Business Automation and Software Blog

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.

Picture this: A promising potential customer requests a quote, and your team scrambles to prepare it before they go with your competitor. Someone's hunting through old spreadsheets, another person is waiting for procurement to answer their emails, and meanwhile, you're cobbling together numbers from a quote you did six months ago. Sound familiar?

The so-called fourth Industrial Revolution and the Internet of Things have resulted in lots of data for manufacturers to track and manage. If that data is siloed or tucked away in multiple systems or places without any way to connect the dots, you could be missing out on the power of data to help you make informed decisions.

You've invested in state-of-the-art manufacturing business software and IoT sensors to monitor everything from equipment to forklifts. The sensors collect data on everything from machine vibrations to temperature fluctuations. Your operations team is excited about the possibilities. But three months later, you're drowning in data with little to show for it. Sound familiar?

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.

Business intelligence is reshaping process manufacturing software. The reason is clear: the emphasis on Business Intelligence Quotient (BIQ) among manufacturers. BIQ refers to how good people within your company are at making data-driven decisions.

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.

Your order fulfillment process can make or break the sale. Here’s why: customers feel the “Amazon effect.” They’re used to lightning-fast delivery, tracking that practically tells you what block your package is on (never mind what day it will arrive), and more. When you streamline your order fulfillment process, you’re not just keeping up with the Joneses, fulfillment-style, you’re paving the way for repeat business. Here’s why streamlining your order fulfillment process is one of the best things you can do for your business.

One question I hear frequently from our manufacturing clients is, “Do you think ERP software is worth it?”

Yes, investing in a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system can be expensive. For manufacturers currently using spreadsheets or small business software to handle their accounting needs, it can feel like a lot. Add to that the amount of time and resources devoted to moving to an ERP, and, well, it can leave you questioning whether it’s worth it or not.