| | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes | Asset Intensive, Business Technology, Service
Come on Apple—NFC is Good for Business

For a couple of years Near Field Communications (NFC) has been pushed by Google and others as the next big thing for smartphones. There has been a lot said about the merits of consumer applications for NFC, including digital wallets and replacing some of Bluetooth. But what about applications in business—what role could NFC play there? Here at IFS we’ve been looking into just that.

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| | Estimated reading time: 3 minutes | Business Technology
13 Tangible and Intangible Mobility Returns

In this post I want to share tangible and intangible mobility returns for two roles that are typical of any company; the sales executive and the project manager.

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| | Estimated reading time: 8 minutes | Créativité & Innovation, Technology
L’intelligence artificielle peut-elle jouer un rôle dans les applications métier ?

L’intelligence artificielle est un thème exploité depuis longtemps par le cinéma et la littérature. Si les questions d’ordre philosophique ou éthique que pose l’intelligence artificielle sont aussi passionnantes que fondamentales, l’objet de cet article se veut plus prosaïque : L’intelligence artificielle peut-elle avoir un rôle pertinent dans les applications métier utilisées chaque jour par les entreprises et leurs collaborateurs ?

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| | Estimated reading time: 3 minutes | Events
6 Reasons Why You Should Attend the IFS World Conference 2013

Lasting one extra day this year, the IFS World Conference delivers 24 more hours of networking and knowledge-sharing, and even more reasons to attend. Here are six of the best reasons why you should consider joining us this year…

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| | Estimated reading time: 2 minutes | Business Technology
The Business Case for Mobility – the Visser & Smit Story

Borg van Katwijk, Financial Director at Visser & Smit Marine Contracting said, “Our workforce is becoming increasingly mobile. By using business apps, such as IFS Notify Me, our employees are no longer required to be at their desks. IFS Notify Me enables them to approve purchase orders and invoices at any time and at any location—at home, at the office, or on the go. This boosts productivity and ensures up-to-date information in our central ERP system.

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| | Estimated reading time: 3 minutes | Business Technology, IFS Labs
Is Free Software Killing User Experience?

I like free stuff as much as the next person. Although I know very well that nothing is free. So what’s the problem? More and more, I find myself disappointed over the fact that “free” means that the product I’m consuming is less than its potential; less than I expect it to be.

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| | Estimated reading time: 6 minutes | Process Manufacturing
Mixed Mode Manufacturing – What’s in it for you?

Mixed mode manufacturing means that you combine make-to-stock (MTS) and make-to-order (MTO) in one common supply chain. The value proposition of this is that you can strike a balance between efficiency and flexibility across the product range by assigning different supply models to different products. In order to implement a strategy for a process manufacturing company it is important to have an enterprise software system such as IFS Applications that can support not only industry specific requirements for example formulations and multiple units of measure, but also mixed mode manufacturing.

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| | Estimated reading time: 5 minutes | Créativité & Innovation, Technology
Windows 8 vs. iPad – ou PC vs. Mac : toute une histoire…
Old personal computer

Ces derniers mois, plutôt que de lire la presse informatique, j’ai pu observer la façon dont l’iPad et la tablette Windows 8 fonctionnait dans les mains de mes enfants, leurs cousins, tantes, oncles et grands-parents. C’était comme si je faisais un bond de 20 ans en arrière, au début des années 90 où le débat faisait rage entre Mac et “le bon vieux PC”. Maintenant, c’est iPad vs. Windows 8, et alors que l’iPad domine aujourd’hui le marché, à l’époque, le PC était la référence. Et la principale différence entre les deux systèmes est toujours la même.

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| | Estimated reading time: 1 minute | Events, Service
Reverse Logistics Association Trade Show
Reverse Logistics Logo

This reverse logistics post reflects on our recent visit to the Reverse Logistics Association trade show in Las Vegas.  …

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| | Estimated reading time: 5 minutes | Business Technology, IFS Labs, Strategy
Data is the New Oil – Discover and Tap It and You May Earn a Fortune

Did you know that 90% of information available today is created within the last two years? Have you ever thought about the business advantages to learn how to use these tools in business? Have you encountered the risk if you don’t?

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| | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes | Aerospace & Defense, Mobility
Operation Mobile: How mobile apps are changing the way the military operates in the field
Mobile apps in defense

The consumer world is unable to function without a smartphone and/or a tablet and has moved on from brick-sized analogue devices to wafer thin smartphones with processing capabilities comparable to those of laptops. New technology is constantly pushing the boundaries of what we can expect from our mobile devices. The A&D market is trending in a similar direction primarily driven by the demand for industrial workforce productivity combined with dramatic improvements that can be achieved in military operational effectiveness. The big question remaining is exactly what role mobile apps could play in defense strategy.

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| | Estimated reading time: 2 minutes | Events, Service
Field Service Management and the CFESA & NAFEM Trade Shows

This field service management post is on behalf of Regional Sales Reps, Michael Cox: Michael recently attended the Commercial Food…

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