Win the Manufacturing Race with the Right Technology Partners
If you’re in manufacturing, chances are good you have a passion for it and take pride in the finished product. When looking for your next strategic technology solution, look for a partner that shares that passion and pride of accomplishment.
With digital transformation continuing to expand across the industry, technology partnerships are more important than ever to developing market-leading products. This is especially true for RFK Racing, a highly successful NASCAR team that’s focused on speed and agility on and off the track. SYSPRO’s partnership with RFK is an example of a strategic partnership that focuses less on taking a software order and more on working together to achieve business goals.
Technology Doesn’t Win the Race. People Do.
In a fast-paced manufacturing world, many companies run into the vendor selection process without having clarity in key areas that will affect the success of the partnership, and hence, the success of your business.
It’s not uncommon for companies to start the partner selection process by evaluating the technology before doing their homework. That’s not always the most productive approach. For example, if you’re looking for an ERP solution to drive internal efficiencies, you’ll find that most ERP solutions tout similar features and functions. Racing is similar. Regardless of the brand name on the car, under the hood, each car is identical. Success on the track hinges on how the engine is tuned, which requires people with specialized expertise. It also hinges on the skill and experience of the driver.
The ability of the people behind the solution to support your goals is the biggest differentiating factor. Look for a partner that has the people who can help you develop a transformational ecosystem for business growth and transformation.
Know Your Processes, Data, and People
Before thinking about technology features and functions, start with your vision for the future and the business objectives that form the steps along the way. Then, identify the processes that will get you to the next step and beyond. Understanding the processes that the solution will optimize or enhance will give you a basis for measuring success, which is another important area to define before selecting a partner.
In addition, you want to identify the data that the solution will draw from. If you don’t have data to fuel a solution, you won’t have much luck when you implement it.
With your objectives, processes, success metrics, and data clarified and agreed upon within your organization, you can better drive a discussion with a prospective partner rather than the other way around. By taking control of the conversation, you’ll have much better insight into who the right partner is.
The next part of the selection process is to make a decision based on the people in your organization — whether you have the right people in the right positions to take on and operate a new, strategic tech solution. Clarifying up front how your organization will support and operate a new solution will avoid inevitable challenges and conflicts down the road that come with change. Set the stage for change early to ensure you have the right people in the right seats.
Get Traction Through Shared Values, Passion, and Commitment
When reaching out to potential partners, evaluate the people you’re going to lean on to help you achieve your objectives. Look for people who share your core values, passion for manufacturing and technology, and a passion for helping their customers succeed. Anything less will leave you wanting when you need help the most. SYSPRO’s most successful customers are passionate without compromise, and our shared values and passion help fuel their success.
That’s the case for our partnership with RFK Racing. When looking for a new ERP solution, the team quickly narrowed the list based on shared values. Kevin Kidd, Director of Software and Analytics for RFK, says RFK looks for partnerships that can help them lead with technology. “Our partnerships are focused on making us more competitive on Sunday and winning trophies and championships. SYSPRO and RFK share the same passion, commitment, and vision. So, it was obvious right from the start that SYSPRO was the company we needed to partner with.”
In addition to shared values, the best partner will have people with hands-on experience supporting manufacturing processes. They need more than education and certifications. They need real-world proficiency in supporting manufacturers and a history of taking ownership of an implementation project and delivering on objectives.
If you’re a manufacturer focused on innovation, look for an ERP partner that will engage with your processes and support your plans for the future and bring out the best in your people. In the past, many companies viewed ERP as a “set and forget” proposition. That’s no longer true. ERP needs to scale with your business.
For instance, most organizations look at their technology investments and projects as a three-to-five-year plan. But technology moves faster than that, and so does the competition. Winning the race in the marketplace requires one-, two- or six-month plans to ensure continuous improvement in your technology and infrastructure.
Take the Lead with the Best Technology and Partner
With a short list of potential partners in hand, you can begin to evaluate the technology to ensure it meets your needs. While it’s natural for companies to pick a big-name vendor, it might not be the one that best fits your needs.
As manufacturing moves through Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, where machines and technology complement human skills and intuition, the quality of technology partnerships will become more important. Don’t shortchange your company by shortchanging your partner selection process. Find a partner that shares your values, passion, and commitment. That’s where you’ll find industry-leading support to help you win in manufacturing.
