Scala Business Solutions and its partner Decision Support Panel (DSP) have demonstrated a Web services-based solution that integrates the iScala Collaborative ERP system with Microsoft Office System applications.
"This means a Scala user can work in any Microsoft Office 2003 application - such as Word, Outlook, Access or Excel - and interact directly with information from their iScala application without having to login to the iScala system," explains Shamik Sinha, CEO of Scala Africa.
He says iScala/Office integration enables Scala users to employ a 'one source' approach to information access and use, allowing them to complete routine tasks more quickly.
"A good example to illustrate how this benefits a Scala user would be when he places the curser in the customer data field, say, in a Microsoft Word 2003 document, a list of all customers in the iScala database can immediately be presented in the task pane," says Sinha.
The user can quickly access ERP data without having to start up the ERP system, saving much time and effort.
Scala and DSP demonstrated the integrated solution for the first time at Microsoft Tech-Ed Europe 2003, in Barcelona, Spain.
The integrated solution is based on standard XML templates and iScala Managers that act as Web services to exchange information between the ERP database and a Microsoft Office document.
"Businesses will see immediate benefits from this type of Web services-based integration as it lets them use their day-to-day business software to interact easily, saving time and increasing productivity," says Sinha. "Web services integration for iScala is important because it enables different systems to interact with each other, providing the capability to do more business electronically, with more potential business partners, in more and different ways than before."
The iScala/Office integration is part of Scala's long-term technology cooperation with Microsoft. The integration gives users the ability to organise information, readily access that information, manage documents, and enable efficient collaboration, all in a familiar, Microsoft Office-integrated environment.
According to Sinha, XML technology and Web services architecture is at the core of the iScala Collaborative ERP system, so it a logical step develop the integration between Microsoft's front-office products and Scala's back-office solution.
"Such technology will now enable users to work together with the same source of information across departments and country borders in the same familiar Office applications that they use for their everyday tasks," he concludes.
Share
Decision Support Panel was founded in August 1999 in Stockholm and its US office was established in April 2000 in San Francisco. DSP (www.dspanel.com) is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Business Intelligence and also a member of the SharePoint Partner Initiative as well as the SharePoint ISV JDP Program. DSP is a global ISV with its product DSP Portal Edition. In Scandinavia DSP supplies general professional services around portals and business intelligence based on Microsoft products and technology. Clients include Sony Ericsson, Absolut, L'Oreal, Bosch Rexroth, Allgon and Metronome.
Scala Africa
Scala Business Solutions is represented in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands by Scala Africa, which provides sales, consulting and implementation skills to a customer base of 70 companies in SA and a further 300 in the rest of Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Headquartered in Johannesburg and with offices in countries including Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, Scala Africa (Pty) Ltd, is a truly pan-African concern that offers integrated, collaborative ERP solutions to businesses across the continent. Visit Scala's Web site at www.scala.co.za for press information including press releases, information and product information.
Editorial contacts