Premier Sage business partner, eNovate Solutions, is implementing Sage 300 ERP (formerly known as Accpac) for the MYCITI Bus operator Trans-Peninsula Investments. The solution was designed and secured by software distributor, Expertech ERP.
The MYCITI bus service is the result of the City of Cape Town's long-term strategic focus on improving public transport for both economic and social development, and is part of the city's Integrated Development Plan. This is directly aligned to national government's Strategic Priority 2: "Massive programme to build economic and social infrastructure." (Government Strategic Agenda 2010~2015).
Since 2007, the city has been working on the first phase of an Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system in Cape Town, aimed at significantly improving public transport in the city. The first leg of this IRT system is the dedicated work on the MyCiTi IRT system. While this first leg is primarily a 'Bus Rapid Transit' system, it is designed in a way that emphasises the need for integration with other modes, especially rail, the backbone of public transport in Cape Town.
The MYCITI bus routes are now expanding throughout the city and is entering the second phase of expansion.
The city has partnered with locally invested logistics operators to fully operate the service. Trans Peninsula Investments is one of the main logistics partners operating the MYCITI bus service in the City Bowl, Atlantic Suburbs and the Cape Town International Airport route.
TPI has been looking for a flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to help it effectively manage the operation. At the start of the project, TPI has relied on Excel spreadsheets and an entry-level accounting system to accumulate data and transactions. The operation required an integrated system that would be able to ensure optimal management of the operation and meaningful management information.
After considering a number of possible systems and solutions, TPI chose a solution offered by One Channel, represented by in the Cape by eNovate Solutions. The solution is based on the Sage 300 ERP platform with Sage CRM, Service Manager and the MWare Mobile platform at the core of the system.
The solution allows for the effective planning and recording of all equipment and vehicle-related activities. This needs to be at the detail level of each uniquely identified bus and includes planned and ad hoc repairs, fuel, additive and lubricant dispensing, parts and consumable stock management. The backbone of the system lies in the specialised functions within the system for procurement of the stock, parts, fuels and lubricants as well as the mobile platform for updating the vehicle safety checks, repairs and other key activities. The solid accounting back-end to this is the industry tried and tested Sage 300 ERP with its solid General Ledger, Payables, Receivables, Stock, Procurement, Assets and Service Manager Modules.
Cradle Facets bar code asset tracking has also been implemented to ensure the fixed asset register is constantly up to date via handheld bar code scanning audits.
The implementation of Sage 300 ERP with Service Manager and MWare Mobile platform, will put TPI in a position to better manage its operation, with improved cost control over each individual bus, allowing the addition of more buses and routes to be managed more effectively. Improved access to meaningful data and analytics using the reporting tools at the core of the system will provide the management information needed.
TPI finance manager, Zahir Baatjies, said they chose Expertech ERP and eNovate Solutions as a solution partner because of its solid track record of providing solutions in this sector, its excellent customer services and specialised skill sets brought together under the One Channel umbrella.
Expertech ERP provided the solution architecture and had previously made numerous presentations to TPI during the tendering and selection phase. Baatjies said Expertech ERP was tenacious in its presentations and demonstrated a sound knowledge of the solution and products, and showed it was indeed the 'expert' in this field. It has a solid experience in these solutions. It represents the best of breed product and business partner, offering world-class and modern, up-to-date technology solutions that work.
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