Manufacturing and Distribution

[Steve Bennett]

FEN 15 July 2009

Cincom Systems has released a new Business Intelligence module to support real-time analytical reporting for the Enterprise Compliance and Quality Management (ECQM) suite.

ECQM is a single integrated software solution that ensures compliance with industry and regulatory requirements.

Cincom’s Compliance and Quality Business Intelligence module enables users to drill down into underlying data generated by the operational Cincom ECQM applications and other supporting external systems.

Users can analyse, report, and export existing data efficiently and effectively, supporting performance management for improved compliance and profitability. Decision makers can explore large quantities of data through a dynamic view of business conditions, navigation, calculation, and visualisation tools.

The module also enables users to create new dashboards that consist of one or more worksheets. Each worksheet can have the required analytical chart and supporting data.

End-users that have access to those pre-created dashboards can visualise the data and either drill into or collapse the data.

[admin2]

3 August 2009 | by Bernhard Webler | Logistics

The Supplier Extranet is set to become a fundamental part of successful supply chain operations for large retailers.

With the likes of Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour and Metro leading the way on the global landscape, Australian retailers are quickly becoming aware of the critical advantages to be gained through a Supplier Extranet in terms of productivity and profitability.

Supplier Extranets link retailers with distributors across a secure internet–based network.

Underpinned by Business Intelligence (BI) software, they enable retailers to deliver relevant, real time information to their suppliers, empowering them to make decisions (on deliveries for example) based on up-to-date factors.

This keeps the supply chain flowing at an optimum capacity at all times. Typically, the Supplier Extranet provides supply chain partners with access to a variety of reports including; Merchandising Information, Inventory Management, Promotions, Operational Performance and in some cases anonymised Customer Profile Information.

Communication between supply chain partners is vastly simplified through the sharing of accurate and timely information in this way.

In addition, retailers often have the option of activating an automated alert function for critical issues (based on thresholds) or for broadcasting relevant information updates with an immediate impact on the trade process between supplier and retailer.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Supplier Extranet:

Reduced capital commitment

For retailers, reducing their capital commitment is a continual battle, driving demand for real time information throughout the supply chain.

In terms of inventory, a ‘just in time’ replenishment scenario is the ideal for optimising capital commitment. This is because it reduces the resources required to invest in and manage a warehouse full of stock that won’t necessarily be needed immediately.

The Supplier Extranet helps to realise this ideal by keeping stock at an optimal level.

It allows granular information on inventory to be exchanged in a fast and reliable manner, which facilitates flexibility and agility within the ordering and delivery process.

Managing deliveries with greater efficiency reduces the burden on the back of the store – the less stock, the lower the capital commitment.

Ensured on-shelf stock availability

Over and under stock situations are common within stores.

International studies show mixed reactions from customers discovering an item they want is out-of-shelf, none of them positive. Approximately 33% of retail customers will attempt to find their product in another store.

This may be the first step in the desision making process that leads to a change in the customer’s prefered retail destination. If the problem occurs twice, the chance of this customer moving to another store rises to 50%. By the third time there is a 70% likelihood that the customer will move on.

Ensuring on-shelf stock availability is part of the process of Demand Side Supply Chain Management. The Supplier Extranet carries out a valuable function here in forecasting potential demand.

Shelf replenishment is scheduled based on purchasing behaviours revealed within the BI application. The process of refilling can also be driven by automated alerts - the primary advantage here being the ability to resolve issues as they occur, so enhancing both sales and customer loyalty.

Increased profitability

The Supplier Extranet encourages higher margins per square metre with minimised leakage and optimised assortment mix. This is because when retailers have accurate data at their disposal 24/7, they are able to optimise the assortment mix on the shelves for maximum profitability.

Introducing new brands becomes easier, as does making informed decisions about product facing in the store front, for example, before rolling out successful formulas to other outlets.

By analysing stock articles and how quickly they sell, it becomes easy to identify and periodically adjust assortment to cater for the most popular items.

L’Oreal recently demonstrated innovation in this respect through a Supplier Extranet connection with Germany’s second largest drugstore chain DM, which the vendor selected as the exclusive retailer for its first professional makeup line “Studio Secrets Professional.”

L’Oreal’s decision to roll out a new line through a drugstore rather than a major department store gives DM a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Through DM, L’Oreal has been able to test alternative listing concepts, achieving a rapid optimisation of product assortment.

According to Kenneth Campbell, responsible for the L’Oreal brand in Paris, DM’s willingness to cooperate in testing innovative concepts at an early stage is a key component of the successful introduction of the new range.

Improved alignment between supply and demand

Automated alerts can play a vital role in providing retailers with a competitive edge, giving them the ability to instantly react to unforeseeable circumstances.

For instance, data mining might reveal a certain level of demand for a product; however the reality could end up being quite different because of the introduction of a new factor (a sudden change in the weather, for example). The knock on effect might be an unanticipated peak in demand leading to a faster than expected depletion in stock.

In this case the retailer can alert the supplier that an out-of-stock situation is imminent, so that the item can be fast tracked through the supply chain and onto the shelves.

This seamless collaboration between supply chain parties is a distinct advantage of the Supplier Extranet. The 24/7 availability of Supplier Extranets also supports global sourcing, in that they make it possible for retailers and suppliers to transact business across global time zones for faster response times.

Improved root cause analysis

Supply Chain process trouble shooting is assisted enormously through a 360° view of the end-to-end business within the Supplier Extranet.

The ability to drill down to the lowest level of detail makes all business processes highly visible. Furthermore, when dynamic dashboards are used to deliver aggregate information to managers’ desktops, problems (such as downwards trends) are quickly brought to light.

For example, a dashboard graph might indicate a slump in sales within a certain store. Simply clicking on that graph allows the user to dig down into the details behind it to discover which product is responsible for the problem, whether it’s an out-of-stock situation, or whether this situation has occurred in the past etcetera.

Increasing customer loyalty Needless to say, the end goal is to increase customer loyalty - customers equal sales.

To this end, the Supplier Extranet shifts the balance of responsibility over to the supplier, giving them a greater accountability for the availability of articles in the stores, which makes the supply chain more intuitive.

When the supply chain is optimised, customer repurchasing rates increase due to the fact that the products they want are highly available to them.

And, because they are now loyal to the store, there are greater opportunities for cross selling – a satisfied customer will stay in the store and purchase a larger range of items.

Essentially, the role of the Supplier Extranet establishes a simple means for supply chain partners to tap into relevant information 24 hours a day using a simple net browser to improve their business.

The Supplier Extranet enables retailers to stay on the ball in terms of delivering precisely what customers need, when they need it.

Bernhard Webler is Director of Retail, MicroStrategy

[admin]

ComOps is deploying ComOps SAM, a mobile salesforce automation solution, at New Zealand’s largest non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer.

27 July, 2009 09:07:00 CIO

Auckland, 27 July 2009 – ComOps, a leading Australasian provider of business software products and services, is deploying ComOps SAM, a mobile salesforce automation solution, at New Zealand’s largest non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer.

ComOps is rolling out the ComOps mobile automated invoicing solution to enhance customer service and increase efficiencies for the beverage company’s delivery teams.

ComOps SAM, will be implemented on Motorola MC75 handheld devices. These wireless hand-held terminals will be used each day by the company’s truck drivers in the delivery of customer orders. The beverage manufacturer has around 70 trucks on the road and ComOps SAM will provide pre-loaded data, including a route sequenced itinerary, which will enable the drivers to conduct deliveries and take signatures for proof of delivery and customer payments.

The ComOps SAM solution rollout will commence in August and, once complete, will result in a dramatic reduction in the current manual paper based and often time consuming tasks undertaken by drivers. Automation will improve the processes at the customer point of delivery, including the reconciliation of deliveries and payments back to head office. ComOps SAM will allow drivers to locate any customer invoice or load details they require at their own moment of need.

ComOps SAM in the field will synchronise on demand to a SAM server at the manufacturer’s head office in Auckland which will provide real-time remote processing of the driver delivery data being collected and managed at customer premises. SAM will act as the central data repository for customer invoicing and captured settlement data integrated to and from the core company systems. The data will then be made available via the SAM application as information that can be used at each point of interaction with the customer. Management will have full visibility across the business to measure and report on key performance indicators and trends in their delivery business.

“ComOps developed a phased approach to deployment which suited our own timescale and internal resources,” said a company spokesperson.

ComOps SAM will also be configured to ensure that any quantities ordered and returned are clearly recorded with a complete audit trail of any changes made. This will result in more accurate inventory recording helping the company to gain enhanced visibility of the rate of returns and reasons across the country.

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About ComOps Limited

ComOps Limited has a 37 year history in the IT industry in Australasia and listed on the ASX in 1999. The company develops, sells, implements, hosts and supports software solutions in the ERP, Business Intelligence, Mobile Sales Force Automation, e-Commerce, Retail, Risk Management & Safety Compliance, Workforce Management and Human Capital Management markets. These solutions are used by a range of blue chip clients such as Toll Holdings, Berri, Golden Circle, Australia Post, Toshiba, Orica, Lexmark, Canon, Queensland Government, NSW Lotteries, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia to name just a few.

ComOps is a Microsoft Gold Partner, Progress Premier Partner, is ISO 9001:2000 Quality Accredited and Government Endorsed.

[admin]

11 August 2009

Target and Kmart, two of the largest retailers in Australia, have selected CBX from Core Solutions, a leader in global sourcing and vendor collaboration solutions to streamline global sourcing of private label merchandise.

The group has purchased the complete CBX PLM/Sourcing suite and will leverage its capability to help shorten product development cycles, reduce end-to-end lead times, increase visibility and improve supplier management and operational efficiency.

The CBX PLM/Sourcing system is expected to be implemented and ready to 'go live' early next year.

Kmart and Target source the majority of their private label merchandises through Coles Group Asia. In operation since 1960, Coles Group Asia has grown dramatically in recent years as the trend of global sourcing amplified.

It is this continuing trend that has led the group to identify global sourcing improvement as an imperative mission to success.

"The success of implementing the global sourcing system is critical," says Mike Glassel, Managing Director of Coles Group Asia.

"We wanted a system that offers a broad range of capabilities but also wanted to be sure that these capabilities are proven in real life by other leading organisations.

"So, we have gone through an intensive evaluation involving many of the leading global sourcing software," Glassel says. "Ultimately, Core Solutions came out on top.

"Our buyers, planners, merchandisers, and quality assurance and quality control teams tested the actual system and selected it, because it was the most complete and easy to use.

"Furthermore, Core's strong customer references provided an additional level of assurance of Core's experience in implementing sourcing systems for complex businesses like ours."

CBX PLM/Sourcing will help Kmart, Target and Coles Group Asia convert traditionally manual sourcing processes based heavily around spreadsheets, e-mails and faxes to streamlined processes enabled by a web-based, centrally-managed collaboration, workflow and business intelligence system.

The system's PLM, Sourcing, Order Management, Quality Management, Quality Control and Vendor Management modules help stakeholders plan and execute accurately, speedily and flexibly across the sourcing lifecycle.

The system's Reporting capability ensures that everyone is on the same page all the time and provides the business intelligence to support key decisions.

And, the CBX PLM/Sourcing's Critical Path Management feature ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.

"Despite the current economic conditions, Target and Kmart have pushed forward with CBX PLM/Sourcing, because they recognise the strategic importance to elevate the group's global sourcing capability to the next level," Mike Glassel says.

"Target and Kmart have shown an enormous amount of commitment from top to bottom to make this project a success," adds Michael Hung, Chief Executive Officer of Core Solutions.

"This is a big win for Core Solutions especially during the current market conditions. It validates Core Solutions' capability to deliver dramatic changes and improvements for retailers and global sourcing organisations."

[fgeorge]

Simplot plants new business analytics software
Project about decision making and using information

TechWorld, Rodney Gedda 20/08/2009 09:02:00

Food production company Simplot Australia will implement a new enterprise business intelligence package from September 2009 in conjunction with a new ERP system.

Simplot selected IBM’s Cognos 8 for the BI project which will be used by up to 600 staff at the company.

The company’s CIO for business transformation, Martin Nowak-Rowe, said Simplot will be using the ERP system for reporting on the operational and transactional aspects of its business, but when it comes to high-level decision making or identifying and analyzing trends, “we need BI”.

“We selected IBM because it is robust and a significant player in the market. We see it as an investment for the long term,” Nowak-Rowe said.

Cognos 8 BI will be used to consolidate Simplot's financial management reporting, providing am improved view of data drawn from the company's demand management and ERP applications.

The solution will then be extended to other areas of the business including manufacturing, sales, operations, HR and payroll.

Nowak-Rowe said this is a long-term project about decision making and using information.

“It's about people not spending their time collating and formatting data but rather having them analyse information so that they can obtain value from it,” he said.

“We expect that IBM Cognos 8 BI will assist us by combining all the different types of data within our business and making it possible for us to identify process and planning efficiencies.”

[Steve Bennett]

InsideSAP, 27 Aug 2009

by: Nathan Dukes

SAP today announced ASICS Oceania would invest in new SAP Business Intelligence software.

Supply Chain Consulting, a Fujitsu Company, will partner with ASICS to deliver the solution to 50 users here in Australia, and another 1500 users worldwide.

SAP says the solution will help manage the expanding portfolio of solutions at ASICS, which recently implemented SAP Solution Manager through Supply Chain Consulting.

ASICS will implement SAP Business Intelligence (BI 7.0), Xcelsius Enterprise, Crystal Reports and BusinessObjects Edge Software.

The sports footwear and apparel manufacturer is undertaking a program to increase business efficiency and improve decision making ability.

Arata Ikeda, Managing Director at ASICS, said the growth of the company has made accurate report more important for day to day business.

“The Australian arm of the ASICS business has demonstrated exemplary performance over the last five years. We have achieved 15 per cent year on year compound growth here and our market share in Australia currently sits at 25.5 per cent,” Mr Ikeda said.

“The growth of ASICS has made information management and presentation more important. We have realised that we need to become more analytical as a business. We recognised the need to invest and strengthen our internal systems, to enable us to explore and analyse new markets effectively,” he continued.

Users of the SAP BusinessObjects software will initially be the senior management team and sales managers, but will later be rolled out to the rest for the organisation, including finance and operations.

By implementing the solution, ASICS hopes they can create a system which is more user friendly, with automated data collection.

Previously, staff spent hours taking data from multiple reports and combining data into a presentation format.

Sales managers needed to engage the IT department when they required data for forecasting, conference presentations and ad-hoc customer requests.

“The implementation of SAP BusinessObjects software will mean that those staff that currently don’t use our back-end IT systems in their everyday work, will be able to use the new Xcelsius Enterprise dashboards and access reports easily without having to wait for IT staff to access reports for them,” Mr Ikeda said.

Prior to the recent SAP Solution Manager implementation, ASICS was running SAP Business All-in-One, which included AFS Industry Solution, SAP Sales and Distribution, SAP Materials Management, SAP FICO and SAP Exchange Infrastructure.

Down the track ASICS hopes to further utilising SAP BusinessObjects Edge and potentially replace its legacy warehouse management and CRM solutions with SAP.

[Steve Bennett]

Company Media Release:

Food Giant Decides the Recipe for BI Success Lies with IBM Business Analytics Software

Simplot Australia has selected IBM Cognos 8 as its new enterprise business intelligence (BI) tool.

20/08/2009 11:15:00

Sydney, Australia – 20 August 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Simplot Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based JR Simplot Company and home to many of Australia's leading packaged food brands, has selected IBM Cognos 8 as its new enterprise business intelligence (BI) tool.

Simplot has purchased a 600-user license for the software and will begin development in September 2009. Deployment will occur in conjunction with the deployment of a new enterprise resource planning system.

Initially, IBM Cognos 8 BI will be used to consolidate and enhance Simplot's financial management reporting, providing a single view of data drawn from the company's demand management and ERP applications. Following this the solution will be extended to all areas of the business including manufacturing, sales and operations, human resources and payroll.

Martin Nowak-Rowe, CIO – Business Transformation of Simplot Australia, said, “We will be using the ERP system for reporting on the operational and transactional aspects of our business but when it comes to high level decision making or identifying and analysing trends we need BI. We selected IBM because it is robust and a significant player in the market. We see it as an investment for the long term.”

A major factor in the decision was the IBM Cognos Financial Performance Analytics module with its series of pre-built adaptable reports for transactional system data. The reports will help to reduce development time and costs, offering Simplot a faster time-to-value.

The ready availability of suitable BI skills – both among consultants and prospective employees – was an important consideration as were software independence and ease of integration. Simplot wanted a solution that would easily integrate with a variety of applications and stipulated that it had to be independent of any existing systems already in use at the company.

Nowak-Rowe added, “This long-term project is all about decision making and using information. It's about people not spending their time collating and formatting data but rather having them analyse information so that they can obtain value from it. We expect that IBM Cognos 8 BI will assist us by combining all the different types of data within our business and making it possible for us to identify process and planning efficiencies.”

For more information about Simplot visit Simplot Australia - Home of Australia's favourite food brands

[Doug Heywood]

Here's some more information on iTWire:

SAP across the line 1st in ASICS contract race
by Peter Dinham
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Page 1 of 2
SAP has beaten off a number of competitors, including IBM, to secure a contract with sporting footwear and apparel manufacturer, ASICS, to deploy its business intelligence (BI) software as part of a program in the Japanese company’s Australian arm to increase business efficiency.

Under the contract, SAP’s channel and services partner, Fujitsu’s Supply Chain Consulting, will work with ASICS to implement Business Intelligence (SAP BI 7.0), Xcelsius Enterprise, Crystal Reports 2008 and BusinessObjects Edge software.

ASICS managing director, Arata Ikeda, said today the growth of ASICS had made information management and presentation more important, and the company had realised it needed to become more analytical as a business. “We recognised the need to invest and strengthen our internal systems, to enable us to explore and analyse new markets effectively. We want to establish a business platform that will not only keep pace with our organisational growth but also provide access to information and insights that will enable us to executive effectively against an aggressive five year business plan.”

Ikeda said the Australian arm of the ASICS business has demonstrated “exemplary performance over the last five years,” and he added “we have achieved 15 per cent year on year compound growth here and our market share in Australia currently sits at 25.5 per cent.”

ASICS has also recently implemented SAP Solution Manager with Supply Chain Consulting, Ikeda said, and with 50 users currently in Australia and 1,500 worldwide, the company required a solution that would help it manage its expanding SAP systems environment.

According to Ikeda, the company reviewed a number of solutions, including IBM's Lotus Notes, before selecting SAP Solution Manager.

Ikeda also said that the new SAP BusinessObjects software will “engage the business users at ASICS, initially to be used by the senior management team and sales managers and then to be rolled out to all other departments in the organisation, including finance and operations.

“The organisation aims to create a system that is more user-friendly and allows automated data collection. The implementation of SAP BusinessObjects software will mean that those staff that currently don’t use our back-end IT systems in their everyday work, will be able to use the new Xcelsius Enterprise dashboards and access reports easily without having to wait for IT staff to access reports for them.”

ASICS staff previously spent hours taking data from multiple reports and combining data into a presentation format, according to Ikeda, and he said the company’s sales managers needed to “engage the IT department when they required data for forecasting, conference presentations and ad-hoc customer requests.

“The new reporting system will allow managers to have visibility of their key performance indicators in a dashboard format, with the ability to drill down on sales by state, category or size. Managers will also now be able to create ad-hoc queries for client meetings on short notice.”

Ikeda said ASICS had chosen to work with SAP initially because the SAP Apparel and Footwear Solution (AFS) “is highly regarded in the industry and we wanted to take advantage of this software.”

“From there, we chose to work with Supply Chain Consulting as they are an accredited SAP AFS partner,” said Ikeda. “They have been a valuable partner to us over the last three years. Supply Chain Consulting really understands the ASICS business in Australia and has extensive experience working with businesses of our size.”

Prior to the recent SAP solution manager implementation, ASICS was running SAP business all-in-one, which included AFS industry solution, SAP SD (sales and distribution) benchmark, SAP MM (materials management), SAP FICO (finance and control) and SAP XI (exchange infrastructure).

[JohnnyBgood]

Lawson gets a lift with Hydraulics and ERP contract
by Peter Dinham
Wednesday, 26 August 2009

ERP provider, Lawson Software, has secured a contract to deploy its ERP manufacturing solution for Australian hydraulics manufacturer and distributor, RYCO Hydraulics, with a phased rollout to RYCO plants in Melbourne as well as Dalian in China and Kuala Ketil in Malaysia.


Under the contract, Lawson will deploy its QuickStep pre-configured ERP package which it says is designed to help manufacturers achieve faster business results, with RYCO using it to help address its manufacturing industry-specific business needs, including visibility across global supply chains.

Glenn Allen, group operations manager at RYCO, said the solution would give the company the ability to manage a diverse range of products, as well as support a variety of product delivery and supply methods.

Allen said the contract with Lawson follows RYCO’s decision to upgrade to a fully integrated, enterprise-wide information system capable of supporting future expansion and increasing business complexity across its global operations.

“RYCO Hydraulics has a simple belief that better technology equals greater performance. This ethos applies right throughout our organisation and it’s one of the reasons we decided to select Lawson as our preferred technology partner after an extensive evaluation. We’re confident that this decision will give us an even greater edge over our competitors.”

Allen said RYCO had purchased several add-on applications including Lawson M3 Sales and marketing automation, e-sales, business intelligence (including the business performance warehouse module), learning accelerator, demand planner, multisite planner and warehouse mobility.

According to Lawson’s general manager and regional managing director of Asia Pacific, David Hope, the company’s “deep understanding of RYCO Hydraulics’ business compared to that of our competitors was key to this important and strategic win in the manufacturing and distribution sector.

“Furthermore, our solution is a proven low risk option based on our QuickStep template approach, which is designed to make customers stronger in minimal time. The Lawson solution will provide RYCO Hydraulics with a platform for growth as it is an excellent fit for the company’s business needs.”

Hope said implementation of the RYCO project will begin immediately with a phased approach to roll out. He said the new solution will be built on an IBM System i platform provided in conjunction with Synergy Plus, which will replace a legacy HP 3000/ix system.

[admin]

Liam Tung, ZDNet.com.au
27 August 2009 12:07 PM

Australia Post's outgoing managing director Graeme John has announced the national postal service's plan to invest $700 million over three years in new IT systems.

"In recent months, the board has approved almost $700 million worth of investments in the future of Australia Post. Now is the right time to hand over to a successor who can steer the corporation through the next phase of its evolution," John said today in a statement as he announced his retirement.

The postal giant had already flagged its Future Delivery Design five-year program, which will see it invest in new barcode sorters, optical character reader (OCR) scanners, and mail sorting software and hardware.

In recent years Australia Post has also made efforts to extend its business into digital mail delivery services, document imaging and business process outsourcing, and has also acquired electronic document service subsidiaries, such as Decipha and PrintSoft and its joint venture with Wellcom for the iPrint digital mail service.

Chief information officer Wayne Saunders has also been heading up Australia Post's SAP revamp, which saw it spend $111.7 million last year. A core element of this has been its parcel post tracking system, which was launched late last year. The revamp is ongoing.

It is not clear how much, if any, of the $700 million will be directed to the SAP system revamp.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today congratulated John for transforming the postal service into a fully fledged logistics company.

"Graeme has successfully led the transformation of Australia Post to become a major logistics player and one of the world's leading postal operators. I would like to congratulate Graeme for his great contribution to Australia Post and wish him the very best for the next phase of his professional life," Senator Conroy said.