Operations Management System (OMS) implementer, Keops Isis Industrial Information Systems, has taken another step towards true vendor independence by becoming one of the first South African companies to become an AspenTech sub-value-added reseller (VAR).
Keops Isis is already an Oracle Certified Solution Provider and a Wonderware Systems Integrator.
The signing of the agreement has been in the making for a number of months and the signing of the sub-VAR agreement on 1 August 2001 has only been the formalisation of informal working relationships going back years between Keops Isis and Skelton & Plummer, the local VAR of AspenTech IMD and eSupply Chain software.
"S&P will continue to support all our current client base but will actively support the likes of Keops Isis to secure new business using the AspenTech product suite to eventually be able to concentrate on local technical support, training and licence revenue. We foresee a significant amount of revenue growth from this new distribution channel for both ourselves and our sub-VARs," commented Ian Wright, Managing Director of S&P Project Engineering.
Keops Isis first became known in the South African market six years ago after the successful completion of the Hillside Aluminium smelter MES project led to the establishment of the joint venture organisation to focus primarily on bespoke MES solutions in the South African metals industry.
"Back then there were no off-the-shelf MES solutions available and although today some vertical solutions exist for specific manufacturing sectors, there is still no `R/3 phenomena` in the MES world," said Pieter Theron, Managing Director of Keops Isis. "The MES market is much more mature and sophisticated today than it was six years ago. Whereas MES was previously a novel idea, today it is commonplace. Not only is the prospective client base more informed, but it also expects solutions to be delivered faster, and on a variety of platforms. Although there are still few off-the-shelf MES solutions, many products such as the AspenTech product range not only have a large number of configurable applications focused around a real-time plant data base, but it also allows add-ons in common programming languages such as those supported by Microsoft, which makes it highly customisable to individual clients` needs."
According to Theron, any successful MES project consists of a number of critical success factors. These are design principles that are based on leading international thinking and best practices, good process knowledge, sound project management with a delivery track record and, lastly, product or technology knowledge. "All these aspects are already in place at Keops Isis and although we have local back-up from S&P and AspenTech, as well as our international mother company, Keops Technologies in Canada and Air Liquide, we have already committed towards product training for our consultants and technical staff to ensure sound product knowledge as well," Theron added.
"By adding the AspenTech ability to Keops Isis we can provide our clients with more options and since there is not yet a `one-size-fits-all` solution, but rather `horses-for-courses`, it puts us in a position to pick the best technology for our client`s needs and preferences."
"AspenTech welcomes Keops Isis into the fold and looks forward to working with Keops Isis to bring better solutions to our joint customers," said Paul Davis, AspenTech`s General Manager, Middle East and SA.
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Aspen Technology, Inc is the leading supplier of integrated software and solutions to the $6 trillion process industries. The company`s Aspen ProfitAdvantage solution enables companies to identify and maximize profit opportunities throughout their entire value chain - from the supply of raw materials, through the production of goods, to the delivery of final products to customers. Aspen ProfitAdvantage encompasses engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and e-business collaboration technologies, providing the tools that enable manufacturers to design, optimise and execute business processes in real-time.
Over 1 200 leading process companies already rely on AspenTech`s 20 years of process industry experience to increase revenues, reduce costs and improve capital efficiency.
AspenTech`s customers include: Air Liquide, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BASF, BP, Chevron, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Equistar, Exxon Mobil, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Unilever. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.
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