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Why You Need to Start the AI Journey With Enterprise Resource Planning

Guest blog courtesy of Tracy Holtz, Vice President, Cloud Solutions, Americas, TD SYNNEX.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business operations is transforming how organizations operate – offering unprecedented efficiencies, insights and capabilities. However, adopting AI is not a simple plug-and-play solution; it requires several preliminary steps to prepare infrastructures for smooth implementation and optimal utilization.

Before businesses can take advantage, it’s important to ensure digital infrastructure is robust and agile. This often starts with migrating legacy systems – such as on-premises enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions – to the cloud.

What’s an ERP Solution?

According to Gartner, ERPs are integrated suites of applications that “automate and support a range of administrative and operational business processes across multiple industries, including line of business, customer-facing, administrative and the asset management aspects of an enterprise.”

Essentially, this means ERPs are made to organize vast operational networks with an array of software and applications. When migrated to the cloud, ERP solutions can become even more powerful, enabling integrations across:

  1. Financial Management: Accelerate financial close, improve forecasting and get performance metrics while fostering compliance and security.

  2. Business Intelligence: Access the right information to enable faster, more informed decision making. The ideal ERP should facilitate built-in, ad-hoc and personalized analytics and reporting across various departments in an organization.

  3. Sales Management: Empower sales teams to take better care of customers by establishing best practices and using easy-to-understand productivity tools to manage the entire sales process.

  4. Supply Chain Management: Deliver products and adapt to new business models in a timely manner with visibility across purchasing, manufacturing, inventory and warehouses.

  5. Project Management: Ensure successful project execution and profitability with planning, resourcing, tracking, costing, billing, accounting and real-time intelligence.

  6. Service Management: Deliver better service experiences with planning, dispatching and service contract management.

  7. Warehouse Management: Reduce costs with well-organized warehouse operations that help you ship orders on time and deliver promised outcomes.

  8. Manufacturing: Proactive manufacturing operations – which can be enabled with the help of an ERP – help improve throughput, quality and uptime, all while reducing costs and delivering on customer expectations.

  9. Productivity and Collaboration: Easily set permissions and access rules to ensure users have secure access to information. ERPs can also enable enhanced direct collaboration on critical initiatives and projects.

    10. Where Do Managed Service Providers (MSPs) Come Into the Picture?

    If an ERP sounds like a lot of complexity and expense, it can be. But as can be seen by the use cases, this effort is well worth the time and resource investment! And MSPs are uniquely equipped to help organizations make this switch fast, easy and seamless with their resources and connections within the IT channel. Here’s how:

    • Access to Expertise: MSPs can help their customers find partners who specialize in cloud migrations. These partners should have a deep understanding of the challenges and technical requirements involved in moving ERP systems to the cloud.
      • Customizable Solutions: Each business has unique needs. But MSPs have the technology and business connections to provide customized solutions that align with specific processes, ensuring that the transition is not only smooth but also adds value by enhancing operational efficiency and data insights.
        • Enhanced Support and Training: Moving to the cloud is a transformative process that requires new skills and knowledge. MSPs can offer comprehensive support and training, helping end users to adapt to and fully leverage new, cloud-based ERP systems.
          • Scalability and Flexibility Opportunities: Cloud solutions offered through MSPs are scalable, meaning they grow with the business. This flexibility ensures that as your customer’s business evolves, their systems can easily adapt to new demands without the need for costly and time-consuming upgrades.
            • Enhanced Security: With cyber threats on the rise, security is a top concern for any digital transformation initiative. MSPs can provide robust security solutions that protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

              • Next Steps to ERP Success

              For businesses considering the transition from an on-premises ERP system to the cloud, engaging with distributors like TD SYNNEX and technology innovators like Microsoft is a good strategic move!

              TD SYNNEX is uniquely positioned to support businesses in this crucial transition phase. With a vast partner ecosystem, TD SYNNEX connects businesses with the right expertise and tailored solutions that address specific needs and challenges. For businesses looking to move their on-premises ERP systems to the cloud, TD SYNNEX offers a streamlined pathway through access to leading technology experts and service providers.

              What’s more, when it comes to integrating an ERP solution, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can help organizations work smarter, adapt faster and perform better. Though our mutual partnership, businesses can access cutting-edge technology as well as tried-and-true applications your end users are already familiar with (such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Teams and more) – all while having an on-call network of expertise that supports and drives their digital transformation efforts.

              If you are ready to start your journey toward cloud and AI adoption, consider contacting TD SYNNEX for guidance. With the right support, your journey from on-premises ERP to cloud-based ERPs can be the foundational step toward transforming your business with AI.

              Reach out to [email protected] to get the scoop on how TD SYNNEX and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can revolutionize your customers’ approaches to AI and next-generation networks!

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