Following the international acquisition of two key companies and the demand for extended business management functionality in Windows- and Unix-based environments, Sage Enterprise Solutions has brought much-enhanced versions of its Sage Enterprise and CS/3 solutions to the local market.
The new solutions are expected to find favour with medium-sized and large organisations that require management and support of finance, manufacturing, production and distribution processes. In fact, any organisation that needs to streamline its business processes with a flexible, web-enabled business management solution.
"Initially, CS/3 was designed to manage processes within organisations whose systems were driven by the steadfast Unix operating system; Sage Enterprise worked purely in the Windows-driven enterprise space," explains Ashley Ellington, the divisional director for Africa at Sage Enterprise Solutions. "With the new versions, we've not only ensured that both Unix and Windows systems can be managed by the same solution, we've also bolstered their functionality significantly."
Business management solutions manage the fundamental processes of business. Ellington says that in general, the South African market for solutions of this nature is buoyant with many organisations realising the benefits. From a solution standpoint, until now, Sage CS/3 has offered modules for the management of most of the aforementioned processes - in addition to being web-enabled. However, the recent acquisition of two companies has enabled Sage to add five key modules to the portfolio.
Telesales is the first. "Primarily designed for sales order processing, the telesales module allows CS/3 users can make the most of their interaction with customers," explains Ellington.
"It includes a marketing database that stores and orders customer information; when combined with the speed and flexibility of the system - not to mention the quality of information that can be stored - the telesales module is sure to positively impact users."
Warehouse management is another significant addition. Tightly integrated with the rest of Sage CS/3 version 4, the module helps companies control and utilise their warehouse space more efficiently.
The new 'returns and repairs' system will help retail or distribution operations to record, track and progress items returned for credit, replacement or repair. Ellington believes the combination of speed of entry, flexibility and online information can help improve customer service by ensuring visibility of the returned product throughout the return/repair cycle.
For organisations that rely on manufacturing, picking and dispatching as core processes, Sage CS/3 now includes a series DPS Logix interfaces. Designed to integrate with the solution's current LogiX functionality, the interfaces support delivery time slots, booking-in times, vehicle types and planning priority by order. Planned loads are fully integrated within the sales order processing with full visibility of planned status, load, drop and expected arrival times per order.
A comprehensive API toolkit is also included in the new Sage CS/3, providing component-based server interfaces to Sage Enterprise Solutions' other products. The APIs have been designed specifically to cater for the integration of third-party client functionality with back-office processes, and are particularly useful for Internet-enabled businesses.
The APIs are available in logical groups of function - finance, sales, procurement and logistics, for example. And they come with comprehensive documentation that includes detailed specifications and recommended guidelines for use.
"We are already seeing significant penetration of the local business management solution market through our channel-driven sales model," concludes Ellington. "The new additions to Sage Enterprise and Sage CS/3, the fact that they operate in Unix and Windows enterprise environments, and the ease with which earlier versions can be upgraded should open new markets for us and lead to even greater business success."
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