Historically, manufacturers have “looked to the past” to help predict what they need to do in the future. This would include basic business intelligence, powered by spreadsheets, and even manual processes. The challenge is that what will happen may be something outside of what the past can predicts – who, 25 years ago, would have considered the Internet as a primary vehicle for commerce, or that Big Data would become both a treasure and a tragedy for organizations? Consider other factors, such as regulations, largely transient customers (where loyalty and brand aren’t what they used to be), disruptors (such as new entrants and technologies), and the need for manufacturers to “move faster than ever” – in effect, to be able to plan for the future before it happens.
Published By: MuleSoft
Published Date: Jan 25, 2016
IT used to be so simple. Companies owned their own technology equipment and purchased enterprise licenses for many of the applications anybody in the organization might care to use. But then the cloud emerged, and mobile, and social media, and IoT; the world of IT has never been the same. Today's businesses are software-driven enterprises with technology capability distributed throughout the company, utilizing countless third-party cloud-based applications. This new organization requires an cultural shift in the IT organization.
Read this whitepaper to learn:
-How businesses can reorganize themselves into lightweight, agile, modular businesses able to respond to innovations in SaaS, mobile, and analytics
-How to build a technological architecture that can accommodate new technology yet still extract value from on-premises systems
-The advantages of an API-led connected architecture vs. old SOA approaches
Cloud-based solutions are revolutionizing the way that enterprises conduct business. These web-based versions of common business tools, like analytics or document management tools, retain most or all of the functionality of their desktop versions and provide significant access, customization, and utility to end users. More organizations are ditching on-premises solutions and adopting cloud-based tools, also known as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), "hosted," or "on-demand" solutions. The are becoming invaluable assets in today's agile and mobile workforce.
DevOps (short for development and operations), like most
new approaches, is only a buzzword for many people.
Everyone talks about it, but not everyone knows what it is.
In broad terms, DevOps is an approach based on lean and agile
principles in which business owners and the development, operations,
and quality assurance departments collaborate to deliver
software in a continuous manner that enables the business to
more quickly seize market opportunities and reduce the time
to include customer feedback. Indeed, enterprise applications are
so diverse and composed of multiple technologies, databases,
end-user devices, and so on, that only a DevOps approach will be
successful when dealing with these complexities. Opinions differ
on how to use it, however.
Some people say that DevOps is for practitioners only; others say
that it revolves around the cloud. IBM takes a broad and holistic
view and sees DevOps as a business-driven software delivery
approach — an approach that takes a new or en
Published By: Datastax
Published Date: Mar 06, 2018
Digital disruptors are giving customers the information they want, when, where, and how they want it, resulting in a fundamental shift in customer expectations and how enterprises deliver value. Enterprises are in a race to set themselves apart from the competition and meet soaring customer demands, resulting in the rise of modern applications. Whether it’s for purchasing clothes, groceries, or software, companies and customers alike expect these applications to perform at a certain standard all the time.
Your ERP system might be out of date and too complex to handle your industry’s challenges. Should you upgrade to an enterprise
management solution? Now you can. Here are 4 reasons why.
Learn from the experiences of other distributors who have been through the ERP selection process and not only lived to tell about it, but brought great benefit to their companies. Read this white paper now and learn what NOT to do when evaluating ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software selection and implementation can be complicated process. But having an ERP strategy in place from the start makes it easier.
Do you cringe at the thought of having to replace your enterprise software solution? Does it seem like a monumental undertaking, with a high risk of failure?
Knowledge is power. Learn from the experiences of other distributors who have been through the ERP selection process and not only lived to tell about it, but brought great benefit to their companies.
Published By: VMware Dell
Published Date: Jan 31, 2008
Aternity, Inc. is the leader in Frontline Performance Intelligence for Global 1000 enterprises. Two of the biggest challenges Aternity faces as a software developer are: 1) testing its software in different IT environments; and 2) deploying its software at customer sites. Fortunately, VMware software was able to address both these challenges.
Published By: Workday
Published Date: Sep 14, 2018
Enterprise software upgrades have traditionally been a real headache. But do they have to be? See how the experience of a major application upgrade process differs for two CIOs—one using on-premise software and one using Workday.
Organizations of all kinds rely on their relational databases for both transaction processing and analytics, but many still have challenges in meeting their goals of high availability, security, and performance. Whether planning for a major upgrade of existing databases or considering a net new project, enterprise solution architects should realize that the storage capabilities will matter. NetApp’s systems, software, and services offer a number of advantages as a foundation for better operational results.
Published By: Plex Systems
Published Date: Jun 06, 2014
Enterprise manufacturing is changing and enterprise applications running in the cloud are playing a big role in helping manufacturers respond to change. Moving to a subscription licensing and cost model, the ability to access anywhere, anytime, and always up-to-date software makes cloud deployment very attractive to manufacturers today.
Growth is definitely on the agenda for manufacturers, along with avoiding the pitfalls of rapid growth. This was clear in a global survey recently undertaken on behalf of Epicor Software Corporation (Epicor) by MORAR Consulting. Our research identified key factors that growing manufacturers cited as essential to their success, along with risks that manufacturers believe could threaten growth for unprepared businesses.
The Epicor “Profitable Growth in Action” eZine features seven manufacturers and the factors they consider critical to their success. Get the eZine to learn how you can help boost your company’s potential for profitable growth.
As a manufacturer, you know the industry is changing. You’re expected to produce more, work faster and leaner, and find ways to make new products like those comprising the Internet of Things (IoT). Customer and employee expectations are also changing rapidly because our experiences as consumers shape our demands for business. As many factory employees are approaching retirement, a new generation is joining the workforce—a generation that wants the business systems they interact with to be as intuitive as those they use in all other areas of their life.
A new report from Aberdeen explores today’s manufacturing landscape and outlines how enterprise resource planning (ERP) software forms a foundation that can support Industry 4.0 for smaller manufacturers looking to grow.
Emerging technologies and trends are disrupting the status quo for manufacturers around the globe. The Epicor “Factory of the Future” eBook explores the megatrends and disruptive technology that is shaping the future of manufacturing—and, more importantly, the eBook offers recommendations to help you grow your business amidst all this change. View the eBook to explore these topics and more:
• Demographic shifts in manufacturing
• Globalization
• Resource scarcity
• Knowledge and gender gaps
• How to future-proof your manufacturing business
Today’s financial professionals have access to robust tools that offer a detailed picture of a company’s success in real time. With dashboards reporting in-depth data, a CFO can merely glance at a computer to analyze how well the business is doing in key areas.
Despite the impressive technology available today, many businesses have yet to make a change. In a survey of 1,500 finance professionals, nearly half reported relying on gut instinct rather than hard data to make important business decisions. The survey—commissioned by Epicor and conducted by Redshift Research Ltd.—also revealed that a majority of CFOs and financial decision-makers are still relying on spreadsheets to interpret business data.
In our “Instinct Meets Insight” eBook, you can explore the survey results and learn how a modern financial IT infrastructure lets decision-makers back up instinct with relevant data they can use to help their businesses grow.
It’s hard to make good decisions without good information. Having access to data, and the tools to quickly analyze that data, is essential. Without data, you are blind to how your business is performing and areas for improvement—all you have to go on is instinct.
A robust business intelligence (BI) system can provide new insights to help steer your distribution organization clear of obstacles that impede growth—and toward the opportunities that enable it. A monthly report just doesn’t cut it anymore. You need real-time information, and if you’re running legacy software, it’s probably slowing you down.
Distribution is being transformed by digital innovations. More and more distributors are replacing manual, paper-driven processes with digital tools and automation that allow employees to work more efficiently and effectively in the warehouse and beyond. Efficiency doesn’t just benefit employees—modern technology can help keep customers and vendors happier with up-to-date information accessible anytime.
Epicor Prophet 21 software was designed to meet the unique needs of distributors. It offers robust features including eCommerce, mobility tools, customer relationship management (CRM), wireless warehouse management, purchase management, and analytics to make more informed business decisions. With deep industry knowledge and best practices built into features throughout the solution, Prophet 21 can deliver the digital transformation your organization needs to grow.
You rely on cloud technology more than you may realize—when you post to social media, download music, or view your bank balance online. These everyday uses are not so different from the opportunities the cloud affords your business. Cloud technology has proven to do several things very well—improve cash flow, increase business capabilities, and simplify processes across the organization—all in a platform that’s more accessible and reliable than on-premises hardware. Migrating to the cloud brings faster access to the data and processes your business needs to compete and grow in today’s marketplace. Download this white paper from Epicor Software to learn why moving to the cloud is easier than you might expect.
When determining which investments to make in their technology infrastructure, organizations will often choose to make no changes at all. While this decision avoids short-term costs and business disruption, it often simply delays the inevitable—even making it worse.
The cost of doing nothing is expensive in the long term. This report—from the independent researchers at Aberdeen Group—outlines the reasons distributors choose not to upgrade enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and cautions against this approach, supplying detailed research that illustrates the benefits of keeping your systems current.
Epicor has a storied history of providing software solutions tailored specifically for the distribution industry. Check out the report, and see how upgrading to Epicor ERP can help grow your business.
When determining which investments to make in their technology infrastructure, organizations will often choose to make no changes at all. While this decision avoids short-term costs and business disruption, it often simply delays the inevitable—even making it worse.
The cost of doing nothing is expensive in the long term. This report—from the independent researchers at Aberdeen Group—outlines the reasons organizations choose not to upgrade enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and cautions against this approach, supplying detailed research that illustrates the benefits of keeping your systems current.
Check out the report, and see how upgrading your Epicor ERP can help grow your business.
More than ever, businesses are considering a cloud solution for their enterprise resource planning (ERP) deployment over an on-premises system. Cloud technology appeals to these companies because updates and fixes occur automatically with little or no effort from internal IT staff, and because cloud-based solutions provide access to real-time data from anywhere. Employees want tools that make it easier for them to complete everyday tasks and make informed decisions that help the business grow.
Aberdeen’s research report, “Top Performers Know It’s Time to Migrate to Cloud ERP: Here’s Why and How,” uncovers the reasons successful companies are choosing cloud over on-premises ERP models. Download this SmartBite for a quick look at the report’s highlights.
