3 signs you need a manufacturing ERP consultant [Video]

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Hello and welcome to the Accent Software video blog.

Implementing an effective manufacturing enterprise resource planning solution is no easy task. Nearly one-third of adopters suffer complete project failures due to grave implementation roadblocks. To avoid this scenario, many implementers hire ERP consultants.

Here are three of the most common reasons enterprises bring on these external collaborators:

One: Lack of internal expertise. In many cases, businesses don't have the staff needed to install manufacturing ERPs. Two: Failing project leadership. Sometimes, organizations require the help of seasoned project leaders who know ERP software, inside and out. Three: Vendor trouble. ERP consultants know how to interact with software providers, pinpoint ideal solutions and draw up advantageous service-level agreements.

Manufacturing firms with these issues should consider bringing on ERP consultants and working with a seasoned software provider like Accent Software, a Microsoft solutions partner specializing in Dynamics NAV deployments.

Understanding the Dynamics 365 Business Central

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Microsoft has debuted yet another update to its growing Dynamics 365 platform. On March 13, the Redwood, Oregon-based technology giant announced the forthcoming release of the Business Central solution, an end-to-end system that allows businesses to manage customer service, finance, operations and sales activities though a single integrated interface. The offering also eases enterprise resource planning implementation activities by giving organizations the ability to migrate their information into an all-inclusive solution product made for silo-less operational workflows.

The NAV evolution continues
Business Central is the ready-for-market product of the much talked-about Tenerife project, according to ZDNet. During the Directions North America conference this past October, Microsoft officials confirmed that an improved alternative to the Dynamics NAV offering was in the works, telling attendees that an all-in-one solution would replace the aging small business ERP platform.

This secretive solution eventually evolved into Dynamics 365 Business Central, which comes in cloud-based and on-premises iterations and allows businesses to take advantage of Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Flow Office 365 and the Power Apps suite. Together, these tools give users the power to develop and deploy integrated operational models, jumpstart and sustain data-collection initiatives and grow their backend systems with their respective businesses.

An ever-growing market
Analysts monitoring the SMB ERP market believe Business Central will make a considerable impact as growing small and medium-sized firms continue to search for viable accounting software with modest price tags and advanced capabilities, ZDNet reported.

"The 'what do we do after Quickbooks?' niche has always had a decent volume, and these companies are eager to move to the cloud for all the right reasons – cost, security, modernization, new user experiences," Joshua Greenbaum, an advisor at Enterprise Applications Consulting, told the publication.

Implementing a new solution
Business Central will be available for purchase April 2. Microsoft is offering two service plans: The Essential package, which comes with a per-user-per-month price of $70, and the Premium package which costs $100 per month, per user. Businesses with active NAV 2018 installations considering adoption will be able to deploy their existing plug-ins and customizations on the platform.

Is your small or medium-sized business interested in implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central? Connect with Accent Software today. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services.   

Is your manufacturing ERP ready for replacement?

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Manufacturing enterprise resource planning platforms do not last forever. Despite their industrial-grade components, these mission-critical solutions fade over time. System lifespans vary depending on the vendor, according to IT Toolbox. Some manufacturing ERP products hold up for more than a decade, while others decline within five years of implementation. However, the signs of system degradation are universal. Manufacturing organizations with longstanding legacy solutions must familiarize themselves with these troubling software symptoms. Here are some of those obvious indicators:

Diminished supply chain visibility
ERP solutions, at their core, are meant to facilitate operational visibility, lending stakeholders at all levels insight into the activities that unfold in the back office, out on the shop floor and inside the facilities of key third-party collaborators. When manufacturing ERP systems cease to provide this information or offer inaccurate numbers, change could be necessary. However, users and production leaders rarely recognize this problem when logged into the system.

This symptom of ERP deterioration often comes to light in the boardroom when executives request total product or job costs, according to Panorama Consulting Solutions. In the event that production staff cannot compile this data or uncover potentially flawed figures, it is likely that the software from which they originated is to blame and requires updating or replacement.

Lack of vendor support
Virtually all manufacturing ERP platforms require consistent system updates to remain viable. This necessitates long-term vendor support as software makers are ultimately responsible for coding these improved components. In the case of cloud-based or Software-as-a-Service installations, vendors also install these updates. However, few technology firms support their products in perpetuity, especially today. Enterprises across all sectors continue to demand bleeding-edge backend technology, leading third-party systems providers to reiterate at an accelerated pace and leave older systems behind, The St. Louis Business Journal reported. When this unfolds, IT teams have two choices: adopt new software or continue forward with unsupported technology. 

Sadly, many choose the latter approach to avoid new system implementation and the costs that accompany it. In reality, keeping outdated ERP solutions in place even after vendor support ends often leads to increased costs as system performance drops dramatically without consistent or proper updates and patches. With this in mind, manufacturing organizations that find themselves with unsupported ERP platforms should embrace replacement and get new, fully-functioning solutions.

Missing industry-standard features
The manufacturing industry is one of the most technologically advanced sectors in existence. Companies in the space continue to push their production limits, leveraging advanced software and hardware to streamline workflows, more effectively meet customer needs and increase revenues. The use of business intelligence among manufacturers doubled from 2016 to 2017, according to research from the software provider Plex. Additionally, an increasingly large number of producers embraced connected supply chain technology in 2017. This year, the push for innovation continues as businesses ratchet up internet of things implementations, invest in more automated equipment and look into augmented reality setups, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers found.

With these developments unfolding, manufacturers must at least consider adoption to keep pace with competitors and this requires taking a look at legacy ERP software. Most of these solutions, even those released within the last decade, do not have the core features needed to support the above technology. Some are not even capable of facilitating workflows featuring now-industry-standard technology, ERP Focus reported. Producers maintaining systems without such components or those needed to implement cutting-edge technology that will soon define the manufacturing space must seriously consider replacement.

The presence of extensive workarounds
When everyday users encounter systems that impede them rather than offer assistance, most create workarounds that allow them to complete critical tasks despite technological interference. Ideally, an ERP system should negate the need for such shortcuts, lending users the complement of tools they need to execute without logging off or introducing supporting platforms. When solutions reach the tail-ends of their lifespans, this often ceases to be the case, forcing workers to create and leverage workarounds, according to St. Louis Business Journal. This is not a viable long-term answer to ERP-created workflow problems as these circumvention methods actually transform into standard processes over time, turning ERP platforms into unused money pits.

Manufacturing firms with numerous workarounds in place should definitely consider implementing new ERP technology – all parties involved, including the chief financial officer, will be appreciative.

Embracing ERP renewal
Businesses in the manufacturing industry staring down these problems might be reluctant to launch full-on system reboots due to the cost of implementation. In the end, this upfront expense, which consumed less than 0.5 percent of the annual revenues for almost half of all the companies that completed ERP projects in 2017, according to Panorama, will certainly make less of a budgetary impact than the costs that come with keeping untenable backend technology in place.   

Manufacturing organizations interested in replacing legacy ERP software with a more modern alternative should connect with Accent Software today. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturers the power to bolster their operations with one of the most advanced and reliable ERP solutions on the market. 

Contact us today to learn more about our offerings. 

Can ERP technology mitigate the impact of the manufacturing skills gap?

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The global manufacturing space has largely recovered in the wake of the Great Recession. The industry continues to grow at an annualized rate of more than 2 percent, according to research from the World Bank Group. American producers are performing particularly well. In 2016, the latest year for which data is available, U.S.-based firms produced goods with a total valuation of approximately $5.8 billion, analysts for the Bureau of Labor Statistics found. That figure is expected to surpass $7 billion by 2026. Despite this seemingly sunny outlook, the manufacturing sector has one significant problem peeking over the horizon: a widespread skills shortage.

Producers are expected to add more than 3.5 million new jobs by 2025, according to projections from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute. However, industry experts believe 2 million of these positions may go unfilled due to a lack of candidates with the requisite skills needed to succeed on the shop floor and in the back office. Manufacturing CEOs are already finding it difficult to hire skilled production professionals and advanced research positions, spending an average of 70 days and 94 days searching for qualified employees to fill these respective roles, Deloitte reported. What can manufacturers do to address this growing problem? Innovators in the space have suggested that enterprise resource planning technology could help address the skills gap and prevent widespread marketplace regression, according to Manufacturing and Business Technology.

Embracing a technological solution
ERP platforms are, at their cores, data collection and distribution engines. They give businesses the power to gather accurate operational insights and share such information with multiple parties, from internal stakeholders in the accounting and shipping and receiving departments to external enterprise partners and even customers. These brands of ERP knowledge sharing are well-documented and lie at the center of deployments designed to bolster the bottom line. However, ERP solutions can also support internal information distribution efforts that empower manufacturing workers to reach new heights and overcome knowledge gaps. It is this use case that could prove useful for producers hoping to successfully navigate the expanding skills gap.

Some industry analysts have suggested that manufacturers could address the shortage of qualified technicians by upgrading their legacy ERP systems to newer externally-managed models and moving valuable technical personnel to projects that more directly affect production, Industry Week reported. This strategy allows firms to get the most out of their existing workforce and keeps them from having to enter the increasingly competitive and skill-deficient labor market.

Pinpointing the right partner
Both of these ERP-centered solutions to the growing skills shortage in the manufacturing space require support from a trusted software partner like Accent Software. Whether your organization intends to upskill workers via a reliable ERP solution or swap legacy software for a more modern alternative in hopes of freeing technical talent, Accent Software can help. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturers the power to future-proof their operations with cutting-edge ERP software.

Connect with us today to learn more about how our offerings can help your firm address the skills gap. 

Streamlining ERP implementation with agile project management [Video]

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Manufacturing enterprise resource planning software implementation is no easy task, even for firms with extensive information technology resources. With this in mind, prospective E-R-P adopters must carefully sketch out their implementation roadmaps and embrace proven solution design and deployment schemes. The agile methodology, which resembles the lean manufacturing strategy and is used by an estimated 94 percent of businesses worldwide, is perhaps the most effective. Why?

Implementation teams leveraging agile workflows build out E-R-P platforms in piecemeal fashion, designing, testing and perfecting their solutions one component at a time. Many even carry this approach over into system management activities, using the idea of continuous improvement, the driving notion behind the agile strategy, to keep E-R-P software running smoothly.

Manufacturers looking to implement E-R-P systems would be wise to embrace this methodology. They should also consider connecting with a trusted solution provider like Accent E-R-P, a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner with decades of experience implementing Dynamics NAV.

Manufacturing ERP technology: The driving force behind the IIoT

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The industrial internet of things continues to expand at an accelerated pace. Organizations worldwide invested $800 billion in enterprise connected technologies, with $104 billion of this spend going toward industrial deployments in the manufacturing space, according to research from the International Data Group. Notably, this amount was spread across 86 percent of manufacturing firms, meaning overall IIoT adoption is immensely healthy, analysts for the software provider Bsquare found. However, modern manufacturers are not implementing cutting-edge connected tools in isolation. Backend software solutions are critical to IIoT infrastructure, acting as data storage, analysis and distribution centers for all of the information flowing through shop-floor sensors and other web-enabled fixtures. 

Enterprise resource planning systems are among the most important software supporting IIoT-infused workflows. These mission-critical platforms facilitate optimal data flow from the shop floor to the back office, while also cultivating valuable communication channels between key vendors. How exactly do ERP systems bolster IIoT installations?

ERP-IIoT integration
Innovators in the manufacturing space have, in recent years, developed and deployed early ERP-IIoT integration frameworks to great success. Most of these approaches center on three primary points of operational contact between ERP solutions and connected shop floor tools, according to ERP Focus. The first intersection unfolds on the production floor, where devices built on near-field communication or radio-frequency identification technology monitor manufacturing activities and collect actionable data that is transported to an ERP for storage and review. Usually, users who log into ERP portals filled with production data can view key metrics such as machine usage, materials handling and time-to-completion. Here, the ERP makes data from dozens of disparate devices accessible and ultimately empowers operational stakeholders to derive actionable insights from IIoT equipment.

The second and third points of integration materialize in the warehouse. Manufacturing firms exploring ERP-IIoT integration have deployed the two tools within shipping and receiving areas to track key distribution activities. Normally, this involves installing RFID items that monitor product movement and report this data back to warehousing leaders via ERP platforms. This use case also has partner- and customer-facing components made possible by NFC technology, which allows external users to feed data into ERP solutions via merchant and point-of-sale terminals. The third and final point of connection involves the development of enterprise revenue management matrices, which allow manufacturing stakeholders to maintain responsive bookkeeping and materials management strategies that bolster their bottom lines. How? Various IIoT sensors within the warehouse feed data measuring inventory bin calculations, dispatch-to-load times, delivery-to-customer estimates and other key performance metrics into the ERP solution, giving operational authorities the power to closely monitor holistic organizational performance and plan for improvements. Once again, the ERP makes this sort of workflow possible, bringing the data directly to the decision-makers.

A symbiotic connection
The relationship between these two mission-critical manufacturing technologies is not one-sided. IIoT devices expand the reach of ERP platforms, according to Industry Week. Prior to the emergence of connected enterprise devices, manufacturers could only derive value from their systems via internal activities. The arrival of IIoT technology has catalyzed a paradigm shift, giving firms the ability to collect new data from web-enabled fixtures used by customer service personnel. This creates direct communication channels between the business and the end user, resulting in the creation of truly accurate product usage data that can be used for continuous improvement. In the end, this could lead to the end of forecasting and drastically reduce production inaccuracy – two developments that would drastically reshape the manufacturing space.

Embracing the ERP-IIoT trend
With copious benefits in play, an increasingly significant number of manufacturers have begun rolling out IIoT frameworks with ERP platforms at their cores, according to research from analysts at IFS published by the Internet of Things Institute. IFS spoke with 200 manufacturing leaders and found that 16 percent were using such production models. This figure is, of course, likely to rise as the use cases mentioned above solidify and IIoT technology becomes more accessible.

Businesses in the manufacturing space that are on the outside of this trend looking in would be wise to look to the innovators pioneering ERP-IIoT integration and begin implementation planning. When it comes time to launch ERP-driven connected shop initiatives, consider partnering with Accent ERP. We deploy top-of-the-line manufacturing ERP solutions that work seamlessly with the latest production technologies, including IIoT devices. And, as a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturing businesses the power to streamline their backend systems, boost productivity and bolster their bottom lines.

Connect with us today to learn more about how our offerings can spur innovation in your manufacturing enterprise.

How will AI affect manufacturing ERP software?

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Organizations across numerous industries are investing in artificial intelligence technology. Last year, worldwide spending on enterprise AI systems surpassed $12.5 billion, constituting an increase of nearly 60 percent over 2016 investment levels, according to research from the International Data Corporation. More significantly, these expenditures were not the result of a few deep-pocketed firms going all in on AI – an estimated 80 percent of enterprises have already begun incorporating the technology into their operations, analysts for Teradata found.

Of course, this group includes manufacturers, many of which are adopting these innovations in hopes of embracing Industry 4.0 and remaining competitive in the marketplace. However, producers might soon encounter AI unintentionally while looking into enterprise resource planning technology. Why? This innovation represents the future of the ERP software and is poised to transform how software firms develop and deploy these systems, CIO reported. Here are a handful of the ways AI is affecting manufacturing ERP technology:

Improved decision-making
Modern ERP platforms give manufacturers the power to make informed, data-backed operational decisions. However, current solutions have limits when it comes to mining historic production data and contextualizing those insights. AI software has the potential to expand these capabilities, allowing ERP users to access larger data sets, along with automatically configured pattern analysis, IT Toolbox reported. The publication offered the developing predictive maintenance movement as an example of the potential of the impact of computer-driven data examination. AI-equipped ERP software could push this and other useful methodologies forward, further streamlining and accelerating manufacturing operations while reducing waste.

More robust data access and input options
While the backend components that drive most ERP solutions are powerful in their own right, they offer few benefits without the addition of accurate production data. The rise of the industrial internet of things has eased information collection activities, allowing manufacturers to mine real-time data funneled into servers via connected shop floor sensors. However, there have been few innovations where manual data input and access is concerned. AI has the power to change that, according to IT Toolbox.

This advanced software forms the basis for intelligent communication tools called chatbots, which leverage machine learning capabilities to actually interact with human users within traditional chat programs. A number of businesses in multiple sectors have begun using these novel programs and ERP vendors could be next. Innovators envision data query and import tools based on chatbot interfaces, allowing users to forego more time-consuming methods.

Better problem solving
When supply chain breakdowns occur, it can be incredibly difficult to diagnose root causes, even when all of the production data is locked inside ERP servers. AI has the potential to ease auditing activities by automatically combing through shop floor information and pinpointing strange data sets that might denote operational dysfunction, according to Gartner. This way, manufacturing leaders do not have to waste time poring over data when errors unfold and can move on to improving workflows so that similar occurrences do not materialize down the line.

These ERP developments could help manufacturers of all sizes modernize their facilities and further embrace the AI revolution. Manufacturers looking to prepare their operations for such innovation should consider connecting with Accent Software. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving industrial businesses the power to streamline their backend systems, boost productivity, bolster their bottom lines and adopt a flexible solution developed by an AI industry leader. Reach out to learn more about how our offerings can future-proof your enterprise.

3 key elements of the manufacturing ERP evaluation process [Video]

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Hello and welcome to another Accent Software video blog.

Of all the phases that constitute the manufacturing ERP implementation process, the solution evaluation stage is perhaps the most important. Here, the implementation team must look into potential systems to see which one will bolster performance on the shop floor and generate R-O-I. These are the essential elements of this important activity:

One: Define overarching project goals. This involves figuring out which system key performance indicators demonstrate evidence of success. 

Two: Draft a system requirements list. During this step, the implementation team should decide what specific ERP components support the primary project goals and associated K-P-Is.

Three: Connect with vendors. After formulating a requirements list, the implementation team should meet with vendors and decide which one offers the ideal ERP platform.

By performing these three steps, manufacturers can find and install impactful ERP software that leads to real gains. 

Thanks for watching! 

3 possible ERP implementation errors manufacturers should address

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Manufacturing enterprise resource planning technology possesses immense potential, giving producers the power to develop and deploy automated processes that transform all areas of the operation, from the back office to loading dock. However, these solutions come with some risk. ERP implementation requires considerable financial investment and manpower. When serious complications arise during this stage, these once worthwhile investments devolve into resource drains. More than 70 percent of the businesses that adopted ERP systems in 2017 saw such overruns, according to analysts at Panorama Consulting Solutions. Even more disturbingly, 26 percent of firms saw their efforts crash and burn and end in failure due to implementation problems. 

With these unsavory outcomes in mind, manufacturing companies should familiarize themselves with the common pitfalls that line the road to ERP adoption and tackle these hazards ahead of time. Here are three of those familiar ERP implementation problems and the strategies many producers are using to address them:

1. Ineffective product configurations and features
ERP platforms are, by now, common in numerous industries. For example, well over 200,000 businesses are currently taking advantage of the Microsoft Dynamics suite, according to user data obtained by ERP Software Blog. Implementation leaders understand this and logically assume that most vendors support common operational activities in order to remain competitive within a robust industry. In reality, many software providers offer solutions that do not include key components needed for certain manufacturing scenarios, Panorama Consulting found. Many made-to-order and engineered-to-order firms form relationships with vendors with offerings that either lack product configuration engines or include weak components of this kind. Manufacturers that end up selecting such deficient systems due to pricing or the allure of other features find themselves overseeing ineffective ERP systems that do little to catalyze growth.

Manufacturers can easily avoid this pitfall by developing robust requirement lists and carefully vetting potential vendors, CIO reported. These strategies may seem simple but many businesses in the manufacturing space fail to take them seriously or disregard them altogether in effort to pinpoint the cheapest software available.

2. Inadequate training practices
Employee training programs are absolutely critical to ERP success, as employees must know how to properly navigate such technology before they leverage it in their day-to-day work and ultimately drive return on investment. Unfortunately, a large number of adopters fail to grasp the correlation between training and system efficacy, believing users will simply pick up ERP software on the fly. This is an immensely unrealistic and damaging misconception. ERP platforms transform entire businesses and workers should be prepared to weather this change via instructional resources. Adopters that fail to address change management see organization-wide user attrition and experience complete ERP failure.

Manufacturers must prevent this kind of situation from developing by creating strong training offerings. Ideally, these resources should relate directly to daily business processes, according to researchers at the Aberdeen Group.

3. Failure to communicate
Manufacturing executives and information technology stakeholders eyeing ERP implementation are often tempted to launch headlong into the process in an effort to achieve operational gains as soon as possible. In the rush to revolutionize their shop floors, many forego internal announcements, believing that employee communications can wait until deployment is nearer. However, this kind of top-down implementation strategy often creates internal divides that can lay the groundwork for user resentment, attrition and ERP failure, CIO reported. 

Again, this is an easy-to-prevent outcome. Project leaders should involve employees in the ERP selection process from the very beginning and connect with them often as implementation unfolds. With such communication channels in place, manufacturers pursuing ERP technology can expect to install systems that are user-approved and ultimately effective. 

Is your manufacturing firm in need of ERP software that meets the needs of employees, comes equipped with training resources and includes features designed to support modern production methods? Connect with Accent Software. We deploy top-of-the-line manufacturing ERP solutions that meet all of these requirements. And, as a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we also provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving manufacturing businesses the power to streamline their backend systems, boost productivity and bolster their bottom lines. Reach out to learn more about how our offerings can revolutionize your enterprise, from the back office to the shop floor.

  

ERP predictions for 2018 [Video]

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With the new year here, there has never been a better time to take advantage of enterprise resource planning software. Here's what experts are saying to expect for ERP in 2018:

For starters, say hello to the cloud. It seems like everything is headed there, and it looks like more cloud-based ERP offerings will become available in the months ahead.

Second, more organizations will abandon their legacy ERP systems. We're nearly two decades into the twenty-first-century and companies are realizing they have to make the transition if their previous products just don't cut it anymore.

Finally, expect more companies to invest in digital transformation initiatives, a move that may lead them to revamp their enteprise system strategies.

Here's to an exciting year for ERP software and enterprise technology! Until next time!