LEAN
WE ARE LIVING in an age of converging disruptive technologies . These technologies are creating new ways of doing things that are overturning traditional business models , methods and practices . Those companies that are not prepared for this paradigm shift will find themselves struggling to stay competitive and relevant .
These disruptive technologies have the power to make or break manufacturing companies , but the good news is that those owners and managers that choose to embrace these technological advancements will find themselves miles ahead of the digital curve . Enterprise resource planning ( ERP )— once only thought of as a tool for much larger enterprises — is a great place for even small manufacturers to start focusing their efforts . Studies show that many manufacturers are running ERP systems that are decades old , but research shows the average age of an ERP solution in midmarket organisations is about seven years . That means that the vast majority of ERP systems are in great need of a face lift .
As advancements in mobile , social and big data analytics continue to change the way people do business , the need for up-to-date ERP systems increases . This is not necessarily a bad thing , and when properly implemented these technologies can not only enable a better and more streamlined way of doing business , but they can also cut costs . In fact , research shows that new , flexible ERP systems can cut operational costs by 30 percent . It is clear that these technological advancements cannot and should not be overlooked .
The following are the top five disruptive technologies that will affect ERP systems and change the way manufacturers do and think about business .
14 July 2015