Business Intelligence Blog

In manufacturing, most companies can’t make products any faster or cheaper, so they need to achieve efficiencies through data and the back office. ERP, data analytics and the new Epicor Financial Statements manufacturing software helps facilitate these gains. Many manufacturers using Epicor ERPs benefit from the partnership between Phocas and Epicor and use the white-labelled Epicor Data Analytics plus Epicor Financial Statements to do systematic analysis of their data and monitor KPIs.

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Topics: Industry - Manufacturing, Financial Statements, data analytics, data visualizations, KPIs and metrics

Manufacturers are turning to business intelligence because the process of making products is a huge opportunity for data optimization. Raw materials need to be ordered, received, assembled, packaged, and shipped out for sale in the leanest way. Manufacturers follow the same steps to make each product, and from monitoring these processes with business intelligence, production teams find ways to be more efficient. Data-driven manufacturers use technology to automate most parts of the business —from production through to sales — for competitive advantage.

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Topics: Case Study, Industry - Manufacturing, Industry - Building & Industrial Supplies, Strategy, Management and Performance, Industry - Consumer Goods, KPIs and metrics

Do you ever make decisions on the run? Have you dropped the price on a product by a few percent for a good customer and then found they didn’t increase sales and you lost money? Whether you have a family-run organization or an international company, data should be the foundation of your strategic decision-making.  With the right data analysis and tools, what was once a gut-feel decision becomes actionable insight that will lead to greater business success.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Job Role - Executive, Job Role - Inventory/Operations, decision-making, data visualizations, KPIs and metrics

With constant streams of data being collected by companies daily, planning for the future is no longer as mysterious as it once was. But it is not a matter of having data that makes forecasting easier; instead, it depends on how the many layers of data are collated and analyzed. When it comes to managing inventory with a software solution, it is critical to establish inventory metrics that drive success for the present and future — making projected inventory level a crucial area to monitor.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Industry - Wholesale Distribution, Job Role - Inventory/Operations, Inventory Management, KPIs and metrics

A CFO in a wholesaling business recently described dead stock as piles of cash in the corner of a warehouse that she can’t access. Dead stock are products that don’t sell and remain in the warehouse or are sent back to the warehouse from the retailer. Dead stock reduces cash flow that could be used to purchase new revenue-generating stock. It also takes up precious space that profitable products could occupy. Inventory management software strengths the success of reducing deadstock.

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Topics: Industry - Wholesale Distribution, Job Role - Inventory/Operations, cross-selling, Inventory Management, KPIs and metrics

As businesses reopen and customers resume spending, it’s more important than ever to have a full understanding of your stock. Having on hand what customers want today is crucial, but being able to anticipate what they will want or need in the coming months can be challenging to predict. Fortunately, by utilizing your business data, you can master inventory calculations to prepare for the future.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Industry - Wholesale Distribution, Industry - Retail, Job Role - Inventory/Operations, Inventory Management, KPIs and metrics