Today, tomorrow – and yesterday
1 min read
There may be a certain resonance in the IET's (Institution of Engineering and Technology) Ambrose Fleming Medal for ICT – part of its prestigious Achievement Awards – going to Professor Barry Evans, of the Centre for Communication Systems Research, University of Surrey. Prof Evans won the award, said the judges, not only for his "outstanding contribution" to ICT systems engineering, but also because of his "sharp, over-the-horizon vision, enabling him to push the boundaries...."
Just next month, the ICC Birmingham will be hosting the UK and Ireland SAP User Group's 2013 conference, which this year takes 'Tomorrow's World' as its theme. The organisation says it will be focusing on the likely impact of technologies ranging from mobility to social media and big data, with breakout sessions including SAP HANA in-memory analytics and cloud computing. Also, say the organisers, there will be dedicated 'lost knowledge' and 'tips and tricks' sessions, designed to help users maximise their investments in SAP software way beyond the confines of strict ERP.
Why such a focus on future-gazing? According to SAP user group's CEO Craig Dale, it's because industries across the board are seeing "exponential levels of change", driven by these new technologies. And the implication: the rest of the 'here and now' of ERP implementations is virtually a done deal.
Can that be so? Those responsible for IT strategy in manufacturing businesses should be watching upcoming technologies – and specifically for their enabling potential. That's how we ensure that our systems can respond to new opportunities, rather than presenting barriers to them. It's common business sense.
But the fact remains that the vast majority of manufacturers also need help with their second- or third-generation ERP implementations. Typical issues include: amalgamating multiple disparate systems to cut costs and improve real-time visibility; and automating end-to-end business processes that touch everything from sales order configuration to planning and scheduling.
Yes, manufacturers want to get more out of their existing and next investments and that includes building in mobility and better analytics, capable of revealing more insights to more people. But they also do need help with the here and now. When you hear senior folk saying words to the effect: "Among the lessons we have learnt, it is important to begin with a careful analysis of your existing processes, identifying your specific weak points and how they can best be tackled," you know that yesterday's knowledge is as important as tomorrow's.
