Business Automation and Software Blog

In only a matter of weeks, the global shift from an on-site to a remote workforce has already affected many institutions. Challenges are plentiful, and the unknown future is unsettling. The businesses that will manage best are the ones that have not placed focus on daily operational needs at the expense of investing in digital business.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software systems are the heartbeat of many organizations, relied on heavily to power the business, manage critical processes like product lifecycle and supply chain, and produce a continuous flow of information. These systems are becoming more and more common, which means the potential to compromise data via cyberattack is greater than ever.

As companies look to improve efficiency, productivity, and innovation in an uncertain landscape, collaboration emerges as the key to improvement. Applying collaboration to analytics only further improves the efficacy.

On March 11, 2020, The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This has had a major impact on the exchange of goods across the globe. Social distancing has disrupted labor-intensive processes that rely on people working in close contact with each other. Raw materials are in short supply because of closed borders and labor shortages.

Robots aren’t new to supply chains. The first industrial robot was produced in 1956 and could move material approximately 12 feet. Next generation robots were relegated to industrial manufacturing, as they weren’t safe for people to be around while in use. Today, we’ve progressed from giant robotic arms to small robotics that move material across warehouses and even sort a variety of products.

Manufacturing automation started as a way to increase productivity and reduce cost in operations. But today, it’s so much more, shifting focus to increasing quality and flexibility in the manufacturing process. In fact, as the norm in manufacturing shifts to small production runs, fast shipping, and nimble operations, the difference between success and failure lies with robotics and automation.

The earliest attempts at ERP systems involved calculating machines in the 1940s, growing into solutions that included inventory management and control in the 1960s. Translating these practices into software solutions started in the 70s with Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) software, and the official term ERP made its debut in the 1990s.

When referencing CRM—or, customer relationship management—most people will likely think of a software solution that enables them to track customers along their journey from prospect to purchase and maintain up-to-date contact information. But treating CRM as only a software solution misses a vital point. CRM is the tool by which you acquire, retain, and create loyal customers.

No longer the stuff of movies, artificial intelligence (AI) has moved into real life. We use it for everything from running our homes to working our mobile devices. AI has also significantly contributed to developments in business and Industry 4.0, revolutionizing everything we thought we knew. There’s no doubt that AI has also transformed warehouse management and supply chain logistics.

While these numbers are rarely released by Amazon itself, one recent survey estimates that more than 100 million people across the United States have Amazon Prime benefits. Based on recent population data, that’s nearly a third of the entire country.