There is no shortage of information about ERP on the internet, that’s for sure. If you are evaluating ERP, all that information can be a bit overwhelming. I frequently work with companies that are in this situation and spend a lot of time educating people about ERP software, how it is sold, what to look out for, and so on. Being an educated consumer is extremely important when it comes to ERP and blogs are a great (and free) way to educate yourself.
For this article, my focus is on where many small and emerging manufacturers are truly trending based on my experience in the industry. Specifically, on how these small manufacturers are doing in the framework of Industry 4.0 or the fourth Industrial Revolution. Some manufacturers are moving to adopt components of Industry 4.0, such as the Internet of Things, machine learning, mobile devices, data collection and analysis, and digitalization. Others are not.
The process to evaluate and choose an ERP software is not a simple task; as a matter of fact, it is a complex task. Because of the risk and cost, it’s a big decision for a company, big or small, to find and implement an ERP. I have numerous conversations with companies that are going through this selection process, and if they don’t bring up the subject of cost in our first conversation, then I do because it is so important! To help you set a realistic budget for your new ERP system, read below for a list of costs you should plan for.
Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline) ERP is specifically designed for manufacturers. The greatest benefit, as well as differentiator of the system, is that it can address almost all business needs. Providing a complete, integrated, and single-sourced application is an important—and rare—asset to have as an ERP provider.
How manufacturers measure their performance varies from company to company. We often see companies using manufacturing metrics or KPIs that are not necessarily what they need, but rather what they know can be measured (and trusted). That is a big difference. When the critical determinants for collecting data are largely based on technical infrastructure, discipline, and existing processes, that data might not be exactly what you’re looking for.
Over the last few years, we have created a ton of content about ERP implementations. This blog brings our most popular articles together for you in one place! In no particular order, here are our 20 best resources.
Small manufacturing companies are often caught in the conundrum of aligning business needs with sometimes arbitrary budgets. Over the past 20 years, I have worked with many small manufacturers looking for ERP solutions, and it is always an interesting balance between the functionality they want, what they can actually utilize, and what they are willing to invest financially.
If you are looking for software to manage your small to medium-sized discrete manufacturing business and don’t know if you need MRP (material requirements planning) or ERP (enterprise resource planning), let me make this easy for you. You should look for an ERP system. Read on to learn why.
I speak with many companies and a number of those conversations revolve around ERP software evaluations. Recently, I’ve had quite a few conversations with companies who are running Sage 500, or MAS 500. They ask me whether the rumors about a Sage 500 end of life are true and if so, what the future holds for their ERP system. To be clear, I represent Infor ERP and that is where my expertise lies. I am not an expert in any competitive solutions, but my views are shaped by what I hear from the people I talk with. In this article, I’ll give a quick rundown of what I think you should expect with your Sage 500 ERP.
