For a medium-sized SME, the planning process can be complex and involve many participants. By optimising processes and utilising the right tools, you can shift focus from merely adding up figures and troubleshooting to conducting in-depth analyses and discussing scenarios and assumptions.

Reporting and Business Intelligence (BI) are crucial for SMEs. Standardised reports help manage the company effectively, while BI supports daily tasks and processes, enabling better management. Additionally, BI reveals previously unknown correlations, aiding in the further development of the SME.

Manual expense and invoice processing can be both time-consuming and costly. Modern systems streamline these processes with simple, paperless workflows and ensure accurate booking. Additionally, they help save on procurement costs and foster controlled spending.

Flexibility in production and logistics relies on having the right data. Production employees need to understand the specifics of current orders, and the necessary parts and tools must be readily available. Logistics orders can be continuously planned and executed, enhancing flexibility and preventing empty runs.

In general, and particularly in flexible production, employees must know precisely what to do for each work piece. Clear instructions enable quick changeovers and minimise errors. The more effective and well-received the instructions, the faster the adjustments and the fewer the errors. Therefore, assembly instructions should be order-specific and clearly visible.

In production and logistics, the increasing use of sensors for tracking and measurements generates valuable data, enabling effective monitoring. To achieve this, data must be consolidated, processed, and presented for specific purposes. Additionally, workflows and alerting processes should be defined to address deviations from the target status.