Ultra Consultants Blog
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Ultra's ERP software blog covers all aspects of ERP systems and enterprise software, as well as OCM and business process improvement.
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
When Ultra Consultants CEO Jeff Carr spoke at the Vision33 Customer Event in late 2020, his presentation – “Tech Outlook for the New Normal” – covered a broad list of topics, including how manufacturers are coping with today’s business challenges and how Industry 4.0 technologies offer mid-sized organizations huge benefits.
You can view video excerpts from his presentation here:
• Tech Outlook: Manufacturing Pivots & Disruptors
• Tech Outlook: Manufacturing Budgets & Priorities Amid Pandemic
• Tech Outlook: Manufacturing Trends & Spending Amid Pandemic
In this final, three-and-a-h ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
Whether your company is implementing an ERP system for the first time, or replacing a legacy implementation, it’s critically important to make the right choice.
An ERP solution is, at its foundation, a strategic choice. What new capabilities does your organization need and want? What problems are you trying to solve? What do you want your core processes to look like? How can new tools enable your organization’s digital transformation?
We asked our expert consultants to give us their thoughts on best practices in ERP selection for manufacturers, and this is what they told us:
1. Emphasize Indu ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
A scenario that happens more than it should: A company invests in and implements a new ERP system, but its users don’t fully adopt it. Some employees log in when they absolutely have to, but don’t embrace the new features that their employer has painstakingly (and expensively) implemented. Others create their own shadow systems that are inefficient, contain workaround processes and create security risks.
Humans are hard-wired to resist change. Even when the change is a tool or process that will make their jobs easier, the human brain often sees change as a threat.
With that in mind, there are ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
One of the many things that made 2020 difficult was the near impossibility of spontaneous, “watercooler” conversations about our projects, ERP technologies, industries and the business environment. Fortunately, we were able to chat virtually with our top consultants and other industry experts to get their take on a variety of important topics. And here, based on views, social media shares and other criteria, are our 5 Best Conversations of 2020:
5. ERP Conversation: ‘Hidden’ Manufacturing Capacity and Smart Technologies
Our Michael Chesin spoke with Andrew Robling, Principal Product Man ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
It’s (almost) the end of 2020, and it’s (past) time to look ahead to the new year, make plans to learn more, know more, and get the information and insight you need to help your organization operate more efficiently and effectively.
Register now for these all-new webinars featuring industry experts and Ultra’s experienced consultants:
Manufacturing 2021: 4 Industry Trends to Watch and 3 Smart Moves to Make
Hosted by IndustryWeek | Sponsored by Ultra Consultants and Sage
January 21, 2021 at 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. CST
If nothing else, 2020 proved that the only constant for small and mid-sized manufa ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
For many organizations, the end of the year is a time to look back and see what was successful. Ultra is no exception. Here, based on views, social media shares and other criteria, are our 12 Best Blog Posts for 2020:
12. Manufacturing Q&A: Optimized Product Configuration, Industry 4.0 and a Better Buying Experience | READ | Our Michael Chesin spoke with Nick Castellina, VP – Go-to-Market Management for Infor, about optimizing the customer experience.
11. Stories from the Field: Milbank Leverages ERP to Boost Productivity and Margins | READ | Cross-plant transfers, sales ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
Pain Point 1 Establishing accurate requirements and relevant priorities
Incorrect requirements will yield the wrong software choice, and faulty priorities direct attention and effort away from core issues.
Solution:
• Determine and document the current state.
• Develop a succinct and focused list of requirements and opportunities.
• Develop and vet priorities with leadership and core users.
• Formalize documentation to support.
Pain Point 2 Selecting and negotiating with the solution vendor and implementation partners
Homegrown selection protocols are seldom successful, and will create limit ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
Whether your existing ERP system is at the end of its lifespan, your vendor is sunsetting support for your current version, or you feel you’re not getting enough value from it, moving to a new ERP system is a big undertaking.
So, before you take the leap, make sure you need to replace your current solution, and determine that your organization is ready.
Here are four questions to ask before you get started: 1. Does your current system lack capabilities you need?
If you’re running an old ERP system, that’s not necessarily a reason to scrap it. However, if it’s been in place for more than 10 ye ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
If the past year has taught Food & Beverage executives anything, it’s the value of being able to quickly adapt to changing business conditions. As the industry heads into 2021, what challenges lie ahead?
Our Tim Green recently asked two of our top Food & Beverage consultants, Rafael Calderon and Aaron Olin, what manufacturers, processors and distributors need to know to survive and thrive in today’s difficult business environment. Here is an edited version of the conversation:
Tim Green (TG): The COVID-19 pandemic is the story of 2020. What pandemic-driven changes are ahead in 2021?
R ..read more
Ultra Consultants
4y ago
Ultra Consultants CEO Jeff Carr spoke at the recent Vision33 Customer Event 2020, and his topic – “Tech Outlook for the New Normal” – covered a lot of ground, including how manufacturing companies are coping with current business difficulties, the significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic downturn.
In the first video and second video of this three-video series, Jeff offered his take on how manufacturing organizations of all sizes are adapting to the 2020’s unique challenges and the specific changes they are making.
In this final, 11-minute video, Jeff lo ..read more