Understanding Enterprise Automation

Regardless of the business you are in, your enterprise is a busy place, and most of that activity can be represented by data. It is the job of your JD Edwards EnterpriseOne system to capture and record that data in the form of business transactions and documents, such as purchase orders, sales orders, work orders, invoices, financial transactions, and so on. We need this data for reporting, auditing, and exchanging with other enterprises. But there is also a higher value hidden in this data beyond simple record-keeping. Over time, this data starts to paint a picture of how the enterprise is operating. Sums, averages, time stamps, anomalies. This is the data that gives us insight into how to improve the enterprise. This is Enterprise Automation.

The framework for Enterprise Automation is based on the following lifecycle: ingest, model, analyze, solve, and measure. The process begins with the ingestion of data, much of which we already have because we have been collecting it for years in the form of business transactions. That data then serves as a foundational basis for constructing process models, which paint a picture of how the enterprise operates. Along with the models, metrics give us quantitative information about how things are running. How many purchase orders are waiting for approval? On average, how long does an inventory transfer take? How many purchase orders cannot be matched to an invoice? Having accurate models and metrics allows us to analyze the efficiency of operations, uncovering inefficiencies and fostering innovation. That innovation leads to solving problems with more automation, streamlined processes, or new business models. And then the positive impact on the operations can be measured.

The objectives of Enterprise Automation are to:

• Expand the focus from individual transactions to the business as a whole.
• Make better use of existing data to reveal blind spots in a process.
• Define processes and data needed for better visibility and corrective action.

This chapter describes some Enterprise Automation tools and capabilities that are built into your EnterpriseOne system. We begin with some predefined process models and metrics that reflect common best practices in the industry. Specifically, the process models are delivered as EnterpriseOne pages, and the metrics are delivered as One View Watchlists. You can modify these models and metrics to match your enterprise. You can also develop your own set of models and metrics using the tools in the EnterpriseOne digital platform. Generating process flows that use your enterprise's real-time data is integral to providing the insight and analysis that help to achieve overall objectives and goals as efficiently as possible.