Software automates business resource planning.
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Press Release Summary:
Geac System21 Aurora combines enterprise resource planning with real-time process management. Fully integrated ERP system and web-based collaborative supply chain solution anticipates needs of customers. Portal provides real-time access to supply chain applications for multiple company operation. Front-to-back business process management capabilities include complete process automation, and workflow and exception control and management.
Original Press Release:
GEAC Announces System21 Aurora
--Geac releases details of its next generation enterprise resource planning solution with real-time business process management for mid-size enterprises--
STUDLEY, U.K., Apr 3, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- The UK division of Geac (CA:GAC) today launched Geac System21 Aurora. Combining next generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality with real-time process management capabilities, it is designed to improve enterprise business performance at every level - operational, process and corporate. Available today, System21 Aurora is scaled for mid-sized enterprise needs, particularly in the food and beverage, apparel and textiles, fast moving consumer goods, wholesale distribution and manufacturing sectors, where Geac already has a strong market presence. A fully integrated ERP and web-based collaborative supply chain solution, it delivers the highest levels of process excellence. Anticipating the needs of a global customer base of approximately 1,600 companies, Aurora is the culmination of extensive product development and represents the greatest investment by Geac in System21 in several years. With a strong focus on customer requested enhancements, System21 Aurora will help organisations to become more flexible and responsive to their customers and partners, improve operational productivity and maximise the use of their investments. "System21 Aurora is a key part of Geac's overall Business Performance Management strategy. We are delivering a solution that offers a rapid return on investment to our System21 customers worldwide. System21 Aurora can help organizations improve business at the core process level, thus boosting overall business performance with low risk. Geac's innovations and development of System21 Aurora represents our largest investment and delivery of new functionality in System21 in several years," commented Paul Birch, President and CEO of Geac. System21 Aurora provides a powerful front-end process-modelling engine that gives organisations the ability to map out key operational processes, streamline them, and then activate them to become live business flows of activities and data, with the software automatically generating alerts for manual intervention when required. "Manufacturers and distributors today are under extreme pressure to deliver to their customers' demands whilst keeping tight control of costs. They require systems that provide accuracy in order fulfilment, the ability to set realistic promise dates to customers and full visibility through the entire fulfilment process. They demand flexibility to react to exceptions, or customer required changes, and optimal use of resources to keep costs low," said Alastair Middleton, Marketing Director for Geac System21 Aurora. Speaking about the importance of process management and transparency of information across the supply chain, Nigel Montgomery, European Research Director at AMR Research confirms: "Faster response to increasing pressure from discerning customers, faultless aftermarket service and reduced costs-to-supply and serve, are constant requirements facing manufacturers and distributors. To respond to this challenge requires transparency of information throughout the entire fulfilment process, with the flexibility to react to exceptions or customer required changes. Such systems are no longer optional, they are mandatory." System21 Aurora incorporates a new order capture application in order to provide clear visibility of customer orders and stock levels to help ensure that demand can be met in an optimal way. Order status can be viewed irrespective of how the order has been received - either manually (by fax or phone) or electronically (by EDI, XML or email). The new information-rich user portal provides real-time access to all the necessary supply chain applications within a single or multiple company operation and even across many countries to maximise customer service. Geac is backing up the System21 Aurora value proposition with an introductory business review service. "In today's tough trading conditions all IT investments need to deliver the clearest possible business benefits, and we wholeheartedly believe that System21 Aurora can support this. So, as part of the Aurora launch, we are making our top business consultants available on a shared cost, shared investment basis to work with customers to target quantified business improvements and process solutions. This strategy will help to ensure that System21 Aurora customers realise all of its potential benefits," explained Alastair Middleton. DAMS International Limited, the UK's leading independent office furniture manufacturer, is evaluating the extended capabilities of System21 Aurora, as Projects Director, Sean Togher explains: "We are very interested in Geac's recent product developments and are currently evaluating the Enterprise capabilities within System21 Aurora - the flexible sourcing rules in the new order capture engine facilitates demand to be sourced from the stockroom, site or country in the most optimal way, taking account of the nature of the item and the customer service level. This maximises customer fulfilment and inventory performance. Another attraction of Aurora's advanced Enterprise capabilities is the facility to design the legal and fiscal company and sourcing structures to optimise efficiencies and tax savings, with the assurance that all supply chain transactions are automated and accounted for without increased back office resource. Having visibility of information related to an order, throughout the enterprise, regardless of company boundaries, is key to any organisation." Key features and benefits of Geac System21 Aurora:
Complete front-to back business process management (BPM) capabilities: Includes complete process automation, workflow and exception control/management, helping companies to drive increased process efficiency and reduced costs.
Order capture:
System21 Aurora provides an intuitive and information rich order capture portal for those staff dealing with customers. This helps ensures visibility across the supply chain of stock levels and a customer's current orders, as well as easy views of customer history, ensuring a profitable working relationship with high levels of customer service.
Flexible sourcing:
New flexible sourcing rules in the new order capture engine ensures that demand can be sourced from the stockroom, site, country in the most optimal way, taking account of the nature of the item and the customer service level. This functionality helps maximise customer fulfilment and inventory performance.
Powerful new enterprise functionality:
Enables a wide range of industrial concerns - from a single plant floor to a complex or multi-national supply chain network - to maximise customer fulfilment/response and inventory performance, regardless of their geographical or operational structure. An enterprise view of multiple disparate operations can help increase margins by improving customer service while eliminating inefficiencies.
Demand planning:
Sophisticated solution helps ensure that minimal safety stock is held, whilst balancing fluctuating customer demands.
Web-based applications:
A range of web-based applications that enhance the capture of customer demand information, as well as facilitating more effective supplier relationships. These applications help provide self-service tools for both customers and suppliers in order to reduce administration costs and provide enhanced levels of customer service.
Improved employee data access and global information visibility: A new browser-based portal, utilising a 'thin client' interface, provides end-user access to all of the above applications, plus the functionality of the ERP kernel and capabilities provided by strategic software partners. This is all possible from the desktop in order to drive user productivity. Thin client technology also makes it easier to roll out to multiple (especially remote and mobile) users, whilst reducing IT maintenance costs.
Strong middleware and messaging foundation:
Developed to more fully exploit the IBM WebSphere J2EE component model and many of IBM's WebSphere applications, such as Commerce Suite (the catalogue and storefront application) and MQ Integrator (the XML message mapping and transformation product). Efficient integration is necessary between Geac and non-Geac applications in order to provide customers with real time supply chain information in order to help maximise operational efficiencies and therefore customer service.
Product Management
This allows customers to keep tight management of a product's lifecycle, particularly from an inventory point of view, thereby helping maximise profitability. N.B. Geac is a registered trademark and System21 and Aurora are trademarks of Geac Computer Corporation Limited. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.
About Geac
Geac (CA:GAC) is a global enterprise software company for business performance management, providing customers worldwide with the core financial and operational solutions and services to improve their business performance in real time. Further information is available at geac.com or through e-mail at info@geac.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations.
