The Durban Fresh Produce Market, was one of the first service units of the Durban Metropolitan Council to achieve Y2k compliancy. The market has installed a Pick-based system from Agrihub (Pty) Ltd- Freshmark Systems division.
The Y2k compliant system runs on a dual (backup system) IBM RISC 6000 system using the Pick D3 database and the Freshmark Systems user application. The system caters for 100 users who are linked via a fibre optic backbone with terminal servers at strategic positions throughout the premises connecting various devices to the server. Full redundancy is achieved by using Pick Systems` Hot Backup facility that automatically writes every transaction to the backup system. Should the production machine fail for any reason, the backup facility can instantly takeover. In this way, the market can provide 100% uptime, which is essential for this time-sensitive operation.
"When the Durban Market was looking for a replacement for its legacy system, the Freshmark System was the only proven system written especially for fresh produce markets available. This made the choice of the Pick-based system a given," says Tony Kew of the Durban Fresh Produce Market.
The Pick-based system has enabled the market to integrate all aspects of the operation over time. These include goods reception, cold storage, ripening, cash control, debtors/buyers facilities, statistical information, adherence to laws and statutes, supplier payments as well as board and grower organisation levies.
"This has facilitated a smoother and more consistent process which has been of huge benefit to all the role players on the market such as buyers, agents, the council and suppliers. Further business benefits include faster trade cycles, accurate record keeping, and less time spent at the market by the buyers. Produce is being moved faster and consequently, it is of a better quality and having a longer shelf life," says Dave Larkan, a director of Agrihub, the Pick VAR that was involved in the implementation.
The new system in the Market has helped ensure a healthy increase in annual turnover, which is expected to reach R320 million by the end of the 1999 financial year.
"Throughout the country, the fresh produce markets have been the front runners in municipal departments with regard to Y2k compliance. Freshmark Systems identified the Y2k issue on behalf of the markets and started working with problems as early as late 1996," recalls Larkan.
To keep abreast of technology developments, an annual version of the application software is released incorporating all the changes of the previous development period. Hardware is also reviewed annually to assess its stability in accordance with the data, number of transactions and users. The Pick database is also assessed annually and upgraded should new facilities be accommodated and needed in later versions.
When asked about the unique features of the Pick database system. Larkan said: "The Pick D3 product is a very robust, stable and cost effective database solution suited to an application or organisation of any size. Over the years, the need for accurate and reliable information has grown in the Agriculture Industry. With the Pick database, we have been able to cater for this growth and data availability and have been able to move data from hardware platforms and different networking environments without changing applications or the database structures."
According to Adrian Oxborrow, the Managing Director of Pick Systems, the database management system (DBMS) supplier, the installed base of Pick-based technology is estimated at more than four million users and 300 000 systems world-wide. There are over 850 companies in South Africa using Pick -based systems.
Agrihub Freshmark Systems
Freshmark Systems is the division of the Agri-hub Group that provides software solution for the agricultural sector. Freshmark Systems has been serving the fresh produce industry of South Africa since 1987 and currently services and supports 20 Fresh Produce markets in South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.
Pick Systems Africa
Pick Systems Africa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pick Systems Inc., based in Irvine, California. Pick Systems is a leading developer of multi-user, multi-value database management system (DBMS) software. A pioneer in the industry, the Company introduced its first multi-value DBMS in 1973. Pick Systems markets its database solutions worldwide through a network of more than 250 value-added resellers supporting 2,000 VAR-developed applications. Pick Systems` primary markets, served through the Company`s network of VARs developing industry-specific vertical applications, are: manufacturing, distribution, medical, financial services and wholesale/retail.
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