The role of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) will become the critical backbone for production in this transformational environment. Its potential to link smart machines, logistics, production facilities, sensors, and devices is immense, especially for the small and medium enterprises. ERP will play a game-changing role for them in leveraging the elements of Industry 4.0 in keeping their customers at the core, and customising their products, systems, and services to both respond to customer needs and drive demand in an agile manner. Manufacturing industries need to move to a digital ecosystem approach of partners, suppliers, and customers. Data integrity, analytics, digital thrust, and strong risk management will need to be interwoven into this digital fabric for successful implementation of digital enterprise applications.
This places ERP in a central and critical position with respect to process manufacturing.