The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has provided the circumstances that have everyone thinking about business models, modes of operation, workplace practices, processes, and policies. Processes are the key to managing and changing an organization. Recent experience as a volunteer for an NPO made me not only appreciate how processes are key to managing and changing teams, but also how to process re-engineering must become an important part of business life, and how ERP systems must be able to keep up with process change.
Month: June 2020
Why Manufacturers Need a CRM System Geared to their Needs
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Increasingly, companies of all sizes are looking at CRM (customer relationship management) software to assist in their customer interactions. Manufacturers and distributors are no longer just waiting for customers to contact them with what they want. Instead, they are now forecasting and planning what will be in demand in the coming months using technology that helps them understand their customers. Back in 2017, a survey by Manufacturing.net and Manufacturing Business Technology found that 41% of manufacturers were then either currently using a CRM system or were in the process of implementing one . That number has since increased.
Top 5 Famous Australian Food Recalls of the Last 5 Years
Reading Time: 3 minutes
This month we observed World Food Safety Day. This year’s theme of “Food safety, everyone’s business” is particularly relevant as approximately 650 products including food-related items are recalled in Australia every year, but only about half of them are returned to the retailer. In October last year, the ACCC reported that there were about 1.7 million recalled products still in Australian homes.
Diary of a WFH ERP Developer, Teacher, Mom and Yogi
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Oh wait, is that really how much time has passed since our transition into the new normal. Days seem to be flowing into each other. Is it Monday or Friday? Thanks, technology, for keeping it real… like knowing what day it is!
This whole COVID-19 thing has really thrown us (actually several) curveballs of note. Take WFH for instance. The reality was quite different to the dream. Generally speaking, the biggest obstacle was to get yourself into a disciplined routine working away from the office.
What is Smart Manufacturing and How can it Help your Manufacturing Operations?
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Answer agree or disagree to these two observations:
- The Coronavirus pandemic is going to change the way manufacturers operate.
- After the pandemic is over, we won’t be able to go back to doing things the way we used to.
Coming out of Lockdown – The Corona Opportunity
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Now that we’re slowly “coming out” of lockdown, what is the Brave New World we find ourselves in?
Will lockdown-learning fuel change or will we soldier on wearing a blindfold instead of a face mask. What changes will last and what opportunities will we grasp?
People interaction – the pros and the cons
Key Benefits of COVID-19 Resulting in a Localization of Supply Chains
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The disruption caused by the coronavirus has led global supply chains to re-think globalized market strategies. Before the pandemic, Chinese producers were often selected as the first choice, and China’s share of the global GDP was sitting at 20%. When Covid-19 hit China, its factories were shut down. Many other countries had to additionally deal with the closing of local ports.
Recalls – How Food and Beverage Manufacturers can Avoid this Scary Reality
Reading Time: 3 minutes
As the food supply chain has become more costly and complex, any food safety incident can have a negative impact on public health and ultimately, the economy. In June, the second World Food Safety Day will be celebrated to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.
How Manufacturers can Prepare for the Upturn by Embracing Technological Innovation
Reading Time: 3 minutes
In a new survey called the “Agents of Transformation” report 2020, 95% of respondents said that their organizations had changed their technology priorities during the pandemic. Additionally, 71% could point to digital transformation projects that were implemented within weeks rather than the months or years it would have taken before the pandemic. If the pandemic has taught business leaders one thing, it is that being agile and embracing digital transformation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
