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	<title>ArcherPoint</title>
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	<title>ArcherPoint</title>
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	<item>
		<title>AI for the Over 40 – Week 23: Beyond Summaries: How To Get More Value from AI Meeting Transcripts</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/ai-meeting-transcripts-beyond-summaries/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Greg Kaupp]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[AI & Copilot]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23931</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I’ve been using AI to help with meeting notes for over a year. Copilot in Teams generates summaries, pulls out action items, and tells me who said what. For a long time, I assumed that was the goal. Now I realize I was thinking about meeting transcripts the same way I initially thought about AI&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-meeting-transcripts-beyond-summaries/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">AI for the Over 40 – Week 23: Beyond Summaries: How To Get More Value from AI Meeting Transcripts</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-meeting-transcripts-beyond-summaries/">AI for the Over 40 – Week 23: Beyond Summaries: How To Get More Value from AI Meeting Transcripts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>I’ve been using AI to help with meeting notes for over a year. Copilot in Teams generates summaries, pulls out action items, and tells me who said what. For a long time, I assumed that was the goal.</p>



<p>Now I realize I was thinking about meeting transcripts the same way I initially thought about AI itself—as a <strong>consumer waiting for the tool to give me what it decided I needed</strong>. That mindset was limiting the value I was getting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-moment-my-thinking-changed">The moment my thinking changed</h2>



<p>Two separate experiences came together and shifted how I think about meeting transcripts.</p>



<p>In a course by Jules White at Vanderbilt, I was introduced to the idea that transcripts are not just records to summarize—they are <strong>raw material you can transform into meaningful work products</strong>. Around the same time, I attended a session on high-impact conversations led by Timothy Gearty, focused on evaluating the quality of conversations.</p>



<p>It wasn’t just <em>what</em> was said. It was <strong>how the conversation unfolded</strong>. Did we clarify the problem before jumping to solutions? Did we actually listen? Did we leave with real commitments or just vague alignment?</p>



<p>Those two ideas collided into a single realization:<br><strong>What if I could design my own meeting analysis instead of accepting the default summary?</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-i-had-been-missing">What I had been missing</h2>



<p>AA standard AI meeting summary gives you useful basics: who attended, what was discussed, what decisions were made, and what action items were assigned. That’s helpful—but it’s only the surface.</p>



<p>The same transcript can deliver far more value if you approach it differently.</p>



<p>You can evaluate <strong>meeting quality</strong> by asking whether the problem was clearly defined before solutions were proposed and whether assumptions were challenged.</p>



<p>You can assess <strong>decision rigor</strong> by looking at whether alternatives were considered, uncertainty was acknowledged, or if the group defaulted to the most confident voice.</p>



<p>You can use it for <strong>self-coaching</strong>, identifying patterns in your own behavior—interrupting, rushing to solutions, or leaving commitments unclear.</p>



<p>You can uncover <strong>patterns over time</strong>. One meeting shows a moment. Ten meetings reveal habits. Fifty meetings reveal patterns you can’t ignore.</p>



<p>And you can generate <strong>better outputs</strong>—stakeholder summaries, decision rationales, follow-ups, and documentation tailored to the type of meeting you just had.</p>



<p>The transcript already contains all of this. The default summary simply doesn’t extract it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-shift-from-consumer-to-architect">The shift from consumer to architect</h2>



<p>This is the same shift I’ve written about throughout this series.</p>



<p>For a long time, I approached AI as a consumer. I accepted whatever output the tool generated. If it was helpful, great. If it missed the mark, I moved on. But I never questioned the structure of what I was getting.</p>



<p>The real shift is becoming the <strong>architect of the output</strong>.</p>



<p>That means deciding what frameworks to apply based on the type of meeting, defining what “good” looks like for a conversation, and specifying the insights you actually want. It means designing outputs that help you improve—not just documenting what happened.</p>



<p>The transcript is not the end product. It is <strong>raw material</strong>. What you build from it is up to you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-questions-that-unlock-better-insights">The questions that unlock better insights</h2>



<p>You don’t need a complex system to start. You need better questions.</p>



<p>Instead of asking, “What happened in this meeting?” try asking:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>What would I want to know about the quality of this conversation?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Where did this meeting break down—or succeed—and why?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Did we make a decision, or just move the conversation forward?</strong></li>



<li><strong>What patterns in my behavior show up across multiple meetings?</strong></li>



<li><strong>What work am I doing after meetings that could be generated from this transcript?</strong></li>
</ul>



<p>These questions shift you from consuming summaries to <strong>designing insight</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-connects-to-everything-else-in-this-series">Why this connects to everything else in this series</h2>



<p>This pattern keeps repeating. The barrier isn’t technical—it’s mindset.</p>



<p>For years, I accepted manual processes because that’s how things were done. Then I realized I could design something better. Meeting transcripts are no different.</p>



<p>The tools that summarize meetings are intentionally generic. They are built to work for everyone. But your needs are not generic. Your blind spots are specific. Your development goals are personal.</p>



<p><strong>The only person who can design a system that improves how you show up in meetings is you.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-week-23-challenge-question-what-you-are-accepting">Your week 23 challenge: question what you are accepting</h2>



<p>This week, take a different approach.</p>



<p>After your next meeting, review the AI-generated summary and ask yourself what’s missing. Not just what happened, but <strong>how well it happened</strong>.</p>



<p>Take one transcript and go deeper. Evaluate the clarity of the problem, the strength of the decisions, and the quality of commitments. Notice how different the output becomes.</p>



<p>Then zoom out. What pattern would be most valuable for you to track across multiple meetings? That’s where the real insight begins.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



<p>For a long time, I treated meeting summaries as the end product.</p>



<p>Now I see them differently. The transcript is not the deliverable—it is the starting point.</p>



<p>The real value comes from what you choose to extract, analyze, and build from it.</p>



<p><strong>The question isn’t what your meeting AI tells you. It’s what you could design it to tell you that it never would on its own.</strong></p>



<p><em>This post is part of my “AI Over 40” series. It first appeared on LinkedIn:&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-over-40-week-23-beyond-summaries-what-i-realized-missing-kaupp-pdsjc/" type="link" id="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-over-40-week-23-beyond-summaries-what-i-realized-missing-kaupp-pdsjc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI for the Over 40 [Week 23]: Beyond Summaries: What I Realized I Was Missing in Every Meeting</a></p>



<p>Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/blog/?_cat_platform_process=ai-copilot"><strong>AI and Copilot</strong></a>&nbsp;blogs.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-meeting-transcripts-beyond-summaries/">AI for the Over 40 – Week 23: Beyond Summaries: How To Get More Value from AI Meeting Transcripts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to Correct Dimension Values in Business Central G/L Entries</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/how-to-correct-gl-dimension-values-in-business-central/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sally Hanham]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[General Ledger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Business Central]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23938</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever posted entries to the G/L with the wrong Dimension value? Did you know you can run the Dimension Correction functionality to update/change your dimensions on posted G/L entries? In Business Central, Dimension Correction allows users to update Dimension values on posted G/L entries without changing the original transaction. This ensures accurate reporting&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/how-to-correct-gl-dimension-values-in-business-central/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">How to Correct Dimension Values in Business Central G/L Entries</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/how-to-correct-gl-dimension-values-in-business-central/">How to Correct Dimension Values in Business Central G/L Entries</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p id="h-">Have you ever posted entries to the G/L with the wrong Dimension value? Did you know you can run the Dimension Correction functionality to update/change your dimensions on posted G/L entries?</p>



<p>In Business Central, Dimension Correction allows users to update Dimension values on posted G/L entries without changing the original transaction. This ensures accurate reporting while maintaining a full audit trail.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-correct-the-dimension-values-of-g-l-entries-in-business-central">Why correct the dimension values of G/L entries in Business Central?</h2>



<p>In Business Central, <a href="https://archerpoint.com/dimensions-in-business-central-explained/">dimensions </a>drive how financial data is analyzed, not just how it is recorded. They represent things like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Department</li>



<li>Cost center</li>



<li>Location</li>



<li>Project</li>



<li>Customer group</li>



<li>Product line</li>
</ul>



<p>When a dimension is wrong on a G/L entry, the financial transaction itself is correct, but the classification of that transaction is not. Without accurate dimensions, you&#8217;re distorting how the business understands itself.</p>



<p>However, posted G/L entries are immutable, meaning they cannot be edited directly.</p>



<p>So instead of editing the G/L entry itself, Business Central uses a dimension correction process, which:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Adjusts dimension values</li>



<li>Preserves the original entry</li>



<li>Maintains a full audit trail</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-perform-business-central-g-l-dimension-correction">How to perform Business Central G/L Dimension Correction</h2>



<p>If you need to correct G/L entries:</p>



<p id="h-">Using Figure 1, when in (1) G/L entries, (2) filter on the document that requires dimension changes. Select All (3). Then select Correct Dimensions (4).</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="200" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-1024x200.png" alt="Figure 1 – How to get to the Correct Dimensions page" class="wp-image-23941" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-1024x200.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-300x59.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-768x150.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-1536x300.png 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01-1568x307.png 1568w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-01.png 1647w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 1 – Navigating to the Correct Dimensions page</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>You can update, change, or add dimension values to the posted G/L entries. After you have updated or changed your dimension values (1-2 in Figure 2), click the Run button (3).</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="513" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-1024x513.png" alt="Figure 2 – Correcting your Dimensions" class="wp-image-23942" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-1024x513.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-300x150.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-768x384.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-1536x769.png 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02-1568x785.png 1568w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-02.png 1696w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 2 – Correcting Dimensions</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>If you are using Analysis Views for your financial reporting, make sure you have the Update Analysis Views button set to True.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="191" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-1024x191.png" alt="Figure 3 – Set the Update Analysis View field to True if using with Financial Reports" class="wp-image-23943" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-1024x191.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-300x56.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-768x143.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-1536x286.png 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03-1568x292.png 1568w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-03.png 1690w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 3 – Set the Update Analysis View field to True if using with Financial Reports</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>If you choose Run Immediately, the dimension values will be updated immediately. Otherwise, you can choose to have the job queue run and update the entries later. If you are correcting many entries, it is recommended that you run the job queue later at a time that will not affect system performance.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="439" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-04.png" alt="Figure 4 – Schedule when to Run Dimension Corrections" class="wp-image-23944" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-04.png 600w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-04-300x220.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 4 – Schedule when to Run Dimension Corrections</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="211" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-1024x211.png" alt="Figure 5 – Using the Job Queue to Run Dimension Corrections" class="wp-image-23945" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-1024x211.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-300x62.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-768x158.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-1536x316.png 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05-1568x323.png 1568w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-05.png 1743w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 5 – Using the Job Queue to Run Dimension Corrections</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>If you are correcting the dimension values for any global or shortcut dimension codes (for example, if the Dimension Code is Department, the Dimension Value might be Accounting, Sales, Marketing, Production, etc.).</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="205" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-1024x205.png" alt="Figure 6 – Review Shortcut Dimension Corrections" class="wp-image-23946" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-1024x205.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-300x60.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-768x154.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-1536x308.png 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06-1568x315.png 1568w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-06.png 1735w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 6 – Review Shortcut Dimension Corrections</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimension-correction-workflow">Dimension Correction workflow</h2>



<p><strong>1. Draft the correction.</strong> Within the Draft Dimension Correction page, you can toggle on <strong>Update Analysis Views</strong> if you use that functionality and update the <strong>Description</strong> field (optional). In the <strong>New Dimension Value Code</strong> cell, make your necessary changes or updates.</p>



<p><strong>2. Validate before running.</strong> Before you run a correction, it is a good idea to validate it first. Validation checks for restrictions on value posting for G/L accounts, restrictions for dimensions, and whether dimension values are blocked. During validation, the status is set to <em>Validation in Process</em>. After validation, the result appears in the <strong>Validation Status</strong> field. If errors were found, use the <strong>View Errors</strong> action to investigate them, then use <strong>Reopen</strong> to run the correction or a new validation.</p>



<p><strong>3. Schedule for large datasets.</strong> You can run a correction immediately or schedule it for later. If running corrections on a large data set, it is recommended to schedule it outside business hours.</p>



<p><strong>4. Undo if needed.</strong> If you don&#8217;t like the result after correcting a dimension, you can use the <strong>Undo</strong> action to reset it to the previous value. You can also validate the Undo action before executing it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Limitations to the Dimension Corrections feature in Business Central</h2>



<p>There are limitations, however:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>G/L entries only:</strong> Dimension corrections apply only to G/L entries. They do not automatically adjust related subledgers, such as inventory or sales. </li>



<li><strong>Related documents are NOT updated:</strong> Correcting dimensions in the General Ledger does not also update the dimensions on related documents and entries. For example, if G/L entries are related to a Posted Sales Invoice and a correction is made, the Posted Sales Invoice dimensions are not updated. To update posted documents and subledger entries, you will need to post a credit memo to the document.</li>



<li><strong>Batch size:</strong> While Business Central supports dimension corrections, large-scale updates should be handled carefully. Processing large volumes of entries in a single batch can impact system performance, so it is best to break corrections into smaller batches.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-audit-trail">Audit trail</h2>



<p>To view the history of corrections, go to <strong>Related &gt; Entry &gt; History of Dimension Corrections</strong>. This shows an audit trail of all changes made. Just click the View button to see the changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Restrict which users can perform corrections:</h2>



<p>Correcting dimensions can significantly impact internal reporting, data integrity, and auditability. Business Central lets you restrict which users can perform corrections. Specific permission sets come with Dimension Corrections.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="178" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-07-1024x178.png" alt="Figure 7 – View Dimension Corrections Permission SetsSets" class="wp-image-23940" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-07-1024x178.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-07-300x52.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-07-768x134.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-dimension-corrections-in-bc-07.png 1338w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Figure 7 – View Dimension Corrections Permission Sets</em></figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find out more</h2>



<p>Be sure to <a href="https://archerpoint.com/blog/?_cat_how_to=how-to">check out more of our How-To blogs</a> or <a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/">contact ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert</a> to learn more about Business Central.</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/how-to-correct-gl-dimension-values-in-business-central/">How to Correct Dimension Values in Business Central G/L Entries</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Guide to How Manufacturers Can Implement Quality Control Systems Using Business Central</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/</link>
					<comments>https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dynamics Insights]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:11:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Central]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manufacturing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23907</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Poor manufacturing quality can damage your brand and leave customers unhappy. If you have inefficient, siloed systems, you could face product defects, late orders, waste, and other challenges.  In today&#8217;s manufacturing environment, businesses need to face the demands of increasingly sophisticated customers while experiencing labor shortages, shrinking resources, rising costs, and, in some industries, unexpected&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Guide to How Manufacturers Can Implement Quality Control Systems Using Business Central</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/">Guide to How Manufacturers Can Implement Quality Control Systems Using Business Central</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Poor manufacturing quality can damage your brand and leave customers unhappy. If you have inefficient, siloed systems, you could face product defects, late orders, waste, and other challenges. </p>



<p>In today&#8217;s manufacturing environment, businesses need to face the demands of increasingly sophisticated customers while experiencing labor shortages, shrinking resources, rising costs, and, in some industries, unexpected regulatory audits. Ensuring quality products in these conditions is possible, but you need a quality control system that works.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-components-of-a-great-quality-management-system">The components of a great quality management system</h2>



<p>A quality control system is a part of production that ensures product integrity, largely using inspections at various stages of the manufacturing process. At its most basic, quality control involves:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Deciding on standards: </strong>You may measure specifications against ISO 9001, a government agency&#8217;s standards, general manufacturing practice standards, or another framework.</li>



<li><strong>Selecting a method: </strong>You might choose to inspect random samples of product, use Six Sigma statistical methods, or implement another method that aligns with your industry. </li>



<li><strong>Developing a system: </strong>Your business will need a formal inspection process, based on the standards and the method you&#8217;re using. You&#8217;ll need to train your staff to ensure consistent inspections. </li>



<li><strong>Testing and action: </strong>You&#8217;ll need to choose what gets tested and when, and then implement your process. You must have a system to analyze the results and then determine what steps to take based on those results. </li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-enterprise-resource-planning-erp-platforms-work-for-quality-control">How do enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms work for quality control?</h2>



<p>While it&#8217;s possible to buy software dedicated solely to quality control, a modern ERP system combines multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/industries/manufacturing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">functionalities for manufacturers</a>. Having all your key data in one spot helps your quality control system:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Enhance communication:</strong> If an inspection finds an issue, it&#8217;s easy to communicate with manufacturing and decision-makers. </li>



<li><strong>Make quicker decisions:</strong> If a batch is rejected, you can automatically track and send data or even set up automatic alerts so decision-makers can take action quickly. </li>



<li><strong>Automate and execute plans:</strong> Software lets you schedule and set up inspections. It automatically prompts inspectors and highlights established regulatory criteria, ensuring compliance. ERPs can also automatically analyze data to find ways to optimize operations for quality and compliance. </li>



<li><strong>Keep all your documentation in one place:</strong> For compliance, all your data and reports are in one location, ready for deployment. You can update and examine different versions of documents, approve reports, and even electronically sign them to keep production moving.</li>



<li><strong>Customize your inspections with templates:</strong> ERP platforms offer templates and automatically populated inspection reports and checklists that can serve as the basis for your own. Customize them to create a tailored inspection in less time.</li>



<li><strong>Trace actions:</strong> In an ERP, you can easily assign inspections and tasks, and then see who completed what actions and when. You get full visibility of the quality control process.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centralize-quality-management-with-microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central">Centralize quality management with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central</h2>



<p>Outdated systems can lead to manual data entry, inaccuracies, and time-consuming processes that are difficult to scale. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is <a href="https://archerpoint.com/solutions/erp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a highly customizable ERP</a> offering robust functionality for small- to midsized manufacturers, including quality control, sales, finance, customer service, commerce, HR, scheduling, supply chain, and more, all in one platform. Through an extensive extension marketplace, Business Central lets you add extensions that offer even more functionality. </p>



<p>One of the biggest benefits is that Business Central can set up and help you execute many types of inspections quickly. You may need to conduct visual inspections of products arriving at the warehouse, send off some of your products for testing with a third party, and keep components within specific temperatures or sizes. Business Central can help you manage all your different inspections in minutes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Business Central also helps you:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Gain supply chain visibility:</strong> If a supplier has a recall for a specific component used in your products, you can easily trace which products in your manufacturing system are affected.</li>



<li><strong>Communicate with vendors:</strong> If you outsource inspections or use labs for some inspections, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central makes it easy to communicate with these parties and track their progress. </li>



<li><strong>Automate some compliance tasks: </strong>You can set the system up to only accept orders from suppliers with valid, required certificates or to get alerts when specific inspections fail. The system integrates with purchase orders, too.</li>



<li><strong>Manage multilocation production:</strong> If you have multiple facilities, you can track inspections across them in a single platform. You can also see all locations of a specific lot, batch, or serial-numbered product, which can help you manage recalls or stop production.</li>



<li><strong>Access information in real time:</strong> You can trace lot and serial numbers in real time across the entire supply chain. Create audit trails for the FDA and other regulatory bodies and secure the documentation required for certification. </li>



<li><strong>Maintain integrity with role-based security:</strong> Business Central ensures only authorized team members can change critical data, see inspection reports, or approve products.</li>



<li><strong>Get certificates of analysis:</strong> Business Central automatically creates shareable, customizable certificates of analysis you can update with graphics.</li>
</ul>



<p>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central now integrates with Copilot. You can get customized answers about your data, AI-generated inspection templates, and automated summaries of your reports.&nbsp;You also have access to AI agents who can create transactions in the system for your review and approval, reducing the time you need to spend on repetitive tasks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-partner-with-proven-manufacturing-erp-experts">Partner with proven manufacturing ERP Experts</h2>



<p>Every business needs to ensure quality products. If you&#8217;re interested in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert can be the support you need. With over 20 years of experience in translating complex manufacturing operations into targeted software solutions, our experts can help you determine whether Business Central is right for you.</p>



<p>At ArcherPoint, we offer hands-on,&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/services/training/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">role-based training</a>&nbsp;to encourage high user adoption. We make Business Central make sense and help you get the most out of every feature so you can build the highest-quality products. We also keep you AI-ready.</p>



<p>With flexible services, we save you the time and money required to hire an in-house IT team — we offer 24/7 service support plans, software updates, and more.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modernize-your-quality-control-operations-today">Modernize your quality control operations today</h2>



<p>ArcherPoint has already helped businesses across 14 countries harness the benefits of top workplace solutions, including Business Central. We can help you figure out how to make quality control integral and automatic. <a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schedule a free consultation</a> today with our expert team to learn more.</p>



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      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "A master production schedule helps manufacturers plan which products and how many to produce for a certain period. It's a proactive technique that helps companies prepare for upcoming seasons. The main goal of an MPS is to align sales demand with manufacturing capacity.

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Simplifies order promises: The MPS ensures everyone knows how long it's expected to take to create a product by providing buyers with accurate lead times. It also prevents utilization-dependent exhaustion that may occur due to work intensity.

Enhances communication: An MPS acts as a communication tool that helps manufacturing share information about production plans with the other departments. It improves transparency and visibility, especially between sales and manufacturing.

Boosts efficiency: An MPS provides a means to analyze and solve potential bottlenecks by using available resources to meet deadlines. In the long run, this improves customer satisfaction and sales.

Streamlines supply chain: An MPS reviews the supply chain requirements and arranges them in priority order, which boosts supplier relationships by ensuring timely delivery."
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How much inventory do you have in stock already?

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This software allows you to easily extract capacity data and schedule anticipated orders. It allows for manual adjustments when a company may need to alter specific objectives, but it also offers automatic scheduling for convenience. You can override planned production levels with scheduled levels, and the software automatically recalculates them to suit the current conditions.

MPS software also enables you to view visual representations of the production schedule through graphs. You can simply click and drag the desired points on the graph to alter the production schedule or move specific items."
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MRP is essential for worker productivity, flexibility, and efficiency within the manufacturing plant. It helps businesses respond quickly to sudden increased demand while minimizing labor and material costs. This process improves customer satisfaction by reducing delays, which has a ripple effect on revenue growth."
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Boosts production efficiency: MRP gives managers significant insights into the time and supplies needed to keep production flowing smoothly. It allows them to track and use raw data to minimize delays and miscalculations.

Reduces purchasing costs: This process automates searches and allows businesses to access the most cost-effective solutions. By minimizing purchasing costs, companies can offer better product cost-efficiency and reap the bottom-line benefits.

Implements emergency strategies: MRP helps ensure efficient management of stock. It sets strategies to prevent excess inventory by ordering when it needs replenishing. You can also maintain safety stock in case of emergencies.

Prevents common production bottlenecks: This software allows businesses to create an uninterrupted production flow by identifying potential bottlenecks before they occur. It helps management proactively monitor the fluctuating demand and identify material scarcity to prevent halting production.
Improves inventory control: Supply chain management becomes easier with MRP processes. They use real-time data to display current supplies readily. This convenient feature allows managers to identify any materials that need replenishment before they run out. It prevents disruptions in the manufacturing process and improves customer satisfaction."
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This software converts the plan from the MPS to a list of parts, raw materials, and other supplies needed to create the final product amount. MRP software helps manufacturing managers determine the quantity of supplies and labor required to achieve production efficiency and deliver on the MPS."
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<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/">Guide to How Manufacturers Can Implement Quality Control Systems Using Business Central</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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					<wfw:commentRss>https://archerpoint.com/guide-to-implementing-quality-control-manufacturing-business-central/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dynamics Business Central / NAV Developer Digest &#8211; Vol. 551</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/dynamics-business-central-nav-developer-digest-vol-551/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Suzanne Scanlan]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Developer]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23933</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert’s Developer Digest focuses on Microsoft&#160;Dynamics 365 Business Central&#160;and&#160;Dynamics NAV&#160;development. This week&#8217;s volume&#160;includes security enhancements for AL’s Http Client, using Visual Studio Code to run AL tests, debugging AL code using the Troubleshooting MCP Server, and plan now for OData deprecation. The Dynamics 365 Business Central community, comprising developers, project managers, and&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/dynamics-business-central-nav-developer-digest-vol-551/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Dynamics Business Central / NAV Developer Digest &#8211; Vol. 551</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/dynamics-business-central-nav-developer-digest-vol-551/">Dynamics Business Central / NAV Developer Digest &#8211; Vol. 551</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert’s Developer Digest focuses on Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/software/dynamics-365-business-central/">Dynamics 365 Business Central</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/software/dynamics-nav/">Dynamics NAV</a>&nbsp;development. This week&#8217;s volume&nbsp;includes security enhancements for AL’s Http Client, using Visual Studio Code to run AL tests, debugging AL code using the Troubleshooting MCP Server, and plan now for OData deprecation.</p>



<p><em>The Dynamics 365 Business Central community, comprising developers, project managers, and consultants, collaborates across platforms to share valuable insights. At ArcherPoint, we greatly value their dedication and expertise. To <strong>ensure widespread access to this technical knowledge</strong>, we created Developer Digest</em>.</p>



<p>This issue of Dev Digest includes some changes in Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (v28) that will be of interest to developers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-security-enhancements-for-al-s-http-client">Security enhancements for AL’s http client</h2>



<p>With the release of Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (v28), Microsoft has introduced security when handling outgoing HTTP requests. This change is designed to prevent Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks and protect internal network infrastructure. This means that, by default, Business Central will block HTTP requests that use AL&#8217;s HttpClient to connect to internal network addresses. The goal is to prevent a bad actor from gaining access to the system and making a request to a database or other system running on your internal network.</p>



<p>This enhancement affects cloud and on-premises deployments differently.</p>



<p>Stefano Demiliani discusses the impact of this change and steps for migration and troubleshooting in his blog, <a href="https://demiliani.com/2026/04/02/dynamics-365-business-central-new-strict-uri-validation-in-al-http-client/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dynamics 365 Business Central: new strict URI validation in AL Http Client</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-visual-studio-code-to-run-al-tests">Use Visual Studio Code to run AL tests</h2>



<p>With BC v28, developers can run AL tests inside Visual Studio Code. According to Microsoft, “You can even use GitHub Copilot chat as well as a coding agent in Visual Studio Code to assist with setting up the testing framework for your project, generate test code, and fix failing tests.”</p>



<p>Yun Zhu provides a practical walkthrough of using the Test Explorer view in Visual Studio Code in his blog, <a href="https://yzhums.com/72045/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Business Central 2026 release wave 1 (BC28): Run AL tests from Visual Studio Code (Test codeunits and test methods)</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debugging-al-code-using-the-troubleshooting-mcp-server">Debugging AL code using the Troubleshooting MCP Server</h2>



<p>Also new in v28 is the Troubleshooting MCP Server, which gives Copilot the ability to inspect the execution of your AL code context while the debugger is paused. Copilot has access to the full call stack, can read variables across stack frames, and can help with breakpoints by object name or ID, type, and line number.</p>



<p>Stefan Šošić offers a useful demonstration of this tool in his blog, <a href="https://ssosic.com/ai-claude-and-copilot/al-mcp-server-for-debugging-in-business-central/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AL MCP Server for Debugging in Business Central</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-start-planning-now-for-odata-deprecation">Start planning now for OData deprecation</h2>



<p>Tharanga Chandrasekara raises an interesting note that when BC v30 is released next year, Microsoft “will remove the ability to expose Microsoft-authored pages as OData endpoints entirely.” And SOAP endpoints will soon be going away as well.</p>



<p>While not a crisis, he provides a migration approach that will help developers manage the transition over the coming months.</p>



<p>Read his blog, <a href="https://tharangac.com/2026/04/business-central-odata-deprecation-integration-architecture.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OData Deprecation in Business Central: What Your Integration Architecture Needs Right Now</a>, to learn more.</p>



<p>Are you interested in Dynamics NAV and Business Central development? Check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/blog/?_cat_platform_process=developer"><strong>collection of NAV/BC Development Blogs</strong></a>.</p>



<p>Read&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/blog/?_cat_how_to=how-to"><strong>“How To” blogs </strong></a>from ArcherPoint&nbsp;by Cherry Bekaert for practical advice on using Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 Business Central.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/dynamics-business-central-nav-developer-digest-vol-551/">Dynamics Business Central / NAV Developer Digest &#8211; Vol. 551</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hidden Constraints that Hold Back Growth for Machinery Manufacturers…and How to Overcome Them</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/growth-constraints-that-hold-back-machinery-manufacturers/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Wiley]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:55:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[ERP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manufacturing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Production Order]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supply Chain]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23625</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Most machinery manufacturers are not struggling because they can&#8217;t sell. In many cases, demand is strong, backlogs are healthy, and customers are asking for more customization, more sophisticated equipment, and faster delivery. On the surface, these are the signs of a successful, growing business. Yet behind the scenes, leadership teams experience a very different reality.&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/growth-constraints-that-hold-back-machinery-manufacturers/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Hidden Constraints that Hold Back Growth for Machinery Manufacturers…and How to Overcome Them</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/growth-constraints-that-hold-back-machinery-manufacturers/">Hidden Constraints that Hold Back Growth for Machinery Manufacturers…and How to Overcome Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Most machinery manufacturers are not struggling because they can&#8217;t sell. In many cases, demand is strong, backlogs are healthy, and customers are asking for more customization, more sophisticated equipment, and faster delivery. On the surface, these are the signs of a successful, growing business.</p>



<p>Yet behind the scenes, leadership teams experience a very different reality. The business is becoming harder to run every year. Margins are difficult to predict. Delivery dates feel less reliable. Engineering changes become the norm rather than the exception, disrupting production. As a result, management meetings increasingly revolve around reconciling numbers and explaining surprises instead of planning for the future.</p>



<p>Very few companies hit a wall because of a single, dramatic failure. Instead, they slowly decline because dozens of small operational failures quietly accumulate. Visibility erodes a little at a time. Manual workarounds become permanent. Firefighting becomes the norm. Individually, each issue appears manageable. Together, they create an organization that is increasingly reactive, increasingly fragile, and increasingly dependent on the institutional knowledge held by a few key people who &#8220;know how things really work.&#8221;</p>



<p>If these symptoms feel uncomfortably familiar, it is a sign that your business has outgrown the stage for which its systems and processes were designed.</p>



<div style="height:8px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="459" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-1024x459.jpg" alt="Unique Challenges" class="wp-image-23877" style="aspect-ratio:2.2309787234042555;width:692px;height:auto" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-1024x459.jpg 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-300x135.jpg 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-768x345.jpg 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-1536x689.jpg 1536w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-2048x919.jpg 2048w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PP-The-Challenges-MM-v2-1568x703.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<div style="height:8px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why machinery manufacturing is fundamentally different</h2>



<p>Unlike high-volume, repetitive make-to-stock (MTS) production environments, most machinery businesses operate in a hybrid world that blends engineer-to-order (ETO), make-to-order (MTO), and configure-to-order (CTO) models. Even when standard components can be reused, the finished product is often unique in meaningful ways:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Bills of material evolve as engineering refines designs.</li>



<li>Routings change based on capacity, material availability, or customer priorities.</li>



<li>Engineering change orders or changing customer requirements can appear midstream and must be absorbed without derailing the production schedule.</li>



<li>Lead times for specific raw materials or subassemblies can extend into months or longer.</li>
</ul>



<p>Problems emerge when the systems and processes used to manage this variability were designed for a much simpler version of the company. As the company grew, the processes that worked when there were fewer jobs, fewer suppliers, and fewer concurrent projects slowly became a bottleneck.</p>



<p>By the time leadership feels the strain of the complexity brought on by growth, the old processes have become deeply embedded in the way the business operates. The core challenge of machinery manufacturing is not the complexity itself; it is the need to manage that complexity deliberately, systematically, and at scale.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lack of visibility: You don&#8217;t know what you can&#8217;t see</h3>



<p>Many machinery manufacturers believe they have visibility into their business. They can produce financial statements, run backlog reports, and analyze performance. But in many cases, this information arrives after the decisions that mattered have already been made. This creates a visibility trap. On the surface, the organization appears informed. In practice, it is managing the business by looking in the rearview mirror.</p>



<p>Work-in-progress looks healthy in reports, but key jobs are quietly stalled waiting for parts or engineering input. Material shortages are discovered only when production is ready to start. Margin problems are uncovered at the end of the job, when there is no time to address them. Leadership meetings become exercises in reconciling whose numbers are right rather than discussing what should be done next.</p>



<p>In addition, many manufacturers lack comprehensive visibility into their supply chains, making it difficult to identify vulnerabilities and respond to disruptions effectively. True operational visibility is not about dashboards or reports. It is about having access to real-time information that matters, knowing what is happening while you can still change the outcome. When data is delayed, fragmented, or manually assembled, the organization becomes reactive by definition. Decisions are always one step behind reality.</p>



<p>The deeper issue is not a lack of reporting. It is the lack of a shared, real-time understanding of what is actually happening. Without that visibility, even the best management team is forced to manage by approximation and guesswork.</p>



<div style="height:5px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>


<div class="a-single a-36"><a class="gofollow" data-track="MzYsMCw2MA==" href="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AP-CB-ERP-Visibility-for-ERP-Machinery-Manufacturing-Playbook.pdf"><img decoding="async" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-25.jpg" /></a></div>


<div style="height:5px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Job costing in custom manufacturing: The silent profit killer</h3>



<p>Job costing in custom and project-based manufacturing is uniquely challenging. Engineering time is often under-allocated or treated as overhead. Change orders are tracked operationally but are not always accurately reflected in financial performance. Overhead is spread across multiple projects using broad averages that mask each project&#8217;s actual cost. Rework, expediting, and disruption disappear into general expense buckets.</p>



<p>The result is that pricing decisions, customer strategy, and product investment choices are made based on distorted signals. Some jobs that appear profitable are not, while others that appear unprofitable are actually carrying the business.</p>



<p>Accurate job costing is not an accounting exercise. It requires that material, labor, overhead, and engineering effort be accumulated accurately as the job progresses. It requires that change orders are visible as both schedule events and financial events. And it requires that variances are addressed while there is still time to correct them.</p>



<p>Without this real-time visibility, margin erosion becomes a slow, silent leak. The business may grow, but it becomes progressively less predictable and less resilient. The most dangerous part is that the organization often does not realize this is happening until profitability is already under pressure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scheduling chaos: When growth breaks planning</h2>



<p>In many young organizations, planning starts as an informal coordination exercise. As the business grows, spreadsheets appear. Then, basic MRP tools are introduced. Eventually, capacity constraints become a problem, and scheduling tradeoffs become unavoidable.</p>



<p>Several symptoms begin to appear when this happens:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>More and more orders must be expedited.</li>



<li>Promise dates slip frequently.</li>



<li>Engineering, purchasing, and production optimize for their own priorities rather than for the business as a whole.</li>
</ul>



<p>At this point, scheduling is no longer just a planning problem. It is a coordination problem across the entire organization. Sales is selling one reality. Engineering is designing another. Purchasing is reacting to shortages. Production is doing its best to keep things moving. No one is wrong, but the system as a whole is out of alignment. The result is late deliveries, lost trust, internal friction, and a constant sense that the business is running faster only to stay in the same place.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Inventory: Your biggest asset…and your biggest cash drain</h2>



<p>Because most machinery manufacturers operate in engineer-to-order, make-to-order, or hybrid models, their inventory and supply chain challenges are fundamentally different from those of high-volume, make-to-stock manufacturers.</p>



<p>In theory, inventory exists to protect the business. It ensures production continuity, absorbs supply chain variability, and allows commitments to be met with confidence. In practice, for many machinery manufacturers, inventory becomes one of the most significant sources of financial drag, operational friction, and strategic risk.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Long lead times and the commitment trap</h3>



<p>Many of the most critical components in machinery manufacturing have long or unpredictable lead times. Some are machined-to-order. Some are imported, and, in some cases, are sole-sourced from highly specialized suppliers. Often, these specialized parts must be ordered weeks or months before final designs are finalized.</p>



<p>This forces planners into a difficult position. They must commit to purchases far in advance of certainty. When designs evolve—as they almost always do—forecast errors are amplified. A single late or incorrect component can stall an entire job, tie up work-in-progress, and cause late deliveries downstream.</p>



<p>Over time, organizations adapt in predictable ways. They overbuy &#8220;just in case.&#8221; They expedite constantly. They carry excess safety stock for the wrong parts. These behaviors feel prudent in the moment, but collectively they inflate inventory, tie up capital, and still fail to deliver reliability.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">When engineering changes impact inventory</h3>



<p>In ETO and MTO environments, demand is not driven by sales alone. It is also driven by engineering decisions. Bills of material evolve. Specifications change. Customers revise requirements. Engineering refines designs after projects are already in motion. This is not a failure of discipline; rather, it is the nature of complex, custom manufacturing.</p>



<p>But the inventory consequences are severe. Parts that were already ordered become obsolete, excess, or usable only for &#8220;some future job.&#8221; New parts must be sourced urgently and often expedited at a premium cost.</p>



<p>There is poor visibility into which materials are tied to which projects. And there is often no clear distinction between project-specific inventory and shared, reusable stock. None of this shows up in forecasts. Yet all of it shows up in cash flow and delivery performance.</p>



<p>Inventory problems in machinery manufacturing are almost always a result of poor coordination and visibility. And until that coordination problem is addressed at a systemic level, inventory will continue to behave like both the business&#8217;s greatest asset and its greatest cash drain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What happens when the business outgrows its systems</h2>



<p>Growth changes the shape of the business. New product lines introduce new parts, routings, and suppliers. New facilities introduce more coordination challenges. More customization increases engineering workload and planning complexity. Mergers and acquisitions multiply data, processes, and reporting requirements overnight.</p>



<p>Systems and processes that worked perfectly well when the company started now become constraints as the business grows. At this stage, many organizations feel busy but not in control. Growth continues, but it becomes harder to conduct business as usual.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Traceability, compliance, and rising expectations</h2>



<p>Traceability is no longer confined to heavily regulated industries. Customers expect detailed documentation, configuration history, and the ability to trace components, assemblies, and changes. In many markets, traceability has become a prerequisite for doing business rather than a differentiator.</p>



<p>Manual systems and processes can handle this for a while, but eventually they break under the weight of volume, complexity, and audit pressure. When traceability fails, the consequences are not limited to compliance risk. They include lost customer confidence, expensive investigations, and operational paralysis when questions cannot be answered quickly and confidently.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It&#8217;s not just one problem</h2>



<p>Often, machinery manufacturers attempt to fix these challenges one at a time. They buy a better scheduling tool. They use a better inventory model. They create a better costing spreadsheet. Or they implement a new reporting package.</p>



<p>But the problems they are trying to address are not independent; they are interconnected: You cannot sustainably fix scheduling without fixing material coordination. Fixing margins also requires fixing visibility. And you cannot fix planning without fixing data integrity.</p>



<p>Point solutions that address a specific issue often improve one area at the expense of another, lack integration with other business systems, and create new data silos. Over time, the organization becomes a patchwork of workarounds that only a few people fully understand. The fundamental constraint is the lack of a unified operational and financial picture of the business.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What scalable manufacturers do differently</h2>



<p>Machinery manufacturers who successfully scale their businesses must manage complexity as they grow. When it becomes too difficult to manage growth with existing tools and processes, it&#8217;s time to seriously evaluate a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for machinery manufacturers—not as an accounting system but as an operational coordination platform.</p>



<p>Modern, cloud-based ERP systems are designed specifically for this mid-market reality: Complex, growing, mixed-mode manufacturers who need unified data, real-time visibility, and strong alignment between operations and finance. They allow manufacturers to work from a single, shared version of the truth. Operations and finance are tightly aligned. Decisions are based on current reality, not last month&#8217;s results. Processes are designed to scale without relying on heroics. And manual processes and multiple spreadsheets are replaced by automation and real-time data.</p>



<div style="height:5px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>


<div class="a-single a-37"><a class="gofollow" data-track="MzcsMCw2MA==" href="https://archerpointinc.outgrow.us/machinery-mfg-erp-assessment"><img decoding="async" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-26.jpg" /></a></div>


<div style="height:8px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-machinery-manufacturers-choose-dynamics-365-business-central">Why machinery manufacturers choose Dynamics 365 Business Central</h2>



<p>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is built for exactly the kind of complexity faced by mid-market manufacturing companies. It provides:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>A single, unified system for operations and finance</li>



<li>Real-time visibility into jobs, inventory, WIP, and margins</li>



<li>Strong support for engineer-to-order, make-to-order, and hybrid models</li>



<li>Integrated planning, purchasing, production, and costing</li>



<li>A modern, cloud-based platform that scales as your business grows</li>



<li>Seamless integration with the broader Microsoft ecosystem (Power BI, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and more)</li>



<li>Implemented on Microsoft&#8217;s Azure platform, featuring enterprise-level security, system backup and failover capabilities, and advanced AI capabilities.</li>
</ul>



<p>What this means for you:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sales can be directly linked to customizable production or planned in batches</li>



<li>Product versioning and material changes can be planned, allowing the full use and phase-out of inventory</li>



<li>Supplier pricing and lead times are easily visible</li>



<li>Critical information can be captured from workflows for reporting and optimization decisions</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why ArcherPoint</h3>



<p>At ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert, we work with machinery manufacturers and project-driven manufacturers who have reached this inflection point.</p>



<p>We don&#8217;t start with software. We start by understanding:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>How your business actually works</li>



<li>Where complexity is creating friction or risk</li>



<li>Which constraints are limiting growth, visibility, or control</li>



<li>Whether Dynamics 365 Business Central is the right fit for you</li>



<li>And what a realistic, staged roadmap should look like</li>
</ul>



<p><a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/">Contact ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert</a> today and let us help you move from managing complexity to controlling it so you can grow your business with confidence.</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/growth-constraints-that-hold-back-machinery-manufacturers/">Hidden Constraints that Hold Back Growth for Machinery Manufacturers…and How to Overcome Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>Get Ready for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28)!</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/whats-new-in-business-central-2026-wave-1-v28/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dynamics Insights]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Central]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upgrade]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23895</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28) is being released this month and includes new and updated features that promise to make Business Central easier to use, helping users be more productive. Here are some of our favorite new features in BC28. Supply chain Add pictures to item variants Users can store images showing item variants,&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/whats-new-in-business-central-2026-wave-1-v28/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Get Ready for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28)!</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/whats-new-in-business-central-2026-wave-1-v28/">Get Ready for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28)!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28) is being released this month and includes new and updated features that promise to make Business Central easier to use, helping users be more productive.</p>



<p>Here are some of our favorite new features in BC28.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supply-chain">Supply chain</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-add-pictures-to-item-variants">Add pictures to item variants</h3>



<p>Users can <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#add-pictures-to-item-variants-to-differentiate-product-options" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">store images showing item variants</a>, such as different sizes and colors, and make them available using the Variants action on the Item Card.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-add-the-description-2-field-to-various-pages">Add the Description 2 field to various pages</h3>



<p>Users can <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#add-the-description-2-field-to-various-pages-to-gain-more-insight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personalize various pages using the Description 2 field</a>. This feature can be used to include additional context descriptions to BOMs, routings, production orders, and more.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-approval-workflows-for-requisition-worksheets-and-item-journals">Approval workflows for requisition worksheets and item journals</h3>



<p>This feature extends <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#approve-requisition-worksheets-and-item-journals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approval workflows to include item journals and requisition and planning worksheets</a>. Users can send batches from the Item, Physical Inventory, Output, and Consumption Journals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reporting">Reporting</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-view-user-and-group-permissions-from-all-apps-and-extensions">View user and group permissions from all apps and extensions</h3>



<p>Administrators can <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#audit-user-and-group-permissions-across-apps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">view permissions across all apps and extensions</a>, including filtering data by object, scope, extension, or permission set, providing a central location to view permissions, conduct security audits, or troubleshoot issues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-development">Development</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-al-developers-can-search-on-data-and-metadata-using-semantic-search">AL developers can search on data and metadata using semantic search</h3>



<p><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#al-developers-can-use-semantic-search-on-data-and-metadata" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AL developers can search by similarity to the search term</a> using the new codeunit, &#8220;Semantic Data Search&#8221;.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enable-troubleshooting-mcp-server-for-al">Enable Troubleshooting MCP Server for AL</h3>



<p>Lets developers use runtime data at breakpoints or errors to <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#enable-troubleshooting-mcp-server-for-al" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">troubleshoot MCP Server issues and determine which entries triggered a failure during AL debugging</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evaluate-al-coding-agents-with-bc-bench">Evaluate AL coding agents with BC-Bench</h3>



<p>Developers can use the <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#evaluate-al-coding-agents-with-bc-bench" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BC-Bench benchmarking framework</a> to help determine which improvements to agent performance are most effective in real-world situations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-copilot-and-agents">Copilot and agents</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-item-insights-with-advanced-kpis-and-summary">Get item insights with advanced KPIs and Summary</h3>



<p><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#get-item-insights-with-advanced-kpis-and-summary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Copilot provides useful KPI information from the new Item Statistics page</a>. Some of the new KPIs available include inventory valuations, such as current inventory value and expired inventory value, and sales performance, including percentage sales growth rate, net sales, and gross margin. A word of caution: This feature comes with a warning box that states, in part, &#8220;AI-generated content might be incorrect.&#8221;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manage-tasks-from-all-agents-in-a-dedicated-task-pane">Manage tasks from all agents in a dedicated task pane</h3>



<p>This feature helps users who rely on AI-driven workflows, such as accountants, salespeople, and managers, <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#manage-tasks-from-all-agents-in-dedicated-task-pane" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">display all tasks generated by the agents</a> from a single location.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-review-content-generated-by-agents-directly-on-pages">Review content generated by agents directly on pages</h3>



<p><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#review-content-generated-by-agents-directly-on-pages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Users can review and approve content generated by agents</a> directly on the pages where they work, keeping the review process within the page context.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-show-avatars-for-record-creators-and-modifiers-in-lists">Show avatars for record creators and modifiers in lists</h3>



<p>This feature facilitates traceability by making it easier to <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#show-avatars-for-record-creators-and-modifiers-in-lists" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identify which user or agent created or modified a record</a> without opening the record.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stop-all-active-tasks-for-a-selected-agent">Stop all active tasks for a selected agent</h3>



<p>This feature <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#stop-all-active-tasks-for-selected-agent" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lets users stop all active tasks for a selected agent</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-ai-resources-for-your-copilot-extensions">Use AI resources for your Copilot extensions</h3>



<p>This feature <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/preview-feature-details#use-ai-resources-for-your-copilot-extensions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">makes it easier to set up and secure AI capabilities</a>. Includes scaling and throttling resources along with tracking and billing for AI resource consumption.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-notable-new-features">Other notable new features</h2>



<p>Other significant changes include the ability to <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/create-purchase-orders-drop-shipments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">create purchase orders directly from sales orders that are set up for drop-shipment</a>, <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/reverse-drop-shipments-when-sales-purchase-documents-arent-invoiced" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reverse drop shipments</a>, and <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/match-purchase-invoices-multiple-order-receipt-lines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">match invoice lines to relevant purchase order lines and receipts</a>.</p>



<p>There are several enhancements to Shopify connectivity, including the ability to <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/assign-custom-collections-items-exported-shopify" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organize products into logical groups</a>, <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/sync-images-product-variants-between-business-central-shopify" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">synchronize product variant images with Shopify</a>, and <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/use-latest-update-shopify-connector">access to the latest Sp</a><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/use-latest-update-shopify-connector" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">otify API</a>.</p>



<p>In addition, the <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/evaluate-quality-incoming-goods-materials" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quality Management extension</a> lets you control when quality checks are performed, specify the parameters of the quality check, define quarantine procedures, generate quality status reports, and provide quality certificates.</p>


<div class="a-single a-19"><a class="gofollow" data-track="MTksMCw2MA==" href="https://info.archerpoint.com/nav-bc-feature-comparison"><img decoding="async" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/850X150-Comparing-BC-to-NAV-Spreadsheet.jpg" /></a></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-items-being-deprecated">Items being deprecated</h2>



<p><strong>API v1.0:</strong> One of the most important changes in this release is that <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/upgrade/deprecated-features-w1#api-v10-for-business-central-removal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API v1.0 will be deprecated in BC v28</a>. This API is used to connect Business Central to external systems, such as eCommerce platforms, Power Platform applications (including Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI), Azure Data Lake, and CRM integrations. Users, administrators, and developers are urged to migrate to API v2.0.</p>



<p><strong>BC 2025 Wave 2 connector&#8217;s API expires June 30, 2026:</strong> In 2025 Wave 2, Microsoft updated the Shopify Connector to use a specific Shopify API version, which will only be supported through June 30, 2026. </p>



<p>From <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2026wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/use-latest-update-shopify-connector" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>: &#8220;The Shopify Connector released in 2025 release wave 2 (October 2025) relies on API 2025-07, which is supported until June 30, 2026. To continue to use your integration, upgrade to the latest version of Business Central before this date.&#8221;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn more</h2>



<p>2026 Wave 1 adds greater security, auditability, and development features that promise to make working with Business Central much easier for users, developers, and administrators.</p>



<p><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/es-es/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/whatsnew/whatsnew-update-28-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check out Microsoft&#8217;s preview page</a> for a complete list of the features included in this release.</p>



<p><a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/">Contact ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert</a> to learn more about this new release. <a href="https://archerpoint.com/services/upgrades/">ArcherPoint also offers help with Business Central upgrades and software updates</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/whats-new-in-business-central-2026-wave-1-v28/">Get Ready for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2026 Wave 1 (BC28)!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>AI for the Over 40 – Week 22: When Everything is an Agent, Nothing is an Agent</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/ai-over-40-series-week-22-when-everything-is-an-agent-nothing-is-an-agent/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Greg Kaupp]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[AI & Copilot]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23679</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>By the second day of an AI + ERP conference I attended, I had heard the word &#8216;agent&#8217; so many times that it had lost all meaning. A researcher is an agent. An analyst is an agent. Facilitator is an agent. Every sponsor demo featured agents. Every hallway conversation mentioned agentic AI. Then another attendee&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-over-40-series-week-22-when-everything-is-an-agent-nothing-is-an-agent/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">AI for the Over 40 – Week 22: When Everything is an Agent, Nothing is an Agent</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-over-40-series-week-22-when-everything-is-an-agent-nothing-is-an-agent/">AI for the Over 40 – Week 22: When Everything is an Agent, Nothing is an Agent</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>By the second day of an AI + ERP conference I attended, I had heard the word &#8216;agent&#8217; so many times that it had lost all meaning.</p>



<p>A researcher is an agent. An analyst is an agent. Facilitator is an agent. Every sponsor demo featured agents. Every hallway conversation mentioned agentic AI.</p>



<p>Then another attendee said what I had been thinking: there don’t seem to be any common definitions of what &#8220;agent&#8221; or &#8220;agentic&#8221; actually means.</p>



<p>Everyone nodded. No one clarified. A week earlier, a technology leader told me some of his employees had saved well-crafted prompts as reusable instructions and genuinely believed they had built an “agent.”</p>



<p>That’s when it clicked. The word agent now covers everything from a smart saved prompt to systems that work while you sleep. If everything is an agent, the word means nothing.</p>



<p>And that confusion is going to cost organizations real money.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-defining-agent-is-genuinely-hard">Why defining &#8216;agent&#8217; is genuinely hard</h2>



<p>My first instinct was to blame marketing. Vendors labeling everything as agent to ride the hype cycle.</p>



<p>But the problem runs deeper. We struggle to define agent because we cannot see what is happening inside these systems.</p>



<p>I call this <strong>the observability problem</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-can-see-and-control">What we can see and control</h3>



<p>There are external variables we can observe and manipulate.</p>



<p>Model selection. Choosing between models like Claude, GPT, or Gemini dramatically affects speed, depth, and behavior.</p>



<p>Mode selection. Standard chat versus deep research, extended thinking, or agent mode.</p>



<p>Project configuration. The instructions, documents, and context we provide.</p>



<p>Connectors and tools. MCP servers, plugins, and integrations that extend access to systems.</p>



<p>These are the switches we control. We can test them. We can compare results.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-cannot-see">What we cannot see</h3>



<p>But internal behavior is largely hidden.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>How many reasoning steps did the model take?</li>



<li>Did it spawn parallel tasks?</li>



<li>Which internal tools did it call?</li>



<li>Did it revise its own work before responding?</li>
</ul>



<p>The same external inputs can produce very different internal processes. And we often have no visibility into why.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-gap-that-creates-confusion">The gap that creates confusion</h2>



<p>This gap between what we control and what we can observe creates the definition problem.</p>



<p>Is something an agent because of internal complexity? If so, we often cannot tell.</p>



<p>Or is something an agent because of what we experience—how much autonomy we grant and how independently it operates?</p>



<p>Since internal mechanics are opaque, defining agent by what is happening inside is a dead end. We need to define it by experience. By observable autonomy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-experience-based-framework-for-agent">An experience-based framework for agent</h2>



<p>After dozens of conversations and experiments, I have settled on a four-level spectrum. The framework focuses on what you experience, not what marketing claims.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-level-1-enhanced-chat">Level 1: enhanced chat</h3>



<p>Reactive. You ask, it responds.</p>



<p>It may reason deeply, search broadly, or take longer to answer. But nothing happens when you close the window.</p>



<p>Examples include deep research modes, knowledge assistants, and advanced analyst features.</p>



<p>Saved prompts that consistently produce strong results live here. Useful? Absolutely. But still enhanced chat.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-level-2-triggered-automation-with-ai-reasoning">Level 2: triggered automation with AI reasoning</h3>



<p>A predefined trigger starts a predefined workflow.</p>



<p>AI makes decisions within structured paths.</p>



<p>This is workflow automation with an LLM brain.</p>



<p>Examples include event-triggered assistants, meeting summarizers that generate tasks, and prebuilt business agents.</p>



<p>Sophisticated and valuable. But the path is still largely defined in advance.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-level-3-goal-pursuing-agent">Level 3: goal-pursuing agent</h3>



<p>You provide a goal. The AI plans and executes steps to reach it.</p>



<p>It decides the path within the guardrails you set. It may adapt based on what it discovers. It may ask clarifying questions or request approvals.</p>



<p>But it is session-bound. When you close the window, it stops.</p>



<p>Examples include multi-step research tasks, computer-use capabilities, and complex tool-driven sessions.</p>



<p>The key question is who decides the next step. At Level 2, rules and triggers decide. At Level 3, the AI does.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-level-4-persistent-autonomous-agent">Level 4: persistent autonomous agent</h3>



<p>This is what most people imagine when they hear the word &#8216;agent&#8217;.</p>



<p>It works across time. It may continue while you are away. It sets sub-goals, adapts when things fail, and maintains state across sessions.</p>



<p>Examples include long-running coding agents or research systems that operate overnight.</p>



<p>This is true persistence and autonomy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-agent-like-behavior-actually-feels-like">What agent-like behavior actually feels like</h2>



<p>Recently, I tested ChatGPT’s Agent Mode with a research task. I gave it a goal and walked away.</p>



<p>Eleven minutes later, it was finished. During that time, it searched, evaluated sources, synthesized findings, and structured results. I was not guiding each step. I was delegating.</p>



<p>That felt different. Not because I could see internal mechanics, but because my experience changed. I gave a destination and waited.</p>



<p>Compare that to a deep research response in standard chat. The output may be equally impressive. The internal complexity may be similar. But experientially, I asked a question and received an answer. That is enhanced chat, not agency.</p>



<p>Platform differences reinforce this confusion. Claude offers strong agentic capabilities through Claude Code for developers, but not in its standard chat interface. ChatGPT brings agent-like behavior into chat through Agent Mode. Capabilities vary by vendor and even by product tier. The word agent does not mean the same thing everywhere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-diagnostic-questions">The diagnostic questions</h2>



<p>The next time someone claims something is an agent, ask three questions.</p>



<p><strong>Does it work while I am away?</strong><br>If no, it is Levels 1 through 3. If yes, it approaches Level 4.</p>



<p><strong>Who decides the next step?</strong><br>If you direct each interaction, it is Level 1.<br>If triggers and workflows decide, it is Level 2.<br>If the AI decides within your guardrails, it is Level 3 or 4.</p>



<p><strong>What happens when it fails?</strong><br>If it stops and waits for you, it is Levels 1 through 3.<br>If it autonomously tries alternatives, it is Level 4.</p>



<p>These questions cut through buzzwords and force clarity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-consumer-to-informed-evaluator">From consumer to informed evaluator</h2>



<p>Without a framework, you are a consumer of marketing. You hear &#8216;agent&#8217; and assume autonomy you cannot verify.</p>



<p>With a framework, you become an informed evaluator. You place capabilities on the spectrum. You match what you are getting to what you actually need.</p>



<p>And here is the overlooked truth: sometimes Level 2 is exactly what you need.</p>



<p>If your problem is routing requests or summarizing meetings into structured actions, a persistent autonomous system may be unnecessary. Triggered automation with AI reasoning might be the right tool.</p>



<p>The goal is not to chase Level 4. <strong>The goal is to match capability to need.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-your-organization">Why this matters for your organization</h2>



<p>Terminology confusion creates real risk.</p>



<p>Misaligned expectations. Leadership expects autonomous agents. You deploy structured workflows. The pilot is labeled a failure.</p>



<p>Wasted investment. You pay premium prices for agentic AI that is effectively enhanced chat.</p>



<p>Missed opportunities. You dismiss Level 2 solutions as unimpressive when they are exactly what your business needs.</p>



<p>Literacy matters. You cannot delegate to something you do not understand. You cannot evaluate what you cannot define.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-week-22-challenge-cut-through-the-noise">Your week 22 challenge: cut through the noise</h2>



<p>This week, apply the framework.</p>



<p>Find an agent claim in a vendor pitch, product demo, or internal project. Ask the diagnostic questions. Place it on the spectrum. Identify the gap between implication and reality. Then ask whether that level of agency matches your need.</p>



<p>Share what you discover with a colleague. The more leaders who adopt clear definitions, the less money organizations will waste on ambiguous promises.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



<p>I left that conference realizing we do not have shared definitions for the term &#8216;agent&#8217;. That confusion will cost organizations money.</p>



<p>We cannot reliably define an agent by internal mechanics because we cannot see them. We must define it by experience. By autonomy granted. By what happens while we are away.</p>



<p>This framework is not about hype. It is about clarity.</p>



<p>If everything is an agent, nothing is an agent. And you cannot invest intelligently in a word that nobody can define.</p>



<p></p>



<p><em>This post is part of my “AI Over 40” series. It first appeared on LinkedIn:&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-over-40-week-22-when-everything-agent-nothing-greg-kaupp-cdspc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI for the Over 40 [Week 22]: When Everything Is an Agent, Nothing Is an Agent</a><br><br>Read more&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/blog/?_cat_platform_process=ai-copilot"><strong>AI and Copilot</strong></a>&nbsp;blogs.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ai-over-40-series-week-22-when-everything-is-an-agent-nothing-is-an-agent/">AI for the Over 40 – Week 22: When Everything is an Agent, Nothing is an Agent</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>Ransomware Recovery to Cloud ERP: CKS Packaging’s SaaS Move</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/ransomware-recovery-to-cloud-erp-cks-packagings-saas-move/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dynamics Insights]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Central]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cybersecurity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Transformation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dynamics NAV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Implementation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manufacturing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upgrade]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23880</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>When ERP systems go down, the impact extends far beyond IT. Sales, shipping, invoicing, and cash flow can all be affected, making business continuity an immediate priority—especially for manufacturers managing high-volume operations. In this client testimonial, CKS Packaging shares how a ransomware event accelerated its move from on-premises Business Central to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/ransomware-recovery-to-cloud-erp-cks-packagings-saas-move/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Ransomware Recovery to Cloud ERP: CKS Packaging’s SaaS Move</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ransomware-recovery-to-cloud-erp-cks-packagings-saas-move/">Ransomware Recovery to Cloud ERP: CKS Packaging’s SaaS Move</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>When ERP systems go down, the impact extends far beyond IT. Sales, shipping, invoicing, and cash flow can all be affected, making business continuity an immediate priority—especially for manufacturers managing high-volume operations.</p>



<p>In this client testimonial, CKS Packaging shares how a ransomware event accelerated its move from on-premises Business Central to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS, and how ArcherPoint helped the team restore critical operations and move forward in just days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manufacturing-operations-disrupted-by-ransomware">Manufacturing operations disrupted by ransomware</h2>



<p>CKS Packaging, a manufacturer of plastic containers, experienced a ransomware attack that impacted a large portion of the business, including its on-premises Dynamics 365 Business Central system. The disruption affected several critical functions, including:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sales order processing</li>



<li>Shipping operations</li>



<li>Accounts payable and receivable</li>



<li>Customer communication and tracking</li>
</ul>



<p>While production could continue, the inability to access core systems created immediate business pressure. As the testimonial makes clear, shipping products is only part of the equation—processing transactions, tracking customer information, and getting paid are just as critical.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accelerating-a-cloud-erp-strategy">Accelerating a cloud ERP strategy</h2>



<p>Before the ransomware event, CKS Packaging had already planned to migrate to Business Central SaaS over 12 to 18 months. That timeline changed dramatically when the business needed to restore access to critical systems as quickly as possible.</p>



<p>With ArcherPoint’s support, what had been a long-term cloud roadmap became an accelerated recovery effort. The team helped:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stand up a temporary SaaS environment</li>



<li>Configure permissions and access</li>



<li>Restore the most important business functions first</li>



<li>Support the transition back into the primary tenant after recovery</li>
</ul>



<p>That combination of speed and prioritization allowed CKS Packaging to move from a long-range SaaS plan to an urgent deployment in a matter of days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-cloud-erp-matters-for-business-continuity">Why cloud ERP matters for business continuity</h2>



<p>One of the clearest lessons from the experience was the value of cloud-based ERP. For CKS Packaging, moving critical systems off-premises created greater separation between the internal IT network and the business systems needed to keep operations running.</p>



<p>The move to SaaS was no longer just about modernization. It became a practical business continuity decision—one that improved resilience and reinforced the importance of protecting the systems that support orders, customer service, and revenue flow.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-value-of-a-responsive-manufacturing-partner">The value of a responsive manufacturing partner</h2>



<p>Throughout the event, ArcherPoint’s responsiveness and familiarity with the business were critical. The team was able to:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Identify which systems and processes need to be restored first</li>



<li>Mobilize the right resources quickly</li>



<li>Provide real-time support during a high-pressure situation</li>
</ul>



<p>CKS Packaging also emphasized ArcherPoint’s understanding of manufacturing operations. Rather than acting as a generalist partner, the team brought process awareness, business context, and proactive recommendations shaped by years of working together. That combination of technical expertise and manufacturing knowledge helped drive better decisions when timing mattered most.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-partnership-built-on-responsiveness-and-trust">A partnership built on responsiveness and trust</h2>



<p>Over time, the relationship between CKS Packaging and ArcherPoint has grown beyond a typical vendor engagement. Across support, consulting, and strategic guidance, ArcherPoint has remained:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Responsive across teams</li>



<li>Collaborative in solving problems</li>



<li>Invested in the business’s long-term success</li>
</ul>



<p>That level of partnership was especially important during a disruptive event, but it also reflects something broader: when a partner understands your business, your priorities, and your processes, they are better equipped to help when the stakes are highest.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watch-the-client-testimonial">Watch the client testimonial</h2>


<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><a href="https://archerpoint.com/ransomware-recovery-to-cloud-erp-cks-packagings-saas-move/"><img decoding="async" src="//i.ytimg.com/vi/1grHjdbkvpE/hqdefault.jpg" alt="YouTube Video"></a><br /><br /><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


<p>If your manufacturing organization is evaluating cloud ERP or preparing for unexpected disruptions, learning from real-world recovery and migration experiences can help you plan more effectively. Reach out to <a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=cta" type="link" id="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=cta">ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert</a> to explore how a responsive, experienced partner can support your ERP strategy.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-video-transcript">Video transcript</h3>



<p><em>My name is Charles Massey. I’m the Vice President of Information Technology at CKS Packaging.</em></p>



<p><em>I’ve been here about five years now. It’ll be five years in March.</em></p>



<p><em>CKS Packaging produces plastic containers—everything from dairy bottles to industrial gallons, and anything in between in the plastic packaging space.</em></p>



<p><em>For us, I think it’s the fact that you guys have people on your team who have been with you for a long time. All the customizations and different things we’ve developed in partnership with ArcherPoint have really driven that relationship.</em></p>



<p><em>I think, for us, it’s the interest in understanding the end result—the end goal of what we’re trying to get to. It’s not just developing something and passing it off, but trying to understand the business process involved and really digging into what the need is before starting down a path to resolution.</em></p>



<p><em>We did have a ransomware event in December of 2023. It hit a large portion of the enterprise, including our on-prem version of Business Central. Obviously, it affected every part of the business that runs through there—from sales orders to shipping, AP and AR processes as well.</em></p>



<p><em>It was a very stressful event. For our business, we can continue to make plastic bottles, but actually getting paid when we ship those plastic bottles is just as important.</em></p>



<p><em>There was a lot of tracking—getting customer information out of the system when the system wasn’t available—and keeping customers happy was critical to us.</em></p>



<p><em>Again, back to the relationships that have been built with some of the guys at ArcherPoint internally who knew what we needed and what was critical to the business.</em></p>



<p><em>As soon as we called Quentin, we were on the phone with the right people within the team, figuring out what we needed to do and the best path forward to get back into the systems.</em></p>



<p><em>It’s an interesting thing. We had a roadmap to do SaaS over 12 to 18 months, and then we decided we’d do it in five days.</em></p>



<p><em>ArcherPoint and Quentin helped get the right resources on the phone, stand up the SaaS environment, configure it, set up permissions in a temporary tenant, and then migrate everything back into the primary tenant once ransomware recovery was complete. That was a big help.</em></p>



<p><em>The cloud-based approach is critical. It’s the air-gapped piece of it. You want separation between what we call your IT network and those critical business functions.</em></p>



<p><em>That was one of our lessons learned from the ransomware event—to take everything we can off-prem and push it into the cloud.</em></p>



<p><em>Again, it comes back to having the right partner—understanding what’s critical to the business. It all comes down to having a feel within that partner so they understand what the important parts are.</em></p>



<p><em>Do we need to get everything back up? Yes. But did ArcherPoint instantly know what the most important pieces were to restore first? Yes. That partner relationship really helped drive that.</em></p>



<p><em>I think it’s really important for a partner to understand what you do. There are a lot of partners out there that are generalists, but it’s very evident from my experience with ArcherPoint that they have resources who have been involved in the manufacturing process before.</em></p>



<p><em>I think that’s a critical piece—to find partners and create relationships with people who have done what you do.</em></p>



<p><em>Absolutely. Anytime I’ve ever reached out to anybody at ArcherPoint—whether on the sales side, the support side, or whatever it may be—I’ve gotten an instant response. That’s critical in business these days.</em></p>



<p><em>I think ArcherPoint is a great partner to work with around Microsoft technologies. They’ve come to the table with things we didn’t even think of, which is important too.</em></p>



<p><em>They make suggestions based on the relationship they’ve built with us over the last several years.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/ransomware-recovery-to-cloud-erp-cks-packagings-saas-move/">Ransomware Recovery to Cloud ERP: CKS Packaging’s SaaS Move</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>MRP vs. MPS: Choosing the Right Planning Approach for Your Manufacturing Business</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/</link>
					<comments>https://archerpoint.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dynamics Insights]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[MRP]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.wpengine.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Balancing supply and demand in manufacturing is essential to avoid stockouts, costly overages, and production bottlenecks that delay deliveries. The right plan can help. Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Master Production Scheduling (MPS) are two foundational strategies manufacturers use to maintain control over inventory, demand response, and production timelines. Understanding MRP and MPS To choose&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">MRP vs. MPS: Choosing the Right Planning Approach for Your Manufacturing Business</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/">MRP vs. MPS: Choosing the Right Planning Approach for Your Manufacturing Business</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Balancing supply and demand in manufacturing is essential to avoid stockouts, costly overages, and production bottlenecks that delay deliveries. The right plan can help. Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Master Production Scheduling (MPS) are two foundational strategies manufacturers use to maintain control over inventory, demand response, and production timelines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-mrp-and-mps">Understanding MRP and MPS</h2>



<p>To choose between MRP and MPS, you should understand demand, as it ultimately drives decisions in your manufacturing business. There are two main kinds of demand:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Independent demand </strong>refers to customers&#8217; desire for a product. You can determine independent demand by looking at forecasts, market reports, pre-orders, and orders.</li>



<li><strong>Dependent demand</strong> is the demand for raw materials and parts needed to produce the final product. A bill of materials can help you determine dependent demand.</li>
</ul>



<p>MPS is driven by independent demand and establishes which products you need to produce, when, and in what quantities. MPS is the “big picture” roadmap that creates better workflows by aligning your manufacturing capacity with demand. It ensures customers get products on time while reducing overstocking or stockouts.</p>



<p>While MPS focuses on the finished product, MRP is a micro-level system that determines the parts, materials, and subassemblies required to produce it. MRP answers to the MPS because it&#8217;s driven by dependent demand. MRP improves supply chain transparency and minimizes bottlenecks by making sure parts are available when needed.</p>



<p>For example, let&#8217;s say you make winter coats. MPS can help you determine when to produce the most coats for winter sales, how many coats to produce, and which types to produce to meet demand.&nbsp;MRP can help you determine when you need to order zippers, down material, fabric, buttons, and other materials (and in what quantities).&nbsp;</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="512" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-mrp-vs-mps-choosing-the-right-planning-1024x512.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23906" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-mrp-vs-mps-choosing-the-right-planning-1024x512.png 1024w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-mrp-vs-mps-choosing-the-right-planning-300x150.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-mrp-vs-mps-choosing-the-right-planning-768x384.png 768w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-mrp-vs-mps-choosing-the-right-planning.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-to-choose-mrp-or-mps">When to choose MRP or MPS</h2>



<p>Both MRP and MPS play an important role, but one may better suit your situation than the other.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-benefits-of-mrp">What Are the Benefits of MRP?</h3>



<p>MRP may be right if you have a product with many materials, especially perishable materials, or components you need to manage. Owners who are concerned about reducing overstock and like a comprehensive approach to inventory may also choose MRP.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Improves inventory control:</strong> MRP processes make supply chain management easier. They use real-time data to display current supplies, so managers can identify materials that need replenishment before they run out.</li>



<li><strong>Boosts production efficiency:</strong> MRP provides managers with significant insights into the time and materials required to keep production flowing smoothly. They can track and use raw data to minimize delays and miscalculations.</li>



<li><strong>Reduces purchasing costs:</strong> This process automates searches, enabling businesses to access the most cost-effective solutions. By minimizing purchasing costs, companies can offer better product cost-efficiency and reap the bottom-line benefits.</li>



<li><strong>Implements emergency strategies:</strong> MRP helps ensure efficient stock management. It sets strategies to prevent excess inventory by ordering when stock needs replenishing. You can also maintain safety stock in case of emergencies.</li>



<li><strong>Prevents common production bottlenecks: </strong>Businesses can maintain uninterrupted production by identifying potential bottlenecks before they occur.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-benefits-of-an-mps">What Are the Benefits of an MPS?</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list"></ul>



<p>You might use MPS if you manufacture products driven largely by predictable customer demand. You may also lean more on MPS if you need careful scheduling.&nbsp;The main perks are increased profitability and reduced shortages.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Simplifies order promises:</strong> The MPS provides accurate lead times, ensuring everyone knows how long it takes to create a product. It also prevents <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/6816" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">utilization-dependent exhaustion</a> that may occur due to work intensity.</li>



<li><strong>Enhances communication:</strong> An MPS serves as a communication tool that helps manufacturing share production plans with other departments.</li>



<li><strong>Boosts efficiency:</strong> An MPS enables analysis and identification of potential bottlenecks, improving customer satisfaction and sales in the long run.</li>



<li><strong>Streamlines supply chain:</strong> An MPS reviews supply chain requirements and prioritizes them, boosting supplier relationships through timely delivery.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="825" height="300" src="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-should-you-use-mps-software.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21380" srcset="https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-should-you-use-mps-software.png 825w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-should-you-use-mps-software-300x109.png 300w, https://archerpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/01-should-you-use-mps-software-768x279.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-to-use-both-mrp-and-mps">When to use both MRP and MPS</h2>



<p>While both MPS and MRP are useful in different ways, some manufacturers use both because the two systems complement each other — MPS sheds light on your ultimate production goal, and MRP ensures you can meet it. Integrating them reduces the risk of inventory inaccuracies and missed orders by providing a clearer understanding of the final product&#8217;s production goal and what&#8217;s needed to meet it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you manufacture bicycles, you may use MPS weekly or monthly to determine how many bicycles to produce and which types, based on seasonal demand, orders, trends, and market research. You might run MRP daily to make sure you have the gears, tires, lights, and bells needed to produce bicycles and meet demand. Using both prevents silos. You can be sure you have everything you need to produce the right amount of bicycles, on time, and in the varieties customers want.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-erp-advantage">The ERP advantage</h2>



<p id="h-the-erp-advantage">Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like&nbsp;<a href="https://archerpoint.com/solutions/erp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central</a>&nbsp;are powerful platforms that help you integrate both MPS and MRP into your business while saving time. An integrated cloud ERP system lets MPS inform&nbsp;MRP using real-time data you can access from anywhere. You get automated processes to improve accuracy, and you can see all your data in one environment to make better decisions about ordering parts and scheduling production of completed products.</p>



<p id="h-the-erp-advantage">With today&#8217;s ERP systems, you can track inventory in real time, visualize data, and improve communication between production and other departments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-how-archerpoint-can-help">Learn how ArcherPoint can help</h2>



<p id="h-learn-how-archerpoint-can-help">Whether you&#8217;re implementing a new ERP system or migrating from a legacy platform, ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert has <a href="https://archerpoint.com/about/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep industry expertise</a> in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics NAV, LS Retail, Azure, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform. We handle implementation, integrations, training, updates, and IT support, so you can focus on your business. <a href="https://archerpoint.com/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Contact us today</a> for a free consultation.<br></p>



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      "text": "A master production schedule helps manufacturers plan which products and how many to produce for a certain period. It's a proactive technique that helps companies prepare for upcoming seasons. The main goal of an MPS is to align sales demand with manufacturing capacity.

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Simplifies order promises: The MPS ensures everyone knows how long it's expected to take to create a product by providing buyers with accurate lead times. It also prevents utilization-dependent exhaustion that may occur due to work intensity.

Enhances communication: An MPS acts as a communication tool that helps manufacturing share information about production plans with the other departments. It improves transparency and visibility, especially between sales and manufacturing.

Boosts efficiency: An MPS provides a means to analyze and solve potential bottlenecks by using available resources to meet deadlines. In the long run, this improves customer satisfaction and sales.

Streamlines supply chain: An MPS reviews the supply chain requirements and arranges them in priority order, which boosts supplier relationships by ensuring timely delivery."
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Is there an amount of stock you'll want to keep as a backup so you don't run out of inventory?

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Boosts production efficiency: MRP gives managers significant insights into the time and supplies needed to keep production flowing smoothly. It allows them to track and use raw data to minimize delays and miscalculations.

Reduces purchasing costs: This process automates searches and allows businesses to access the most cost-effective solutions. By minimizing purchasing costs, companies can offer better product cost-efficiency and reap the bottom-line benefits.

Implements emergency strategies: MRP helps ensure efficient management of stock. It sets strategies to prevent excess inventory by ordering when it needs replenishing. You can also maintain safety stock in case of emergencies.

Prevents common production bottlenecks: This software allows businesses to create an uninterrupted production flow by identifying potential bottlenecks before they occur. It helps management proactively monitor the fluctuating demand and identify material scarcity to prevent halting production.
Improves inventory control: Supply chain management becomes easier with MRP processes. They use real-time data to display current supplies readily. This convenient feature allows managers to identify any materials that need replenishment before they run out. It prevents disruptions in the manufacturing process and improves customer satisfaction."
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<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/understanding-differences-between-mrp-and-mps/">MRP vs. MPS: Choosing the Right Planning Approach for Your Manufacturing Business</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to Manually Receive Goods in Boltrics WMS for Business Central</title>
		<link>https://archerpoint.com/manual-receiving-boltrics-wms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Feltham-Lauzon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:23:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Process]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://archerpoint.com/?p=23716</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In warehouses using Boltrics WMS, scanner-based receiving is often the fastest way to process inbound shipments. But there are situations where manual receiving is necessary — whether for exception handling, system configuration, low-volume environments, or administrative review. Understanding how manual receiving works in Boltrics WMS for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central gives warehouse teams greater&#8230; <a class="more-link" href="https://archerpoint.com/manual-receiving-boltrics-wms/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">How to Manually Receive Goods in Boltrics WMS for Business Central</span></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/manual-receiving-boltrics-wms/">How to Manually Receive Goods in Boltrics WMS for Business Central</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>In warehouses using Boltrics WMS, scanner-based receiving is often the fastest way to process inbound shipments. But there are situations where manual receiving is necessary — whether for exception handling, system configuration, low-volume environments, or administrative review.</p>



<p>Understanding how manual receiving works in Boltrics WMS for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central gives warehouse teams greater control and visibility into receipt documents, quantities, and pallet-level details before inventory is posted.</p>



<p>In this walkthrough, we break down the manual receiving process step by step — from reviewing receipt headers and lines to posting handling units (pallets) into inventory and completing putaway warehouse activities.</p>


<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><a href="https://archerpoint.com/manual-receiving-boltrics-wms/"><img decoding="async" src="//i.ytimg.com/vi/sliXgqn7s8I/hqdefault.jpg" alt="YouTube Video"></a><br /><br /><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-manual-receiving-is-used-in-boltrics-wms">When manual receiving is used in Boltrics WMS</h2>



<p>While many 3PL operations rely on handheld scanners for speed and accuracy, manual receiving remains an important workflow for:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reviewing inbound documentation before posting</li>



<li>Adjusting quantities at the pallet level</li>



<li>Handling exceptions or discrepancies</li>



<li>Lower-volume warehouse environments</li>



<li>Administrative control and oversight</li>
</ul>



<p>Manual receiving provides deeper visibility into the receipt document structure inside Business Central before inventory becomes available.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reviewing the receipt document structure</h2>



<p>The process begins by opening the Receipt List and selecting the appropriate document.</p>



<p>Daniel walks through the key components of the receipt, including:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Receipt header overview</h3>



<p>The header provides high-level logistics information such as:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Arrived date</li>



<li>Departed date</li>



<li>Vendor or customer information</li>



<li>Overall receipt status</li>
</ul>



<p>These fields provide operational context before any inventory is posted.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Receipt lines overview</h3>



<p>The lines section is where item-level detail is managed. Users can review:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ordered quantity</li>



<li>Received quantity</li>



<li>Outstanding quantity</li>



<li>Handling units (pallet references)</li>
</ul>



<p>Understanding the difference between ordered, received, and outstanding quantities is critical for maintaining accurate inventory and avoiding over- or under-posting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Managing handling units before posting</h2>



<p>One of the key advantages of manual receiving is the ability to manage handling units directly within the receipt document.</p>



<p>Before posting to inventory, users can:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Review pallet-level detail lines</li>



<li>Adjust quantities as needed</li>



<li>Confirm what will be posted</li>



<li>Validate accuracy against physical goods</li>
</ul>



<p>This level of control is particularly valuable in 3PL environments where billing, traceability, and inventory precision matter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Created vs. posted: What it means</h2>



<p>During the walkthrough, Daniel explains the difference between “created” and “posted” handling units.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Created</strong> handling units exist within the document but are not yet reflected in inventory.</li>



<li><strong>Posted</strong> handling units are officially added to inventory in Business Central.</li>
</ul>



<p>This distinction helps prevent premature inventory updates and ensures warehouse teams validate quantities before affecting stock levels.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Posting handling units into inventory</h2>



<p>Once quantities are verified, users can post the handling units into inventory.</p>



<p>At this stage:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Inventory levels are updated in Business Central</li>



<li>Receipt statuses move forward</li>



<li>The system prepares for warehouse putaway processing</li>
</ul>



<p>This transition marks the official move from receipt review to inventory availability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Completing putaway warehouse activities</h2>



<p>After posting, Boltrics automatically generates putaway warehouse activities.</p>



<p>Users can then:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Review the generated warehouse tasks</li>



<li>Post putaway activities</li>



<li>Confirm storage locations</li>
</ul>



<p>This ensures goods are moved from staging into their assigned warehouse locations, completing the inbound process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Manual receiving vs. scanner receiving</h2>



<p>Manual receiving offers more document-level control, while scanner-based receiving emphasizes speed and real-time execution on the warehouse floor.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re looking for a walkthrough of scanner-based workflows, see our complete guide to <a href="https://archerpoint.com/how-to-receive-goods-through-the-scanner-in-boltrics-3pl-software/">scanner receiving in Boltrics WMS</a>.</p>



<p>Both processes ultimately support the same goal: accurate inventory and controlled inbound operations inside Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bringing it all together</h2>



<p>Manual receiving in Boltrics WMS provides flexibility and control for warehouses that need detailed oversight of inbound documents and pallet quantities before posting inventory.</p>



<p>By understanding receipt headers, quantity fields, handling units, and warehouse activities, organizations can:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Maintain accurate stock levels</li>



<li>Prevent posting errors</li>



<li>Improve inbound documentation control</li>



<li>Support structured 3PL billing processes</li>
</ul>



<p>Whether used as a primary workflow or as an exception process alongside scanner receiving, manual receiving remains an important part of a well-structured Boltrics WMS implementation.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://archerpoint.com/manual-receiving-boltrics-wms/">How to Manually Receive Goods in Boltrics WMS for Business Central</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archerpoint.com">ArcherPoint</a>.</p>
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