Protea Technology Limited in R1.5 million Ixchange deal

Protea Technology Limited (PTL) is set to optimise its stock utilisation across the company`s three operations with the decision to implement JSE-listed Ixchange`s Profitability customer order fulfilment system. The deal will see PTL purchasing 250 user licenses, valued at around R1,5 million. The first phase will see the implementation of ProfitAbility at the company`s Wynberg site, where part of the automation and electronics operations are located. The other operations will follow the initial rollout.

Eric Fisher MD of PTL`s Process Group, says ProfitAbility will assist in optimising the company`s stock utilisation, ensuring it carries the correct stock at the correct levels to satisfy demands, and give management more control over its distribution network.

"When searching for the right solution, we needed more than an accounting package," adds Fisher. "We needed a package that would provide us with strategic benefits in stock optimisation and better information provision in our drive towards a paperless office and in our e-commerce initiative."

PTL`s technology requirements included an open, flexible, modular system that was part of a back-office package taking advantage of the latest technologies, including being NT-based and running on SQL Server. "ProfitAbility fulfilled our requirements and Ixchange was very accommodating in terms of financing and how we wanted to implement the product," he adds.

PTL also has a large project element in its business and, although ProfitAbility dos not have this functionality at present, Ixchange is busy making it part of the standard package and is using PTL to determine the specifications for the system.

The technical team in PTL will retain ownership of the implementation of the product, but Ixchange has a staff member on the steering committee to assist in the process, and it will provide training to PTL users.

Phase one is set to go live on 1 September, with the next steps to follow in short order.