Business Automation and Software Blog

It might be difficult to believe, but we’re nearly done with the first quarter of 2018. While some of us are still writing “2017” on our checks, others are already looking at what trends emerged early in 2018 and which ones will have the staying power to impact 2019.

Many of the trends have to do with software and the ability of machines to streamline processes, provide data for future predictions, and handle repetitive, manual tasks so that humans are freed up for more thought-based tasks. Manufacturing ERP systems are going to be at the center of it all in 2018. Here are some of the trends we think are going to stick around.  

Is your business looking to grow? Of course, it is. If you’re looking for ways to continue the growth of your business in 2018, you might need to look at your leadership. Is it a hierarchical style, also known as “pyramid” or “top-down”? Then you have some work to do: Studies show businesses that shift to a teamwork approach typically grow better, faster, and stronger than their hierarchy-led peers.

In other words, the better your staff works as a team, the stronger your organization will become. How do you shift from a directive-based organization to one that supports independent thinking, team creativity, and shared ownership of projects?

Accountants are a vital but sometimes misunderstood role in any organization. Far from being a stereotypical killjoy over numbers and budgets, accountants are surprisingly crucial to other departments. So much so that, believe it or not, an accountant can be a project manager’s best ally.

Project managers may be part of the marketing, creative services, information technology, or other departments. Their job is to organize, guide, and—as the title implies—manage a project from start to finish, ensuring that timelines, milestones, and budgets are met. Which is where accounting comes in.

In 2017, the public learned that Facebook shut down an artificial intelligence (AI) negotiation software project because the bots began to develop their own language that humans could not interpret. While the story was a bit sensationalized, it still got the public to really thinking about AI and the impact it has on our lives. In a world where we now say, “Hey Siri” or “Okay Google” and Alexa is practically a member of the family, AI has enabled us to live differently than ever before. Now companies are recognizing the importance of using machine learning to improve their existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools.

Most of us know the speeds and limitations of our own cars. And if you were handed the keys to a Lamborghini, you could probably drive it. But would you really be able to push that car to its full potential? Would you have the knowledge you need to know how to handle the vehicle’s capabilities? A $250,000 car like that could be fairly intimidating.

We understand that feeling.

Whether you’re in charge of one line item in a large assembly line or a group of factories in the Chicago area, understanding how enterprise resource planning software such as SYSPRO can enhance supply chain management is important.

SYSPRO can change how you view your work. Instead of keeping people and plants busy, you’re using data to plan the work according to production schedules. Suddenly it becomes more about achieving goals than it is about demonstrating everyone is working hard. With data in hand, you can do more in less time than you thought possible.

Sage software supports better business management, especially in companies transitioning from old-fashioned hierarchical structures to a more team-based style of management.

The key is found in Sage ERP products. Sage software such as Sage 300 provides information from all corners of your business to the employees, empowering everyone with better, accurate, and timely facts about different areas of accounting, finance, and operations. This empowerment provides the basis for change, a shift from hierarchical leadership which relies on information disseminated from the top-down to a flatter, more egalitarian leadership style.

Sage 300 ERP offers a robust Basic (standard), Advanced, or Premium package to suit almost any type or size business. With the data you can obtain from such an ERP system, you can improve many areas of operations. That includes inventory management data.

The inventory contained within your business’ warehouse represents a valuable asset. Poor management of this asset leads to losses while improving inventory management techniques can lead to profits. Warehouse data collection systems can help you improve the management of your inventory so that you know exactly what you have, its age, value, and costs.

Two factors drive manufacturing: efficiency and productivity. While some view these terms as synonymous, manufacturing operations management professionals know that productivity is not necessarily equated with efficiency. Manufacturing plants may produce a high volume of goods, but the production technique may be inefficient.

SMEs (small, medium-sized enterprises) face many challenges when it comes to competing on the global stage. Your software, however, shouldn’t be one of them. With Sage software, you can close the gap between your small or mid-sized business and the "big guys" competing on the global stage. Enhanced productivity, profitability, and cost management can all work to your advantage to make your business more competitive against others.