Your ERP manufacturing system already contains some form of AI. Certain types of artificial intelligence (AI) have been used for the past several years to augment ERP manufacturing systems, enabling them to process documents and transactions efficiently, and provide predictive analytics. What’s new to these systems is generative AI (GenAI), which provides intuitive, conversational interfaces. Integrating all three types of AI with your ERP manufacturing system brings many opportunities to tap into the data within the ERP to improve process efficiency, forecasting abilities, and automation.

The Benefits of AI in ERP Manufacturing Systems

GenAI, integrated into your manufacturing ERP system, offers several advantages.

Shortens the Learning Curve

One of the hallmarks of GenAI is natural language processing. This enables users to ask questions conversationally, similar to how you may ask a coworker, “How do I check an order status?” or “Can you tell me when Supplier X is shipping the widgets?” GenAI understands the question and responds in a like manner.

Because these interactions mimic natural human speech, it is much easier to learn the system. Instead of poring over user manuals, your team can immediately interact with the system. If they need help with how to do something or where to find it in the ERP, the conversational search enables them to get the answer quickly. It dramatically shortens the learning curve and makes onboarding to the system as simple as using an internet browser.

Sorts and Summarizes Large Amounts of Data

One of the advantages of AI is its ability to sort and summarize large amounts of data. ERPs can contain a great deal of data, and manually reviewing, sorting, and summarizing it is both time-consuming and prone to error. Automating this task through AI means generating reports in a fraction of the time it takes to do so using spreadsheets. Additionally, AI can summarize findings from reports or data, which is another plus for busy manufacturers.

Personalizes User Experiences

AI also enables personalized user experiences. This provides customized dashboards to users based on their roles within the organization. For example, the accounting team may need to see financial reports at a glance, while a production manager needs to see schedules, machine efficiency, and similar metrics. Using AI with an ERP manufacturing system provides a unique degree of personalization that enhances efficiency for users.

Enables Better Recommendations and Forecasting

Lastly, AI integrated with your ERP manufacturing system enables better recommendations and forecasting. With AI’s powerful ability to synthesize vast quantities of data, it makes sense to use it as an adjunct to sales forecasting. It can look at past sales and make recommendations based on prior years’ data. For example, if Customer A always purchases widgets in June, but this year they did not, the system may recommend that a salesperson contact Customer A to inquire about the widget order. Perhaps Customer A switched to a competitor; the salesperson could contact the customer and find out why. Or, perhaps Customer A simply forgot to place the order, in which case the salesperson would be happy to facilitate it. With powerful AI tools built into ERP manufacturing systems, it is easy to tap into these potential opportunities.

SYSPRO for Manufacturing ERP

SYSPRO ERP for manufacturers and distributors offers a powerful platform for accounting, finance, operations, and more. It is a cost-effective, scalable solution incorporating the latest AI into the base ERP platform for a seamless, user-friendly experience. The AI features included in the latest version can help you spot unidentified trends and anomalies in your business and improve decision-making and profitability. Contact PositiveVision today to learn more about implementing, upgrading, or switching to SYSPRO ERP.

Linda Baran

Linda Baran is in charge of the people side of PositiveVision. Linda’s background includes working in a variety of industries including investment, manufacturing, and information technology.