FMCG market welcomes launch of Bateleur`s new Strategic Solutions business unit

Leading independent IT company, Bateleur Software Holdings, has received an overwhelming response to the launch of its new business unit, Bateleur Strategic Solutions. The unit`s objective is to deliver supply chain management solutions to South Africa`s FMCG companies that pledge to enhance customer relationships, strengthen financial controls and, ultimately, improve the customer`s bottom line.

The Bateleur Strategic Solutions (BSS) business unit, launched earlier this year under managing director, Avril Booth, believes its competitive edge lies in its understanding of global supply chain best practices, coupled with its ability to apply them to local trading conditions - all at local prices well within the reach of most potential customers.

"In an age where bridging the gap between business strategy and information technology is key to business success and profitability, BSS creates and sustains a competitive advantage for customers through best-of-breed - or customised - solutions," explains Booth. She adds that BSS` initial offerings are enterprise wide, and include Mobile Supply Chain Management Solutions - or Mobile Solutions - OMNIX ERP Solutions, and ProCash Debt Management Solutions.

Mobile Solutions delivers the agility required to trade on a customer`s doorsteps while providing management control and visibility. It embraces the four cornerstones of the mobile supply chain - from emerging markets, through route delivery and customer management, to market intelligence - and is available as a comprehensive solution or as separate modules, in line with customer requirements. The technology at the front end is a Windows 95/98 or Windows CE hand-held device, which equips the company representative with an automated, easy method to control, reconcile and replenish stock on his vehicle through scanning and PC input. Cash can also be deposited and deposit details recorded, and all reconciled transactions can be sent to head office via land line or cellular phone to provide real-time operational visibility.

"More recently - and in our quest to integrate all supply chain aspects with company Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, we obtained the rights to I-Soft Solutions` OMNIX software and its SA-developed and rand denominated ERP offering.

"As a locally-developed product, it is not only more affordable than overseas equivalents, but it is tailored with our market conditions in mind - and supported by South Africans who know the South African trading environment," says Booth.

OMNIX ERP encompasses web-enabled financial, sales and distribution, and manufacturing solutions, geared to support supply change management strategies, particularly suited to the industrial environment. The suite of products is modular, offering the agility to tailor according to functional requirements and budgets. The integrated modules include: Financials i.e. as General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets, and Cashbook; Inventory Management, designed to control the movement and replenishment of inventory in a multi-warehouse environment; Order entry, configurable order management, the ability to convert a quote into a firm order, and invoicing; Purchasing, for the control of incoming raw materials or non-inventory items, the ability to track purchase orders and vendor performance. Purchasing is integrated to fixed assets, as well as accounts payable, to enable cash flow management and analysis; MRP and Master Production scheduling; and Production control and costing, for tracking the progress and the costs of production.

The third link in the BSS chain of solutions is ProCash, a proactive debt management solution designed to integrate into any ERP system while filling the gap of managing customers` outstanding debt in a proactive manner.

ProCash will help manage the customer in a debtors situation with the same CRM (Customer Relationship Management) strategies that sales people typically apply to customers in a sales situation. The solution is developed around scheduling and workflow technologies to assist in prioritising activities and, where necessary, escalate them.

The primary objective remains optimising working capital and operational efficiency, thus assisting local companies to manage and maintain their competitive edge, especially in the face of increased international competition.

"The ProCash solution not only addresses the key areas of cash flow and accounts receivable, it also encompasses the entire enterprise. This helps to transform the debtor`s department from credit control to customer financial services - achieved by changing the mind-set from that of `controllers` to that of `client service providers`," notes Booth.

She adds that BSS Proactive Debt Management Solution aims to maximise savings without harming supplier relationships and arrive at optimised efficiency in terms of identifying preferred suppliers and highlighting opportunities for attaining discount leverage through favourable payment terms.

In essence, Booth argues that effective management of working capital gives customers better access to their own funds - and the ability to allocate these funds to more strategic requirements.

"The BSS edge, we believe, comes from our understanding of global supply chain strategies and our understanding of local trading conditions. Ultimately, it is our understanding that the strategic answer to continued buoyancy and positive financial results lies in delivering technology solutions that provide meaningful and measurable paybacks to the organisation, and in balancing internal financial results with external customer satisfaction, that will give our client`s the leading edge," she says.