15
Feb 2018
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an image of robotics process automation personified by a human in digital space

How Robotic Process Automation Is Reshaping Industry Alongside ERP

The latest component of Industry 4.0, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), maybe be an unfamiliar concept now, but soon

How Robotic Process Automation Is Reshaping Industry Alongside ERP

Automation , , , , , , Sean Balogh

The latest component of Industry 4.0, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), maybe be an unfamiliar concept now, but soon these three words will be on the lips of operators big and small all over the world. RPA is already generating substantial revenue savings for businesses, with $50 million recovered in 2017, with a projected compound annual growth rate of more than 60% through 2026. Coupling this emerging technology with a business-centric solution like ERP systems will ensure your workforce is free to engage in the more demanding aspects of your operations, all while automation handles the rest.

What Is RPA?

When it comes to robots, we tend to think of the latest development from research labs like KUKA-style assembly line robots and the agile creations emerging from the labs of Boston Dynamics. RPA is quite a bit different. It refers to automation technology; more specifically RPA is a technology designed to handle clerical process automation based on the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) workers. These digital entities are also referred to as software robots.

a picture of a virtual worker representing robotic process automation.

RPA Is A Technology Designed To Handle Clerical Process Automation Based On The Concept Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) workers.

ERP serves as the backbone of your IT infrastructure by acting as a single source of information for your business. RPA automates several processes traditionally involving human interaction with the ERP system by entering transactions, executing programs, and extracting reports automatically, in a fraction of the time. These robots are taking the lead when it comes to back-office tasks that are repetitive and uninteresting to their human counterparts. Due to the repetitive nature of these tasks, robots are prime candidates to take over in completing the tasks with speed and efficiency. This gives the human capital component of your business more freedom to approach tasks that require reasoning, judgment, and critical thinking.

Robotic Process Automation Benefits For ERP-Equipped Businesses

Coupled with the right ERP, Robotic Process Automation is primed to deliver substantial benefits to small and medium businesses looking to leverage technology for a leg up on the competition in keeping operations lean.

Savings in costs is one of the most immediate benefits of RPA. Completing work faster and with higher accuracy than traditional data entry and management methods, RPA outputs more with fewer inputs and when tasks are completed for a fraction of the cost the result is in an improved ROI for your business.

Even the most diligent and experienced professionals make data entry and filing mistakes, with fatigue being one of the main culprits. RPA Delivers higher quality results within a fully-automated process. You’ll find data entry errors quickly falling out of the equation and you’ll enjoy higher satisfaction both internally and externally when the mundane is managed by RPA.

A picture of a robot interacting with a touchscreen in augmented reality.

Data Entry Errors Exit The Equation And You Enjoy Higher Satisfaction Both Internally And Externally When The Mundane Is Managed By Robotic Process Automation.

Stemming directly from the relief of having to complete fewer mundane tasks, your employees will enjoy newfound job satisfaction by being able to engage in tasks that require talent, intelligence, and problem-solving.

Another benefit realized as a result of fewer errors and omissions in documentation is a higher standard of compliance. By maintaining standards and practices within the operations of your organization, compliance is more readily assured and employees have a firmer grasp of overall operations, explore their roles, and invest in the growth of the organization.

Your Competitive Advantage With ERP And Robotic Process Automation

The business world is a competitive one, and you’ll need every advantage at your disposal to ensure you’re operating at peak performance. A powerful ERP system and incorporating powerful technologies like robotic process automation are an exceptional way to ensure your competitiveness. Consulting with professionals is the best way to get an idea of how relevant these powerful tools are to you and your business, as well as how they can be leveraged to great effect. Consider working with implementation and consulting professionals to more effectively outline and execute the future of your business’ digital operations strategy.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.

26
Jan 2018
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an image of iot for manufacturers and the tools predictive maintenance delivers to manufacturers

How Predictive Maintenance With ERP Solutions Saves Manufacturers Millions

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) costs can cripple a manufacturer’s bottom line, especially when the required work compounds

How Predictive Maintenance With ERP Solutions Saves Manufacturers Millions

Automation , , , , , , Sean Balogh

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) costs can cripple a manufacturer’s bottom line, especially when the required work compounds problems by impacting production to a significant degree. Implementing a dynamic ERP solution, like Epicor ERP, can address the issue before it becomes a problem. Through an effective mix of Quality Assurance and Asset Management modules, Epicor has built a powerful solution to specifically tackle the tasks associated with maintenance management, from Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) to multinational corporations.

Industry 4.0 – Machine Learning As An Essential Tool

By leveraging the Industrial Internet of Things and modern data analytics, manufacturers are finding that machine learning is the next essential tool in keeping their operations running at peak performance. These tools provide manufacturers with more and better data to ensure impacts that are detrimental to business are circumvented even before becoming roadblocks.

a representation of machine learning using a digital intelligence spreading through circuits a the push of a button.

Manufacturers Are Finding That Machine Learning Is The Next Essential Tool In Keeping Their Operations Running At Peak Performance.

According to John Fryer, senior director of industry solutions at fault-tolerant computer servers and software company Stratus, on his partnership with TransCanada, “data is now being collected from every turbine, pump and compression station, and fed back to a centralized control room. The data is then integrated and analyzed…to identify trends and enable predictive maintenance to be carried out.”

Stratus is currently working in tandem with TransCanada to maintain the operation of the gas company’s 57,000 miles of pipelines. The network often stretches into in rural and remote regions, which makes monitoring and predictive maintenance even more essential.

ROI With ERP Solutions

Because of improved monitoring, quality assurance, and asset management, manufacturers receive significant savings when it comes to MRO costs. By providing a comprehensive and fully-integrated approach to the calibration and upkeep of systems and equipment, manufacturers employing ERP solutions in their facilities can operate at maximum runtime to secure an optimum return on their total costs.

an image of factory automation equipment breaking

Improved Monitoring, Quality Assurance, And Asset Management Allow Manufacturers To Realize Significant Savings When It Comes To MRO Costs.

In the case of TransCanada, savings between $16m and $17m were measured in the first year following implementation alone. That’s just one success story. When an entire industry employs such advancements in how operations are maintained, the savings can compound by an order of magnitude.

How Epicor ERP Addresses Predictive Maintenance

Through the Maintenance Management module of Epicor’s ERP solution, manufacturers gain extensive support for maintenance request processing, planned preventive maintenance (according to predefined schedules), and improvised break/fix maintenance processing for a single piece of equipment. When it comes to the facilities themselves and production equipment housed within, maintenance can be scheduled according to a pre-defined service interval, usage, time or through manual requests. Once these work orders have been identified in the system, the upkeep planner can schedule equipment downtime and exchange resources or materials on the fly. The complete history of these machines, materials, and work orders are tracked using many metrics, including the in-service date, equipment location, warrant expiration date, and preventative maintenance plans based on either time or meter frequencies.

a picture of factory equipment, technicians, and c-level executives working together.

Epicor ERP Helps Manufacturers Keep Operations Running Smoothly With Predictive Maintenance Tools.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.

16
Aug 2017
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machine learning and predictive analytics with bezlio and epicor erp

Adding Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning To ERP

How Bezlio Adds Predictive Analytics And Machine Learning To ERP I’ve always been passionate about bringing new technology

Adding Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning To ERP

Automation, Encompass Solutions, Epicor, Helpful Tips, Manufacturing, Production, SMB, Technology , , , , , , bellis

How Bezlio Adds Predictive Analytics And Machine Learning To ERP

I’ve always been passionate about bringing new technology to companies to help them be more competitive. An exciting emerging technology that’s got the IT/IS crowd buzzing right now is using machine learning to allow for smarter data analysis. Companies spend a significant amount of money generating data compared to analyzing it. With the technology Bezlio is built on, we allow companies to take emerging technologies, like predictive analytics and machine learning, as they become available and leverage it regardless of the back-end system.

machine learning and predictive analytics with bezlio and epicor erp

In a recent technology article, Forbes tells us that Machine Learning is the ability for computer programs to analyze big data, extract information automatically, and learn from it. 

We are able to run Epicor ERP along with Bezlio to utilize machine learning and predictive analytics. Bezlio’s plugin architecture means that the source data can be from anything, along with a plugin available in Bezlio that utilizes the Accord.NET Framework, a very popular machine learning library.

To get to the golden Promised Land of machine learning, however, we must first walk the dark path of statistics. Seriously though: Most of the machine learning concepts were derived from past statistical analytic techniques. Even applying some simple statistics can be used with ERP data to gain better insights. I have always liked statistics because it takes the gut out of gut decisions based on incomplete data.

To learn more about Bezlio please visit the website.

During the 2017 Bezlio Mainspring Developer Conference, Brian Ellis spoke about the subject of predictive analytics and machine learning as it relates to using it with Bezlio and any ERP or CRM.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.

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