The Silent Revolution: How AI Is Changing the Game in Manufacturing
By the Editorial Team

In an environment where adaptability determines competitiveness, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved beyond being a futuristic promise to become a tangible lever for transformation. This was clearly demonstrated by Technology Coast Partners (TCP) and Epicor Software in their July 24 webinar, where they explored the impact of cognitive technologies on the operations of mid-sized companies in the manufacturing and distribution sectors.

The message was unequivocal: AI is no longer a nice-to-have — it is becoming the operational core of modern ERP systems. With its ability to process and analyze large volumes of data, automate decision-making, and anticipate future scenarios, AI is redefining what industrial plants can achieve with their existing resources.

During the event — a recording of which is available in this post — concrete application cases were presented, showcasing how AI has significantly reduced operational workloads, transformed routine processes, and created space for innovation:

• Failure prediction on the shop floor, using connected sensors and pattern analysis (such as vibration or temperature) to schedule maintenance before critical failures occur.
• Automation of the accounts payable cycle, document classification, and bank reconciliations through technologies like OCR and natural language processing, eliminating manual errors.
• Intelligent inventory optimization, forecasting demand and avoiding overstock through multivariable analysis and machine learning systems.

The conclusion was clear: AI not only reduces costs — it empowers human talent to focus on strategic activities such as continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and operational innovation.

Epicor Kinetic and Fluent: Setting the New Standard for Industrial ERP

In this new era of digital transformation, Epicor Kinetic emerges as a key player. This cognitive ERP, natively designed for the cloud and tailored for manufacturing, incorporates automation, pattern learning, and virtual assistants that evolve with each interaction.

Notable features include:

• Real-time data analytics, accelerating operational decision-making.
• Automated inventory replenishment, dynamically adjusted to demand and availability.
• Enhanced customer experience, through faster deliveries and guaranteed product availability.

However, the true differentiator is Fluent, the AI platform developed by TCP. Acting as a complementary nervous system to the ERP, this tool enables:

• Automatic processing of purchase orders and invoices as system entries.
• Data synchronization across ERP, CRM, and other business platforms.
• Strategic question answering in natural language, without requiring technical expertise.
• Conversational agents that interact seamlessly with users.

A standout example of this transformation is Cannon Instrument Company, a firm with over 80 years of experience in viscosity measurement and material analysis. Through the integration of Epicor Kinetic and Fluent’s NLQ (Natural Language Query) module, Cannon empowered its teams with autonomous access to information, reduced repetitive tasks, and enhanced cross-functional collaboration.

“It was about understanding how AI thinks and learning how to communicate with it. That learning curve brought our teams together and strengthened their capabilities.”
— Peter Clarke, CFO of Cannon Instrument Company

Beyond Software: A Transformation Centered on People

One key takeaway from the webinar is that digital transformation goes far beyond implementing new systems. It represents a cultural and technological evolution — one where AI does not replace humans, but augments them. With tools like Epicor Kinetic and Fluent, manufacturing companies are moving away from the rigidity of traditional systems and entering an era defined by intelligent decision-making, adaptive efficiency, and operational autonomy.

Is your company ready to embrace this new era?