Johannesburg, 20 Jun 2001
Petroleum company, Engen, is implementing a fully Automated Stock Replenishment system (ASR) built on Microsoft`s Windows 2000 platform. With over 1 300 service stations located across SA, it is mission-critical to cost-effectively distribute sufficient fuel to the outlets before supplies run out.
Developed by Argil Ernst & Young, the central ASR system forms part of Engen`s extranet and allows for the most efficient use of resources by determining when petrol deliveries must be made to the various service stations. On a daily basis, station managers are required to enter petrol sales, dips and deliveries into the system via the Internet.
"With the necessary information being immediately accessible online, the most optimum use of the delivery trucks is ensured with full trucks making multiple deliveries," says Robert Harreman, principal consultant at Argil Ernst & Young South Africa. "Engen will be able to down scale the number of trucks making deliveries on a weekly basis, radically reducing delivery costs as well as reducing onsite stock levels by 10% to 15%.
"The agility of the ASR system provides Engen with an accurate, cost-effective and efficient method of retrieving complete information regarding each service station`s performance and petrol deliveries," says Markus Muller, partner development manager at Microsoft South Africa. "Microsoft technology is designed to equip businesses to respond to the changing market environment and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Internet. The Microsoft Windows 2000 Server family is designed to integrate business with increased Internet usage, while providing a reliable, secure and scalable platform.
"Windows 2000 also demonstrates how well an operating system can be integrated with a standards-based directory, Web application, network, file and print services, and end-to-end management," continues Muller. "The combination of reliability and functionality provides the best foundation for Engen to integrate its business with the Internet."
The ASR system has already been implemented at 30 service stations in the Western Cape as pilot projects and will be rolled out to another 400 service stations across the country during the next three months.
"The system is driving communication between the service stations and Engen`s sales and marketing office forward into the connected economy," says Garth Greyling, extranet project executive at Engen. "The infrastructure offers efficient management, ease of use, and support for the latest advances in networking and server hardware. The site managers are well trained to take full advantage of the system.
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