NATICK, MA-Many large companies have expanded their manufacturing execution system portfolios by acquiring shop-floor software vendors. But what does this mean for smaller players in the market?

"Most shop-floor programs require a high level of customization to interface with a company's EPR system. These customization requirements will continue to drive demand for smaller, specialized software vendors developing application-specific solutions for integration with leading ERP providers," says Taylor Smith, an analyst. In fact, small suppliers with less than 1 percent of market share will still account for more than 35 percent of all global shipments.