If one part of the process is not going well, the obvious thing to do is to look for a specific solution. And often we then forget the big picture.
For example, when it comes to creating quotes, you are probably looking for a solution to this one problem, but what is forgotten is how this works with other systems in the plant, for example, the ERP or CAM software.
Over the years, I have spoken to dozens of business owners and have often heard the same story about their software systems. It usually goes something like this:
“We started using package X about 2 years ago. In itself it is a nice solution, but we still have to type the outcome (quotations) into the other systems, such as ERP and CAM. We tried to automate it, but our ERP vendor requires data that the current system cannot provide.”
Therefore, the conclusion is often that the current system was chosen too soon and that another package that can integrate is needed now
The point is
When you come across a new tool or piece of software, it’s easy to choose the simplest or cheapest solution, but sometimes you find out later that it’s not future-proof at all. As a result, a lot of time and money is lost.
Before investing in such a solution, you want to ask questions about long-term outcomes and plans. The software solution should be the starting point or extension of a digital factory.
