Business Automation and Software Blog

Let’s face it—as time goes on, it becomes harder to keep your warehouse as organized and efficient as you would like. The longer you’ve been in business, the harder it most likely seems to keep your warehouse flowing smoothly and efficiently. To improve warehouse efficiency and inventory control, companies must re-evaluate their processes and procedures. Bin locations that increase workload and picking methods that are not industry appropriate is just one example of how a company’s efficiency may be decreased by their current processes. But, you’re not on your own: Plenty of resources exist—such as inventory management software to track, manage, and organize product sales, material purchases, and other production processes—to get you on track. Check out these helpful steps to organize your warehouse properly and, ultimately, improve warehouse efficiency.

It might be difficult to believe, but we’re nearly done with the first quarter of 2018. While some of us are still writing “2017” on our checks, others are already looking at what trends emerged early in 2018 and which ones will have the staying power to impact 2019.

Many of the trends have to do with software and the ability of machines to streamline processes, provide data for future predictions, and handle repetitive, manual tasks so that humans are freed up for more thought-based tasks. Manufacturing ERP systems are going to be at the center of it all in 2018. Here are some of the trends we think are going to stick around.  

In 2017, the public learned that Facebook shut down an artificial intelligence (AI) negotiation software project because the bots began to develop their own language that humans could not interpret. While the story was a bit sensationalized, it still got the public to really thinking about AI and the impact it has on our lives. In a world where we now say, “Hey Siri” or “Okay Google” and Alexa is practically a member of the family, AI has enabled us to live differently than ever before. Now companies are recognizing the importance of using machine learning to improve their existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools.

Unlike the philosophy in the world of sports that being first is best, we have been conditioned to a perspective where it is best to wait in the world of technology. For example, in the consumer market, the newest technology typically launches with shock-value price points that begin to drop within a few months, or at least after the holiday retail season. Others will point out that early releases don’t always have all of the “bugs” worked out, and the second or third release is a more stable version of the new technology.

The National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) recently published a report called “A Growth Agenda: Four Goals for a Manufacturing Resurgence in America.” In it, they assessed that manufacturers are ready to power the economy. The difficult recovery into an economic resurgence is possible with the right policies in place. This is due to the fact that manufacturing has the highest multiplier effect on any economic sector. Manufacturing investments multiply creating jobs and growth in other sectors of the economy. Manufacturing helps in making America strong.

Technology’s ever developing new systems and fast pace can be challenging for manufacturers with heavily customized systems, and there is constant pressure to decide whether or not to expand functionality based on high costs of modification. To upgrade or not to upgrade is a consistent question being asked in IT departments. Fortunately, modern ERP solutions are built on loosely coupled, flexible architecture for easy expansion, easy upgrades, and easy integration to new applications or legacy solutions.

Manufacturing is back. To harness the momentum created by the manufacturing renaissance, manufacturers need to transform today's challenges into opportunities. It won't be an easy task, and manufacturers will need to completely rethink their business model, organizational structure, and IT landscape.
 
In addition to the new functionality that will be required of future ERP solutions, this IDC White Paper also discusses these critical IT capabilities that will be essential for successful, future manufacturers:

We no longer live in a business world where an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is optional. It is certainly a necessity to have an ERP solution that can help you operate, manage, and keep up with your business while providing customization, easy integration, and broad functionality. Business has evolved substantially since ERP was first introduced in 1990, and you’ll need an updated ERP solution to meet your current needs.

Whether you are considering enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for the first time or are in need of an updated and upgraded version, selecting and implementing the best solution for your business is no easy task. Modern ERP software offers extended functionality and allows your business to produce optimal results. Just as athletes strive to win the game, businesses should strive to be victorious in choosing and using the best software solutions for their company. In order to have a victory in the software modernization battle and implement the necessary ERP software improvements with ease, follow these tips: