WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation

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Supply Chain has become as much a buzzword as supply chain systems. What are supply chain systems? Are these systems designed to process transactions or enable collaboration? Should they cater to sourcing, product management, or logistics? Should they host processes such as ESG, trade promotions management, or upstream vs downstream processes?

In today's episode, our guest, Eric Linxwiler, discu...

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Within the domain of real-time transportation visibility platforms, there are noticeable resemblances as each emphasizes comparable capabilities. However, distinctions become evident; certain platforms specialize in specific transportation modes, while others boast multi-modal proficiency. Geographic coverage also varies, with some predominantly serving North America and others exclusively focusing on Europe....

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Similar to how a business model can't be purchased off-the-shelf, enterprise architecture is not something you can acquire ready-made, either. Numerous factors come into play when defining architecture and determining suitable locations for inventory, allocation, and collaboration. Considerations for architecture may vary depending on factors such as speed requirements or financial control specifications...

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Critical roles within architecture are contingent on cross-functional integration. Supply chain suites limit ERP suites to financial reporting, whereas suites tailored for the retail sector necessitate coordination with WMS, TMS, and OMS to achieve advanced capabilities such as inventory management and allocation. There has been historical consideration for these functions to be inherently part of the ERP, le...

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While there might be overlap between retail and manufacturing business models, they have uniquely different processes, driving the need for distinct architecture and master data governance. While designing business processes and architecture, several decisions could have a catastrophic impact on operational efficiency and enterprise performance. While any enterprise decisions are never easy, what makes it cha...

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Prior to the introduction of supply chain business networks, industries relied on research and survey-based methods for supply chain planning. Companies in the data business frequently encountered substantial errors, resulting in inefficiencies across the supply chain. The establishment of networks posed challenges due to variations in communication standards and the difficulty of convincing the entire indust...

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Technology is easy only for salespeople who have never implemented a single software. Sales and marketing hype often cloud executives’ judgment, leading to catastrophic decisions from the get-go. The biggest factor is unrealistic expectations. But that’s not all. Issues such as politics and power struggles may throw off any model or estimate. The wisest thing any seasoned ERP veteran could recommend is to inc...

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Conducting inventory-centric operations without an S&OP system is almost unfeasible. Historically, businesses handled operations using intricate spreadsheets that consolidated data from diverse sources. Despite ERP systems asserting S&OP capabilities, their inflexible data structures for transactions impede analytical workflows. An alternative system with a more adaptable structure is essential—one th...

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Data is everywhere, but to be able to effectively use it, you need to understand their sources, limitations, and how you might be able to fill up gaps in your internal data with externally available datasets. The lifeblood of retail business runs on finding the right sites. But doing that is not easy because of the unavailability of the right datasets to understand consumer behavior. So, how do we identify th...

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Organizations engage in a multitude of projects, each with its own unique attributes—whether they are internal or external, short or long-term, billable or cost-centric. These projects also differ across industries, with specific scheduling and reporting requirements. Construction projects, for instance, exhibit significant differences from software development initiatives. While both fall within the realm of...

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ERPs have historically overlooked the requirements of IT teams. However, it's important to acknowledge that industries heavily reliant on ERPs may possess smaller IT teams. On the contrary, in other sectors, particularly those without extensive inventories, IT teams could essentially constitute the entire operations team.Just as IT industries have faced neglect, other crucial teams like security or legal...

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Non-profit entities encounter unique ERP challenges that set them apart from inventory-focused businesses. Their varied structures, encompassing intricate elements like membership categories, grants, and complex workflows, differ widely across sectors. For example, educational and healthcare non-profits may require distinct processes compared to city governments. Associations and membership communities also e...

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Consulting companies generated trillions of dollars by orchestrating the movement of data and crafting ETL codes. This was essential to safeguard the operational systems from the potential impact of analytical workloads on performance. Operational systems handled transactional heavy lifting, while analytical workloads focused on study and decision science. Snowflake revolutionized this landscape by introducin...

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Cloud ERP systems vary widely, ranging from those concealing outdated backends as cloud-based solutions to more extreme cases that utilize on-premises code bases in data centers, merely claiming a 'web link' qualifies as the cloud. To unravel this complexity, it's essential to comprehend the diverse layers and factors that constitute the cloud, considering both technical and financial aspects. ...

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Mom-and-pop businesses have a mindset that if they are able to manage the books, then they are good. But to build a scalable business, you need to implement the FP&A process sooner rather than later. The FP&A process can help with the forward-looking statements and planning the cash flow. It might also help identify the red flags from the perspective of an investor, whether you want to raise capital, ...

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While 2023 proved challenging for retailers, the positive aspect is that it didn't turn out as bleak as anticipated. The forecast for 2024 is still unclear, but there is optimism for a recovery. With restored economic confidence, retailers are ready to channel accumulated funds into postponed digital transformation trends in the retail sector. Artificial intelligence is expected to play a crucial role in...

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The assertion of a data platform serving as an ERP is not new. Many companies grapple with discerning the disparity between the two. The distinction is further muddled as data platforms become software-defined, emulating ERP functions. While data platforms traditionally reside in the architecture atop the transactional layer, their role should be confined to study, analysis, simulations, and providing recomme...

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Specialized ERP systems tailored for the pharmaceutical industry surpass generic alternatives, ensuring shorter implementation times and increased success rates. Relying on ad-hoc arrangements can lead to unforeseen challenges, making pre-baked capabilities within the system's data model crucial for preventing issues with version upgrades. Evaluating ERP systems for pharmaceutical needs requires not just...

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The medical device industry's unique challenges demand specialized ERP solutions, spanning consumable items and large CapEx equipment segments. Processes and regulations vary based on diagnostic or surgical use, complicating the ERP landscape. The sector faces increased scrutiny, making systems supporting comprehensive reporting imperative to minimize administrative overhead. Key features include electro...