{"id":69093,"date":"2021-06-15T19:18:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T17:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=69093"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:33:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:33:20","slug":"process-manufacturers-and-digital-transformation-the-quest-for-enhanced-intelligence-and-agility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/process-manufacturers-and-digital-transformation-the-quest-for-enhanced-intelligence-and-agility\/","title":{"rendered":"Process manufacturers and digital transformation \u2013 the quest for enhanced intelligence and agility"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/category\/technology-innovation\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Technology &amp; Innovation<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProcess manufacturers and digital transformation \u2013 the quest for enhanced intelligence and agility\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2021-06-15T19:18:04+02:00\">Jun 15, 2021<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Process manufacturers and digital transformation \u2013 the quest for enhanced intelligence and agility\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/process-manufacturers-and-digital-transformation-the-quest-for-enhanced-intelligence-and-agility\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/author\/charlottedanby\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/05\/Charlotte-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/05\/Charlotte-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/05\/Charlotte-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/05\/Charlotte-810x810.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/05\/Charlotte.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Charlotte Danby<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>COVID-19 created a challenging new business context for process manufacturers almost overnight. There was no time to steadily acclimate to their customers\u2019 sudden and fast-changing demands. Nor could they slowly get to grips with the increasing complexity of diverse product inventories and supply chain fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In times of disruption, resilience is key to success, but legacy tech stands in the way of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/digital-transformation-why-you-should-just-start\/\"> digital transformation<\/a> and prevents process manufacturers from managing quality, inefficiency, and the threat of costly recalls and associated reputational repercussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s process manufacturers have to be faster, more agile, and more responsive than their competitors or risk becoming yesterday\u2019s brands. What\u2019s more, the range of internal and external challenges they face is compounded by the importance of sustainability: customers and regulators are calling for less environmental impact in all aspects of process manufacturing, from production to delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key to navigating this strange new world is a customer-centric approach that delivers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improved production efficiencies,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smooth supply chain processes and supplier relationships,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ability to adapt quickly to changing costs and prices, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear stock oversight at all times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, you need 24\/7 visibility into your manufacturing processes, suppliers, and customers to avoid errors in supply and demand and keep waste to a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern production systems that use the latest technologies can provide such end-to-end visibility. This is enormously valuable \u2013 particularly when dealing with continuous production modes. However, many process manufacturing businesses are straddled with legacy ERP systems and are reluctant to invest in upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-weighing-up-the-pros-and-cons\">Weighing up the pros and cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In stormy weather, some stay put and batten down the hatches, reducing expenditure in the hope that what they\u2019ve spent years building holds up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Others attempt to fight the storm by investing in all sorts of new resources designed to retain existing customers and acquire new ones. It is only logical to try and protect your business \u2013 and the past 18 months have revealed a number of different responses from many different companies. Regardless of your approach, as the dust from the pandemic somewhat settles, you need to ask yourself if your organisation is digitally prepared for the uncertainty that lies ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem with sticking with your current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/glossary\/erp-enterprise-resource-planning\/\">ERP<\/a> system is that it might not be able to give you the information you need when you need it. That said, you have very likely heavily invested in your existing tech infrastructure and are loath to embark on yet another digital transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementing new technologies can be a challenging \u2013 and costly \u2013 endeavour if not managed properly. However, when the implementation process is careful and strategic, there is a positive impact on both revenue and profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-strategize-and-digitise\">Strategize and digitise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a rising digital divide in the manufacturing sector. Some companies have already successfully transitioned from an outdated ERP system to an intelligent ERP one, while others have yet to step forward. If your business is one of the latter, there is a clear case for conducting a digital maturity assessment before designing your digital transformation strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, this involves <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/dont-let-outdated-erp-send-your-company-backwards\/\">reviewing your existing technological infrastructure<\/a> and identifying how and where it works \u2013 and also, where it falls short. Crucial to this process is assessing your people\u2019s level of digital skills as well as your operation\u2019s functional collaboration. If, for example, your IT function sits in a silo, digital skills might not be embedded throughout the organisation. This creates organisational blind-spots and prevents interdepartmental collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/the-internet-of-things-transforming-discrete-manufacturing\/\">digital transformation strategy<\/a> needs to be based on your company\u2019s specific needs. With the right intelligent ERP onside, you can digitise successfully and transform your manufacturing processes sustainably, cost-effectively. and competitively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the IDC, those manufacturers that have already made the right digital investments have seen the biggest returns on their marketing, sales, customer experience, strategy, and distribution results. The ability to \u2018see\u2019 every part of their business operations at all times, and make decisions based on real-time, actionable information puts them streets ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#<span styl\">Download your Digital transformation in process manufacturing report<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reduce-errors-with-data-based-action\">Reduce errors with data-based action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Intelligent ERP systems make data work harder and deliver better business results. For process manufacturers feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty, taking control of your data is key to staying afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An iERP system harnesses the power of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, and machine learning for advanced automation. Data is fed through algorithms to reveal insights that are easily accessible by all stakeholders. Armed with visible and accessible information, you can trace key metrics across your value chain such productivity, inventory, booked versus billed, and continuous production versus batch \u2013 as well as mitigate any issues like loss of money related to missing payment discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Product <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/traceability-supply-chains\/\">traceability<\/a> and provenance are key to supply chain resilience. Process manufacturers supported by an iERP system can track what happens to a product at each step of the supply chain. Only with the right digital assistance can you track and trace every component of a product and address issues of sustainability, risk, and non-compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An intelligent ERP system is core to transforming your business into an agile entity designed for a post COVID-19 manufacturing world. Now is the time to leverage the capabilities of iERP to keep pace with current challenges as well as to build a sustainable and competitive business that thrives well into the future.\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Digital transformation in process manufacturing <\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How Intelligent ERP can help close the information gap and achieve traceability across the supply chain<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-a4702fd4-0e2c-4743-a8b0-bc6d971b867d\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-610219284-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Woman using tablet\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-610219284-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Digital transformation in process manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How Intelligent ERP can help close the information gap and achieve traceability across the supply chain<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-a4702fd4-0e2c-4743-a8b0-bc6d971b867d\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-610219284-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Woman using tablet\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-610219284-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice enewsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-84fe79b5-668d-41f8-a0cc-6229018c4ac9\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>COVID-19 created a challenging new business context for process manufacturers almost overnight. There was no time to steadily acclimate to their customers\u2019 sudden and fast-changing demands. Nor could they slowly get to grips with the increasing complexity of diverse product inventories and supply chain fluctuations. In times of disruption, resilience is key to success, but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1239,"featured_media":493,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[187,212],"business_type":[3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[346],"persona":[8,13],"imagine_tag":[56,92,78],"coauthors":[441],"class_list":["post-69093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology-innovation","tag-erp","tag-supply-chain-management","business_type-medium-business","industry-manufacturing"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-za","author_name":"Charlotte Danby","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-613777524.jpg","imagine_tags":{"56":"ERP","92":"Manufacturing","78":"Supply Chain Management"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice South Africa","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69093\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=69093"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=69093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}