Jacob Thompson
Prod Mktg Manager, Sr
As manufacturers seek a competitive edge, AI stands out as a transformative tool. We look at how Epicor is approaching AI technology with cognitive ERP solutions to reshape the industry, enhance operational capabilities, and drive innovation.
By working closely with manufacturers and understanding their needs, Epicor is embedding AI into our ERP solutions to create seamless experiences that intuitively optimize even the most complex workflows. To do this, we leverage generative AI to provide natural user experiences that are easy enough for anybody to use. This brings intelligence to automating repetitive tasks, managing inventory, boosting production uptime, and helping ensure timely deliveries.
The immediate future of AI in manufacturing brims with potential. Already, we see AI transform traditional processes: computer vision sharpens quality control, predictive maintenance algorithms reduce unexpected downtime, and AI-enhanced robotics make assembly lines more efficient. Moreover, AI transforms supply chain logistics by predicting shifts in demand and optimizing resource allocation. To top it off, AI is making strides in energy management, slashing costs by fine-tuning energy consumption across factory operations. These advancements are just the beginning of AI's transformative journey in manufacturing.
The rapid advancement of generative AI allows us to completely reimagine manufacturing workflows and drive innovative solutions for traditional tasks, creating a more natural and intuitive user experience for employees. These technologies excel at automating mundane, repetitive tasks and speeding up core processes, enabling workers to focus on the crucial aspects of their role while improving productivity. As AI becomes more ubiquitous in the coming years, we expect to see a significant impact on production efficiency, reducing the time it takes to complete tasks from months to days or even minutes. We also expect to see decision lead times diminish as workers get access to higher-quality information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions quickly.
While it’s beneficial to have a basic understanding of AI mechanics as manufacturers leverage their ERP as a foundation for AI, we aim to provide a user experience that doesn’t necessitate deep knowledge of AI. Moreover, a healthy skepticism towards AI outputs—keeping an eye out for ‘hallucinations’ and tempering expectations—can help drive ongoing business value as AI is incorporated into workflows. Our approach centers around building reliable, easy-to-use AI capabilities that foster trust and confidence among users, enhancing the ability to make informed decisions without needing extensive training in AI.
Unlike the tech giants of Silicon Valley with resources to burn on bespoke AI solutions, many manufacturers lean on partners like Epicor to help shepherd their AI journeys. This collaborative approach mirrors the earlier cloud adoption wave, emphasizing outsourced expertise over in-house development, which remains a practical choice for manufacturers focusing on core competencies rather than the nuances of AI training.
Epicor is not just reacting to trends but actively crafting a people-centric AI experience that harmonizes with existing manufacturing processes. This strategic approach not only elevates productivity—it catalyzes industry-wide shifts towards more agile and insightful manufacturing practices.
Epicor uses advanced machine learning algorithms to offer predictive analytics and inventory forecasting tools. These tools let businesses engage in "what-if" scenario modeling, enhancing inventory management by reducing stockouts and excess inventory. By running thousands of simulations, the AI-driven processes generate precise predictions based on historical data and current trends, optimizing stock levels. The system also provides capabilities for users to adjust forecasting methods, fine-tune models, and automatically correct forecast errors, helping ensure alignment with strategic business objectives.
FP&A capabilities are deeply integrated within the Epicor ERP systems, leveraging AI to enhance financial forecasting and budgeting processes. By applying machine learning, FP&A tools can analyze vast amounts of financial data to model various scenarios and predict their potential impacts on the business. This capability helps finance professionals and business leaders make informed decisions that align with strategic business objectives.
“.. And then we have both a combination of actual orders and what we predict. So, the forecast for the fiscal year is then coupled with various material and labor costs. It then gives us a picture of what we think the budget for the year will be or what the company will do within the fiscal year from a sales perspective.”
Lasse Moklegaard | President | McMillan Electric
In the realm of logistics, Epicor uses AI to enhance efficiency and optimize the last-mile delivery process. The AI-powered auto-routing features consider numerous variables to suggest the most efficient delivery routes, reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. This not only improves delivery times but also elevates customer satisfaction products promptly and reliably while supporting environmental sustainability.
Epicor Advanced MES incorporates the ABLE Digital Twin application, helping manufacturers harness the power of digital twin technology. This sophisticated tool uses IoT device data to create a dynamic software representation of physical shop floor systems. It provides invaluable insights by visualizing real-time data, monitoring operations, predicting machine performance, and analyzing downtime causes. Users can leverage historical replay features for root cause analysis, aiding in continuous improvement efforts to enhance operational efficiency.
AI also enhances the efficiency of manufacturing operations by automating the management of document-heavy processes like quality control management or shipping and receiving. Using technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or Intelligent Data Capture (IDC), manufacturers can automatically convert unstructured data from documents like production orders, invoices, and inspection plans into structured data within the ERP. This capability reduces manual errors and speeds up processing times to improve the overall efficiency of business operations.
The Epicor AI Knowledge Assistant enhances how users interact with Epicor ERP solutions by using advanced machine learning to deliver precise, insightful answers drawn from product support and documentation. This speeds up onboarding, increases the value gained from the system, and boosts user proficiency. The tool features an intuitive natural language chat interface and AI-powered search capabilities, providing real-time guidance and support. This helps ensure that users can maximize the capabilities of the ERP system quickly and efficiently.
Epicor Automation Studio, an integrated iPaaS within Kinetic ERP, helps users enhance ERP data by interfacing with various AI/ML solutions, such as Generative AI. For example, users can connect to OpenAI's ChatGPT to automate customer service email responses, link with Google Vision to extract data from attachments, or use Google Translate to handle multilingual emails. These integrations demonstrate the vast potential to streamline and automate complex tasks that typically require manual intervention.
Looking ahead, Epicor is committed to expanding its AI offerings. By the end of 2024, we plan to have many more AI-driven use cases available, making our ERP systems the primary vehicle for AI adoption across the industries it serves. This will further enhance the capabilities of Epicor ERP solutions, reinforcing Epicor as a critical partner in manufacturers' digital transformation journeys.
AI enhancements to Epicor ERP Solutions aren't just about automating tasks—they're also about creating a smarter, more responsive, and more efficient manufacturing environment. With each AI integration, Epicor helps manufacturers become more agile, adapt quickly to market changes, and make more informed decisions that drive successful outcomes.
The strategic approach to AI in manufacturing shows how thoughtful technology integration can lead to significant improvements in operational efficiency and market responsiveness. By focusing on practical, people-centric AI applications, Epicor is setting new standards in the ERP industry, demonstrating that the right technology, when effectively integrated, can deliver substantial benefits to manufacturers worldwide. As AI continues to evolve, Epicor stays commited to innovation, leading the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
