manufacturing Archives - 51风流Africa News Center News & Information About SAP Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:39:13 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Hewatele Breathes Easy Following Vital 51风流Implementation /africa/2024/10/hewatele-breathes-easy-following-vital-sap-implementation/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:39:13 +0000 /africa/?p=147883 Kenyan social enterprise Hewatele has is modernising its technology systems as it aims to transform its production capabilities and scale up supply of life-saving medical...

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Kenyan social enterprise has is modernising its technology systems as it aims to transform its production capabilities and scale up supply of life-saving medical oxygen to facilities throughout East Africa.

is a social enterprise in Kenya that produces and supplies medical oxygen to the country鈥檚 healthcare system. The first production plant was opened in 2014, providing oxygen to multiple counties across Kenya. Ten years down the line, Hewatele has scaled its operations to five PSA production plants in Kenya and one in Uganda, supplying more than 150 medical facilities.

, CEO of Hewatele, says the organisation realised during the peak of the pandemic that its current manufacturing model was not sustainable in the long term.

鈥淭he cost of manufacturing was quite high. We identified liquified medical oxygen via an ASU manufacturing model as the future for our production capabilities, which kicked off a lengthy due diligence process to raise capital for investment into the more energy efficient manufacturing technology, after realising that our PSA manufacturing dispensation were not fit for supporting our scaleup.鈥

The older business planning software Hewatele was dependent on could not deliver inventory and financial information timely and accurately, leading to delays in decision-making.

鈥淲e had trouble explaining to the board that our systems just couldn鈥檛 deliver financial information real- time. 51风流has always been the blue-chip ERP solution, and considering our need to scale up information processing as we build out our new production capabilities, we made a strategic decision to migrate.鈥

The company has since embarked on the first of a two-phase implementation process. Phase One focuses on financial and inventory processes as well as some manufacturing. A second phase, set to commence in Q1 of 2025, will cover the remaining areas of the business.

Hewatele chose implementation partner听 in Kenya to design and deploy the solution, which includes the flagship .听The solution, designed and deployed by VC ERP Consulting, will streamline Hewatele鈥檚 operations and improve decision-making by providing real-time insights into key business processes.

Tejas Chhabra, vice-president: 51风流enterprise solutions at VC ERP, says: 鈥淲e invested time upfront to delve deeper into the problem statement to allow us to develop a solution that goes to the root of the problem. The input and support from process owners within Hewatele, from finance to sales and inventory, was critical to our ability to design the solution.鈥

Pooja Chhabra, finance SME and solution architect for the 51风流S/4HANA solution at Hewatele and the driving force behind the implementation, adds: 鈥淲e were laser focused on mapping the processes in a way the MIS Reporting become a lot simpler and automated, which was a critical requirement for Hewatele and their investors.鈥

A component of the solution also looks at building a foundation for the future adoption of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Dr Wali says there is huge potential of AI in the business. 鈥淭echnologies such as AI can add value through greater efficiency, improved user experiences, and greater automation. Ultimately we want to achieve the highest levels of automation to ensure our customers get the best product at the best price, driven by efficiency and optimisation.鈥

The team are now busy with centralising production to always ensure the highest standards of quality and reliability. 鈥淭hrough SAP鈥橲 world-class technology deployment, our organisation will also be future fit for regulatory compliance, while our team members will have access to some of the latest technology to support the vital work they do.鈥

, regional sales director for emerging Africa at SAP, says: 鈥淥rganisations throughout the region are making vital investments in technology to unlock greater efficiency, optimise core processes, and establish a strong foundation for future innovation.

鈥淗ewatele鈥檚 outstanding implementation, supported by experienced partners at VC ERP, positions the organisation well as it prepares to scale up its life-saving production capabilities.鈥

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ERP Systems Transform Wholesale Operations in South Africa /africa/2024/07/erp-systems-transform-wholesale-operations-in-south-africa/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:56:55 +0000 /africa/?p=147711 The wholesale industry, a crucial intermediary between manufacturers and retailers, faces many challenges in today鈥檚 fast-paced business environment. From managing extensive inventories to optimising supply...

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The wholesale industry, a crucial intermediary between manufacturers and retailers, faces many challenges in today鈥檚 fast-paced business environment.

From managing extensive inventories to optimising supply chains and meeting customer demands, wholesalers must navigate a complex landscape.

, Managing Director of SEIDOR in South Africa, explains how Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems offer a robust solution to these challenges, streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency.

Inventory management

One of the primary hurdles for wholesalers is maintaining optimal inventory levels.

de Leeuw says, 鈥淲ith ERP, wholesalers can avoid the costly pitfalls of overstocking, which ties up capital and storage resources, or understocking, which has the risk of losing sales and customer trust.鈥

ERP systems use advanced analytics to predict demand trends and provide real-time inventory tracking.

This helps businesses maintain the right stock levels maintaining a balance that supports both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

A unified platform that streamlines supply chain operations is vital for the success of any wholesale business.

Delays or inefficiencies can lead to significant losses and disrupt customer relationships.

ERP systems integrate all aspects of supply chain management, from procurement to distribution making it easier to manage complex logistics, timely delivery of products, better coordination among suppliers, and reduced lead times.

de Leeuw emphasises, 鈥淏y leveraging ERP systems, wholesalers can enhance their customer service, leading to stronger, long-lasting relationships.鈥

Customer relationships

The competitive wholesale market, demands strong customer relationships and the software helps wholesalers manage customer interactions more effectively by providing a comprehensive view of customer data.

This includes purchase histories, preferences, and feedback, enabling businesses to tailor their services and improve customer satisfaction.

Additionally, automated order processing and accurate delivery tracking foster trust and loyalty among customers.

Financial management and compliance

The industry鈥檚 complex financial landscape not only requires financial transparency and control, but also needs to ensure compliance and optimising financial performance.

With ERP, wholesalers can achieve greater financial management by automating accounting processes, generating detailed financial reports, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

This automation reduces the risk of errors and fraud, providing a clear and accurate financial overview that aids in strategic decision-making.

鈥淎ll businesses need to turn data into actionable insights, and wholesaling is no different,鈥 says de Leeuw.

Wholesalers can leverage these insights to identify trends, forecast demand, and make informed decisions which not only improves operational efficiency but also gives businesses a competitive edge.

The power of ERP technology

With operational efficiency comes growth where scalability and flexibility is needed to meet evolving demands and seize new opportunities without significant disruptions.

Whether it鈥檚 entering new markets, adding new product lines, or increasing customer bases, the software solution provides the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment.

Heinrich de Leeuw concludes, 鈥 The wholesale industry鈥檚 challenges require innovative solutions to remain competitive and profitable.鈥

鈥淓mbracing ERP technology is not just a strategic move; it鈥檚 essential for wholesalers aiming to thrive in today鈥檚 competitive landscape.鈥

鈥淪treamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving overall business performance is how wholesalers position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly changing market.鈥

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Choosing the Right ERP Solution for your SMB Manufacturing Business /africa/2023/12/choosing-the-right-erp-solution-for-your-smb-manufacturing-business/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:18:44 +0000 /africa/?p=147122 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in South Africa鈥檚 manufacturing sector face some of the toughest operating conditions they鈥檝e seen to date. Click here for more...

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in South Africa鈥檚 manufacturing sector face some of the toughest operating conditions they鈥檝e seen to date.

Load shedding, continued supply chain disruptions and a volatile rand dollar exchange rate are all putting their resilience and adaptability to the test.

That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 more important than ever for SMB manufacturers to invest in the right business solutions.

鈥淎gainst the backdrop of difficult economic conditions, SMBs need to be more agile, efficient and competitive to grow their businesses,鈥 says , Managing Director , SEIDOR in South Africa.

鈥淭he right enterprise management solution can enable them to streamline their business processes and gain the visibility into their operations they need to navigate a complex and fast-changing environment.鈥

de Leeuw outlines some of the qualities a SMB manufacturer should seek from an ERP solution:

Integration

An ideal ERP solution should feature tightly-integrated modules that work together seamlessly. This provides a single source of truth for all business information. Such a solution enables the back-office and shopfloor teams to work seamlessly together.

As an example, a South African contract manufacturer of personal care and cosmetic products for retail customers and brand owners, was frustrated by multiple, disparate applications and their limitations.

Working with SEIDOR to implement has enabled the company to enjoy direct benefits such as improved cost analysis, a leaner warehouse, more accurate forecasting and better production management.

Industry-specific functionality

Whether in discrete, batch or processing manufacturing and whether it is production of food or vehicle components, SMBs will benefit from a solution with functionality designed for the specific processes and vertical market. Some particular features to consider include inventory management, warehouse and supply chain management as well as material requirements planning.

End-to-end process automation

The right ERP solution should boost productivity and efficiency by enabling automation of repetitive tasks across complex processes such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and inventory management. They help reduce the need for the team to key in data into multiple systems or repeat the same process over and over again.

Real-time insights into business performance

An ERPplatform should feature powerful reporting and analytics tools that enable performance tracking in real time. Users should be able to access up-to-the-second insights about the key performance indicators that matter to the business, so that a faster, more accurate, and timely decisions can be made.

Fast-tracked, affordable implementation

SMBs can鈥檛 afford to throw large budgets at ERP implementations or wait years for return on investment. They need ERP software that can be rolled out fast. An 听implementation partner with fast-tracked, templatised ERP methodologies can help to accelerate deployment software and the road to business value.

Customisability

Today鈥檚 leading ERP solutions are highly configurable, allowing users to modify the system to their unique requirements. They can also be easily integrated with other systems, such as e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale systems, and customer relationship management software.听

Scalability and adaptability

An SMBs business might be small now, but it may grow in the future. Needs may evolve as the organisation changes and the ERP solution should offer pathways to changing and growing without needing to rip everything out and start all over again.

鈥51风流Business One is an example of a powerful ERP suite that offers a complete solution for small and medium manufacturers and meets all their requirements,鈥 says de Leeuw.

鈥淪EIDOR has a proven track record in helping SMB manufacturers in South Africa and other parts of the world unlock its benefits鈥攚ith an accelerated methodology for deploying preconfigured 51风流Business One solutions,鈥 he continues.

SEIDOR鈥檚 template-based approach offers a number of attractive benefits, including fast implementation of best-business-practices.

The rapid implementation time and a low-disruption approach minimises the impact of the rollout on the business, allowing operations to continue as usual. Once implemented, the solution offers process harmonisation across business units and reduced operational costs.

.听

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Why SMB Food and Beverage Manufacturers Need Industry-Relevant ERP /africa/2021/10/why-smb-food-and-beverage-manufacturers-need-industry-relevant-erp/ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 07:23:07 +0000 /africa/?p=142873 ERP adoption has accelerated since the 1990s, and with this came the opportunity to focus on particular industries.听 听 This development recognised that to drive...

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ERP adoption has accelerated since the 1990s, and with this came the opportunity to focus on particular industries.听
This development recognised that to drive high performance in the face of increasing complexity and uncertainty, businesses need tools and functionalities that are honed for their specific industry.听听
To identify, contain and recover from an unexpected occurrence with speed, for example, requires decision making abilities that only a relevant industry solution can deliver.听
Domain expertise in a particular industry such as agriculture, mining, or pharmaceuticals, can help the organisation to easily identify any concerns, bottlenecks, errors, and other problems, and provide faster resolutions.听
This is leading to a rise in demand from industry verticals, with many businesses wanting the functionality and workflows that a pro forma implementation cannot provide.
鈥淪ome business sectors are unique or complex, with regulatory compliance that requires tight control over processes and conformance,鈥 says Andre Adendorff, Director Presales at Seidor Africa, an 51风流Business One partner.听
鈥淔ood and beverage manufacturing is one such case. It is a complex and labour-intensive industry and when compared to other manufacturing sectors, has its own challenges.鈥

Manufacturing efficiency

Food and beverage companies require efficiency in the business and throughout the supply chain.听
Having an ERP system that is relevant for the needs of food manufacturers ensures that factors like material requirements planning, inventory management, and recipe control function properly.听
Food ERP systems provide everything a business needs to perform core food and beverage functions, including:
鈥 Inventory and supply chain management
鈥 Quality control and quality assurance
鈥 Non-conformance management
鈥 Process automation
鈥 Recipe management and ingredient tracking
鈥 Batch control and traceability for regulatory compliance
鈥 Cross-functional reporting

Product safety

When processed foods maker Tiger Brands detected a leak in certain canned vegetable products due to a faulty side seam weld, the company was quickly able to recall 20 million cans.
听鈥淚n this industry, manufacturers of all sizes must be able to respond quickly and effectively to the recall of products deemed unsafe or unsuitable for the market, as the consequences for not doing so can have long-term deleterious effects, in legal, financial and reputational terms,鈥 says Adendorff.听
鈥淚n the age of social media, a company鈥檚 reputation can be destroyed in an instant should it not respond appropriate to any issue associated with product safety.鈥
With recall functionality and built-in controls to preclude product recalls from happening in the first place, industry-relevant ERP solutions enable companies to better prepare for, prevent and minimise product recalls, limiting potential damage to the business.听

Meeting needs of demanding customers

When it comes to food and beverages, consumers today are more health-conscious than ever about what they choose to consume, and what effects their choices have on the planet.听
Their purchases are often strongly determined by nutritional value, packaging, and shelf-life.听They want to know what is in the food they buy, which creates an increased demand for transparency in product labelling and food safety.
鈥淭his increases costs in an industry that already has tight margins,鈥 says Adendorff. 鈥淭o mitigate the impact of these demands, ERP for the food and beverage sector makes it easy to track information and meet the requirements for compliance with food safety regulations, both in South Africa and abroad.

Food safety management

Companies that export food and beverages abroad are required to meet amongst others, FDA FSMA and the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmark, which means it鈥檚 accepted by many of the world鈥檚 biggest retailers.听
Achieving the certification ensures that consumers have confidence in the products. BRC contains requirements for food processors to follow to build an effective food safety management system that includes full traceability.听
鈥淔ood-relevant ERP鈥檚 that can account for all processes is essential for companies that need to meet regulatory requirements 鈥 as well as those of other food safety compliance and regulatory bodies 鈥 helping manufacturers ensure full compliance and deal with non-conformance,鈥 says Adendorff.听
鈥淎n ERP system can schedule and manage production, assuring quality control. It can also manage non-conformance and corrective action requests for audit purposes.鈥
The software can be configured and installed in a way that constantly benchmarks against standards. It assists with streamlining and automating processes, saving considerable time for employees and management.听
鈥淗aving software to monitor, measure and analyse product quality and delivery helps to reduce waste and inefficiencies throughout the business,鈥 Adendorff adds.听
鈥淭his has a positive impact on productivity and can help to boost the bottom line, even in a tough economy.鈥

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Priorities for Manufacturing Companies in 2021 and Beyond /africa/2021/08/priorities-for-manufacturing-companies-in-2021-and-beyond-2/ Fri, 13 Aug 2021 06:14:49 +0000 /africa/?p=142676 In the current environment, becoming a smart business and building business resilience are fundamental for manufacturing companies that are seeking ways to make themselves disruption-proof....

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In the current environment, becoming a smart business and building business resilience are fundamental for manufacturing companies that are seeking ways to make themselves disruption-proof.

Among the key priorities for manufacturers are:

  • Improved market access 鈥 the ability to gain access to new channels and key insights.
  • Pro-industry policy and institutional framework 鈥 the ability to ensure compliance and traceability.
  • Industrial sustainability and resilience 鈥 the ability to automate approvals on margins.
  • 听Enhanced competitiveness and a level playing field 鈥 the ability to manage change in real-time.
  • SME development 鈥 the ability to efficiently control cash flow and quickly unlock capital.

鈥淪eidor Africa can assist companies in the mid-market sector to achieve these priorities. Whether operating a make-to-stock, make-to-order, configure-to-order, or engineer-to-order production environment, we help manufacturing companies to optimise daily operations, remove waste, simplify processes, and improve manufacturing flexibility,鈥 says Mala Bhatt, Managing Director at Seidor Africa, East Africa and Mauritius.

鈥淭he 51风流Business One solution is built on a digital core that integrates cloud technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, big data, mobile technologies and analytics,鈥 says Bhatt. 鈥淚n simple terms, that means information needed to make decisions on the fly is available at the user鈥檚 fingertips. It鈥檚 this intelligence that can help organisations achieve their priorities for the year and into the future, no matter how uncertain it may look now.鈥

SAP鈥檚 digital core is an initiative driven by a digital strategy that enables end-to-end business processes 鈥 internal and external 鈥 in a new digital paradigm and delivers extraordinary value to enterprises and their customers. It enables business to amplify the customer experience through any new e-commerce channel,鈥 adds Bhatt.

For 51风流Business One customers, Seidor Africa has developed Seidor Clarity, an out of the box suite of reports designed specifically for them. It offers cost-effective, real-time, interactive reporting to help manufacturers optimise their business.

鈥淚t is designed for companies that spend hours each month manually updating reports, battling to unlock valuable insight from existing information systems, struggling to share the right reports with the right audience, and not always knowing what to do next once the reports are viewed,鈥 says Bhatt.

Seidor Clarity provides reports covering all aspects of finance, sales, and stock and purchasing. These are accessible from 51风流Business One, Outlook, the Seidor Clarity portal, and mobile devices.

Users can view all 51风流databases in a single set of reports which are always up to date, and there is no need to spend hours preparing them. What鈥檚 more, they are easy to use and highly interactive, enabling the business to spot top performing clusters, sales reps, products, branches units and divisions. It鈥檚 also easy to see over-stocked and under-stocked products, including expired or expiring batches. The reports can also draw in information from other data sources to enhance the value of the data. It is all about using information in a meaningful, visual way.

These insights will not only provide manufacturers with a real-time overview of every link in the supply chain but will enable them to model 鈥 or simulate 鈥 different scenarios, ensuring that they are fully prepared for whatever the future holds.

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Passion Drives 25 Years of Success /africa/2021/08/passion-drives-25-years-of-success/ Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:44:06 +0000 /africa/?p=142641 Management of Sicad South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sicad Italy, ascribes the company鈥檚 success over the past 25 years 鈥 as a local manufacturer...

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Management of Sicad South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sicad Italy, ascribes the company鈥檚 success over the past 25 years 鈥 as a local manufacturer of high-quality and cost-competitive self-adhesive tapes for the carton sealing and packaging, stationery and DIY sectors 鈥 to investing in world-class people, technology and systems.

鈥榃e are a business driven by family values with a management team that is passionate about tape and people, and values employees as assets. This is reflected in a dedicated workforce with a staff turnover of almost zero and an approach that backs them 100% because we know that a happy and content workforce will support our goals and boost our long-term success rate,鈥 remarks director Robby Burns. 鈥楧uring the height of 2020鈥檚 Covid pandemic, for instance, we stood together by not retrenching or short paying staff and issuing 13th cheques when sales improved in the final quarter. This speaks volumes about the company, which was guided by a dedicated doctor who examined staff and helped us control the situation alongside optimised protocol measures.鈥

MD Chris Kruger, who took over in March, is being mentored by Robby. He headed up the operational and technical functions at the Germiston manufacturing facility for six years, and adds that with a strong succession plan in place and a company built on solid foundations, everyone knows what to do. 鈥極ur flat management team structure enables quick and effective communication as well as responsiveness to situations and opportunities. The exceptionally knowledgeable and highly productive sales team, headed up by Gina Pereira in Johannesburg, Nivesh Sewpersadh in Durban and Vishal Mahadev in Cape Town, embodies the fact that Sicad understands customers鈥 needs, is easy to deal with and offers a flexible approach,鈥 Chris asserts. 鈥楾hey are backed up by increased stock holding capacity and two extra delivery vehicles that cater for customers who order more frequently and value quick turnaround times.鈥

Sales manager Gina Pereira continues: 鈥榃e are always striving to expand the Eurocel tape range to meet evolving technology and customer needs. Innovation is backed by on-site customer product training and factory tours for knowledge improvement, as well as international technical support and an in-house laboratory to assist with quality control measures plus customer testing requirements.鈥

Tapped into technology

Robby adds that consistent investments in the latest technology over the past 25 years have allowed the local subsidiary to operate sophisticated machinery to coat and convert imported self-adhesive tape for the southern African market to ISO 9001:2015 standards and Italian specifications.

The latest round of investments includes a state-of-the-art automated slitter-rewinder, which was commissioned in May to double capacity, as well as a thermal oil heater with an automated control system that delivers operational and environmental benefits compared to the original, manual model.

The company has also scheduled a total electronics upgrade of the continent鈥檚 only hot melt coater for the end of the year.

Systems forward

Part of the drive to find innovative ways of providing better quality products and decreasing costs includes implementing an 51风流management system and an electronic warehouse management system.

鈥極ur Italian shareholders and French subsidiary have already switched to 51风流to enable the group to be more responsive in decision making and improve communication between the subsidiaries,鈥 Robby reports. 鈥榃e are due to go live in September and have undertaken a comprehensive training schedule for admin and production staff.鈥

Chris adds that the electronic warehouse management system will allow Sicad SA to automate its material movement processes and better control inventory processes.

These improvements all tie back into the company鈥檚 commitment to quality, with technical manager Leon Byrne and operational manager Vusi Ngwenya, investigating further improvements and optimising听all compliance standards and processes.

Company milestones

1996 鈥 Sicad SA founded

1998 鈥 Hot melt coater installed

1998 鈥 Durban branch established

1999 鈥 Cape Town branch established

2002 鈥 ISO 9001:2008 certification

2004 鈥 Expansion project: new admin offices and finished goods warehouse

2004 鈥 Solvent recovery plant installed

2017 鈥 ISO 9001:2015 certification

2019 鈥 Cape Town branch storage capacity increased

2020 鈥 New mezzanine floor doubled Germiston storage

2021 鈥 State-of-the-art slitter-rewinder installed

This article first appeared in .

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Priorities for Manufacturing Companies in 2021 and Beyond /africa/2021/07/priorities-for-manufacturing-companies-in-2021-and-beyond/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 06:33:19 +0000 /africa/?p=142597 In the current environment, becoming a smart business and building business resilience are fundamental for manufacturing companies that are seeking ways to make themselves disruption-proof....

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In the current environment, becoming a smart business and building business resilience are fundamental for manufacturing companies that are seeking ways to make themselves disruption-proof.

Among the key priorities for manufacturers are:

  • Enhanced competitiveness and a level playing field 鈥 the ability to manage change in real-time.
  • Improved market access 鈥 the ability to gain access to new channels and key insights.
  • Pro-industry policy and institutional framework 鈥 the ability to ensure compliance and traceability.
  • Industrial sustainability and resilience 鈥 the ability to automate approvals on margins.
  • SME development 鈥 the ability to efficiently control cash flow and quickly unlock capital.

鈥淪eidor Africa can assist companies in the mid-market sector to achieve these priorities. Whether operating a make-to-stock, make-to-order, configure-to-order, or engineer-to-order production environment, we help manufacturing companies to optimise daily operations, remove waste, simplify processes, and improve manufacturing flexibility,鈥

says Mala Bhatt, Managing Director at Seidor Africa, East Africa and Mauritius.

鈥淭he 51风流Business One solution is built on a digital core that integrates cloud technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, big data, mobile technologies and analytics,鈥

says Bhatt.

鈥淚n simple terms, that means information needed to make decisions on the fly is available at the user鈥檚 fingertips. It鈥檚 this intelligence that can help organisations achieve their priorities for the year and into the future, no matter how uncertain it may look now.

SAP’s digital core is an initiative driven by a digital strategy that enables end-to-end business processes 鈥 internal and external 鈥 in a new digital paradigm and delivers extraordinary value to enterprises and their customers. It enables business to amplify the customer experience through any new e-commerce channel,鈥

 

adds Bhatt.

For 51风流Business One customers, Seidor Africa has developed Seidor Clarity, an out of the box suite of reports designed specifically for them. It offers cost-effective, real-time, interactive reporting to help manufacturers optimise their business.

鈥淚t is designed for companies that spend hours each month manually updating reports, battling to unlock valuable insight from existing information systems, struggling to share the right reports with the right audience, and not always knowing what to do next once the reports are viewed,鈥

 

says Bhatt.

Seidor Clarity provides reports covering all aspects of finance, sales, and stock and purchasing. These are accessible from 51风流Business One, Outlook, the Seidor Clarity portal, and mobile devices.

Users can view all 51风流databases in a single set of reports which are always up to date, and there is no need to spend hours preparing them. What鈥檚 more, they are easy to use and highly interactive, enabling the business to spot top performing clusters, sales reps, products, branches units and divisions. It鈥檚 also easy to see over-stocked and under-stocked products, including expired or expiring batches. The reports can also draw in information from other data sources to enhance the value of the data. It is all about using information in a meaningful, visual way.

These insights will not only provide manufacturers with a real-time overview of every link in the supply chain but will enable them to model 鈥 or simulate 鈥 different scenarios, ensuring that they are fully prepared for whatever the future holds.

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Top Five Benefits of ERP in the Manufacturing Industry /africa/2021/05/top-five-benefits-of-erp-in-the-manufacturing-industry/ Mon, 03 May 2021 07:13:49 +0000 /africa/?p=142297 The extension of lockdown restrictions weighed heavily on production in Africa鈥檚 manufacturing industries at the start of 2021, causing many to lose momentum. At the...

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The extension of lockdown restrictions weighed heavily on production in Africa鈥檚 manufacturing industries at the start of 2021, causing many to lose momentum.

At the same time, in today鈥檚 connected, informed, and always-on marketplace, customers are demanding high-quality, individualised products delivered within shorter timeframes. To build up local production capacity and meet these requirements, companies must synchronise their demand chain with their supply chain.

鈥淚n manufacturing, where supply chain, distribution and service are the foundation of success, intelligent enterprises are using the latest ERP technologies to gain the edge on their competitors 鈥揻rom order placement all the way through to execution and delivery,鈥 says Navin D鈥機ruz, Head of Sales East Africa, Seidor Africa.

鈥淎utomation in the factory is nothing new, but the convergence of the digital and physical worlds has made the transformation of the supply chain increasingly possible.鈥

In manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) improves overall equipment efficiency production yield. This means manufacturers can use AI to increase uptime and ensure consistent quality, which makes for better forecasting.

Machine learning (ML) which requires data input, data training, defining and choosing algorithms, data visualisation and more, is applied to develop a mapping function with a level of accuracy that allows manufacturers to predict outputs when new input data is entered into the system.

Powered with AI, ML, and natural language processing, chatbots in manufacturing can streamline manufacturing processes by equipping stakeholders with the required data on the go. Deploying chatbots for manufacturing can help companies gain increased profits, enabling them to maintain a competitive edge in a global marketplace.

In 鈥淭he smart factory: Responsive, adaptive, connected manufacturing鈥, part of a Deloitte series on Industry 4.0, the research team reports that the smart factory represents a leap forward from more traditional automation to a fully connected and flexible system, one that can use a constant stream of data from connected operations and production systems to learn and adapt to new demands.

D鈥機ruz says there are five key benefits to integrated ERP systems:

  1. Accurate demand forecasts

How many times have business owners wondered what the next quarter is going to look like? ERP brings sanity to production, sales, procurement and inventory plans. It helps to generate forecast and sales reports based on historical transactions, increasing the accuracy and dependability of production and buying levels. This minimises both out-of-stock and excess inventory situations, keeping stock levels in line with the increase and decrease in demand.

With major advances being made in artificial intelligence and machine learning, businesses are investing heavily in advanced analytics to get ahead of the competition and increase their bottom line. One of those areas is called predictive analytics, where companies extract information from existing data to determine buying patterns and forecast future trends. By using a combination of data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning techniques, predictive analytics identifies the likelihood of future outcomes based on the past. This technology is being used to determine customer responses or purchases, forecast inventory, manage resources, and even detect fraud.

Predictive analytics is becoming more and more mainstream when it comes to demand forecasting, an area of predictive analytics focused on customer demand. Based on the analysis of historical data and current market conditions, it determines the estimated demand for the future and sets the level of preparedness that is required on the supply side to match demand.

  1. Decreased costs and improved profitability

Industry leaders everywhere are focusing on increasing revenue in the next 18 months. Getting more work done for lower costs means business growth and improved profits. ERP helps manufacturers to react quickly to changes in the industry, such as raw material costs and delivery timeframes. Data is stored in a single, integrated database that allows fast information processing, and enables quick, high-quality decision-making. Increasing organisational efficiency highlights less profitable areas and cuts down on waste. It also reduces control and inventory management costs.

  1. Mobility and increased employee efficiency

Working remotely can be challenging for companies that are experiencing it for the first time. In the strange new world we are living in, ERP enables employees to work remotely with ease, and to access all the information they need from a single portal. They can access business data from their phones, tablets, laptops and computers, no matter where they are based.

  1. Increased flexibility

In a pandemic world, manufacturing flexibility provides the capability to respond quickly to shifts in market requirements. Flexible manufacturing enables a business to be collaborative in meeting market and customer demands, respond more quickly to changing demand, and build to order. Flexible approaches enable increased revenue and market share, improved efficiency, and lower cost.

  1. Enhanced security and compliance

Whilst the number of data protection laws of Africa are increasing, on 1 July 2021 the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) becomes effective in South Africa.听 Compliance with data protection laws is non-negotiable. ERP systems have many features that can assist companies with the protection of personal information. Data entered into an ERP system can be secured and coded. Access to the data can be restricted through identity and access management, ensuring data security.

鈥淐ompanies depend on technology systems to grow, but outdated, overly complicated architectures can hinder business agility,鈥 says D-Cruz.

鈥淚ntegrating legacy systems with new, intelligent ERP technologies to unlock scalability and unleash the potential for innovation is the start of a journey that leads to sustainable growth.鈥

This article first appeared on FutureWave .

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Delivering Speed, Agility, and Resilience with IIoT /africa/2021/03/delivering-speed-agility-and-resilience-with-iiot/ Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:00:24 +0000 /africa/?p=142119 Many of us take advantage of Internet of Things (IoT) innovations in our personal lives, where the benefits of connected sensors and IoT are well...

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Many of us take advantage of Internet of Things (IoT) innovations in our personal lives, where the benefits of connected sensors and IoT are well understood. But what excites me is the transformative promise of IoT in the industrial world. That is why we are kicking off a series to showcase the business value of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

In the industrial sector, IIoT has emerged as a significant value driver in the manufacturing industry. It has changed the way goods are produced and delivered by connecting all phases of the design-to-operate product life cycle, including ideation and conceptualizing, manufacturing, delivery, and operations.

A Need That Is Here to Stay: Building Resilience Beyond the Crisis

The strong uptake of IIoT reflects an increasing need for business resilience. Even before the pandemic, manufacturing companies operated in an increasingly volatile environment, requiring them to adapt quickly to shifting priorities. COVID-19 accelerated this trend. As consumer demands changed dramatically and manufacturing capacities were constrained, supply chains broke, forcing businesses to cope with the disruption of their daily operations.

While the world will hopefully overcome COVID-19 at some point, new health, societal, geopolitical, or economic crises are likely to occur. That is why an increased need for business and supply chain resilience is here to stay — and IIoT and will help take us there.

When we look at which companies were able to overcome these challenges, it is clear that it was highly digitalized businesses capable of taking informed decisions based on real-time data. IIoT technologies played a major role in helping them to repurpose production, provide help where needed, and find alternative routes to maintain .

Take INDEX-Werke as an example: the traditional supplier for the automotive industry kept its own business and that of its customers running throughout the crisis. Based on 51风流Commerce Cloud, .

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INDEX-Werke: How Does a Traditional Company Reinvent Itself?

The opportunities are enormous, but many companies that I speak with are wondering where and when to start. Given the disruption we see among our customers in almost every industry, I believe that companies can start small, but should start now.

Introducing New Business Models: From Product to Outcome

IIoT enables new business models and the shift from selling products to delivering services and solutions. The underlying idea of outcome-based models is that customers pay for what they get out of a product rather than for the product itself. In addition, IIoT opens the door to a fully personalized customer experience. Data exchange between a customer and a smart factory makes it possible to produce a highly customized product within just a few days — from receiving an order to shipping the goods.

For example, when , a leading manufacturer of electronic motors, was looking for a way to differentiate its products, the company identified a growing demand for remote monitoring. Together with SAP, the company created a custom app with monitoring and alerting capabilities. VEM鈥檚 sensor-equipped motors not only reduced operational downtime and extended product lifetime, they also helped achieve a 25% revenue increase. Most importantly, the company was able to reinvent its business model completely.

Operating in Industry Networks: If the Ecosystem Wins, Everyone Wins

Just recently, I , CEO Digital Industries at Siemens, about the importance of partnerships to accelerate the industrial transformation. We spoke about moving from enterprise resource planning (ERP) to network resource planning, and from 鈥渆go-systems鈥 to ecosystems where the players strive for added value together.

At SAP, we envision that enterprises will exchange data via an industry network of suppliers, machine manufacturers, and customers. We are addressing this with and thereby enabling a shift from a seller/buyer paradigm to collaborative models. When, for example, data from production quality records is shared between suppliers and manufacturers, they can collaboratively resolve warranty claims and recalls.

51风流actively uses and contributes to various industry standards that build the foundation for industry networks. 51风流helped incubate the in 2019, with the goal of creating guidelines for compatible and interoperable IIoT solutions and services. Joint standards between the systems of different players in our ecosystem help drive digitalization in factories, plants, and warehouses in a collaborative manner.

Sharing data beyond a company鈥檚 borders adds even more value for all the players, from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to suppliers and consumers. Strong networks rely on cooperation among companies within and across industries. 51风流is a founding partner of the Automotive Alliance, , which aims to create a unified business network for the automotive industry. The alliance鈥檚 goal is to create a consistent information exchange through the entire automotive value chain.

From Concept to Execution

Today, we have all the technology and applications at hand to connect devices, people, and processes. Making use of data across the entire product and service life cycle is the foundation of managing business processes end to end.

To sustain long-term success, it is imperative for companies to move from concept to execution. This also requires a shift in our mindset. We need to rethink how data is used and set common standards. We need to rethink how businesses run and be open to new business models. And we need to rethink how markets work and move from the buyer/supplier relational paradigm to a collaborative model.

If we see IIoT and Industry 4.0 as both an urgent need and an opportunity, we will not only achieve continuous optimization but we will also generate added value — both for the ecosystem we operate in and for our customers.


Thomas Saueressig is a member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE, 51风流Product Engineering.
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51风流S/4HANA Named a Leader in Independent Research Firm鈥檚 Q3 2020 Evaluation of Digital Operations Platforms for Manufacturing Businesses /africa/2020/10/sap-s-4hana-named-a-leader-in-independent-research-firms-q3-2020-evaluation-of-digital-operations-platforms-for-manufacturing-businesses/ Thu, 01 Oct 2020 12:04:58 +0000 /africa/?p=141275 WALLDORF 鈥 51风流SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced 51风流was ranked a market leader in 鈥淭he Forrester Wave™: Digital Operations Platforms for Manufacturing Businesses, Q3...

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WALLDORF 鈥 (NYSE: SAP) today announced 51风流was ranked a market leader in 鈥淭he Forrester Wave™: Digital Operations Platforms for Manufacturing Businesses, Q3 2020.鈥

In the report, 51风流S/4HANA was cited as a leader in digital operations platforms (DOPs) for manufacturing businesses, with the highest score in the current offering category of all 13 vendors reviewed.

In this 27-criterion vendor assessment, 51风流received a score of five out of five in the current offering category鈥檚 criteria of finance and accounting, EPM, procurement, execution, inventory, warehouse management, maintenance, repair and operations, supply chain management, order management, billing and revenue management, and internationalization. In the strategy category, 51风流received a five out of five score in the product road map, partner ecosystem and transformation strategy criteria. Within the market presence category, 51风流received the highest possible scores both in the 鈥渘umber of large enterprise customers鈥 and the 鈥渢otal revenues in category鈥 criteria.

51风流was shown to be the largest digital operations platform in terms of revenue and, according to the report, 鈥淗istorically, the firm has been a dominant force in the market for large, complex, global operations’ needs, in addition to offering front-office solutions and products for midsize enterprises and small and medium-size businesses (SMBs).鈥 This versatility stems from the modern, AI-driven, flexible and easy-to-use nature of the 51风流S/4HANA product.

The report stated: 鈥51风流has comprehensive functionality for all major areas of DOP and a modern architecture that鈥檚 built for modularity, flexibility and intelligence. It鈥檚 the number one finance solution for large enterprises globally by market share. 51风流has some exceptional strengths, such as flexible billing, in-memory planning and reports on live data.鈥

According to SAP, these findings suggest that 51风流has demonstrated its ability to meet the needs of digital businesses and enterprises of all types while empowering them to be more resilient.

Learn more about 鈥淭he Forrester Wave™: Digital Operations Platforms for Manufacturing Businesses, Q3 2020,鈥 .

Visit the . Follow 51风流on Twitter at .

Media Contact:
Samantha Finnegan, +1 (415) 377-0475, samantha.finnegan@sap.com, ET
51风流Press Room; press@sap.com

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 鈥渁nticipate,鈥 鈥渂elieve,鈥 鈥渆stimate,鈥 鈥渆xpect,鈥 鈥渇orecast,鈥 鈥渋ntend,鈥 鈥渕ay,鈥 鈥減lan,鈥 鈥減roject,鈥 鈥減redict,鈥 鈥渟hould鈥 and 鈥渨ill鈥 and similar expressions as they relate to 51风流are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. 51风流undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP’s future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including SAP’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
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