Business Automation and Software Blog

Manufacturing automation started as a way to increase productivity and reduce cost in operations. But today, it’s so much more, shifting focus to increasing quality and flexibility in the manufacturing process. In fact, as the norm in manufacturing shifts to small production runs, fast shipping, and nimble operations, the difference between success and failure lies with robotics and automation.

When referencing CRM—or, customer relationship management—most people will likely think of a software solution that enables them to track customers along their journey from prospect to purchase and maintain up-to-date contact information. But treating CRM as only a software solution misses a vital point. CRM is the tool by which you acquire, retain, and create loyal customers.

No longer the stuff of movies, artificial intelligence (AI) has moved into real life. We use it for everything from running our homes to working our mobile devices. AI has also significantly contributed to developments in business and Industry 4.0, revolutionizing everything we thought we knew. There’s no doubt that AI has also transformed warehouse management and supply chain logistics.

While these numbers are rarely released by Amazon itself, one recent survey estimates that more than 100 million people across the United States have Amazon Prime benefits. Based on recent population data, that’s nearly a third of the entire country.

Have you ever been caught by surprise when a key customer doesn’t renew a contract or place their regularly expected order? Connected supply chains and smart manufacturing put a new level of focus on the customer and the ability to predict performance, but simply having the data isn’t enough. You need to know how to dive into it at a more scientific level.

If your manufacturing and distribution business is growing, you’re likely excited about all the positives: ordering is up, there’s opportunity to increase employee headcount, perhaps add another branch or location. But growth can also make some of your “business as usual” more challenging, especially if expanding means the potential to grow out of your current ERP accounting software.

For business owners, few things are as exciting as seeing their products gain traction in the marketplace and increase in demand. In order to meet these new demands, operations need to scale, which puts manufacturing processes in the spotlight. When it comes to products that are ordered in smaller quantities (such as a larger item that is only purchased one or a few at a time) or those that require custom parts, you may default to a Make to Order manufacturing mode.

With the ubiquity of manufacturing software systems at your disposal, your business has access to more data than ever before. This data access provides manufacturing businesses with more tools to improve business management and cost-effectiveness, starting with inventory lot size.

We’re now into the second month of a new and exciting decade, and the pace of innovation is already at an all-time high. Business software solutions such as ERP software are tasked with rising to the occasion as technology embraces Industry 4.0 and preps for 5.0 (which is probably coming sooner than you think). Flexible features and easy-to-use functionalities will be the hallmarks of the most successful business software solutions. But, to get the full value out of their software solutions, businesses will need to make sure every user has the maximum insight from the system.

While customers have always been at the center of business operation focus, the customer experience journey is newer jargon that didn’t emerge until the 1990s when businesses could track more customer data than ever before, thanks to the internet. Suddenly, there was a wealth of access to data tracking customer actions, interactions, purchases, and more.