For years, paper work instructions have been a standard part of manufacturing. They were easy to distribute, simple to update, and familiar to operators.
But manufacturing has changed.
Products are becoming more complex. Customer expectations continue to rise. Experienced employees are retiring, while new employees often need to become productive more quickly than ever before. As a result, many manufacturers are rethinking how information is delivered on the shop floor.
The Challenge with Paper
Paper work instructions create several common challenges:
- Multiple versions of the same document
- Outdated instructions remaining at workstations
- Time spent searching for the correct information
- Longer training periods for new employees
- Inconsistent processes between operators
None of these issues may seem significant on their own, but together they can impact quality, productivity, and employee confidence.
A Shift Toward Digital Work Instructions
One trend we're seeing across the manufacturers we work with is a move toward digital work instructions. Rather than relying on printed documents, operators receive the latest approved instructions directly at their workstation, along with supporting images, videos, and other visual aids...
For many manufacturers, ERP has been the foundation of their business for years. It manages orders, inventory, production, purchasing, and financials. But as technology and business demands continue to evolve, many organizations are beginning to ask a different question:
Is our ERP environment ready for what's next?
For some, that conversation includes cloud migration. For others, it's about integration, visibility, analytics, or supporting future growth.
The good news is that modernization doesn't have to start with a major migration project.
Start with the Business, Not the Technology
One of the biggest misconceptions about modernization is that it begins with selecting a new platform.
In reality, the most successful projects begin by understanding the business challenges you're trying to solve.
Questions worth asking include:
Why this matters
Many integration challenges come from systems that don’t communicate effectively. Data is often duplicated, delayed, or manually transferred between applications, creating inefficiencies and limiting visibility.
What this solves
Infor ION provides a structured way to connect applications and enable consistent data flow across your environment, helping reduce manual processes and improve how information is shared.
How it works
Infor ION acts as a central integration layer, allowing systems to communicate using standardized messages.
In Infor LN, ION is natively integrated, enabling streamlined data exchange across applications.
In Infor LX environments, ION can be used as part of an integration strategy to connect ERP with external systems and platforms.
This enables:
Applies to: Infor LX BPCS environments
Why this matters
In MRP inquiries, limited visibility and paging behavior can make it difficult to review data efficiently—especially when working with larger datasets or modern web interfaces.
What this solves
This enhancement enables full compatibility between MRP320D Master Schedule Detail Inquiry and the WebTop Grid, allowing users to view and work with complete datasets more effectively.
How it works
Infor LN | Baan | Infor LX | BPCS
If your company already uses Avalara for tax compliance, you can integrate it directly with your Infor ERP system.
Crossroads RMC has developed integrations that connect Avalara’s automated tax calculation and compliance platform with Infor ERP environments, allowing tax calculations, reporting, and compliance processes to run seamlessly within your existing ERP workflows.
This integration helps eliminate manual tax processing, improve accuracy, and ensure tax compliance as your business grows.
If you’re already using Avalara and want to streamline tax automation within your ERP, Crossroads RMC can help you connect the two.
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