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Most people think career growth is a straight line: grind hard, collect promotions, repeat. But there’s a faster, smarter way to level up — and hardly anyone talks about it. It’s called deliberate exposure. This isn’t just networking or “finding a mentor.” It’s about deliberately stepping into environments, projects, and conversations where the bar is higher than your comfort zone. Think of it as putting yourself in the fast lane for skills, insight, and mindset The Spark Behind the Idea When Google CEO Sundar Pichai told Lex Fridman that early in his career he kept finding ways to work on things that “stretched his abilities,” he wasn’t offering a cute sound bite. He was pointing to a hidden lever:          Growth accelerates when you choose to be around higher standards.   And here’s the kicker: research backs it up. Even sitting within 25 feet of a high performer can boost your own output by 15%. Imagine what happens when you actively insert yourself into that zone. What “Deliberate Exposure” Looks Like Picture this: You’re on a project that feels just a bit too complex. You’re sitting in in a meeting where the conversation is flying over your head. You’re diving into a workflow or document that makes you go, “Wow, this is next level”. That feeling of “I’m not quite there yet” isn’t failure, it’s your growth signal. That is deliberate exposure in action. Why It Works (and Feels Like Magic) Stretch Zones: You’re forced to operate just beyond your limits, which sparks real skill growth. Osmosis Learning: You pick up invisible habits, language, and mental models just by being immersed. Norm Resetting: Your definition of “normal” quality rises, and you’ll never go back down. Performance Spillover: Even proximity rewires your performance — and your ambitions. This isn’t imitation or hero worship. It’s aligning yourself with a stronger current so you swim faster. How to Start Today You don’t need a special invite or a fancy mentor to practice deliberate exposure. Try this: Volunteer Upwards: Put your hand up for the stretch project, the tricky assignment, or the cross-team task. Audit Excellence: Sit in on high-level calls, read documents above your pay grade, watch how decisions are made. Reflect & Apply: After each exposure, jot down what you saw, what surprised you, and one thing you’ll try next. Rotate Often: Don’t stay in one pond. Seek different teams, topics, or forums that challenge you. Think of it as “micro-immersion”, a mini-bootcamps for your mind. Watch Out for These Traps Overwhelm: Stretch, don’t snap. Pick challenges just beyond your reach. Passive Watching: Exposure without curiosity is just lurking. Engage, ask, experiment. Chasing Prestige: Focus on the standard, not the status. High stakes don’t always mean high learning. The Payoff When done right, deliberate exposure becomes a supercharger. You will Accelerate skill acquisition. Upgrade your base standards. Gain confidence in high-stakes situations. Build a mental model library most people never even see.   And you’ll do it without waiting years for promotions or formal training. Final Word This isn’t a one-off hack or trick. It’s a mindset. You’re no longer drifting in the current of whatever’s around you, instead you’re choosing your current.   Deliberate exposure means you’re constantly putting yourself in the arena, surrounded by higher standards, and letting that friction turn into fuel and energy. Over time, it compounds into a huge advantage About the Author Abdul Hafiz is a technology leader with 25+ years of experience in optimizing and implementing ERPs to modernize finance and operations. As a Partner at Ascent Innovations, he has led growth and delivery for 14 years. He holds a master’s degree in computer and information sciences from the University of Illinois and advises executive teams on how to modernize the enterprise to drive profitable growth.

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Migrating from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central

Is your business still running on Microsoft Dynamics GP? If yes, it might be time to ask yourself a bigger question: Is your ERP system preparing you for tomorrow—or holding you back today?   In an era where businesses are scaling faster, operating remotely, and relying on real-time data, sticking with a legacy ERP like Dynamics GP can quietly cost you more than you realize. That’s why hundreds of businesses are making the leap to Dynamics 365 Business Central—Microsoft’s modern, cloud-first ERP that’s built for agility, insight, and future growth.   Let’s explore why this migration isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a strategic evolution Why Migrate to Business Central? 1. Cloud ERP = No More Servers, Downtime, or IT OverheadDynamics GP runs on on-prem infrastructure. That means maintenance, upgrades, and surprise IT costs.Business Central is fully cloud-based—secure, always up-to-date, and accessible anywhere.   2. AI Built In, Right Out of the BoxBusiness Central comes with Microsoft Copilot, your AI-powered assistant for faster data entry, smarter forecasting, and simplified processes. Think of it as adding an intelligent teammate to your finance, sales, and operations teams.   3. Unified with Microsoft EcosystemSeamlessly integrates with Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and more. No more jumping between systems. Workflows become smarter, faster, and more connected.   4. Real-Time Insights for Faster Decision-MakingWith Business Central, reporting isn’t a monthly nightmare. It’s instant, customizable, and available anytime—giving your leadership team the tools to make better decisions on the fly.   5. Flexible Licensing & Scalable ArchitecturePay only for what you use. Business Central grows with you—perfect for small, mid-size, and growing enterprises. When Should You Migrate? When support costs for GP keep rising When remote work and real-time visibility are no longer optional When reporting is manual and time-consuming When adding new integrations feels like duct-taping your tech stack When you’re ready to scale—but your ERP isn’t If you checked even one of these, it’s time to explore the move. What Makes Business Central the Right Fit? Responsive Table Feature Dynamics GP Business Central Deployment On-premises Cloud-first (also hybrid) Updates Manual/Periodic Automatic, bi-annual Integration Limited Seamless with Microsoft 365 AI Capabilities Not available Built-in (Copilot, Insights, etc.) Mobile Accessibility Minimal Full mobility Licensing Model Perpetual Subscription-based How Ascent Innovations Ensures a Smooth Migration? Migrating an ERP is a big step—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. At Ascent Innovations, we specialize in Dynamics GP to Business Central migrations with a proven, step-by-step process:   1. Discovery & Roadmap We evaluate your existing GP environment, understand your processes, and design a migration plan aligned with your goals.   2. Data Migration Securely move all critical data—customers, vendors, transactions, GLs—with 100% integrity.   3. System Configuration We tailor Business Central to match your operations and set up necessary workflows, reports, and extensions.   4. Training & Go-Live. Our experts train your team and offer post-launch support to ensure a seamless transition. Why Partner with Ascent Innovations? Over a decade of Microsoft ERP experience. Dedicated experts in GP and Business Central Tailored solutions for manufacturing, distribution, services, and more. Personalized support from assessment to go-live.   We don’t just migrate your ERP. We modernize your business. Final Thought: Upgrade Your ERP, Unlock Your Future If you’re still running Dynamics GP, the question isn’t if you should move—it’s when. And every day you delay, you lose a little more agility, visibility, and efficiency.   Let’s talk today. Your future ERP is waiting.   Schedule a Free Migration Assessment About the Author John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy.

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Migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central

Still running on Microsoft Dynamics GP You’re not alone—but you might be holding your business back.   As technology evolves, staying competitive means more than just “keeping up.” It means transforming—and migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central is your first step in that direction. This isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a shift from maintenance mode to momentum mode. Why Move from Dynamics GP to Business Central? Here’s the truth: Dynamics GP has been a reliable workhorse for decades. But today’s business landscape is driven by agility, automation, and real-time insights—capabilities GP just wasn’t built for.   Here’s what you get when you switch:   1. Cloud Power, No Infrastructure Hassles Business Central runs natively in the cloud, offering 24/7 accessibility, automatic updates, and zero server headaches. Say goodbye to expensive hardware and hello to flexibility.   2. Built-in Intelligence with Microsoft Copilot AI is baked right into Business Central. With Copilot, your teams get smarter recommendations, faster data entry, and even predictive insights—something GP users only dream of.   3. Seamless Integrations Business Central connects easily with your Microsoft 365 apps, Power BI, Teams, and Power Platform, breaking down silos and supercharging productivity across departments.   4. Real-Time Financials & Reporting Move beyond batch processes. Get live data, faster closes, and customizable dashboards that make decision-making effortless.   5. Better Security, Compliance & Scalability Microsoft handles security, backups, and compliance updates—so you can scale without stress. Signs It’s Time to Migrate If any of the following sound familiar, your business is ready for Business Central: Your team is wasting time with manual processes or duplicate entries. Upgrades and support for GP are getting costlier. Remote access and collaboration are limited. Reporting takes longer than decision windows allow. You’re relying on too many disconnected systems. The Migration Journey: How Ascent Innovations Makes It Seamless At Ascent Innovations, we specialize in Dynamics GP to Business Central migrations—and we know that every business has a unique journey   Here’s what to expect:   Step 1: Assessment & Roadmap We evaluate your existing GP setup, including customizations, ISVs, and workflows. Then we build a migration plan tailored to your goals.   Step 2: Data Migration We migrate your masters, open transactions, and historical data safely—ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance.   Step 3: Setup & Optimization We configure Business Central to match (and improve on) your GP processes. Customizations? Integrations? Covered.   Step 4: Training & Go-Live Your team gets hands-on training. We stay with you through go-live and beyond with hypercare and support. The Cost of Waiting Every month you delay migration, you’re: Losing productivity. Missing out on AI-driven insights. Increasing the risk of unsupported systems. Spending more on outdated infrastructure. Migration doesn’t have to be disruptive—it just needs to be strategic Ready to Modernize? Let’s Talk At Ascent Innovations, we’ve helped countless GP users embrace the future with Business Central—and we’re ready to help you too.   Let’s move your business from legacy to legendary. Schedule a free migration consultation today!   Still on GP? Your competition isn’t. Don’t let your ERP hold you back—upgrade to Business Central and unlock the speed, scalability, and smarts your business deserves. About the Author John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy.

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Beyond Go-Live: Empowering Teams to Unlock D365’s Full Value

You’ve invested in Microsoft Dynamics 365. You’ve gone live. Your teams use it daily. But here’s the real question—are they using it to its full potential? Imagine moving into a beautiful, modern home. It has everything: space, structure, smart technology, great lighting. But from day one, you only know how to use the front door. No one gives you the keys to the garage or the door to the backyard. So every time you take out the trash or want to enjoy your yard, you walk the long way around. Sounds ridiculous, right? Yet this happens in D365 all the time. Teams are doing things the hard way—not because the system lacks features, but because they don’t know what’s possible. The Hidden Cost of Unawareness and Undertraining The real issue isn’t just that features are unused, it’s that people don’t even know they exist.   Awareness means knowing best practices in the first place. Without it, users fall back on what they’ve always done. They create workarounds. They assume, “this is just how it works.” They don’t question inefficiencies because they don’t know there’s a better way.   Training goes further. It’s not just about learning where features live—it’s about changing behaviors and mindsets. Users need to believe they can work differently: faster, smarter, and more confidently.   Training gives them tools, but more importantly, it builds the confidence to drive change. Without awareness, people don’t seek solutions. Without training, they can’t apply them. And without both, organizations miss out on the full business impact of D365. Empowered users are bold. Curious. That’s the kind of team D365 was built for. Why It Matters to the Business? When users aren’t fully trained, or aware of what’s possible, it shows up in the numbers. Or more accurately, the numbers don’t move. You invested in D365 to modernize the enterprise, drive profitability, and fuel growth. And you’ve laid the right foundation. But if the business hasn’t truly transformed, the next step isn’t more technical consulting, it’s empowering your people to use the system as it was meant to be used.   Without the right training, teams can’t improve cross-functional execution or use analytics to optimize planning. And without trained people, even the best technology can’t deliver ROI. People drive results—not technology, because when users know what’s possible, and how to leverage D365 to increase organizational agility, the EBITDA needle moves. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself About D365 Do our users know how to personalize views and dashboards to match their daily work? Are we using Power Automate to eliminate manual steps or approval bottlenecks? Can team members access role-specific reports without relying on IT or spreadsheets? Is Master Planning/Planning Optimization configured to match real lead times and demand patterns? Are time fences and capacity planning being used to prevent production delays? Are subledger reports being used to drill down into cost and margin performance? Is your team tracking forecast accuracy and budget variance by department? Are we using portals (Power Pages) to reduce repetitive back-and-forth with customers or vendors? Do our power users feel confident supporting their teams with questions or new features? Are we continuously improving how we use D365—or just getting by with what we learned at go-live? You’ve Laid the Foundation—Now Unlock the Full Potential of D365 You’ve made D365 part of your business. The hard work is done. Now it’s time to go further. The tools are in place. The best practices are defined.   Let Ascent help your team unlock what’s next—empowering your people to deliver the full business impact of D365. About the Author John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy.

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7 Steps to Unlocking Millions in Gross Profit

The 2025 Action Plan: Eliminate Recurring Problems Companies lose gross margin when inefficiencies in planning, execution, and cross-functional workflows create blind spots that result in problems that no one understands how they start or how to eliminate them. Companies that identify and resolve the root causes of recurring operational challenges see significant gross margin improvement. For companies generating $100 million in gross profit, even a 1% improvement can unlock $1 million in additional profit. If you had better planning and execution, how far do you think could you move the gross margin needle? What’s Your Gross Margin Opportunity? The potential impact is real and measurable—the only questions are how much gross profit you are leaving on the table and how much of it can be captured and at what cost. At Ascent Innovations, we help companies initiate low-cost, high-value Agile ROI strategies—delivering measurable improvements within a month. This rapid business impact model helps build executive support for additional efforts. 7 Steps to Unlocking Millions in Gross Margin Step 1: Identify the Problems Costing You Money   What Are the Indicators of Opportunity?   What kind of problems are we talking about? It varies for every client—but to get your wheels turning, here are some common issues I’ve been helping organizations resolve: High Working Capital – Often a sign of inefficiencies in forecasting, demand planning, inventory management, receivables, or procurement. Margin Compression Despite Strong Sales – May indicate poor pricing governance, uncontrolled discounting, or breakdowns in cost pass-through processes. Frequent Budget Variances and Forecast Misses – Suggest weaknesses in forecast accuracy and cost management, leading to misaligned operational planning. Long Order-to-Delivery Lead Times – A signal of potential workflow misalignment or blind spots between sales, production, and fulfillment. Rising Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) – Points to opportunities in labor, material, and supplier management to better control variable costs. High Labor Costs and Excessive Overtime – Typically reflect upstream planning gaps, such as raw material availability or poor scheduling, limiting production efficiency and capacity. Each of these challenges represents a high-impact opportunity. With focused discovery, we can uncover the root causes behind recurring issues. And here’s the key insight: a single root cause often manifests in different ways across multiple departments. When we address the source, we not only eliminate recurring problems—we unlock broad, measurable performance gains across the organization.   Step 2: Quantify the Opportunity Cost of Your Problems   How much are recurring problems costing you?   Many organizations underestimate the financial impact of daily firefighting—leaving significant value on the table. Through a few focused discovery sessions, we help quantify that opportunity by identifying the business impact of fixing root causes that often manifest as repeated challenges across departments. Start with strategic goals – Align leadership around core priorities to ensure the focus stays on what drives the most value. Engage at the executive level – Review what’s working, what’s not, and where improvements are most needed. Discuss how these challenges are affecting performance today—and what the organization could achieve if they were resolved. Explore at the departmental level – Assess both functional and cross-functional workflows to identify execution and reporting gaps that hinder strategic goals. Capture how these issues impact daily operations and decision-making. Develop a comprehensive issue list – Document pain points across the organization to uncover root causes and prioritize high-impact opportunities. Identify quick wins with high value – Identify low-cost, high-impact improvements that can be implemented in 3–5 weeks to deliver immediate business results and build momentum. By structuring discovery this way, we create a clear connection between strategic objectives and operational improvements—with a focus on quick wins that deliver measurable results. These early successes not only improve performance but also build executive and board-level support for further modernization and long-term transformation.   Step 3: Fix the Process Gaps   Are Cross-functional Hand-offs a Challenge?   Businesses are structured vertically—in departments—but value is delivered horizontally, across functions. Customers don’t care about departmental boundaries; they’re impacted by how well the organization executes end-to-end. Functional silos persist within companies when systems and workflows are fragmented, making it difficult to coordinate planning and execution across the value chain. It’s like a relay race—no matter how fast each runner is, if the baton is dropped between exchanges, the race is lost.   What type of problems are rooted in a siloed organization? Here are a few common symptoms of cross-functional challenges :   Demand & Order Management: Misalignment Creates Delays Inaccurate demand forecasting leads to stockouts or excess inventory, tying up working capital. Manual order processing increases errors, rework, and fulfillment delays. Approval bottlenecks slow down order confirmations, delaying production start times. Impact: Orders take longer to process, increasing lead times, frustrating customers, and reducing sales velocity.   Production & Inventory: Inefficiencies Drive Higher Costs Siloed production planning leads to last-minute scheduling changes, increasing labor overtime and machine downtime. Disconnected inventory management causes materials shortages, stalling production and missing customer deadlines. Rigid capacity planning prevents flexibility, making it harder to respond to demand fluctuations. Impact: Production bottlenecks increase operating costs, reduce order fill rates, and weaken gross margin.   Logistics & Fulfillment: Shipping Disruptions and Customer Dissatisfaction Poor warehouse coordination leads to delays in picking, packing, and staging shipments. Lack of real-time tracking prevents proactive issue resolution, increasing OTIF failures. Inefficient routing and carrier selection result in higher freight costs and slower deliveries. Impact: Late shipments increase customer penalties, lost contracts, and damaged brand reputation.   Inefficiencies in the order-to-delivery process erode profitability, strain cash flow, and damage customer satisfaction. Ascent helps our clients understand what can be fixed in the current environment and what would be best addressed in a future ERP upgrade.   Step 4: Make Smart, Targeted System Enhancements   Leverage your existing ERP for quick, high-impact wins.   Rather than waiting a year or longer for the payoff of an ERP upgrade, companies can drive immediate ROI by optimizing what they already have: Fix broken or incomplete ERP processes that complicate daily execution. Improve integration between key systems … Read more

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Winning with AI: Build the BI Race Car Before You Turbocharge It with AI

AI doesn’t replace human creativity and insight—it enhances them by tracking more variables than any human possibly can, identifying trends and risks in real time. But just like a race car, without the right structure and skilled drivers, adding more speed doesn’t make you faster—it makes you crash harder. Your Best Drivers Will Train AI to Help Them Win AI isn’t here to take the wheel. For the foreseeable future, humans will remain behind the wheel of business, making strategic decisions that drive growth. But AI can be the ultimate co-pilot—alerting leaders to risks, opportunities, and changing conditions before they’re obvious. Building the Race Car: BI Is the Foundation Before you can race ahead with AI, you first need a foundation with sound fundamentals: Integrated workflows and data across departments. Broken processes and reporting blind spots create functional silos, preventing accurate, trusted reporting. Finance, sales, supply chain, and operations must work from one version of the truth. A dashboard that provides real-time visibility into the measures that drive revenue, operating margin, and cash flow. Just as you wouldn’t drive a car by looking out the rear window, business teams need clear visibility into what’s happening now, how performance is trending, and actionable insights on risks and opportunities. Upskill your best drivers—your business SMEs—not just on the tools, but on the cross-functional dependencies that drive performance of your aggregate KPIs. These individuals must be intimately involved—not only to understand the system, but to help design it. They aren’t just passengers; they are the engineers of your team’s BI race car, building the capability to accelerate on the straightaways and brake confidently into the curves. Learning to Drive Before Adding AI Once BI is in place—with workflows connected and reporting dashboards fine-tuned—teams will begin to trust reports and use them to drive decisions. Teams proactively collaborate to identify risks and opportunities early, while there’s still time to control the outcome. This fosters a culture of teamwork, ownership, and accountability. Individuals and teams master the fundamentals of decision-making using real-time data, which only comes with experience. As teams analyze patterns, identify opportunities, and adjust course in real time, they develop the instincts and expertise needed to push the business forward. Game-changing insight and decisions drive significant business impact during this stage. Once teams are winning races with BI-driven decision-making, they’re ready to supercharge the race car with AI. AI as the Race Strategist—Not the Driver AI doesn’t replace human judgment—it enhances it by tracking more variables than any human possibly can, so your driver can make informed decisions to win the race. Changing Track Conditions. AI alerts you to shifts in market trends, customer behavior, or supply chain disruptions before they impact performance. Crashes You Don’t See Yet. AI detects early warning signs of operational risks or financial stress before they escalate. Fuel Burn Rate & Tire Wear. AI monitors resource utilization, workforce productivity, and cost efficiency, ensuring you’re managing operating margin. Laps Before a Problem Emerges. AI forecasts when issues like cash flow strain, inventory shortages, or capacity constraints could arise, giving teams time to discuss and decide on corrective action. The Winning Formula First, build the race car. Establish BI as the foundation, ensuring trusted data, real-time reporting, and integrated workflows. Fine-tune the dashboard. Make sure your best drivers—your business leaders—have the visibility they need to make strategic decisions. Learn to win races. Your team gains experience, confidence, and passion for team-based problem solving. Then, and only then, add AI as the turbocharger. Once you know how to drive, AI greatly enhances your ability to anticipate and react to changing business conditions. Don’t Skip Steps—Build First, Then Turbocharge Too many organizations try to bolt AI onto a system that isn’t ready for it. The result? Unreliable insights, lack of adoption, and wasted investment.   At Ascent Innovations, we help businesses build the race car first—integrating processes, structuring data, and designing real-time analytics that empower decision-making. Once that foundation is in place, AI becomes a force multiplier, accelerating what’s already working.   Are you ready to take control of your business performance before adding AI? Let’s build the race car first—so you can win with data and AI when the time is right. About the Author John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy.

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Planning Optimization in D365: The Nerve Center of Your Supply Chain

As a Chicago native, conversations about the delays at O’Hare airport have long-dominated small-talk topics along with our constant weather changes; construction on the Kennedy; the ’85 Bears; and out-of-state drivers. It’s for a good reason. To paraphrase Klemens von Metternich, “When O’Hare sneezes, the country catches a cold.” O’Hare is a vital airline hub in the United States with flights coming in and out at an astonishing rate. Without proper planning and predictions, it can turn into a mess really fast.   Manufacturing and distribution operations are not entirely dissimilar. With constant shifts in supply and demand, it can be exceptionally difficult to generate the right orders at the right time. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management’s Planning Optimization (formerly Master Planning) module serves as the nerve center of supply chain operations, helping businesses optimize inventory, align production schedules, and ensure timely fulfillment.   Whether managing day-to-day replenishment or long-term strategic planning, Planning Optimization delivers real-time insights and automation to drive efficiency and profitability. Planning Optimization: Your Supply Chain’s Air Traffic Control Using our analogy, think of Planning Optimization in D365 like an air traffic control system at a busy airport. Without it, planes (orders) would take off and land chaotically, leading to: Missed connections → Stockouts and late shipments. Crowded runways → Excess inventory and tied-up working capital. Major delays → Production bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Just as air traffic control ensures planes take off, land, and taxi efficiently, Planning Optimization coordinates supply chain movements, keeping materials, production, and deliveries aligned. Operations scheduling provides a high-level view—like monitoring all flights on a radar. Job scheduling gets into the details, ensuring each plane has a clear path. Time fences act like air traffic rules, controlling when and how flights are scheduled to avoid congestion. With Planning Optimization guiding the supply chain, everything stays in sync—materials arrive on time, production runs smoothly, and customers get what they need, when they need it. Core Planning Methods in D365 At the heart of every efficient airport is a control tower that coordinates the movement of aircraft—balancing the big picture of airspace with the detailed instructions needed for each takeoff and landing. In D365 Planning Optimization, core planning methods function much the same way, managing both the high-level flow of operations and the fine-grained details of execution. Whether you’re looking at operations scheduling to understand the broader capacity landscape or job scheduling to direct specific production tasks, these tools give you the visibility and control needed to keep your supply chain running smoothly and on time. Operations Scheduling vs. Job Scheduling Operations scheduling provides a high-level production estimate without breaking down individual tasks. Useful for long-term capacity planning and understanding overall production flow. Job scheduling is a more detailed scheduling method, where each operation is divided into individual jobs. It considers capacity constraints and shop floor scheduling for short-term execution. Key Planning Time Fences Time fences control how far into the future Planning Optimization calculates requirements. Configuring them correctly is crucial for balancing efficiency and responsiveness. Coverage time fence defines how far ahead demand should be considered for planning. Freeze time fence prevents changes to planned orders within a set period, ensuring stability. Firming time fence automatically converts planned orders into actual purchase or production orders. Forecast plan time fence controls how far into the future forecasted demand influences planning. Capacity time fence ensures production scheduling considers resource constraints and limits. Action message time fence determines the period for generating rescheduling suggestions. Advanced Planning Controls Much like the sophisticated systems used by air traffic control to anticipate weather disruptions, manage flight sequencing, and calculate delays, D365’s advanced planning controls provide the precision needed to optimize your supply chain under real-world conditions. These tools help fine-tune order timing, streamline production flows, and ensure schedules remain realistic—even when disruptions occur. From adjusting for lead times with dynamic buffers to sequencing production orders for efficiency, these advanced settings give planners the ability to respond quickly and intelligently—keeping operations aligned and preventing turbulence across the business. Positive and Negative Days: Optimizing Order Timing Positive days defines how far into the future on-hand inventory can be used to fulfill demand, preventing unnecessary orders. Negative days determines how long the system should wait before creating a new order when supply is delayed. Dynamic positive and negative days adjust automatically based on item lead times, optimizing order timing without manual intervention. Sequencing: Smart Production Order Arrangement Enables planned orders to be arranged based on attributes such as color, size, or packaging. Reduces changeovers, improving production efficiency. Calculated Delays: Ensuring Feasible Production Dates Detects and reports possible order delays, ensuring that production and purchase schedules are based on realistic fulfillment timelines. Requisitions and Demand Planning Planning Optimization can automatically create planned orders for approved requisition demand, ensuring seamless replenishment without manual intervention Why Planning Optimization Matters? Shifting from a reactive supply chain to a proactive, optimized operation is essential for driving efficiency and financial performance. With D365 Planning Optimization, businesses can achieve significant operation improvements: Reduce stockouts and excess inventory, improving working capital efficiency. Optimize production schedules by aligning with actual capacity and supplier lead times. Enhance supply chain resilience by adjusting dynamically to disruptions and demand shifts. Automate aspects of planning processes, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. Greater efficiency creates capacity to drive growth—but it also enables smarter, faster decision-making across the organization. When your planning is intelligent and responsive, your business is positioned to seize opportunities, minimize risk, and consistently deliver for customers. Bringing Blue Skies to Your Supply Chain Just as an air traffic control tower brings order to the complex, fast-moving environment of an airport, Planning Optimization brings clarity and coordination to your supply chain. With D365 Planning Optimization, your supply chain operates like a well-orchestrated airport, where: Materials, production, and deliveries flow seamlessly. Bottlenecks are avoided, and disruptions are minimized. Every order lands on time, maximizing efficiency and profitability. Embrace Planning Optimization in D365 to navigate the complexities of modern supply chains with confidence and … Read more

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AI-Powered Predictive Pricing: A Game Changer

Optimize Pricing for Maximum Growth Pricing has always been a challenge, no matter the industry. Whether selling industrial equipment, retail products, auto parts, or wholesale goods, businesses need accurate, data-driven pricing to remain competitive and profitable. Traditionally, pricing relied on historical trends, intuition, and competitor benchmarking. However, manual methods lead to inconsistencies, lost revenue, and slow inventory turnover. Now, AI-powered predictive pricing is transforming how businesses price their products. By analyzing historical sales, quotes, competitor trends, and real-time demand, AI provides dynamic price recommendations that help businesses: Maximize revenue and profitability Reduce inefficiencies and guesswork Adapt quickly to market changes Why Businesses with Large SKU Inventories Benefit the Most While AI pricing benefits all businesses, those managing large, diverse SKU portfolios see the most impact. Pricing thousands of SKUs manually creates challenges: How to competitively price each SKU while maintaining profitability How to adjust pricing dynamically based on inventory levels and demand How to balance slow-moving vs. high-demand items to optimize cash flow   With AI-driven pricing, businesses can: Automate SKU-level pricing based on real-time market data Prevent overstocking or excessive discounting Improve margins by identifying premium pricing opportunities Inventory: A Fluctuating Asset or a Hidden Liability? Inventory is a valuable asset, but mismanagement turns it into a liability. The challenge is knowing when to maximize profits on high-demand SKUs and when to adjust pricing for slow-moving stock. AI-powered predictive pricing acts like a real-time stock market for inventory: High-demand SKUs – AI raises prices to maximize margins before demand drops. Slow-moving SKUs – AI recommends strategic discounts before they become dead stock. Market adjustments – AI continuously scans trends, adjusting pricing to optimize turnover. By leveraging AI-driven pricing, businesses avoid markdown losses, optimize margins, and ensure inventory remains a revenue-generating asset. Industries Where AI-Powered Pricing Delivers the Most Impact Industrial Equipment & MRO Supplies Managing pricing for industrial equipment and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) supplies is complex due to demand fluctuations, supplier costs, and product lifespan.   AI-driven pricing models help: Optimize pricing based on supplier costs and demand trends Adjust prices for slow-moving stock before obsolescence Maintain competitive pricing for in-demand equipment   Example: A company selling industrial pumps and spare parts can use AI to: Update prices dynamically based on raw material costs Improve margins by pricing high-turnover SKUs effectively Prevent markdown losses on aging stock Wholesale & Distribution Wholesalers manage tens of thousands of SKUs across suppliers and regions, where pricing depends on bulk orders, supplier costs, and demand shifts. AI pricing eliminates inefficiencies by: Automating bulk pricing adjustments Preventing excessive discounting while maintaining competitiveness Adapting pricing to inventory levels and demand fluctuations   Example: A food distributor managing thousands of SKUs can use AI to: Optimize pricing for perishable goods based on expiration dates Prevent markdown losses by adjusting prices proactively Ensure profitable bulk pricing E-Commerce & Retail In fast-moving consumer markets, price is a major factor in conversions. Retailers and e-commerce businesses need continuous pricing adjustments to stay competitive.   AI helps by: Automating real-time price updates based on competitor pricing Identifying optimal discounting strategies to maximize revenue Predicting seasonal demand spikes to optimize pricing in advance   Example: An online electronics retailer can use AI to: Adjust prices based on inventory and sales velocity Prevent over-discounting during peak sales periods Identify premium pricing opportunities based on customer behavior Automotive & Auto Parts Suppliers The automotive parts industry deals with millions of SKUs, from OEM parts to aftermarket accessories. Inventory turnover varies, making manual pricing inefficient and inconsistent.   AI-driven pricing models help: Optimize pricing for high-demand parts while preventing deep markdowns on slow-moving inventory Predict resale value for aging stock based on historical trends Automate price adjustments for new vehicle model parts   Example: An auto parts distributor can use AI to: Optimize pricing for aging inventory to reduce obsolescence costs Adjust prices dynamically for high-demand replacement parts Predict demand surges for vehicle-specific parts How AI Predicts the Optimal Selling Price AI pricing models follow a structured approach to ensure accuracy and adaptability: Data Collection – Aggregates historical sales, competitor pricing, and industry benchmarks Category & Subcategory Analysis – Refines pricing based on product classification and demand trends Depreciation & Asset Age Modeling – Determines optimal pricing for aging stock Market Trend & Demand Integration – Adjusts prices dynamically based on seasonal demand shifts Continuous Optimization & Learning – Refines pricing based on real-world sales results How Ascent Innovations Helps Businesses Overcome Common Barriers Implementing AI-powered pricing requires clean data, seamless integration, and a strategic approach to ensure accuracy. Ascent Innovations helps businesses overcome common AI pricing challenges by: Building a Clean, Reliable Data Foundation – We help clean, structure, and centralize pricing data to ensure AI models generate accurate recommendations. Optimizing Data Integration – We ensure AI pricing tools seamlessly connect with ERP, CRM, and e-commerce platforms, eliminating data silos. Leveraging Real-Time Market Intelligence – We set up automated data pipelines to keep AI models updated with market trends and competitor insights. Combining AI with Human Expertise – AI models need strategic oversight for complex pricing scenarios and asset valuations. We help businesses balance automation with human input. Conclusion: The Future of Pricing is AI-Driven AI-powered predictive pricing is no longer a competitive advantage—it’s a necessity for companies looking to scale efficiently, maximize profitability, and stay ahead of market shifts.   Are you ready to transform your pricing strategy with AI? About the Author Sohena Hafiz is the Founder and CEO of Ascent Innovations, with 20 years of experience in Microsoft Dynamics and 16 years leading ERP implementations. She has been directly involved in 50+ ERP projects, including 30+ in D365, across industries like industrial equipment, steel fabrication, food manufacturing, banking, recycling, retail, and the public sector.   Her passion is helping businesses succeed with ERP—the right way, the first time. With a deep background in business process optimization and system integration, she knows that strong leadership and a structured approach make all the difference. That is why she remains … Read more

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AI: Hype vs. Reality

Understanding AI as an Aggregate Term Businesses hear bold claims about AI revolutionizing industries, yet many leaders struggle to separate hype from reality. What can AI actually do? Where does it deliver value, and what misconceptions should be avoided?   The challenge starts with how AI is discussed. It’s often portrayed as a single, all-powerful technology, when in reality, AI is an umbrella term that encompasses multiple specialized fields. To understand AI’s true capabilities, it’s important to break it down into its key categories, each with distinct functions and applications. The Primary Categories of AI Machine Learning (ML) – The Foundation of AI Machine Learning is a subset of AI that enables systems to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. Before the rise of generative AI, the term AI was often synonymous with machine learning. How It Works: ML models analyze patterns in historical data to predict future outcomes. Where It’s Used: Demand forecasting in supply chains. Fraud detection in banking. Predictive maintenance in manufacturing. Generative AI – Creating, Not Just Predicting Generative AI is a type of machine learning that produces new content rather than analyzing data for predictions. These models generate text, images, audio, and code based on the patterns they’ve learned from vast datasets. How It Works: Instead of recognizing trends, generative models produce new outputs that mimic human-created content. Where It’s Used: AI-generated marketing content. Automated code writing. Image and video generation. Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Making AI Conversational Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. While NLP powers AI chatbots and virtual assistants, it relies on machine learning and other AI techniques to function. How It Works: NLP algorithms process text or speech to extract meaning, detect sentiment, or generate responses. Where It’s Used: AI-powered customer support. Language translation tools. Sentiment analysis for brand monitoring. Sentiment analysis for brand monitoring Unlike the other AI subsets, RPA is not artificial intelligence. Instead, it is a form of automation that mimics human actions in software environments, following predefined rules without learning or adapting. How It Works: RPA bots interact with software interfaces to execute repetitive, rule-based tasks. Where It’s Used: Data entry and invoice processing. Extracting data from emails and logging into systems. Automating HR onboarding tasks. Laying the Foundation Before Broad AI Adoption While AI has the potential to drive significant business impact, most organizations need to lay the groundwork before it can be applied at scale. Establishing a strong, scalable technical foundation – Clean, well-structured data and modern analytics platforms must be in place before attempting more advanced AI projects. Building workforce skills – Teams must develop expertise in data literacy, modern analytics, and process automation, which provide immediate value and prepare organizations for more complex AI-driven initiatives. Taking a strategic approach – AI adoption should focus on well-defined, high-impact use cases rather than broad, unfocused initiatives. Crawl, Walk, Run—The Key to Success with AI AI is powerful, but it is not a magic wand. Most organizations need to slow down and focus on the fundamentals—building a strong foundation of integrated processes and data while enabling teams to apply modern analytics that shift the business from reactive to proactive decision-making.   Whether you are just starting your modernization journey or have reached a plateau, Ascent Innovations can help you develop and implement a strategic plan that unlocks immediate value and drives game-changing business impact—building executive confidence and support for continued investment. About the Author John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy.

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From Cozy Coupe to the Real Deal: Why Training is the Key to Success

Twenty-five years ago, almost to the day, I was the picture of pure excitement. It was my 15th birthday, and I was standing in line at the DMV, ready to get my driver’s permit. After years of studying car magazines, playing with Matchbox cars, and perfecting my laps around the house in my Cozy Coupe, I was convinced I was ready. I couldn’t wait to slide behind the wheel of the family’s 1998 Saturn SL2, pop in my Discman-to-tape-deck converter, and blast Led Zeppelin. Best of all, in my fantasy world, the state of Illinois and my parents would recognize my extensive “training” and let me skip driver’s ed entirely. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts—including a PowerPoint presentation decked out in dazzling WordArt—there was no getting around the most critical part of learning to drive: actual training. The Classic Excuses We’ve all heard them. Maybe we’ve even said them: “They’ll figure it out once they play around with it.“ “Just send a write-up with some screenshots.“ “We’ll hold a quick Teams meeting and call it a day.“ This kind of thinking is short-sighted and, frankly, a disaster waiting to happen. Training isn’t just a checkbox—it’s an opportunity to ensure a successful implementation. Skimping on it is like skipping driver’s ed and expecting no one to crash Why Intensive Training is Non-Negotiable? 1. Preparation The last thing management or a VAR wants on go-live day is a room full of people standing around in a panic. Training helps users get familiar with the system, understand processes, and recognize why certain decisions and features were implemented. 2. Buy-In Most users are skeptical of any system upgrade. “Everything was working fine before—why do we need this?” Training is the time to turn skepticism into excitement by showing users how the new system will actually make their lives easier. 3. Collaboration System upgrades often feel like marching orders from the C-suite, which can create resistance. But training turns the transition into a shared effort. When employees feel involved, the upgrade becomes a team-building opportunity instead of a source of frustration. 4. Reprieve A well-trained team reduces the burden on both management and the VAR. When multiple employees understand the system, they become in-house resources, making troubleshooting and ongoing training much easier. 5. Course Correction Hands-on training gives decision-makers direct access to the people who actually use the system. These frontline users often catch potential issues, risks, and areas for improvement—something that, of course, was totally covered in the pre-project surveys and documentation. (Right?). Building an Effective Training Approach There’s no one-size-fits-all method for training because corporate cultures vary. What works for a small industrial manufacturer won’t necessarily work for a multinational chemical company. That said, the most effective strategy I’ve seen (outside of the training method I once tried to sell before the state of Illinois shut me down) is getting on the floor with the users: Get to know them. Become someone they can approach without fear of reprimand or embarrassment. Explain why the system is changing—not just how. Walk through real-life examples. Listen to their concerns and answer their questions (seriously, don’t flake on this). And for the love of all that is good, be encouraging! If a user figures out a process on their own or explains a workflow correctly, celebrate it. That kind of enthusiasm spreads, and before you know it, the whole organization is engaged. Training is the Key to Success A well-managed, comprehensive training program will make or break a system implementation. When users are empowered and the “because management said so” barrier is removed, companies build stronger systems, foster collaboration, and turn employees into system experts. Plus, leadership and the implementation partner gain a more proactive, informed workforce, making go-live far smoother. So don’t just toss the keys to your team and act surprised when someone crashes through a chain-link fence. Train them first. About the Author Matthew Newcomb is an experienced and certified Microsoft Dynamics AX & 365 Supply Chain Functional Consultant, specializes in Advanced Warehousing and Production, who’s been navigating the twists and turns of ERP implementations long enough to know that training makes all the difference. As a functional solution architect, business analyst, and project wrangler, he helps companies get the most out of their Microsoft Dynamics solutions—without the headaches. When not untangling digital roadmaps, you might find Matt getting the Led out.

🍔 Annual Food Drive!

(November 3 to 17)

We’re proud to partner with the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry to support local families in need this season.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one”

📋 A list of suggested donation items is available – click here