Technology is no longer a nice-to-have. It is essential for today’s manufacturers. “It might be a matter of survival,” says Debbie Altham, Senior Director at Sikich.

“Without the right technology, it’s very difficult to have the supply chain visibility manufacturers need. If you aren’t able to share things like how long it will take to receive an order, or what your inventory currently is, people will walk away to work with someone who can show how much inventory they’ve got and when it can be delivered. Often, when supplies get low, loyalty goes out the window.”