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Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Exploring COVID-19 food supply chain disruptions

  The food sector has been hard hit by COVID-19. Learn what some of those issues have been, how some companies have escaped the worst of it and what lessons are most important. Continue Reading

• 7 techniques to build supply chain resilience

  In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, business and supply chain leaders have realized how important supply chain resiliency is. Here are seven ways to boost it. Continue Reading

• Should COVID-19 halt your ERP implementation? 12 questions

  The COVID-19 pandemic is casting doubt on whether ERP and enterprise business applications projects should move forward. Here's help on deciding. Continue Reading

• ERP security issues with working remotely during COVID-19 outbreak

  Keeping the organization's enterprise systems safe is everyone's job -- from top leadership on down. Now that the coronavirus has millions homebound, that's never been more important. Continue Reading

• 7 reasons for ERP implementation failure

  ERP consultants shared their analysis and takeaways from such spectacular ERP failures as National Grid, Revlon and Waste Management and gave advice on avoiding the same pitfalls. Continue Reading

• 3 case studies on reducing supply chain complexity

  Understanding which technologies can best simplify supply chain management is key to success in today's economy. Here's how three companies have tackled this issue.Continue Reading

• 6 supply chain management tips

  A poorly maintained supply chain can spell disaster for your business. Here are six supply chain management tips to ensure success and mitigate risk.Continue Reading

• Last-mile delivery challenges in the age of omnichannel

  The last-mile delivery problem is getting more difficult as customers demand lightning-speed product fulfillment. Here's hope.Continue Reading

• How food traceability software boosts supply chain visibility

  Food recalls have increased and more consumers want to know the supply chain journey of their food. Here's a look at how technology can help.Continue Reading

• What is supply chain management (SCM) and why is it important?

  Supply chain management (SCM) is the broad range of activities required to plan, control and execute a product's flow from materials to production to distribution in the most economical way possible.Continue Reading

• Supply Chain Planning (SCP)

  Supply chain planning (SCP) is the process of anticipating the demand for products and planning their materials and components, production, marketing, distribution and sale.Continue Reading

• Digital supply networks improve visibility and collaboration

  Digital supply networks offer better visibility and collaboration than traditional supply chains. Find out what they are and whether they might help your company.Continue Reading

• Introduction to supply chain management software of 2019

  Discover the functions of supply chain management software and learn how SCM software helps companies manage the complex demands of today's customers.Continue Reading

• How to find the top 3 values using the Excel LARGE function

  Finding the second- and third-largest revenue numbers is far more difficult than finding the largest. That's where the LARGE function comes to the rescue.Continue Reading

• How to overcome digital transformation in finance challenges

  Companies like Bishop-Wisecarver and Convergint are facing challenges with employees and data while digitally transforming finance, but they're also discussing how to overcome them.Continue Reading

• ERP reporting tool brings real estate firm closer to its data

  Spreadsheet Server from Insightsoftware saves a real estate management firm time creating reports from its operational ERP system data and improving reporting processes.Continue Reading

• Make better business decisions with financial analytics

  Find out why finance is beginning to shift its emphasis on advanced and predictive analytics and the capability to use big data to support future business decisions.Continue Reading

• Benefits and challenges of blockchain food supply chain growth

  Using blockchain in the food supply chain may improve consumer safety, but experts say reluctance from suppliers and a lack of viable use cases are preventing widespread adoption.Continue Reading

• Key considerations in global supply chain management

  Globalization adds geopolitical and cybersecurity risks to the already daunting challenges of supply chain management. Read how the experts deal with them.Continue Reading

• 10 blockchain problems supply chains need to look out for

  Blockchain is proving to be useful in the supply chain, but without a strong understanding of it and a viable use case, your organization can run into several problems along the way.Continue Reading

• How can AI improve production planning in manufacturing?

  Now is a good time for manufacturers to start thinking about how they can incorporate artificial intelligence technologies into their production planning systems.Continue Reading

• How can distributors create an omnichannel supply chain?

  Manufacturers need to be aware of the impact of omnichannel on their operations so they can determine what additional functions they'll need in three specific areas.Continue Reading

• supply chain sustainability (SCS)

  Supply chain sustainability (SCS) is a holistic view of supply chain processes, logistics and technologies that affect the environmental, social, economic and legal aspects of a supply chain's components. Typically, sustainability initiatives ...Continue Reading

• Top 5 inventory management challenges for manufacturers

  Get expert advice on the technologies, best practices and organizational change management needed to master the most common inventory management problems.Continue Reading

• 7 ways to ensure a successful cloud ERP implementation

  Understand why everything from documenting business processes to managing shadow IT can make or break your ERP implementation. Here's what you should know.Continue Reading

• Three master data management strategies to boost CRM-ERP success

  'Bad data' circulating through a company's ERP environment will likely cause interfaces to fail. Learn how one business leader is cleaning things up.Continue Reading

• Industrial IoT application boosts machine utilization

  Metal parts maker uses MachineMetrics analytics cloud to spot underused equipment, help machinists squeeze out more production and monitor their own efficiency.Continue Reading

• There's time and place for SMBs to adopt SaaS-based ERP

  SMBs face many issues when implementing SaaS ERP operations versus on-premises, plus the fact that one size cloud-based ERP platform doesn't necessarily fit all companies.Continue Reading

• How do e-commerce returns affect reverse logistics management?

  Customers expect to return purchases, which means you need to be proactive in your approach to reverse logistics. Here are some things to think about.Continue Reading

• Can low-code development benefit supply chain management?

  The low-code/no-code movement is exploding as it puts app development into the hands of business users. One possibly overlooked area for this technology is the supply chain.Continue Reading

• Planning for supply chain risk assessment and mitigation

  Natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and unacceptable social or environmental practices can endanger supply chains, but the right tools can mitigate the risks.Continue Reading

• Supply chain risk mitigation strategies on multiple fronts

  Experts say you can't tackle supply chain risk with a one-size-fits-all approach. It has to address many facets -- and supplier relationships are the key.Continue Reading

• IoT may throw a lifeline to PLM systems

  PLM systems have functioned mostly in engineering, but now IoT-connected devices are allowing PLM to be more useful across the entire product lifecycle.Continue Reading

• Why do EDI standards dominate for electronic transactions?

  The EDI standard format is the only option accepted by Walmart and other retailers. But as technology and data formats have changed over the years, is there a better way?Continue Reading

• What should companies know about sustainability software?

  Sustainability is composed of social, environmental and economic pillars. That's why technologies focused on this market address different needs. Here's a narrow glimpse.Continue Reading

• Why craft beer makers are tapping into ERP for craft brewery software

  As with other process manufacturers, ERP software can help craft breweries maintain quality, while better managing growth and unexpected success. Here's a look.Continue Reading

• The supply chain sustainability software market demystified

  Consumers care about corporate social responsibility, which means companies should, too. Here's what to know about boosting CSR efforts with supply chain sustainability software.Continue Reading

• Major components maker ramps up AI in manufacturing

  Artificial intelligence is making inroads into manufacturing systems. Case in point is printed circuits manufacturer Jabil, which uses AI to improve its processes and products.Continue Reading

• E-commerce packaging waste becoming a bigger issue

  With the rise of online shopping, the packaging waste is becoming more of an issue. Here's a look at why and at some of the early work to solve the problem.Continue Reading

• Finding the root cause of ERP implementation failures

  The root cause of ERP implementation failures may be delays in decision-making. Delays add up, which wastes time and imposes extra costs on a deployment.Continue Reading

• How is inventory management for e-commerce challenging?

  The inventory challenges of adding e-commerce to your supply chain are considerable. Here's a look at what they entail and how you might overcome them.Continue Reading

• What are the IoT industrial automation standards to watch?

  PTC's CTO of industrial automation and former Kepware CEO Tony Paine explains why messaging technology is crucial for gathering data from connected devices.Continue Reading

• How can supply chain greenhouse gas emissions be reduced?

  Semi trucks are a small portion of total vehicles on the road but are a major source of pollution. Here's how leaders can help address this source of pollution.Continue Reading

• How does material intensity help measure sustainability?

  One important foundation of sustainability is using fewer materials and less energy. Using the material intensity measure can help determine the success of those reduction efforts.Continue Reading

• New GRC tools include analytics, AI to keep businesses safe

  As the governance, risk and compliance market changes, organizations can pass on the full-blown GRC suite and instead choose a tool that targets a specific issue.Continue Reading

• What are some elements of sustainable product design?

  With waste from electronics, plastics and other materials growing at a frightening rate, manufacturers can help address the problem with sustainable product design efforts.Continue Reading

• How will self-driving vehicles affect the environment?

  Autonomous vehicles are on track to change logistics forever. Some believe that might be a good thing for the environment.Continue Reading

• How is e-commerce packaging waste an issue, and what can be done?

  As the world turns to online shopping for convenience, a pressing issue is developing -- packaging waste. Here are some considerations to get the conversation started.Continue Reading

• Software troubleshooting steps work best with these 10 tips

  There are efficient ways to troubleshoot enterprise software, and frustrating, time-consuming ones. Follow this advice to sidestep obstacles and find a fix quickly.Continue Reading

• Why the GRC platform is fading in importance

  While GRC suites offer the promise of achieving governance, risk and compliance, their use can be problematic for companies. Here's a deeper look at the issues.Continue Reading

• Which companies could use inventory optimization software?

  Inventory -- although necessary -- is expensive to keep and needs fine-tuned management. Here's a look at why inventory optimization software can help.Continue Reading

• Can warehouse robots help solve supply chain issues?

  The direct-to-consumer model is transforming warehouse management and, in turn, supply chain management. Here's a look at how robotics is helping to solve some of the issues.Continue Reading

• The risk analytics software your company really needs

  Risk analytics tools are more and more critical for CFOs seeking to improve operational efficiency. Just one problem: It can be hard to figure out just what those tools are.Continue Reading

• Seven supply chain risk factors that affect assessment, mitigation

  Over the years, managing supply and demand has become increasingly complicated. Here's a look at factors that influence today's supply chain risk assessments.Continue Reading

• ERP functionality now often attained piecemeal in cloud applications

  More organizations are foregoing monolithic ERP systems for easy-to-deploy cloud applications that do most of what they need in nimble microservices and access to customer data.Continue Reading

• Hard truths you need to know about customized ERP

  It's true that companies sometimes believe packaged ERP doesn't fully support every business process. But here's why you might want to just say no to modification.Continue Reading

• AP automation software saves time and paper at Wildman Business Group

  ABBYY FlexiCapture for Invoices seeks to cut costs, save time and improve accuracy by automating the payment of invoices for SMBs, such as Wildman Business Group in Indiana.Continue Reading

• Get smart about IIoT security risks in manufacturing

  For manufacturers, IoT technology brings new cyber-risks. Here's what you should know about keeping your systems safe from hackers.Continue Reading

• CFOs turning to risk analytics software to spot financial, operational threats

  Regulatory compliance, loan covenants and currency risk are common targets, as organizations sift through ERP and other data looking for patterns that might give early warning.Continue Reading

• Why customizing ERP software is usually a bad idea

  To get the functions and flexibility that support your organization's competitive edge, try these five solutions first, before customizing ERP as a last resort.Continue Reading

• Why ERP mobility requires enterprises to be proactive

  Historically, enterprise resource planning systems were designed to stay firmly -- and securely -- put. That's why you'll need to address multiple challenges to achieve mobile ERP.Continue Reading

• Where the industrial IoT vulnerabilities lurk in your plant

  When you connect manufacturing machinery to the internet, you've created a potential gateway for hackers. Here's a look at the risks you might be facing.Continue Reading

• Six essentials to becoming a data-driven company

  If you want to harness the power of analytics and automation to ensure your organization's relevance, you'll have to create a culture of data. Here's how.Continue Reading

• Procure-to-pay software becoming a sophisticated tool for CFOs

  Most companies start out with P2P systems just to automate invoicing and procurement, but the savviest ones know how to tap them as working capital and cash-flow engines.Continue Reading

• Overcome cloud integration challenges with the right strategies, tools

  Nimble, agile, innovative -- companies are striving for these qualities in the current "adapt or die" business landscape, and they're looking to the cloud to enable such growth. But with companies moving more of their ERP and other enterprise ...Continue Reading

• Strides in SMB technology helping more Davids compete with Goliaths

  The cloud is making enterprise applications more accessible than ever for small businesses, while data technology is nourishing a new crop of startups.Continue Reading

• What are the biggest concurrent engineering advantages?

  A critical goal of supply chain management is to foster alignment and collaboration. Here's how concurrent manufacturing can help.Continue Reading

• How manufacturers can use an MRP system to reduce inventory

  By focusing on compensating factors such as safety stock and shrinkage, you can counteract the tendency of an MRP system to increase inventory, especially in the beginning.Continue Reading

• Hyatt transforms employee training with Saba online learning software

  Hyatt Hotels uses Saba Cloud to train employees with short videos, collaboration and mobile, but finds it a challenge to drive new users to the system.Continue Reading

• How Millennials' technology expectations can help save manufacturing

  Attracting Millennials to the manufacturing industry is critical if the sector is to solve its impending skills gap crisis. To that end, here are some basic efforts needed to make manufacturing systems Millennial-friendly.Continue Reading

• Tagetik software helps John Hancock save time and cuts risk

  Tagetik allows John Hancock and Manulife to reduce the time it takes to produce financial reports and to automatically update changes in numbers in comparable documents.Continue Reading

• What supply chain issues most worry discrete manufacturers?

  Discrete manufacturers face challenges related to demand forecasting and inventory management, to name just two. Here's a look at why -- and what can be done.Continue Reading

• Look for warning signs in the ERP implementation process

  In this podcast, Eric Kimberling of Panorama Consulting discusses the 'canaries in the coal mines' of ERP projects that may indicate an ERP project is failing.Continue Reading

• What software features are key for process manufacturing ERP?

  Chemical companies, food processing companies, makers of pharmaceuticals and other process manufacturers have specific ERP needs. Here's what you need to know about finding the right software.Continue Reading

• What kinds of challenges do mobile ERP technologies pose?

  In this time of ubiquitous smartphones and the use of BYOD, it would seem that mobile ERP applications would be widespread in manufacturing. Here's why they're not.Continue Reading

• Financial apps in the cloud? Count on it

  As the business world becomes more mobile, its cloud comfort level on financial apps will reach greater heights.Continue Reading

• The move to SaaS-based applications remains a gradual process

  More organizations are moving business applications off-premises, relying on technology once thought of as cutting-edge, like software as a service—but full steam ahead it’s not.Continue Reading

• Risks give pause, but rewards abound with networked devices

  The manufacturing industry -- like many other industries -- stands to gain a lot from the growth of networked devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). Networked devices offer a plethora of information for manufacturers, and this information can ...Continue Reading

• How can manufacturers improve field service operations?

  Equipment providers and distributors are shifting their focus to improving field service. What are some best practices and technologies that can boost customer engagement and increase sales?Continue Reading

• Manufacturer finds success with cloud-based ERP system

  When it came time for international expansion, Shaw Industries turned to a cloud-based ERP system. The company couldn't be happier.Continue Reading

• E2open boosts sales and operations planning at outsourcer

  Radisys was able to sync plans with China manufacturer after integrating SAP ERP with Steelwedge S&OP and E2open's E2 PR in a hybrid cloud system.Continue Reading

• CPM tools and BI: A winning combination

  Companies can benefit from further integrating CPM tools and BI, whether they're still evaluating CPM or already use CPM and BI software.Continue Reading

• Using predictive analytics methods to answer business questions

  Need to know where to put your next store? Or whether or not a promotional campaign will work? Predictive analytics methods may be the answer.Continue Reading

• Lean and sustainability strategies meld for supply chain transformation

  Some manufacturers are expanding lean and sustainability strategies to the supply chain to reduce waste and bolster efficiencies, but extending these practices outside a company's four walls won't be easy.Continue Reading

• Epicor ERP, MES bring precision to IMCO's operational data

  Epicor ERP helped one manufacturer take its operational data from the Stone Age to real time.Continue Reading

• Four steps to consolidate disparate core financial systems

  Many large companies have more than one core financial system, which can inhibit data visibility. Learn how and when to consolidate.Continue Reading

• Users laud the benefits of tax provisioning software

  Faster closes, automatic uploads, more consistency -- just a few of the advantages companies that scrap Excel for a tax provisioning system can reap.Continue Reading

• Hammond's Candies finds sweet success with move to Sage ERP from Microsoft

  When Microsoft Dynamics made an ERP upgrade unaffordable, Hammond's Candies made a bold move to Sage ERP.Continue Reading

• Intacct provides the back-office backbone for global growth at STS

  Manually converting currencies at STS International wasn't cutting it. Learn how Intacct helped in the IT service company's global expansion.Continue Reading

• Five critical factors that define ROI of IT projects

  While cost is certainly an important factor in defining IT projects' ROI, Rob Livingstone recommends that companies also evaluate risk and value.Continue Reading

• Excel tip: Find missing fractional cents

  Microsoft Excel consultant Bill Jelen, aka MrExcel, demonstrates how an auditor can locate fractional cents hidden by the Decrease Decimal icon.Continue Reading

• ReconNET streamlines credit card reconciliation at Panera

  Trintech's ReconNET reconciliation software helped cafe chain Panera bake more visibility and efficiency into the credit card reconciliation process.Continue Reading

• Demand management through S&OP

  In this expert tip, learn how manufacturing demand management can be improved through sales and operations planning.Continue Reading

• Excel tip: Use Alt+Enter to break lines of text in a single cell

  Microsoft Excel consultant Bill Jelen, aka 'MrExcel,' shows why Alt+Enter is a more precise alternative to Wrap Text.Continue Reading

• For technology change management, engage employees early and often

  A communication consultant shares proven tips for ensuring ERP project success.Continue Reading

• Seven considerations before launching driver-based planning

  When getting started with driver-based planning, Rob Livingstone recommends taking an inclusive approach and defining accountability.Continue Reading

• Maximize the ROI of ERP projects with an ERP center of excellence

  An ERP consultant with experience helping organizations establish ERP centers of excellence answers some basic questions.Continue Reading

• Excel tip: Fill Handle tricks

  Microsoft Excel consultant Bill Jelen, aka 'MrExcel,' shows how to use the Excel Fill Handle to extend series.Continue Reading

• Excel tip: Requiring a password to open or edit an Excel workbook

  Microsoft Excel consultant Bill Jelen, aka 'MrExcel,' explains how to set a password to open or modify an Excel workbook in this Excel tip.Continue Reading

• Clean ERP before new budgeting and forecasting software: Yes or no?

  Rob Livingstone explains how to decide whether or not to get ERP data in order before implementing new budgeting, planning and forecasting software.Continue Reading