Microsoft recently introduced Dynamics 365 Copilot, an AI assistant designed to help every department save time and boost productivity. Copilot provides interactive support across various business functions – including sales, supply chain, and operations – and is the world’s first copilot integrated in both CRM and ERP.
But you’re probably wondering: What does that mean for manufacturing? How will it simplify day-to-day operations? What can it help you do? While the technology is still new, here are the top four ways we’re excited to see Copilot help manufacturing customers.
One of Copilot’s key benefits is the ability to provide predictive insights. With Copilot’s news modules and capabilities within Microsoft Supply Chain Center, you can uncover issues that may affect orders across materials, inventory, carriers, and distribution networks. For example, natural disasters, financial concerns, or civil unrest. Minimize the impact of potential disruptions and build supply chain agility by taking a proactive approach.
Copilot will also help manufacturers identify and manage exceptions more easily. For example, you can train machine learning algorithms to identify patterns in order and supplier data and detect anomalies or exceptions that require attention. This could include significantly delayed orders or suppliers that consistently provide subpar materials. Minimize the impact on production and customer satisfaction by identifying these exceptions early on and proactively addressing issues.
Copilot helps write efficient algorithms that analyze supply chain data and will recommend where to stock inventory across your network. This helps ensure you meet your customer demands faster, in full, and on time, even if a disruption impacts the original distribution center.
Copilot also offers contextual email outreach, generated by the Azure OpenAI Service, to help solve supply chain problems in real-time. When disruptions occur, supply chain managers can send customized and contextual emails to impacted suppliers to quickly identify new estimated arrival times and re-route purchase orders. For example, if bad weather creates disruption, your managers can collaborate with suppliers to find alternative shipping methods or routes. You can also automate supplier collaboration with predictive insights and AI-suggested email drafts.
While Copilot features for Microsoft Supply Chain Center are new with an expected April release, Dynamics has a long history of AI capabilities. These include cash flow prediction, planning optimization, relationship insights, lead scoring, and more. To learn more about how we’ve helped manufacturers build resilient supply chains with Microsoft Dynamics and AI (and how you could be next), contact us today.
Author: Dag Calafell, Director, Azure Solutions
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MCA Connect has partnered with Overhaul to offer a comprehensive set of integrated capabilities spanning the value chain. As a result, companies can make tangible progress in gaining a holistic vision over their operations in a matter of weeks versus months.
Both organizations’ experts in supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, and data science power the combined capabilities. Overhaul’s real-time visibility and 24/7/365 risk management system gives customers a control-tower view of operations, while MCA Connect Inspire Platform
optimizes data for analytics and spurs smarter decisions. Overhaul provides software-based, supply-chain visibility, risk, compliance, and insurance solutions for the world’s leading brands.
For more than 20 years, MCA Connect’s seasoned experts have helped manufacturers reduce end-to-end lead times, eliminate waste and extra inventory, and improve profitability. MCA Connect Inspire Platform consolidates that data and best optimizes it for analytics, helping customers make better and more timely decisions.
“More than ever, supply chain organizations are acutely aware that time is money. One late shipment or lost or damaged container can mean tens of millions in work-in-progress inventory and lost sales,” said Doug Bulla, Senior Vice President Solution Development at MCA Connect. “Together with Overhaul, we can help our mutual customers unlock the power of real-time insights, prediction, and automation from planning to procurement, production, fulfillment, and delivery to the end customer in a matter of weeks.”
Overhaul enables organizations to increase visibility so they can better manage any shipment in real-time and alleviate the impact of uncertainty. Its hybrid model has seen unprecedented success: Overhaul currently has a 96% full truckload cargo theft recovery rate and an 80% loss ratio reduction compared to insurance industry benchmarks. It is expected to track more than $1 trillion in total moving cargo in 2023.
“We don’t know what the next supply chain constraint will be, but we do know our customers will need detailed, immediate analyses at every step of the process to easily move past it. Partnering with MCA Connect ensures our customers can meet the demands of today and tomorrow,” said David Warrick, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Division at Overhaul. “Our combined capabilities offer actionable insights that will help organizations better mitigate risk and make more informed decisions with the most up-to-date data. This partnership supports our mission to provide the most comprehensive, intelligent, and resilient supply chain platform on the market.”
MCA Connect and Overhaul share a mutual relationship with Microsoft. Both were selected by Microsoft as global launch partners for the Supply Chain Center and Supply Chain Platform to offer more customers their forward-thinking solutions and create more agile global supply chains — a testament to the organizations’ robust knowledge.
We’re excited to better serve our customers together!
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Denver, CO – MCA Connect, LLC, an award-winning Microsoft Manufacturing and Supply Chain Partner, announced today its acquisition of Pervicta, LLC, a Dallas, Texas based data consultancy specializing in Data Strategy and AI/Machine Learning.
Pervicta employs a seasoned team of data experts with deep expertise in building IP and providing consulting services to help companies turn their data into a strategic asset. “Now more than ever, data is at the heart of every customer conversation. The manufacturing industry has seen significant change over the past few years,” said Claude Watson, MCA Connect CEO. “Welcoming Pervicta to our team means we can reach more customers and bring increased AI/Machine Learning capabilities to help solve increasingly complex manufacturing challenges.”
“Joining forces with MCA Connect enables us to expand our reach and bring advanced data capabilities to manufacturing companies seeking to optimize operations and improve business outcomes,” said James Roberts, CEO of Pervicta.
The acquisition of Pervicta is a significant step in MCA Connect’s commitment to modern manufacturing, the Microsoft Cloud, and manufacturing excellence. The launch of the modern analytics platform MCA Connect Inspire Platform, coupled with the acquisition of Pervicta enhances the breadth of manufacturing intelligence capabilities MCA Connect brings to its customers. MCA Connect’s best-in-class data and AI services coupled with industry IP such as Inspire Platform help customers become more agile, efficient, and profitable.
Lori Borg, MCA Connect Chief Growth Officer and SVP, Manufacturing Intelligence, said “Combining the strength of our existing Manufacturing Intelligence sales and delivery teams with the Pervicta team allows us to serve our customers more holistically, continue our growth trajectory, and be in lockstep with Microsoft as their go-to Business Applications and Azure partner for all things manufacturing.”
Ryan Smiley, RLH Managing Director and MCA Connect Board Member, said “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to expanding the reach and capabilities of MCA Connect, enhancing their ability to serve US-based and global customers with world-class expertise. We believe the data strategy and advanced analytics capabilities Pervicta brings will further accelerate MCA Connect’s existing growth model.”
About Pervicta
Pervicta is a specialized Data Consultancy offering decades of experience in Data Strategy, Data Modeling, Reporting, and Advanced Analytics. Founded on the belief that data can be an organization’s greatest asset when leveraged properly, Pervicta employs a proven process for business alignment, technical validation, and statistical modeling that leads to fine-tuned models and enhanced performance to create real business value.
About RLH
RLH Equity Partners is a private equity firm focused on investing in and growing distinctive services businesses into market leaders by strengthening their infrastructure and investing in new initiatives. RLH Investors completed a majority investment in MCA Connect in June 2020.
About Inspire Platform
MCA Connect’s Inspire Platform is a modern analytics platform providing self-service business intelligence while enabling advanced machine learning and AI to give customers a competitive advantage in Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing. This subscription-based IP delivers end-to-end visibility and real-time curated manufacturing / supply chain intelligence across organizational boundaries to improve inventory turns, fill rate, customer satisfaction, profitability, and sustainability.
To learn more about Inspire Platform, watch our video below.
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MCA Connect earned recognition on Inc. magazine’s annual Best Workplaces list for the second year in a row. The list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture. Inc. will feature winners in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, and prominently featured on Inc.com.
MCA Connect also earned recognition in Inc.’s Enduring Impact category, honoring employers that have been in business for 15+ years. Founded in 2002, MCA Connect helps manufacturers succeed by unlocking innovation with actionable business insights through the Microsoft Cloud.
“MCA Connect may be the recipient, but credit for the Inc. award once again goes to our employees,” said Claude Watson, CEO of MCA Connect. “Having a strong team is crucial in becoming trusted advisors to our clients. I’m grateful to our team for fostering a culture of collaboration that makes our success possible.”
After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization’s benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.
“Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “Proving to the world that you’re a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement.”
About MCA Connect
Through passion and deep industry expertise, MCA Connect helps manufacturers succeed by unlocking innovation with actionable business insights through the Microsoft Cloud. Our strategic solutions, innovation, and industry intelligence help manufacturers across all sub-industries solve critical issues, modernize operations, and gain a competitive edge. To learn more, visit www.MCAConnect.com.
About Inc. Media
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content
reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print.
Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
About Quantum Workplace
Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.
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MCA Connect recently earned the prestigious Microsoft Business Applications Solutions Partner designation. This recognition is the latest addition to the company’s Microsoft achievements, including the Microsoft Data and AI (Azure) Solutions Partner designation and the Analytics on Microsoft Azure Specialization.
Microsoft awards the Business Applications designation to partners who demonstrate expertise in delivering solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform technologies. This designation requires passing rigorous assessments and meeting stringent performance requirements, including demonstrating technical capabilities and maintaining high-quality service standards.
“We’re proud to have earned both the Azure and Business Applications Solution Partner designations in addition to the Analytics on Microsoft Azure advanced specialization,” said Claude Watson, CEO of MCA Connect. “By continuously building our expertise and staying up to date on new technology, we’re well-equipped to help manufacturing customers succeed in an ever-evolving industry.”
MCA Connect is also a global launch partner for the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform and a member of the 2022/2023 Inner Circle for Microsoft Business Applications.
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MCA Connect recognitions include Microsoft US Partner of the Year Award, US Partner Finalist Award, and Global Partner Finalist Award
MCA Connect, a leader in supply chain and automotive solutions for manufacturing, won the 2023 Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Microsoft US Partner of the Year Award and is a global finalist in the same category.
Microsoft also recognized MCA Connect as a 2023 US Partner of the Year Awards Finalist for providing transformative solutions in Automotive, Mobility, and Transportation.
“Earning Microsoft Partner of the Year recognition is a testament to our team’s relentless commitment to innovation and to delivering tangible results,” said Claude Watson, Chief Executive Officer at MCA Connect. “We are honored and excited to continue our track record of success. Thank you, Microsoft, for your support. We’re proud to work with you to empower our manufacturing and supply chain customers with the capabilities they need to improve profitability and remain competitive.”
About the Awards
The Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based applications, services, and devices during the past year. Microsoft chose honorees from more than 4,200 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide.
As US Partner of the Year award winner and global finalist, MCA Connect earned recognition for delivering outstanding solutions and services to leading manufacturers with Dynamics 365 Supply Chain and the Microsoft Cloud.
“MCA Connect drives remarkable transformations with global clients,” said Ray Smith, Global VP, Resilient & Sustainable Supply Chains, Microsoft. “They make supply chain dreams a reality with the Microsoft Cloud, cutting on-hand inventory while maximizing fill rate performance, eliminating digital debt, enabling end-to-end visibility, and unlocking total global flexibility.”
Fabrizio Cuneo, Microsoft’s North America Manufacturing & Supply Chain Go-to-Market Lead, added: “MCA Connect is the partner of choice for US and global manufacturers seeking end-to-end visibility and adaptive supply chain intelligence. They build rapport early on from the C-suite to the plant floor, driving real transformation with the Microsoft Cloud in digestible increments. Their vertical expertise and IP enable clients to quickly make improvements, unlock innovation, and achieve the desired business outcomes.”
Microsoft also recognized MCA Connect as a finalist for the Automotive, Mobility, and Transportation US Partner of the Year Award. MCA Connect empowers Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs to better organize complex global bidding processes, save millions annually on procurement, and drive end-to-end visibility to improve profitability.
“We would like to extend our congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2023 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards!” said Nina Harding, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft US Global Partner Solutions. “The winners and finalists of the 2023 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards have demonstrated the best of what’s possible with the Microsoft Cloud by providing innovative new solutions and services that positively impact customers and enable digital transformation.”
About MCA Connect
Through passion and deep industry expertise, MCA Connect helps manufacturers succeed by unlocking innovation with actionable business insights. Our strategic solutions, innovation, and industry intelligence help manufacturers gain visibility, improve profitability, and gain a competitive edge. To view customer success stories, click here.
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To meet revenue and profit goals, companies need a strong process for sales and operations planning (S&OP). However, the S&OP process can be surprisingly tricky.
The task seems simple enough: take goals and information from each department – sales, marketing, development, manufacturing, sourcing, and finance – and create one plan for everyone to follow. However, many companies struggle to create a cohesive plan.
Sound familiar? If you’re like many companies, you’ve worked through at least one of these challenges in the S&OP process. And the resulting plan may have fallen short, leading to inventory issues, production snags, or unnecessary expenses.
A strong S&OP process is one that addresses organizational risks to maximize operational success. It can help you:
The benefits of a strong process are clear but creating one can be tricky. Here are a few things you can do to improve your S&OP process.
Align goals across all departments. The traditional planning process is disjointed and siloed and often leads to competing goals. To get the full picture, you need expertise from stakeholders across the company, and you need their buy-in on the final plan. By creating “one set of numbers”, or one integrated plan, employees will be more invested in its success.
Make it easier to share information. Many companies rely on Excel to enter and distribute information among departments, a process that can take several weeks. Not only is this process tedious and time-consuming, it’s also vulnerable to error. One typo can throw off forecasting or create inaccurate assumptions. The more you can simplify or streamline the way you share information, the better.
Focus on your core competencies. A core competency is a specific way your company or employees work to gain a competitive advantage. It’s something that’s not easy for competitors to imitate, it’s reusable for many products and markets, and it adds unique value to your product or service. To create a clear, actionable plan, try to focus on your top one or two core competencies. Don’t try to do everything at once.
Tie your plan to financials. Despite its name, the S&OP process shouldn’t only include people directly involved with sales and operations. While some companies overlook financial executives, these experts can help standardize key performance indicators and show how a decision may financially affect the company. Finance can also play a key role in managing risk and helping the company strike an optimal balance when it comes to competing priorities.
Many manufacturers know their S&OP process needs to improve but aren’t sure where to start or how to fix problem areas. Together with our partner OneStream, the experts at MCA Connect can help.
MCA’s unique S&OP service begins with an assessment process to determine S&OP readiness. We then provide best practices education, assist in establishing the required process ownership, and refine the process based on a company’s unique needs. We also work alongside channel management to break down internal barriers and remain engaged through the first completed S&OP cycle. In short, we figure out exactly what you need to do, show you how to do it, and support you every step of the way.
With more than 20 years of manufacturing experience and expertise, MCA Connect’s strategic advisors are well-equipped to create an S&OP tailored to your business. We align people, processes, and technology to help clients achieve their goals as efficiently and profitably as possible.
OneStream is a software tool that unifies corporate performance management processes such as financial consolidation, reporting, planning and analytics through a single, extensible platform. With it, your employees can break away from the limitations of Excel and manage all of their information in one place.
To learn more about the ways MCA Connect and OneStream can improve your S&OP process, contact us today.
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For the 12th consecutive year, MCA Connect has achieved the prestigious Microsoft Business Applications Inner Circle award. Membership in this elite group is based on sales achievements that rank MCA Connect in the top echelon of Microsoft’s Business Applications global network of partners. Inner Circle members have performed to a high standard of excellence by delivering valuable solutions that help organizations achieve increased success. This is the 15th time MCA Connect has earned a spot in the Inner Circle.
“With the Inner Circle distinction, we are recognizing a group of partners who have excelled at accelerating their customer’s digital transformation with Dynamics 365 and Power Apps solutions,” said Peter Jensen, Microsoft Business Application Partner Strategy Lead. “Inner Circle partners represent some of the best IP, industry expertise, and technical capabilities in Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. Their dedication to customer success and the Microsoft Cloud have set them apart, and we are honored to recognize MCA Connect for their achievement and membership of the 2023-2024 Inner Circle”.
MCA Connect also won Microsoft’s 2023 Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Microsoft US Partner of the Year Award and was a global finalist in the same category. Additionally, Microsoft recognized MCA Connect as a 2023 US Partner of the Year Awards Finalist for providing transformative solutions in Automotive, Mobility, and Transportation.
“We are honored to once again achieve the Microsoft Business Applications Inner Circle award” said Claude Watson, CEO of MCA Connect. “This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering innovative and impactful solutions that help customers unlock innovation and solve critical business issues. We’re proud to be a trusted partner and look forward to collaborating with Microsoft to help our customers achieve more.”
2023-2024 Inner Circle members are invited to the Inner Circle Summit in Spring 2024, as well as virtual meetings between July 2023 and June 2024, where they will have a unique opportunity to discuss strategy with Microsoft senior leaders and fellow Inner Circle partners. There, they will learn more about the company’s road maps and plans, establish strong executive connections, and collaborate on best practices.
About MCA Connect
Through passion and deep industry expertise, MCA Connect helps manufacturers succeed by unlocking innovation with actionable business insights. Our strategic solutions, innovation, and industry intelligence help manufacturers gain visibility, improve profitability, and achieve a competitive edge. To view customer success stories, click here.
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