Automation

What is Microsoft Project Bonsai?

Microsoft Project Bonsai is a low-code AI platform that can be used to build AI-powered systems. These can provide guidance to operators or control industrial equipment. This allows optimisation of process variables, leading to an increase in production efficiency and reducing equipment downtime.

Case Study: MillCert Reader saves 10 hours a month for busy Production teams

MillCert Reader is helping steel production teams save hours by automatically extracting key data from mill certificates and renaming documents in seconds

Wales tech scale-up collaborate with steel manufacturers to make production greener

Wales and Ireland-based technology business, Nightingale HQ (NHQ) has supported a major UK & EU consortium as it looks to make reinforcement steel manufacturing greener. The collaboration includes steel manufacturers Midland Steel and Bastal AS, Kuka Robotics, civil engineers OCSC and research partners VTT. The project is funded by EIT Manufacturing and Innovate UK.

NHQ joins consortium to make steel industry greener

Technology business Nightingale HQ have won funding with a European consortium to make steel manufacturing greener.

Manufacturing excellence with Astellas Ireland

Learning from manufacturing best practice with Astellas Ireland.

What Is Microsoft Power Platform?

Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of services that consists of four key components: Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Power Virtual Agents. Its ease-of-use help a broader range of people within your organisation create innovate solutions and access previously untapped value through smarter, time-saving automation solutions.

What Is Azure Logic Apps?

If you are looking to automate the execution of your business processes across diverse apps and services, Azure Logic Apps is the cloud service you need. Logic Apps serves as a gate to other Azure services you may want to employ to your automation solution, delivering new and innovative integration scenarios.

Microsoft Build 2021 announcements for manufacturers

Microsoft Build 2021 is kicking off and whilst it tends not to be as announcement heavy as Microsoft Ignite, it’s still got some great things for manufacturers to pay attention to. This post gives a quick run down of the most important stuff you need to read about. Enjoy!

Smart Manufacturing is all about Real-Time Data Analytics

Manufacturers are spending far too much time on data entry or looking at stale data which is hindering growth. Here are seven ways real-time data can turn things around.

Announcing GoSmarter In A Day

Our GoSmarter In A Day workshops solve one problem like processing Accounts Payable incoming invoices to demonstrate the value such automation can bring.

Reports supported by AI & automation

Data compilation for reports created by experts is usually more time consuming than writing the valuable content. Using AI and no-code automation techniques, data collation and visualisation can be greatly streamlined, letting staff focus on the value.

Checklists make everything better - including responsible AI!

Building a checklist to cover the six key areas of responsible AI can drive better outcomes and returns for your business. Start with the list of areas as a discussion aid and grow your checklist with use.

Using AI to make your warehouse operations smarter

You can benefit from lower overheads by using AI to manage stock levels, whilst building a more scalable warehouse operation that is safer for employees, using AI.

Detecting defects with AI - a computer vision challenge

With the pace of output on machines ever increasing, quality control becomes a lot tougher. Using AI to detect defective products sooner can help scale your quality processes and avoid significant stops.

Microsoft Ignite 2021 announcements for manufacturers

Microsoft Ignite is kicking off and as usual it's packed with announcements. This post gives folks in manufacturing a quick run down of the most important stuff they need to read about. Enjoy!

Automation for invoice processing

Automation is key to driving digital experiences that help keep operations efficient and employees productive. Invoice processing is a key area where an automated solution can save time, money and increase productivity. If you deal with lots of suppliers, keep racking up late payment bills, or have to rectify incorrect payments, it's time to start using a tool that eliminates manual errors and simplifies your accounts payable process. Take back hours of time by automating the processing of invoices.

Grow your business with Social Media Listening

Social media is an important medium for engaging with new and existing segments of your audience. While your social media efforts can help your audience connect with your product, you can be using social media listening to get deeper insights on them to drive operational efficiency and innovation. It's the marketing equivalent of business intelligence.

Boost operational efficiency with chatbots

Many businesses are facing a pressing need to tidy up their operations, cut costs, and increase productivity due to the global pandemic. One surprising tool that can help you streamline processes is a chatbot. Everyone knows how chatbots can enhance customer service, but there are many other areas where a chatbot can be applied. In this article we explore how chatbots can bring about operational efficiencies when used for internal processes such as supporting HR and company communications.

The shift to AI in manufacturing: post pandemic growth

There is no doubt that AI has enabled major efficiencies in predictability and capacity across the supply chain in manufacturing. The global pandemic has also accelerated digitalisation and automation as key strategic priorities for business, particularly manufacturing.

Your business and AI: 18 weeks of webinars

What do you do when a global pandemic hits and messes up your 2020 business plans? We decided to run 18 weeks of webinars. As our pipeline slowed we knew we weren’t the only ones having a hard time navigating Covid-19, so we decided to launch two webinar series, AIFightsBack and #GoSmarter. Since the webinars were a hit, we decided to compile recaps of all the content in one place for easy access, viewing and sharing.

Killer time-saver: Invoice processing automation

Our last webinar in the GoSmarter webinar series was about automating the processing of received invoices to eliminate the cost and hassle of errors, late payments and dealing with paper documents. With businesses already losing around 150 days a year to admin, invoice processing can suck up to 10% of that time. An invoice can cost between £4-25 to manually process and over 3% of them contain errors, costing on average £40 to rectify. Manual invoice processing is costly and time-consuming, making it a perfect case for applying automation.

Smarter remote meetings for productivity

For the penultimate session in our #GoSmarter webinar series, Data Science Apprentice Mia Hatton takes us through various tools for hosting online meetings, lessons and the like, which has become so much more relevant during the times of the pandemic. Our very own Productive Meetings tool is one of six automation tools that we are making available to SMEs through our GoSmarter project to support them through COVID-19.

Customer service automation with an easy FAQ Chatbot

As part of our #GoSmarter webinar series, Mia Hatton, Data Science Apprentice for Nightingale HQ and founder of a small business, talks to us about the wonders that an FAQ Chatbot can do for business, approaching the topic from both points of view. Our GoSmarter project is aimed at SMEs to help them bounce back from the effects of COVID-19 by providing them with the 6 tools to get them automating and saving time.

Four tips for introducing an FAQ chatbot

Getting your own chatbot up and running is not as tricky as you may think. In fact there are many no-code options available and you can be setup in minutes. We have put together a list of tips to consider before you jump in on augmenting your customer service.

COVID triggers a wave of automation

For companies that have survived thus far through the global pandemic, the next huge challenge they face is getting back to normal. Numerous factors, from uncertain cashflow to making the workplace safe enough to return to, prove that the old ways just won’t work.

Social listening for small businesses

Our latest webinar was on social listening. Social listening is monitoring social media for feedback, mentions, or relevant chatter to gain insight or act. The price tag on this capability is at least $150 per month putting it outside the budget of a small business. With #GoSmarter, we're introducing a practically free and highly extendable option for small businesses.

Automation: The fundamentals

GoSmarter is an AI-powered tools and training support toolkit to help businesses optimise digital operations, saving precious time and helping increase productivity.

7 reasons why SMEs need to automate and how

Going digital and using automation has never been more important to small businesses than it has been since COVID-19. Here's some stats you may not know...

Automation for SMEs: the new normal

SMEs are the backbone of our economy, but they have been worst hit by the pandemic. The lockdown has forced many of them to change how they operate and automation has played a key part. However, many small businesses are still apprehensive about taking the first steps and think that automation is only for bigger and scaling businesses. The GoSmarter automation toolbox has been developed to help SMEs kick start their automation journey, quickly and at a relatively low cost.