Manufacturing at a Crossroads
Manufacturing has always been about balance — balancing demand and supply, efficiency and flexibility, quality and cost. Yet in today’s world, that balance is harder to achieve. Global supply chain disruptions, stricter compliance requirements, and customer expectations for speed and customization have transformed the industry.
At the heart of these challenges is a familiar enabler: the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. For decades, ERP has been the backbone of manufacturing, integrating core functions like production planning, procurement, and finance. But traditional ERP systems, often deployed on-premises, now struggle to keep up with the pace of change.
The rise of cloud-native ERP, and specifically Salesforce-native ERP, offers a new model: one platform that unifies customer and operational data, enabling real-time decision-making, collaboration, and resilience. Axolt, with its Salesforce-native ERP suite, is leading this evolution for manufacturers.
Manufacturing Pain Points: Where Traditional Processes Struggle
1. Bill of Materials (BOM) Complexity
Manufacturers often manage multi-level BOMs with hundreds or thousands of components. Spreadsheets or siloed systems can’t provide the accuracy required, leading to:
Version control issues.
Production delays.
Excess or shortage of materials.
2. Scheduling Inefficiencies
Shop floor scheduling is a constant balancing act between machine capacity, workforce availability, and order priority. Manual scheduling or outdated ERP tools cause:
Bottlenecks.
Idle resources.
Inaccurate delivery promises.
3. Shop Floor Execution Gaps
On the shop floor, visibility into real-time production status is often missing. Supervisors rely on paper-based reports or delayed updates, creating:
Misalignment with planning.
Quality issues going unnoticed.
Inefficient use of labor and equipment.
4. Compliance Burdens
Industries such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and food manufacturing face stringent compliance requirements. Without digital traceability:
Audits are slow and costly.
Product recalls become operational nightmares.
Non-compliance risks fines and reputational harm.
These pain points highlight the need for modern, integrated, and intelligent ERP systems.
Traditional ERP vs. Cloud-Native ERP
The evolution from traditional to cloud-native ERP reflects broader shifts in business technology.
Traditional ERP (Legacy Model)
On-Premises Deployment: Expensive infrastructure, limited scalability.
Complex Upgrades: Customizations make version upgrades painful.
Limited Access: Remote or mobile usage often requires add-ons.
Slow Innovation: Vendors release updates infrequently, with long adoption cycles.
Cloud-Native ERP
Scalable Infrastructure: Hosted in the cloud, flexible for growth.
Faster Innovation: Regular updates without costly disruptions.
Accessibility: Users access the system anytime, anywhere, on any device.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Reduced need for hardware and IT overhead.
Cloud-native ERP redefines ERP from a rigid backbone to a dynamic enabler.
Why Salesforce-Native ERP is a Game-Changer
Salesforce is widely recognized as the world’s leading CRM platform. Extending it to ERP creates unique advantages:
1. One Platform for CRM + ERP
Manufacturers no longer need separate systems for customer engagement and production management. Sales forecasts link directly to material planning, ensuring alignment.
2. Single Data Model
With CRM and ERP sharing the same database, there’s one version of the truth. Customer orders, production schedules, and financial data live in a unified system.
3. Ecosystem Power
Salesforce’s AppExchange ecosystem extends capabilities — from analytics to AI — without complex integrations.
4. Real-Time Visibility
Decision-makers see demand, inventory, production, and financial impact in real time.
5. AI and Automation
With Salesforce Einstein and Axolt’s AI modules, manufacturers gain predictive insights, anomaly detection, and automated workflows.
This combination makes Salesforce-native ERP not just a system, but a strategic platform for digital manufacturing.
Axolt Manufacturing ERP Features
Axolt builds on Salesforce to deliver a comprehensive manufacturing ERP suite. Key features include:
1. Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
Automates calculation of material requirements from sales orders and forecasts.
Suggests purchase orders and production runs.
Balances lead times, safety stock, and demand variability.
2. Capacity Planning
Tracks machine and labor capacity in real time.
Schedules production to minimize downtime and bottlenecks.
Provides predictive alerts when demand exceeds capacity.
3. Shop Floor Execution
Digital work orders visible on the shop floor.
Real-time updates from operators via tablets or scanners.
KPI dashboards for throughput, downtime, and quality.
4. Traceability and Compliance
Lot and serial number tracking across the supply chain.
Electronic audit trails for every component and process step.
Simplified compliance with FDA, ISO, and industry standards.
5. Integrated Quality Management
Inspection checkpoints built into workflows.
Non-conformance reports triggered automatically.
Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) tracking.
6. Sales-to-Fulfillment Integration
Sales forecasts in Salesforce feed directly into production planning.
Production schedules align with customer commitments.
Fulfillment status updates visible to sales and service teams.
7. Analytics and AI
Predictive demand forecasting.
Root-cause analysis for quality issues.
Optimization of production schedules.
By embedding these features in Salesforce, Axolt turns ERP into a strategic asset for manufacturing resilience and growth.
Strategic Implications for Manufacturers
The move to Salesforce-native ERP has far-reaching implications:
Customer-Centric Manufacturing
Manufacturers align production directly with customer demand, not abstract forecasts.
Agility and Resilience
Real-time visibility allows quick pivots in response to supply chain disruptions.
Cost Efficiency
Automation reduces manual overhead, errors, and waste.
Compliance Confidence
Traceability is no longer a burden but a built-in feature.
Growth Enablement
Scalable cloud infrastructure supports expansion into new markets and product lines.
Manufacturers that adopt Salesforce-native ERP position themselves for sustainable competitiveness.
Building the Factory of the Future
Manufacturing is entering a new era where agility, visibility, and intelligence are paramount. Traditional ERP systems, while once sufficient, are no longer enough to meet these demands.
Salesforce-native ERP represents the next step — merging CRM and ERP into a single platform that unites customer engagement with operational execution. With features like MRP, capacity planning, shop floor execution, and traceability, Axolt empowers manufacturers to operate smarter, faster, and more reliably.
The lesson for leaders is clear: ERP is no longer just about managing resources. It is about enabling a connected, intelligent, and resilient enterprise. Manufacturers who embrace this shift will not only survive disruption — they will define the future of the industry.