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Only a Quarter of Businesses Currently able to Attract Recruits with the Right Knowledge, Finds EpicorNASHVILLE, Tenn., May 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- INSIGHTS 2018 -- With over half the industry's workforce aged over 35, and a third aged over 40, businesses in manufacturing, lumber, distribution and retail are facing a dangerous skills gap on their factory floors, if they fail to recruit new talent before too long. This is one of the findings of the latest researchi from Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth. Only a quarter (23%) of businesses agreed they find it easy to attract the right talent, with the right industry knowledge, suggesting they might soon hit crisis point. In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the country's unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest rate in 17 years1 (3.9%), contributing to a widening skills gap. The young talent problem At the same time, 32 percent think young people lack the right skills/ experience to work in industry. One-in-five (22%) believes that the education system simply isn't doing them any favors primarily because it's not preparing or encouraging young people into manufacturing. Robots to build efficiencies into the workforce Technology attracts new recruits 20 percent said the chance to work with robotics and AI is a big draw for young talent, and 33 percent of millennials want the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of new developments. Enterprise resource planning could plug the gap The millennial-friendly interface Epicor ERP provides is easy to use because of its enhanced home page capabilities. This makes it attractive to new recruits, who may not have the experience of working with an ERP solution in the past, and who want to be able to use the software immediately with minimal training. The ability to input and manipulate data has also been simplified, making advanced analytics easier to manage. This allows users greater visibility of the information generated by all other equipment on the factory floor—such as production line machinery, robots, AI algorithms, and more. Azure AD (Active Directory) integration for cloud and mobile clients, including multi-factored authentication, makes the latest version of Epicor ERP highly available. This fits young recruits, who are hard-wired with a desire to access crucial business information wherever they are. "We are excited to be able to use our Azure Active Directory with Epicor ERP," said Mark Wonsil, ERP specialist, Perceptron, Inc. "Our users now have the same security options as their Office 365 accounts—including Multi-Factor Authentication." Scott Hays, senior vice president, product marketing at Epicor said, "If young talent is being persuaded away from jobs in industry, there's a serious perception problem that needs to change. Arguably, it is an exciting time to be in industries like manufacturing, distribution, and retail that are poised for digital transformation and are far from old-fashioned. With robotics and AI advancing at a rapid pace, we are seeing the smart factory and warehouse of the future advance quickly. This gives us the perfect opportunity to encourage new skills in the workplace, and future-proof our progress. "Technology, we believe, holds the key to plugging the knowledge gap. The presence of robots on the manufacturing floor, and in the warehouse, will not only help businesses achieve more at a time when they are struggling to recruit the right humans, but they will also help to boost the prestige of industrial roles—making them more attractive to young people, more exciting and more cutting-edge. Solutions like Epicor ERP provide businesses with data visibility and help multiple teams work together seamlessly, are fast becoming the foundation for digital transformation that many businesses need." About Epicor ERP About Epicor Software Corporation Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation.
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