Today’s manufacturing companies face constant pressure: produce faster, avoid downtime, cut costs, and boost efficiency. Until now, many decisions have relied on estimates – assumed cycle times, predicted machine performance, or expected efficiency. But in today’s data-driven world, that’s no longer enough. Smart, profitable decisions can only be made based on real-time data.
This is where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central from OIXIO Digital and GlobalReader’s IoT solution come into play.
IoT and ERP – why do they belong together?
GlobalReader’s smart sensors collect real-time data from production: machine operating times, cycle lengths, actual production speed, and efficiency. At the same time, Business Central manages production orders, inventory, costs, and accounting. Each system has its own value, but together they create a far greater impact.
Production orders flow directly from Business Central to the shop floor – without paperwork or manual data entry. Operators receive real-time instructions, reducing errors and speeding up workflows. Meanwhile, data gathered by GlobalReader – downtimes, cycles, production times, and outputs – flows back into the ERP. As a result, estimates are replaced with accurate, measured values. Production becomes transparent, paperless, and more sustainable.
From estimates to reality
Traditionally, manufacturers have calculated product costs using average cycle times, assumed efficiency, and machine performance. These numbers are often too optimistic or outdated, creating a gap between planned and actual production.
The integration of GlobalReader and Business Central takes manufacturing from estimates to facts. Companies can see exactly how long each order or operation really takes, identify hidden inefficiencies in machines and processes, calculate costs based on actual results, and make better decisions grounded in objective data. At the same time, paper usage is reduced significantly, supporting greener and more sustainable manufacturing.
GlobalReader features and benefits
- Analytics – in-depth, real-time, and historical analysis for better decisions and process optimization.
- Operator – a simple, effective tool for operators that replaces paper and Excel-based data collection, reducing errors.
- Maintenance – software for planning and performing preventive maintenance to ensure maximum machine reliability.
- Planner – a web-based tool for planning tasks and resources, aligning plans with production reality.
- Smart Factory – a complete smart factory concept where production data flows seamlessly with ERP and operations become paperless.
For more in-depth information about the benefits and features of GlobalReader, visit their blog HERE.
Business Central – the all-in-one business management solution
Business Central connects finance, inventory, production, sales, and reporting into a single cloud-based platform. It gives managers a real-time overview of the entire business and enables faster, more accurate decision-making. Thanks to the Microsoft ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with Outlook, Excel, and Teams – and is accessible anytime, from any device.
In addition, Business Central comes with Microsoft Copilot built in – an AI-powered assistant that makes work easier and faster. Copilot can, for example, automatically match bank statements, create item cards from photos, generate product descriptions for e-commerce, build analysis views, and even create Power Automate workflows using natural language commands. It can also assist with creating sales invoices and orders by providing smart suggestions based on past data.
OIXIO Digital further enhances Business Central with local extensions, such as CentralPlus and the Lursoft integration, making it especially well-suited for companies in Estonia and across the Baltics.
Simple and fast connection
The GlobalReader Connector is available on Microsoft AppSource and allows Business Central users to establish a working integration in less than 30 minutes. This means quick implementation without complex development projects. No manual measurements, no delays – just real-time data flowing automatically to support smarter decisions.
The future of manufacturing is data-driven
The collaboration between OIXIO Digital and GlobalReader gives manufacturers a clear, reliable picture of what’s really happening on the shop floor – and what it truly costs. Building strategies on assumptions is a thing of the past – now production can be managed based on facts.
The result? Less downtime, higher efficiency, more accurate cost calculations, and more eco-friendly production. In short: a smarter, more profitable, and more sustainable factory.
Want to take your manufacturing from estimates to facts? Get in touch with OIXIO Digital, and let’s discuss how the combination of GlobalReader and Business Central can help your business run production more intelligently.
You can find more information about our partner GlobalReader on their webpage.
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