Should you choose functionality or flexibility?

Yes.

Modification is a controversial word for many professionals in manufacturing’s IT industry. The term
“off the shelf” also has mixed connotations, as it is often associated with old generic business solutions that offered rudimentary functionality under the guise of “plug and play” simplicity.

As the needs of manufacturers have changed over the years, the software available to address them has evolved as well, leading to a lot of discussion lately around the age-old question of “to modify or not to modify.” While the issue remains complex, the pendulum seems to be swinging clearly away from heavily customized systems and toward those that can provide a large percentage of the functionality required, without significant modifications. A number of factors are driving this trend—aging systems (the acronym ERP, first used by Gartner, celebrates its 25th birthday this year), the increasing difficulty of finding workers who can support them, and changing market conditions are all on the list.

Manufacturers face increasing pressures to adopt digital strategies in order to keep pace with innovation and customer expectations. Unfortunately, according to IDC Manufacturing Insights, manufacturers are also reluctant to be first movers. Only 15% have a digital strategy in place now. 37% Want to be early adapters, but not first movers— because there may be risks. And, 35% say they prefer to wait until they see proven results before they deploy digital technologies.

Digital transformation is impacting all manufacturing and distribution businesses. No matter how complex your supply chain is, you need to be able to respond faster to change, reduce excess inventory, and cut costs. Most importantly, you’ve got to give customers what you’ve promised at the time you promised it. To keep up with the pace of change, you need an agile and modern ERP solution that is flexible enough to handle both the opportunities and challenges you face today—and tomorrow.

Read how Infor M3 delivers rich industry-specific functionality to cover your unique business needs.

5 Ways Wholesale Distributors Can Succeed With The Millennial Generation.

Currently, the number of millennial employees (those born between 1982 and 2004) exceeds that of baby boomers; by 2030, millennials will represent 75% of the workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the most technologically adept generation in history, the impact millennials will have on the business world is expected to be significant:

• As employees, millennials value collaboration rapid advancement, and innovation.
• As customers, millennials value choice, flexibility, and the ability to do business using the technology they prefer. Many millennials research products online, share reviews on social media, order online, and interact with customer service through online chat or social media.
• As suppliers, millennials prefer partners who can share data streams easily with their own technology, so they can analyze trends and monitor real-time activity.

Download this paper to learn the five key technology drivers.