Although virtually all industries are becoming more dependent upon advanced technologies to complete everyday operational processes, certain sectors have been at the forefront of progressive deployments for a variety of purposes. Manufacturers are likely at the center of the automation trend, which is characterized by a greater volume and variety of connected devices, as these firms tend to benefit the most from supportive solutions that help to manage the relevant frameworks.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has always been a critical aspect of manufacturing, and is especially important for smaller firms that do not have as much cushion to land on when market fluctuations arise. ERP workflow automation software can quickly improve an organization's ability to efficiently and accurately manage resource planning procedures, all the while integrating with other devices and applications for an optimal oversight experience.
Workflow automation outside of ERP has become much more flexible, functional and cost effective than workflow inside of ERP. Therefore, there are many more user-friendly tools available to front end ERP for things like invoice processing, contracts/recurring invoices, requisitions/purchase orders and expense report processing. This is extremely important when choosing an ERP system or choosing when to upgrade an ERP system since these "front end" workflow tools can provide a lot of the functionality that is lacking or too expensive in ERP.
Jumping over obstacles
Manufacturing Business Technology Magazine recently reported that firms in the industrial sector that have avoided deploying advanced solutions and tools generally fall into a few basic categories. For one, there are manufacturers who believe that the new technology is far too complicated to manage and deploy in light of the resources they have available internally, but the source stated that many ERP solutions can be ready to go within a week of the initial investment.
As is the case with a variety of new technologies, the myths and fears associated with novel tools can not only hinder adoption rates, but negatively impact decision-making from corporate leaders. According to the news provider, some manufacturers have stated that they simply cannot find technologies that are specifically targeted at their needs, while others have not adopted advanced tools because of high costs.
It is important to note here that an investment of several thousand dollars in a new ERP integrated workflow solution can quickly translate to tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in saved budget in the short-term, and even more over time.
The wonders of automation
Organizations in the manufacturing sector, as well as those in a wide range of other industries can benefit from using ERP integrated workflow automation solutions that will reduce the amount of time it takes a manager to oblige the relevant responsibilities in a given day, while simultaneously boosting the accuracy of reporting and plans.
Studies indicate that new technologies are becoming increasingly critical for competitive performances in the average business, and deploying these tools before others in the field can give any organization an edge moving forward.
