The idea of inanimate objects as intelligent beings has been around for centuries. The ancient Greeks had myths about robots, and Chinese and Egyptian engineers built automatons.  In modern times, the term was first coined in 1956 by American computer scientist and inventor, John McCarthy, at a conference in New Hampshire.

If you are a food manufacturer, you have probably pondered this critical question more than once: “Do I have the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure I am able to seize new opportunities and grow at a successful rate?”

These days, food and beverage companies are facing tougher challenges than ever before. The food industry has become increasingly complex for manufacturers to navigate and remain compliant. In the highly competitive food marketplace, the demands can soon start to outgrow your business and suddenly you’re slapping on Band-Aids without a passing thought for the implications on long-term growth.

You could argue that ERP is a not a sexy, new subject. It’s not a cool 3D printer, or a technologically advanced ‘hybrid car’. In fact, I could probably say that ERP is more the sedate station wagon than the sleek supercar. Does this mean ERP companies do not constantly innovate? Or continually seek out partnerships that enhance their product offering? Absolutely not. SYSPRO ERP may not be new, but it is a system built around listening to market trends and innovating accordingly.

I am certain that many service providers believe that they are adding value to your business. Most have impressively drafted mission statements that reflect this belief. It is debatable how many of these organizations actually fulfill this principle. Our Product Roadmap covers our innovations that focus on optimizing business processes – ensuring that we keep our focus firmly on creating value for our customers.

We recently announced that SYSPRO is one of the first ERP solutions to be integrated with Microsoft Office 365, to bring core ERP data into the Microsoft environment and enhance the way people work.

Customer Service Bot a Big Hit at ERP Conference

At our Africa customer conference this year I showed off a new member of the SYSPRO stack, a Bot christened Ken. I highlighted how intuitive the Bot is, using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to have an intelligent, and even anticipatory conversation with the customer.

Barcodes have been around since the mid-‘70s, when they were first introduced into the retail environment. Today, it’s hard to imagine a supply chain or stock control system without them. But newer technology is fast threatening the continued existence of the faithful numerical striped mark. 

If there’s one thing global competition has taught us, it’s that our attitudes towards technology can mean the difference between success and failure. Industry 4.0, the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, is still in the early days of adoption, but the changes it promises are profound. Over the next decade, forward-thinking businesses will embrace change and transform themselves, through connectivity, data, automation, and an increasingly sophisticated workforce.

There has never been a more exciting time to be a small or medium sized business. Technology has levelled the playing field - making it possible for SMMEs to compete with big business. Here are a few of the things making SMMEs smile:

Attending our customer conferences across the country reminded me of how important technology innovation is to optimize and future proof our customers business. Speaking to delegates over coffee also grounded me regarding how important getting the basics of ERP, the support we offer, and the way we deal with customers, right as well today.