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Figure 7-20
Designing a Future ERP
Source: Tom Wang/Fotolia

to be. Managers, decision makers, and other knowledge workers will have similar applications
on their own phones or other mobile devices, devices that they can access from work, other
offices, the street, or home. And (like PRIDE exercise equipment) machines, robots, and other
forms of factory automation will generate and consume data.
The second major challenge concerns manufacturing itself. ERP vendors will need to adapt
the software to the particular requirements of 3D manufacturing. Of course, many organizations
will choose not to do 3D manufacturing, but no ERP vendor will be able to offer a competitive
product without support for 3D.
In addition, factory automation will continue to bring about revolutionary changes in
manufacturing. Inventory-picking robots are one example, but self-driving cars and trucks are
likely to have an even larger effect.
As we have stated many times so far, the future belongs not to those who specialize in exist-
ing manufacturing methods and technology, but rather to those who can find and implement
innovative applications of these emerging trends.