Baan - the global provider of B2B collaborative commerce solutions and a unit of the Invensys Software Systems division of Invensys plc - has announced its new iBaan for Automotive Internet-enabled solution to extend the visibility of the automotive supply chain.
"For the first time, iBaan for Automotive will provide the automotive industry with an integrated range of applications covering ERP, CRM, SCM, collaborative private exchanges and manufacturing execution systems. This will enable automotive companies to harness the power of the Internet to streamline business processes and improve enterprise management, B2B collaboration, decision support management, manufacturing execution, access to information portals, and indirect material procurement" said Errol van der Merwe, Sales Director of Softworx (sole distributor of iBaan in Sub-Saharan Africa).
The iBaan for Automotive solution supports discrete and repetitive manufacturing, industry-specific requirements and integrated decision support to control the reporting and delivery of information about production orders. It can also automate the indirect procurement process to help cut costs, shorten cycles and improve productivity. The solution was launched at a major event on 13 November 2001 at the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI, USA - the originator of automotive mass production.
Baan has proven success in the automotive industry with over 125 major global customers including Renault, Mercedes, Dana, Hi-Lex, TWR, Magna, Volkswagen, Donnelly and International (Navistar) all using Baan solutions to help produce over one million cars per year.
"With the current economic downturn in the automotive market, the drive is on to reduce prices and time-to-market, while increasing customer choice and customer service. The supply chain is one of the keys to automotive success and by deploying strategies for e-business practices such as Internet-based supply chain management or supply chain collaboration, today's automotive suppliers have a powerful platform to extend supply chain visibility," said Liz Buchheister, Global Automotive Industry Director at Baan. "In a market characterised by accelerated globalisation and consolidation, iBaan for Automotive provides customers with an integrated approach to better manage the complete supply chain, improve communication and help them reduce transaction costs on a worldwide basis.
"Our new iBaan for Automotive solution covers everything from enterprise resource management and procurement to product data management and manufacturing execution. It includes industry specific functionality helping our customers ensure that the information received is the information required, and is delivered in an understandable format," added Liz Buchheister.
The launch of iBaan for Automotive follows the recent announcement that Baan has extended its existing relationship with IBM to deliver comprehensive e-business solutions focusing on the automotive sector. IBM and Baan are integrating the entire iBaan suite of Internet-enabled solutions with IBM hardware platforms. This will help global automotive organisations to extend their B2B value chain throughout the enterprise, collaborating online and in real-time with their customers and suppliers.
iBaan for Automotive is part of the iBaan suite of Internet-enabled solutions that combines proven Baan technology with new developments that enable customers to take significant steps towards seamlessly integrating systems and processes. It provides end-users with personalised and easy-to-use information, and empowers businesses to collaborate with their customers and suppliers over the Internet.
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Baan helps companies to compete in the 'networked economy' with its ever-increasing demands for more information, integration and collaboration. Through its powerful new iBaan suite of Internet-enabled solutions, Baan is ideally placed to support organisations in the manufacturing, logistics, service and engineering industries as they move towards tighter integration of their complex processes, closer collaboration with customers and partners, and providing employees with build-to-order shop floor data and supply information. Baan has more than 15,000 customer sites worldwide, and is part of the Invensys Software Systems Division - a global leader in the provision of e-business/automation solutions.
Softworx
Softworx is a South African business applications company specialising in total end-to-end business solutions with the emphasis on the e-world business and fully integrated back-end systems, with no risk, guaranteed delivery models. As the sole distributor of the Baan and associated ranges of complimentary products, Softworx offers a range of solutions, which leverages off its e-commerce compliment, including: ASP, ERP and supply-chain management. Softworx bought itself out from Baan International in April 1999 in order to supply business software applications across an extended enterprise. The common thread with all Softworx implementations is the guarantee of rapid deployment with measurable benefits and sustainable long-term relationships with our customers. Their recent acquisition by EOH, has increased the number of services and products that can be offered to their customers from within the group. http://www.esoftworx.co.za
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