the holistic approach to make your business successful. WizCommerce seamlessly integrates your ERP with a B2B order-taking app for your sales reps and our intuitive B2B ecommerce platform for your customers.

These platforms provide an omnichannel experience as they talk to each other, streamlining your sales operations and enhancing customer satisfaction. Here’s how:

1.Easy ERP integration

WizCommerce integrates effortlessly with your ERP, whether it’s QuickBooks, SAP, NetSuite, or other apparel-specific ERP systems.

2.Empower sales reps

Enable your sales team to manage quotes, orders, and inventory in real time, improving efficiency and reducing errors.

3.Enhance customer experience

Give your customers the flexibility to browse catalogs, place orders, and manage accounts online—anytime, anywhere.

4.Omnichannel sales sync

Both order-taking app and B2B ecommerce platform seamlessly sync orders, inventory, and customer data, delivering a consistent buying experience across channels.

5.Flexible payments

WizCommerce offers multiple B2B payment options, including debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets, to make checkout effortless.

6.Actionable insights

Leverage AI-driven analytics for deep insights into customer preferences and sales trends, allowing smarter, data-backed decisions.

Must have features in the ERP system for apparel

Choosing the right ERP system for apparel manufacturers is essential for those who want to optimize their operations.

With so many options available, understanding the essential features that the best software for apparel manufacturers should have can make all the difference. Here’s what to look for:

1.Inventory management

Effective inventory management is the backbone of any successful apparel manufacturing operation. The best ERP system for apparel manufacturers offers real-time tracking of inventory levels, ensuring you always know what materials are available.

Given the numerous variations in size, color, and style for each product, apparel manufacturers need an ERP that supports multidimensional inventory management. This feature ensures real-time tracking of quantities and different SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) related to each product variation.

A robust ERP should integrate with barcode scanning systems to enhance accuracy and speed in inventory updates. Additionally, it should support Material Requirements Planning (MRP), which helps forecast material needs based on production schedules and customer demand.

2.Production planning and control

Staying on top of production schedules is critical in the apparel industry. Look for ERP software with robust production planning and control features, including scheduling tools and workflow management capabilities.

An incredible apparel ERP also includes work-in-progress (WIP) tracking, which allows manufacturers to monitor each stage of production, ensuring that deadlines are met and quality standards are maintained. Additionally, the system should integrate quality control checks to maintain the high standards customers expect from your brand, ensuring garments pass inspections before moving forward.

3.Supply chain management

Managing your supply chain efficiently can make or break your business. The best ERP system for apparel manufacturers should include comprehensive supply chain management features such as vendor and purchase order management.

Additionally, apparel ERP software should offer real-time visibility into the entire supply chain, from material procurement to final product delivery.This helps manufacturers minimize lead times, reduce costs, and consistently meet production timelines. Purchase order tracking, shipment management, and vendor performance analysis are essential for staying ahead in a competitive market.

4.Customer relationship management (CRM)

The fashion and apparel industry is highly customer-centric, where customer relationship management (CRM) is key to staying competitive. An ERP system for apparel should include CRM features specifically designed for this industry, allowing manufacturers to seamlessly track retail orders, custom orders, bulk orders, customer preferences, order histories, and seasonal buying patterns.

This allows businesses to offer personalized service, forecast future demand, and tailor their production schedules to meet custome needs. By leveraging these insights, apparel manufacturers can enhance customer satisfaction and build long-term loyalty.

5.Omnichannel ecommerce compatibility

In the rapidly evolving apparel market, seamless integration between online and offline channels is vital. An effective ERP system for apparel should offer compatibility with omnichannel e-commerce platforms, ensuring unified operations across sales channels. 

This integration helps manage orders, inventory, and customer interactions centrally, providing a consistent experience for customers—whether shopping online, in-store, or via sales representatives. Unified omnichannel capabilities enhance accuracy, improve order fulfillment speed, and boost customer satisfaction.

6.Cybersecurity and data protection

With growing digitalization in the apparel industry, robust cybersecurity and data protection mechanisms are no longer optional—they’re essential. The best apparel ERP solutions incorporate comprehensive security measures to protect sensitive customer and business data from cyber threats. 

Look for ERP systems offering advanced encryption, secure cloud storage, regular security audits, and compliance with global data protection standards like GDPR. Strong cybersecurity features ensure customer trust, safeguard your brand’s reputation, and protect your business against costly breaches or data losses.

Conclusion

Choosing the right ERP software is a critical decision for any apparel manufacturer. Each ERP system for apparel mentioned above offers unique features, from real-time inventory tracking to comprehensive production planning and supply chain management.

As you evaluate your options, it is crucial to match the software’s capabilities with your business’s specific needs. The ideal ERP system for apparel manufacturers will support your unique operational challenges, improve workflow efficiency, maintain high-quality standards, and optimize your supply chain.

Ultimately, the right apparel ERP system + best B2B sales platform like WizCommerce will help you achieve smoother processes, boost productivity, and position your business for long-term success in the competitive apparel industry.

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