USABCO, South Africa`s largest manufacturer and distributor of plastic ware and brush ware, has upgraded its JD Edwards OneWorld ERP system to OneWorld Xe, a move the company sees as a natural progression towards fulfilling its e-commerce and supply chain management initiatives.
USABCO, which manufactures such well-known brands as Addis, Tenacity and Rubbermaid house ware products, has been a OneWorld user for the last three years. Says Trevor Allman, IT Executive at USABCO; "We decided to choose JD Edwards in 1998 as we perceived its OneWorld`s architecture to be future-proof. At the time we considered it to be the most advanced ERP system and we still do. The move to OneWorld Xe is a strategic one and necessary for our plans to enter the e-commerce market. We are also looking to bring our suppliers and customers closer together, creating a supply chain that would ultimately enable us to speed up delivery while reducing inventory, as well as establishing a B2B solution."
The company undertook the upgrade using its own in-house IT skills, outsourcing only in areas were the company lacked the expertise. The project, which was started in January and which underwent extensive testing from February to April, went live with no problems at the end of April.
Comments Allman, "Our philosophy has always been to take ownership of the technology we use to ensure that we remain self-sufficient. OneWorld and OneWorld Xe are designed to facilitate this, making integration and upgrading simpler."
The system operates on the company`s NT Terminal Server-based network running on Compaq servers and utilising Oracle as the database. It provides centralised access for 110 concurrent users in nine locations throughout South Africa. OneWorld modules used include Financials, Distribution (including purchasing, sales and inventory), Advanced Pricing and Forecasting. Business intelligence and reporting is provided by Cognos.
Says Allman, "OneWorld has provided us with a number of tangible benefits. For example, we have achieved enhanced management information and reporting, deriving richer data on how our business is running - a critical factor in the FMCG markets in which we operate. Debtors have improved and inventory levels have been driven down through better forecasting and real time reporting. The flexibility inherent in OneWorld enables it to accommodate changes in our business processes easily and quickly, allowing us to adapt virtually on the fly. From day one of the upgrade to OneWorld Xe, we noticed the same high volume of orders processed by the system."
Adds Allman, "OneWorld Xe plays an important role in the future of USABCO, enabling us to take our business into the future while protecting our technology investment. We are looking at adding the Manufacturing module in the near future and are also considering integrating barcode scanning with the system."
Says Mike Evans, managing director of JD Edwards in South Africa, "The success USABCO has had with OneWorld over the last three years, as well as the ease with which it upgraded to Xe, should serve as a good example that the road through the New Economy can be relatively easy given the right technology. It also serves as a reminder to sceptics that ERP is alive and well in the world and taking businesses like USABCO to the next level."
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