Page 27 - MetalForming Magazine May 2022

FABRICATION
ERP Trends &
ERP Trends &
Expectations
Expectations
FOR MANUFACTURERS IN 2022
According to the 2021 State of Manufacturing Digital Transformation survey by ECI Software Solutions, nearly 95 percent of manufacturers say that their ERP solutions helped them manage the impacts of the pandemic. Here we present some of the most notable ERP trends.
BY MATT HEEREY
Matt Heerey is president, manufac- turing division, ECI Software Solu- tions; www.ecisolutions.com.
24 MetalForming/May 2022
www.metalformingmagazine.com
As we round out the first few months of 2022, manufacturers remain optimistic about the year ahead and appear ready to kick things into high gear, with almost 90 percent of executives reporting they either are “somewhat” or “very positive” about the future of business. This according to Deloitte’s 2022 Manufac- turing Industry Outlook survey. Man- ufacturers deeply impacted by a variety of disruptions in 2021, including sup- ply-chain delays, rapidly changing cus- tomer demands and labor shortages, have demonstrated the resiliency and determination needed to adapt to whatever comes their way.
To survive in this highly dynamic and competitive industry, manufac- turers have learned to lean on tech- nology solutions, including their enter- prise resource planning (ERP) software, to remain agile and carry out business operations remotely and securely in this new digital era. In fact, according to the 2021 State of Manufacturing Dig- ital Transformation survey by ECI Soft- ware Solutions, nearly 95 percent of manufacturers say that their ERP solu-
Using an intelligent ERP solution that includes automation tools allows manu- facturers to achieve new levels of effi- ciency, by eliminating the need to com- plete repetitive tasks and enabling individuals to focus on more valued- added efforts.
tions helped them manage the impacts of the pandemic.
It is unusual to see positive eco- nomic indicators paired with historic labor and supply-chain challenges. But this is the trajectory for U.S. manufac- turing in 2022 emerging from the pan- demic, according to the Deloitte survey. With aggressive growth plans for the new year, manufacturers need to eval- uate how they can further optimize ongoing operations to make day-to- day functions more efficient. To main- tain momentum, manufacturers will be expected to navigate demand and determine how emerging ERP trends can best support them.
Let’s look at a few of the major ERP trends that are in the spotlight and how they already are influencing man- ufacturers.