Successful integrated cloud application for manufacturers

AS ORGANISATIONS grow and transform, they can often find themselves overwhelmed by a variety of disconnected, siloed systems and data. Solutions that were implemented over time to solve specific challenges may no longer be delivering benefits, especially if they remain cut off from the other business systems used to manage operations. Making effective decisions in the data-driven era depends on having a holistic, integrated view of all systems and data, however, this can be challenging to achieve. The digital transformation journey must account for these systems and include a plan for a unified enterprise view, according to Empired.

Sanaullah Khan, solutions sales manager, business applications of Perth-based Empired, said one characteristic shared by high-performing companies is that they avoid having fragmented solutions and environments. “Instead, they look to integrate their business environments for a single, overarching view of the organisation’s operations. This is crucial for operational efficiencies, data governance and security, and cost management. It can also contribute to a better customer experience while improving the employee experience. And, integrated systems make it easier to implement automated workflows that save time and effort while reducing errors.”

Moving to the cloud is essential as organisations continue to work more flexibly. However, there are numerous considerations around moving to the cloud. Failing to account for these can jeopardise the success of the migration and the organisation as a whole. It’s essential to take a holistic approach that includes a risk assessment, timeline, costs, and strategy for continuous value, while also managing business needs like reporting, data, security, and infrastructure.

Empired has identified five key focus areas for a successfully integrated cloud application:

1. Supply chain optimisation. An optimised supply chain lets businesses deliver what the customer wants, when they want it, at the lowest possible cost.

It requires visibility and control across the extended supply chain and manufacturing processes.

2. Financial efficiency and management. Real-time financial reporting and insights can drive highly effective decision-making. Organisations need responsive financial tools that proactively alert and guide business leaders.

3. Modern manufacturing execution. Manufacturing has become increasingly customer-centric and agile, which means manufacturers need a real-time, connected factory-to- distribution system. This should include the ability to synthesise and analyse feedback from operational assets with Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

4. Project management. Effectively managing projects is impossible if the relevant information is tucked away in silos. Visibility is compromised and project risk is heightened unless organisations have control and governance through a single tool.

5. Asset management. There is no reason for organisations to suffer unplanned downtime as a result of equipment or plant maintenance requirements. Instead, they need to use sensor-based information to proactively plan an asset’s maintenance throughout its lifecycle in a way that minimises downtime and maximises productivity.

“Organisations can no longer accept technology sprawl as a normal part of doing business,” states Khan. “Instead, they need to find ways to connect and integrate their systems to achieve maximum return on investment and drive business growth and productivity.”

Established in 1999, Empired is a publicly listed company (ASX: EPD) formed in Western Australia. Intergen was formed in Wellington, New Zealand in 2001 and acquired by Empired in October 2014.