The stakes are sky high in manufacturing right now. As supply chains shift, trade policies evolve, new technologies mature, and volatility pervades the entire industry, every manufacturer will feel the impact. Some will emerge from these turbulent times bigger, stronger, and more successful than ever. Others, even some industry titans, will struggle, shrink, or disappear at shocking speed.
The difference comes down to the decisions manufacturers make in the coming months and years. Strategies will need to evolve, priorities must be re-established, and changes have to be sweeping. No one can rest on the status quo. Major consequences, both positive and negative, hang on the decisions that will be debated.
Which raises a critical question: how do you choose correctly, and do so consistently and confidently?
Infor provides an answer in the form of generative AI. Not only has Infor engineered AI into the core of its ERP platform, but it’s also developing innovative ways to use this technology to revolutionize decision-making at all levels.
Manufacturing will never be the same again.
Introducing Infor AI
Unlike so many other ERP products, Infor has not simply added a general AI chatbot to its platform and called it a transformational tool. Anyone who’s used ChatGPT, CoPilot, or Gemini knows they have an answer for everything, yet they often miss the complexity and nuance that characterize the manufacturing sector.
Infor understands the gulf between general information and manufacturing expertise, so they have trained generative AI agents on data models customized to various industry verticals: aerospace, defense, automotive, etc. Each vertical thinks differently about project management, supply chains, compliance, costs, and more. Each AI agent does too thanks to the vertical-specific data it’s been trained on. More than just generating answers, it’s equipped to provide expert advice on par with someone who’s spent decades working within a vertical.
The power and precision of Infor AI is complemented by the simplicity of the agents themselves. They’re embedded throughout the Infor platform, working alongside every workflow and available whenever the need arises. Users can prompt them with natural language, request outputs tailored to their needs and preferences and engage in back-and-forth dialogue that flows organically. No training required.
This combination of intelligence and accessibility means that Infor AI is prepared to make a major impact on just about everything the minute it comes online.
How Does Infor AI Revolutionize Decision Making?
The applications for Infor AI are limitless. And with a roadmap of new features set to roll out in coming quarters, the use cases and impact will grow rapidly. That said, the most immediate and impactful benefit of this technology is on decision-making. Users can make smarter, faster, more dynamic decisions, and choose wisely even in unpredictable and disruptive times. Possibilities include:
- Eliminate Busy Work – From locating files and metrics to generating documents and reports, Infor AI automates busy work that takes hours of human effort. At the same time that it gets information into the hands of decision-makers faster, it frees up huge amounts of time to focus on planning, forecasting, and strategic thinking rather than managing and manipulating data.
- Upgrade Novice Employees – As manufacturers undergo a wave of retirements and struggle to find qualified replacements, Infor AI helps novice employees tap into massive stores of industry expertise and institutional knowledge. They get up to speed faster. They also have a tool to explain confusing concepts, learn best practices, and answer questions that would take time away from others.
- Fill Knowledge Gaps – At a time of talent shortages and industry upheaval, many manufacturers find themselves with questions that their current brain trust can’t answer. Rather than hiring consultants or making guesses, they can engage with Infor AI to fill those knowledge gaps and build a complete picture before making important decisions.
- Surface Hidden Insights – AI operates at a speed and scale that eclipses even a whole team of analysts, enabling it to find trends, anomalies, and opportunities that may have gone overlooked. Manufacturers needing to do things differently have an unparalleled tool to find and validate opportunities with Infor AI.
- Challenge Conventional Thinking – Even the most open-minded individuals fall prey to biases, assumptions, and blinkered thinking. Infor AI suffers from none of these cognitive limitations while having a wealth of industry intelligence to draw from, making it a perfect sounding board to help people see old problems in new lights and expand the realm of possibility.
- Leverage Process Intelligence – One of the most unique features of Infor AI is the ability to analyze how people complete processes within the ERP, identify inefficiencies and common issues, and recommend improvements. These invaluable insights tell decision-makers how to make high-impact changes without adding staff, buying equipment, or otherwise doing anything different than they do already.
Infor AI is not a crystal ball capable of predicting the future, guaranteeing an outcome, or finding the root of truth. Rather, it’s the most capable assistant in the world, able to complete routine tasks, track down essential data, adapt to changing circumstances, and answer complex questions on-demand.
Decision-makers might prefer to have an oracle, but the future of manufacturing is unknown, and the path forward looks different for everyone. The human experience and hard-won expertise of manufacturing leaders will be essential for navigating this uncertain terrain. With Infor AI at their disposal, however, the risk of getting lost drops dramatically, while the odds of emerging stronger are sky high.
Getting Started with Infor AI
Infor AI, along with all the features and capabilities outlined above, comes standard with every Infor deployment. Plus, moving from on-premises ERP to a cloud-based solution like Infor CloudSuite Industrial gives manufacturers the agility to turn bold decisions into realistic plans and processes.
If you’re considering switching ERPs, accelerating digital transformation, or embracing AI sooner rather than later, Guide Technologies is here to help. Our team has a deep background with the Infor ecosystem, and we’ve helped a long list of manufacturers reap the benefits of AI.
To explore what Infor AI could do for your company, contact Guide Technologies anytime.
