EasiRun Software, a company within the JSE Securities Exchange listed UCS Group Limited, has announced it is to start deploying its business-to-business e-commerce trading solution for the retail industry and their suppliers both locally and internationally.
The UCS Group is the largest provider of software solutions to the retail industry in South Africa, with more than 5000 stores making use of its software solutions, including its flagship Universal retail solution.
The development of the Sales Order Management System (SOMS) is a result of the successful deployment by sister company Universal Computer Services of a B2B solution for one of its large furniture retail clients.
The UCS B2B system enables the retailer to streamline business transactions with their furniture and other suppliers - and allows the company to conduct transactions over the Internet.
"The UCS B2B solution, however, created a problem in that many of the suppliers` manufacturing systems were not able to interface seamlessly and were not ready to participate in electronic trades. Consequently UCS approached us to develop a system that could be deployed at manufacturers who are suppliers to the company`s large retail clients," said EasiRun MD, Pat Fitzgerald. "Besides looking to deploy this within our local client base, we will also be aiming to export SOMS as it is a totally open solution that can work on any platform."
SOMS is described as an e-commerce integration layer that links to a supplier`s ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, allowing them to transact with retailers over the Internet.
"Retailers used to place orders by fax and other traditional means. As they move to more modern electronic methods, the problem for suppliers is one of integrating these `electronic orders` with their in-house systems. SOMS addresses this need by allowing suppliers to receive orders from multiple retailers via the Web."
"The UCS Group has taken the mystery out of ordering over the Web by supplying compatible software to run at both the retailer and the manufacturer" says Fitzgerald. The order comes out of the retailer`s system in an XML format and is sent directly to the supplier, thereby greatly streamlining the entire ordering process. These orders are then translated by SOMS and integrated with the manufacturer`s ERP system. "We are able to adapt SOMS to meet the needs of each client. It is able to interface with literally any platform thanks to the use of Transoft middleware. The Transoft software tool," he explained, "allows our system to talk to any ERP system, no matter what language it is written in."
Fitzgerald confirmed that the first pilot site is already in progress at a major supplier in the furniture industry. "The pilot site has been very successful and we are ready to roll it out to other furniture and appliance suppliers. It will be sold on a per user per month basis."
He said SOMS could be deployed with a graphical or character user interface and uses Linux, the free-to-market operating system or any version of Windows. SOMS is sold as a package but can be customised to fit individual client needs.
Share
Editorial contacts