The second day at SAPICS 2016 started for me with a coffee or two at the SYSPRO Caf\u00e9 networking with gurus, customers, and partners and debating the new spin on ERP. Like mobility, visibility, keeping it simple, appropriate and usable rather than treating it like a \u201cbig brother\u201d system to be worked round. The chat was heavy and we all needed the coffee.<\/p>\n
Peter van der Linden sweetened the morning with a fascinating talk on the Internet of Things IoT<\/strong> – 50 billion connected devices by 2020 and 200 billion by 2050 – from toothbrushes to cars signaling their own demand and enabling connected manufacturing and supply chain operations.<\/p>\n He said physical supply chains are becoming digital supply chains. So, to get visibility of the right things you need, and can get, proactive alerts from a myriad of devices to focus on the right action. So asset location, inventory, security, customer and partner transactions update your “backend” ERP system instead of your staff.<\/p>\n Now do these devices have APICS certification or are we getting back to proper application of the basics – quick response and appropriate replenishment without over investment in stock? Hurray!<\/p>\n Two new and particularly interesting concepts by Peter to prevent consequences from the wrong side of connected technology.<\/p>\n