Data is fast becoming the lifeblood of the modern manufacturing marketplace. An estimated 86% of manufacturers worldwide have implemented formalized production insight collection programs, intent on bolstering productivity and quality through deep information analysis, per research from The Economist Intelligence Unit. However, this widespread embrace of industrial data gathering tools has not been without issue. The Economist report also revealed that 86% of the manufacturing firms that have shop floor analytics systems in place struggle with data management. This particular problem weighs on productivity and drags down the bottom line, Industry Week reported. 

That said, there is an effective solution to defective data management: the enterprise resource planning platform. This software allows manufacturers to take control of their information and use it to catalyze sustained organizational growth. Here are three common data management dilemmas ERP technology can address:

1. Too much data

Automated data collection tools generate massive amounts of information. One piece of shop floor machinery might contain dozens of sensors, each gathering second-by-second mechanical insights that quickly congest internal caches and make effective analysis and data-based improvement almost impossible. ERP solutions make it possible for manufacturers to handle large amounts of information and use it to boost their operations via sophisticated integration and dashboard modules.

2. Siloed data

Information silos are as problematic as the operational ones modern production specialists decry. Isolated data sources — sometimes called data islands — muck up internal communication and decision-making and inhibit shop floor flexibility, an essential production capability in today's mercurial marketplace. ERP platforms eliminate data islands by connecting with all applicable endpoints and sensors, and cultivating centralized sources of analytical truth ideal for production planning.

3. Inaccessible data

To benefit from shop floor insights, manufacturing firms must facilitate data access. Executives and on-the-ground production stakeholders cannot make bottom line-building adjustments without the right information, presented the right way at the right time. Unfortunately, a good number of manufacturers fail to support this functionality and instead store information across disparate, difficult-to-navigate systems. ERP technology makes it possible for manufacturing firms to abandon this ineffective strategy and lend essential personnel seamless information access through easy-to-use dashboards with just-in-time data.

Is your manufacturing company looking to solve these and other data management issues? Consider connecting with Accent Software. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturers of all sizes the opportunity to adopt an impactful ERP solution that allows them to take full advantage of their data.

Contact us today to learn more about our proven products and services. 

  

Enterprise resource planning implementation is an immense investment. In fact, the average ERP adopter devoted more than a million dollars to system installation in 2018, according to researchers from Panorama Consulting Solutions. With this much money on the line, manufacturers pursuing implementation must collaborate with vendors to develop and deploy sustainable solutions that remain relevant for years, no matter the marketplace conditions. Platform future-proofing through architecture design and feature selection is the ideal methodology for achieving long-term ERP viability. Here are some of the system components manufacturing firms should focus on when embarking on this kind of longevity-centered ERP planning:

Cloud computing architecture
Enterprise cloud computing services are essentially industry standard nowadays — Flexera estimated that 94% of businesses worldwide leverage the technology. While adoption rates are generally lower among organizations pursuing ERP implementation — cloud-based or Software-as-a-Service platforms accounted for 64% of all the ERPs implemented in 2018, per Panorama — the cloud is usurping the on-premises server as the system building block of choice. The reasoning here is easy to understand: cloud-based ERP solutions are far more scalable and easier to manage than traditional systems made for on-premises deployment. These characteristics make cloud computing architecture the ideal base for the sustainable ERP, making it possible for manufacturers to right-size their installations on the fly to account for new external or internal variables.

Enterprise mobile support
Mobile technology propels the modern marketplace. From front-of-house business-to-consumer processes to backend production workflows, smartphones, tablets and other on-the-go assets associated with the internet of things are embedded within numerous revenue-driving operational functions. This is particularly true within the manufacturing space, where an estimated 82% of firms currently oversee IoT initiatives, according to analysts from Tech Pro Research. Enterprise mobile reliance here and in other sectors is bound to increase as time progresses, as IoT technology grows more sophisticated and ubiquitous. This state of affairs makes mobile functionality an essential component of the future-proof ERP. Platforms that are capable of facilitating IoT deployment at scale are primed to generate returns as mobile functionality becomes more important.

Advanced business intelligence
Businesses cannot compete without accurate and easy-to-access data. Whether it is internal production insights collected through shop floor IoT sensors or customer information collected through online interaction monitoring software, data is essential to organizational sustainability and growth. This is why enterprises across the globe are expected to spend more than $100 billion on business intelligence hardware, software and services in 2019, per the International Data Corporation. These expenditures could top $200 billion by 2022. With data clearly here to stay, manufacturers intent on implementing ERP technology with an extended shelf life must pinpoint systems that simplify business intelligence collection and access. Reporting and bulk information management features are among the key items to consider in this case, as these tools make it easier to handle large amounts of information, no matter its source.

Is your manufacturing firm interested in implementing a future-proof ERP platform that is meant to last? Consider connecting with Accent Software. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturers of all sizes the opportunity to adopt a quality ERP solution designed to facilitate operational growth via cutting-edge platform features.

Contact us today to learn more about our proven products and services.

Enterprise resource planning technology remains immensely popular among manufacturers. In fact, these businesses accounted for 43% of all ERP implementations completed in 2018, according to research from Panorama Consulting Solutions. Despite this reality, some within the sector are questioning the relevance of ERP technology, wondering whether sticking to familiar manual processes rather than pursuing sweeping technology-driven progress is the ideal tactic for surviving or even thriving in these turbulent marketplace conditions, per Industry Week. The reality is, ERP platforms generate real return on investment in 2019 through these transformative improvements:

Operational data transparency
Modern ERP systems integrate with multiple shop-floor information conduits, from internet of things sensors installed on mission-critical production machinery to barcode scanners leveraged in shipping and receiving operations. This brand of whole-operation connectivity allows operational stakeholders to gather real-time information, which can be used for shaping optimization efforts, according to ERP Focus. When executives and production leaders have access to the rich, cross-departmental insights ERP technology provides, they can make informed business decisions that facilitate real improvement and lay the groundwork for sustainable revenue gain.

Optimal backend efficiency
A good number of the manual workflows ERP solutions are designed to replace are incredibly inefficient and weigh heavy on the bottom line. For instance, American businesses lose around $47 million per year as a consequence of institutional knowledge loss alone, analysts for Panopto discovered. ERP solutions reduce the likelihood of these financial failings by allowing operational teams to use automated tools that reduce the need for manual work while logging the essential platform activities that lead to seamless production workflows that unfold as required, no matter the personnel involved, CIO reported. These solutions also add efficiency to the decision-making process, as manufacturing leaders can easily tap into the data they need to move forward with changes big and small.

Agility and scalability
The modern marketplace moves with great fluidity, propelled by ever-changing customer expectations and desires. Manufacturers must meet consumers' needs lest they risk relinquishing their footing in the industry. ERP technology is among the most effective tools for achieving this objective. Such solutions generate actionable operational insights that allow production stakeholders to predict emerging shifts and put into place refreshed processes designed to make products that are right for the moment. ERP platforms also enable manufacturers to scale up or down depending on market activity.

Together, these and other advantages that come with ERP implementation have an immense impact on revenue, making this technology key for modern manufacturers.

Is your manufacturing firm prepared to embark on ERP implementation and in need of a solution that can generate ROI? Consider connecting with Accent Software.

As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturers of all sizes the opportunity to implement an effective ERP solution designed to facilitate operational growth through cutting-edge platform features. Contact us today to learn more about our proven products and services.