Business Automation and Software Blog

Are you getting the most out of your Syspro system—or are you allowing teams to set up shadow systems?

Shadow systems are real. It’s when someone on the shop floor decides that the ERP is too hard to learn, so they set up a spreadsheet to track their numbers. Then someone else decides they need a special report, so they begin pulling data files from the ERP and running them through spreadsheets to create a graph. Pretty soon, managers notice how many special spreadsheets there are and ask, “What’s the problem?”

ERP trends for 2026 include AI-driven Business Process Management (BPM) to make ERPs smarter and better than ever. Many manufacturers rely on their ERP as the backbone of operations and production. Thanks to AI-driven Business Process Management (BPM), the system you already depend on is evolving into something far more powerful and far more helpful.

Is it finally time to get a 'real' ERP system, an ERP manufacturing system that ties together your shop floor, your inventory, your financials, and your customer orders? However, questions arise in your mind. Should you go with one of the big generic platforms and customize it to fit your company’s needs, or should you buy something built specifically for manufacturers?

When Syspro ERP announced its rebrand on a digital board in Times Square, it wasn't just about a fresh logo. For a company that's historically kept a lower profile compared to giants like SAP and Oracle, going big in Times Square signals something more interesting: the ERP market is changing, and Syspro is betting on where it's going.

The rebrand highlights three major shifts in the ERP landscape: vertical specialization, cloud modernization, and closer alignment with how manufacturers actually work. Let's unpack what's really going on here.

Manufacturers today are navigating an incredibly challenging landscape. Supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, rising regulatory demands, and customer expectations for faster, more customized products have converged into a complex business environment. Systems that once kept operations running smoothly are starting to show cracks, and problems are popping up where they’re least expected. Generic ERP platforms, built to serve every industry, are increasingly becoming obstacles rather than enablers of growth. 

Want to transform your workforce? Use these warehouse training tips to add both fun and teambuilding to your workplace. 

If the words “teambuilding exercises” conjure up a 1990s-style vision of ropes courses and walking on hot coals, don’t worry—we aren’t going to ask you to do either. Instead, we’ve put together five tips that will help you build the teamwork that makes the dream work (thank you, John Maxwell).

As Chicago-area enterprise resource planning (ERP) consultants, we’re always on the lookout for innovations that can help our clients. Whether it’s the latest shortcuts, tips, or hacks, or updates to SYSPRO and Sage 300 ERP that help our clients do more faster, and better, we’re on it.

After spending a lot of time troubleshooting, I finally cracked the code on a particularly stubborn Sage 300 ERP bank reconciliation problem. This issue goes beyond a simple bug and can completely block your month-end closing process. Here's what happened and how to fix it.

As ERP software (Chicago) consultants, we understand how uncertainties can rock manufacturers’ plans. Manufacturers like certainty. I think we all do. We like to know that our lives are predictable, and that goes for businesses, too. Manufacturers thrive when they can predict supply chain availability, pricing, shipping times, and more.

Bet you didn’t have “tariffs” on your 2025 bingo card. We didn’t, either. But tariffs are now a fact of life. Auto manufacturers in particular are grappling with the challenges of tariffs. The 25% tariff on imported automobiles and a similar one on parts has really been a bump in the road. 

Fortunately, SYSPRO ERP can help. It’s designed for automakers in a way that other ERPs aren’t. SYPRO ERP can help make your company more efficient, so you can avoid raising prices. If you can cut costs, you can maintain margins. SYSPRO ERP gives you a powerful tool to navigate the new world of tariffs.