IT
Four trends driving ERP C
ustomer expectations and technological trends are changing the way we interact with our customers. Just think
about the customer experience at Amazon, John Lewis, or even Uber. With these companies, the customer experience is fast, simple and can be performed just about anywhere. People want—and in time will expect—these experiences from all companies they deal with. Companies such as Epicor recognise that merchants’ customers will demand that all businesses become even easier to order and receive goods from. These expectations will shape the future of merchant ERP (enterprise resource planning) software.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing will become more prevalent, particularly with its ability to more easily meet infrastructure needs. Cloud ERP offers merchants the opportunity cost of implementation, and reduces the need for a full IT department. Alongside this, cloud ERP frees up time and bandwidth while maintaining software, servers and other technology infrastructure—allowing business leaders and IT staff to focus on growing the business.
The real-time reporting of business processes delivered through cloud ERP also enables faster responses to customers and suppliers, reduces the need for manual spreadsheets and reports, streamlines the supply chain, and delivers an enhanced customer experience.
Industry 4.0
Disruptive technologies and megatrends are shaping the future of manufacturing and in turn its supply chain, such as builders’ merchants and electrical wholesalers. The fourth industrial revolution—Industry 4.0—is the digitisation of the manufacturing industry and a realisation of the potential of the Internet of Things intelligence and data science. It has been gathering momentum in recent years and is set to be transformative in 2017. Done right, Industry 4.0 will enable manufacturers to improve
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The Big Data mountain is growing beyond recognition and by 2020, there will be 30 billion connected devices on earth . Machines communicating with people—and other machines—are creating so much data that we have generated more in the past two years than in the previous 5,000 years of human history .
It is now up to manufacturers and their supply chain, including merchants, to unlock it. By
identifying, capturing and interpreting this increased volume of data, organisations can better understand their market and customers and gain market share.
Demographic shifts
We are seeing population growing in some nations and shrinking in others, a growing middle class, consumer markets shifting from the west to the east and an ageing
Cloud ERP offers merchants the opportunity to benefit from
“
technology at lower cost of implementation, and reduces the need for a full IT department.”
population with fewer people entering though as the technology we are developing continues to make it easier to collaborate and is helping to attract the discerning millennials generation, which is anticipated to account for 75% of the global workforce by 2025.
Digital disruption
Most organisations know “business as usual” no longer exists, but the sheer velocity and the invasive nature of digital transformation can be overwhelming. Digital disruption is a major issue in every industry and senior execs are looking over their shoulders and wondering if they will be next to be “ubered” or “Airbnb’d.” Digital disruption is causing organisations to think differently about their business models. For example, manufacturers are now selling direct to consumers in addition to their distribution network. Distributors are also offering new services to their clients, such as ‘click and wholesalers have an advantage— they have an established business to build upon.
These new customer expectations and advances will require both manufacturers and merchants to transform themselves and new game- changing business models may cause continued disruption. ERP solutions are already being adapted and updated to ensure users are ready for the change.
June 2017 BMJ
What is driving the future of ERP? BMJ talked to Stuart Hall, Epicor Software UK and Ireland sales director, eo find out.
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