While the Internet of Things has changed how businesses operate in every industry, it's impacted manufacturing more than any other sector. Estimated IoT investment from manufacturing firms has grown steadily each year, reported John Greenough of Business Insider. Manufacturers are using investing by adding special integrated sensors to their equipment, allowing them to share information with one another and with the manufacturing business software, all in real-time. This network of connected machines give manufacturers an unprecedented view of the supply chain. 

Connected sensors
Melissa Delaney of BizTech noted, "Factory equipment has long been embedded with sensors. In the past, however, those sensors simply performed a function within the equipment; they weren't connected to anything. As the IoT revolution accelerates, more of these sensors are connecting to the Internet." These sensors are able to gather more data and seamlessly report their findings to decision-makers, helping manufacturers adapt and develop new competitive behaviors. 

Smarter factories
By integrating the IoT, manufacturers are worker more efficiently than their non-connected counterparts. After implementing IoT technology, King's Hawaiian was able to double its food production, reported Kylie Jane Wakefield of Forbes. The baked goods manufacturer  didn't accomplish this by adding new machines to its plants, it did it by adding connected sensors to its existing machines. Allowing its machines to share important data helped King's Hawaiian use these machines, and employees, more effectively. 

Challenges posed by the IoT
As with any big technological development, there are some challenges to be addressed when applying IoT practices. Companies that are taking this next step will need to consider that some functions will be disrupted in the short-term, but the long-term benefits are plentiful. 

• ROI expectations: Since this is largely uncharted territory, return on investment predictions can be difficult to pin down. 
• Cyberattacks: The increased reliance on interconnected digital tools raises the risk of cyber crime, so manufacturers will need to consider robust security solutions. 
• Disruption: Integrating the IoT into a factory setting can be disruptive in the short term. 
• Jobs: Automation could cost jobs for some workers, but bring in more technically-skilled jobs to manage the more advanced functions. However, manufacturers have had difficulty filling these new technical roles. 

Integrating with IoT with ERP
IoT can help your ERP system become a more effective tool for organizational efficiency. When manufacturing equipment shares real-time data, ERP software can track every business process. This unheralded transparency makes the ERP system and your business, tremendously flexible. 

At Accent Software, we understand the importance of smart software in the manufacturing industry. That's why we help implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV enterprise resource planning software to give our clients the competitive edge. If your legacy system isn't cutting it, contact us to see the difference a modern business management software solution can make.