System Software Associates (SSA) has renewed its commitment to embrace Unix, in the form of HP-UX, and Windows NT, alongside its historical allegiance to IBM`s AS/400.
This recommitment, made to the South African BPCS User Group conference by Roger Koniski, SSA president for EMEA, was given sharp focus with a deadline to have the HP-UX variant released this month and the Windows NT version released during 1999.
In addition, says Koniski, the company will release the Euro-enabled version 6.1 of BPCS next month.
SSA has experienced some problems in the past with its attempts to implement BPCS on Unix variants. It has enjoyed its greatest success with Hewlett-Packard`s HP-UX, hence the focus on this variant. And, when it comes to Windows NT, Koniski`s rationale is simple: "NT is front-of-mind for corporates and most other ERP vendors operate in the NT space. Yes, there are scalability and systems management issues for large enterprises, but for small and intermediate businesses, NT is suitable. SSA would like to participate in this market."
SSA has a team of six working on the NT version. Returning to the HP-UX version, Koniski says the company did have some scalability/performance issues, but these have been addressed. "We are now releasing the HP-UX variant of BPCS in limited availability, and we will only move to general availability when we have 200% guarantee from clients that it works."
This hint at quality assurance (QA) is an indication that the reborn SSA, under Bill Stuek, is a quality-manic company. And Koniski confirms this.
"On joining SSA I had three objectives," he says. "The first was customer satisfaction. All BPCS customers will be sent a questionnaire in the next month, which will reflect their status with us. With this feedback we can check the average, and then raise the bar continuously.
"My second was employee satisfaction. With delighted, committed employees SSA can excel. My third was to have a quality product. We`re well on track towards that."
As a metric of improved performance, Koniski points to the fact that when he joined SSA from IBM in May, the helpline had 900 open items.
"We`ve doubled the helpline complement, put the right management structure in place, implemented the right measurements and halved the number of open items. But that`s just a beginning."
SSA`s odyssey began in January with the appointment of a new president in Bill Stuek. He migrated to chairman, replacing Roger Covey. Stuek took a new model to market, sharing a vision of a new SSA, introducing total management change. Disappointing results followed, including a $120m restructuring charge, but Stuek`s communication of these changes was key to maintaining the company`s momentum."
The result has been a leaner, cleaner organisation, says Koniski, with a focus on becoming profitable in 1999.
"Fundamentals were good, with 58 new accounts closed in the third quarter and 41% of pipeline being new business. And our enhanced R&D focus is beginning to deliver major results."
Koniski reports a new broom has swept clean throughout SSA:
- A clear commitment to profitable growth and sound financial performance;
- There is new product management, focused on customer requirements;
- An intense industry vertical focus;
- A strong QA initiative;
- Many complementary alliances are being established, with a strong channel;
- A true global customer strategy;
In terms of the Year 2000 issue, Koniski reports that all BPCS clients in South Africa have the issue well in hand.
Stuek`s leadership has fundamentally changed the company, adds Koniski.
"Stuek`s ethics were service orientation, R&D focus, product focus, great helpline, verticalisation, financial performance, and to have a focus on global markets.
"The results have been hugely improved morale and a better company overall."
The much publicised, and expensive, move to object orientation in the ERP sphere was aimed at giving SSA a competitive advantage. Koniski reports this has been the case. "Our implementation of object technology, through semantic message gateways, gives us flexibility, ease and continuity of business process reengineering, and allows our customers to implement business process changes very rapidly.
"Four of our major modules are now fully object-oriented, and we will continue to deliver on our OO focus because it`s what our customers want."
The bottomline for Koniski: "SSA is positioned to grow profitably in the ERP market and to ensure delighted customers."
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