SYSPRO ERP Enables VonDrehle to Streamline Production, Reduce Costs, Go Green

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced the company’s inclusion on the annual list of the “2014 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100,” a compilation of “100 Great Supply Chain Projects” issued annually by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. SYSPRO was selected based upon the highly effective utilization of SYSPRO ERP Software by VonDrehle, a manufacturer of paper products for the “away-from-home” market.

VonDrehle initiated a search for ERP software in 1997 to facilitate growth, achieve green goals, manage costs, coordinate manufacturing and warehousing sites, implement digital dashboards and provide in-depth visibility into operations. Phyllis Durmire, Director of IT for VonDrehle, says that the selection of SYSPRO ERP was based on the broad functionality of SYSPRO financial and manufacturing modules.”

The goal was to coordinate all company locations under one “IT umbrella.” VonDrehle In this manner, updated data on inventory movements, shipping processes and other system wide transactions to be readily available to all users. By implementing a bar coding solution and tying it into the SYSPRO ERP software, even greater efficiency was also achieved for inventory tracking. “If we can’t fill an order from one manufacturing site, we’ll be able to pinpoint finished goods inventories at other sites to sustain the company’s outstanding reputation for rapid order turnaround. In fact,” she notes, “we fill about 2,750 orders each month from a roster of about 400 customers. Many place their orders directly into SYSPRO EDI, indicative of their desire for rapid order fulfillment.”

After working with SYSPRO ERP software for more than ten years, Durmire notes, “In my opinion, SYSPRO is the best operational software for smaller and mid-sized manufacturers that want to take their businesses forward with the ability to react quickly and effectively to market dynamics.” She adds: “There are large ERP providers with huge customer bases – but no one better understands the SMB (small/mid-sized business) space than SYSPRO. SYSPRO ERP software provides richness and value to companies like ours. It enables us to see exactly where our business is, analyze and change business processes and become more competitive. Beyond that, there is the ‘company intangible’ of always feeling like we have a true partnership with SYSPRO.”

About VonDrehle
VonDrehle Corporation manufactures and supplies towel and tissue products for the “away-from-home” market, which includes hotels, restaurants and a wide variety of commercial establishments. In addition, the company manufactures and buys ready-made paper dispensers to enable customers to order complete paper dispensing systems.

Manufacturing locations and warehouses are located in Memphis, TN, and Maiden, NC. The company also operates a paper mill in Rockingham, NC, and a “converting” facility in Las Vegas, NV. The VonDrehle Web site is: www.vondrehle.com.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive’s user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. On the Web: www.SDCExec.com.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

ROCHESTER ELECTRONICS AND 1000BULBS.COM PROVIDE LIVE TESTIMONIALS

SYSPRO, a provider of world class, award-winning ERP Solutions for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, will address more than two dozen of the world’s leading technology analysts this week at the 2014 JRocket Marketing Grape Escape ® annual analyst event held this year in Chicago. Advances to SYSPRO’s mobile deployment capabilities and enhancements within the software company’s release of SYSPRO 7 are being reviewed against a backdrop of two live customer testimonials from Rochester Electronics and 1000Bulbs.com. SYSPRO will also outline product plans on the company’s release roadmap.

In connection with the event, SYSPRO also is issuing two additional press releases this week, one showcasing growth results achieved using SYSPRO ERP by 1000Bulbs.com and another outlining the results of a recent survey on manufacturing trends observed by the SYSPRO community. The company will also speak about the advancement of its Einstein Brain Trust Program, which is designed to spur interest and success factors within the U.S. manufacturing industry.

SYSPRO 7 Espresso Mobile Solution
SYSPRO’s primary drivers with its new Espresso mobile solution are to provide the company’s 15,000+ customers with a leading edge solution that is as “leading edge” as any solution in the market and that reflects the specific needs of mid-sized manufacturers and distributors. Specifically, SYSPRO’s new mobile solution delivers:
• Built-in security along with an embedded management tool that controls content delivered to specific devices used by specific workers. This allows companies to control and manage any staff access/device change and create a holistic, yet flexible mobile policy;
• A single-source code base to create highly integrated and native applications for any mobile device, and is platform and device agnostic. SYSPRO also brings an unprecedented level of customization/personalization capabilities to existing applications in a graphical tile format, without modifications to the source code;
• A component architecture that supports the transference of pre-defined data and process parameters from application to application, like building blocks;
• A SYSPRO App Store where companies and third party developers have posted dozens of available apps created by and for the SYSPRO community;
• Single sign-on methodology – regardless of the device – transferring user permissions automatically;
• Support for Mac or Windows access once users are back at their desktop work environments;
• Extensive graphical capabilities for optimizing the presentation of data.

SYSPRO 7 Provides Future Solution Priorities
SYSPRO executives gave the industry analysts a sneak preview of the planned product roadmap for SYSPRO ERP going forward by identifying seven priority areas:
1. Deep Vertical Market Advances to support emerging new compliance and process needs;
2. Extended functionality for Warehousing, Tracing and Project management;
3. Enhanced global market support through additional currency capabilities;
4. New social collaboration tools;
5. New e-commerce advances to leverage already strong product capabilities;
6. Advanced Business Intelligence: embedded, predictive and automated;
7. Faster incremental feature/function/capabilities releases to customers.

“This is a new era for SYSPRO, where we are seeing faster close cycles, greater adoption by larger organizations and a flood of dissatisfied companies who are looking for real value from their ERP solutions and not achieving their goals,” explains Joey Benadretti, President of SYSPRO U.S. “We already hold the number one position for delivering the ERP market’s best customer experience, and our technology is very leading edge. Watch for SYSPRO to continue to emerge in its leadership in manufacturing and distribution market solutions.”

Rochester Electronics Attests to SYSPRO’s “Timeless” ERP Durability
During the press conference event this week at the Shedd Aquarium, SYSPRO customers Mike Murray, Manager of Information Systems of Rochester Electronics, and Kim Pederson, CEO of 1000Bulbs.com, will address the 25 analysts. Both are long-time users of SYSPRO’s ERP solution and attested to the growth of their businesses supported by SYSPRO.

Headquartered in Newburyport, MA, Rochester Electronics, which was founded in 1981, is the world’s most comprehensive solution for mature and end-of-life semiconductors. With a corporate campus comprised of its headquarters administrative building, a manufacturing building, plus several distribution facilities throughout the U.S., Rochester also has an international presence with sales offices in Europe, Germany, China and Japan.

Rochester Electronics works with customers worldwide to help turn end-of-life technology problems into Extension-of-Life® solutions. Industries throughout the world depend on Rochester Electronics to deliver critical semiconductors that have become unavailable from the original manufacturer. The company has:
• A huge inventory with approximately 3 million different pieces of stock;
• Billions of parts and finished devices – all in stock and ready to ship;
• Status as an authorized partner of more than 70 leading semiconductor manufacturers;
• Components that are 100% manufacturer traceable and certified;
• Presence in the aerospace, military, commercial, medical, automotive and other industrial vertical sectors.

Rochester Electronics also operates a manufacture-to-order parts business, which is necessary when the originally manufactured equipment is gone or when adjunct complementary solutions are needed. This is also called “authorized device recreation.” To meet this market’s needs, Rochester Electronics builds and resells more than 300,000 manufactured device types and certifies all of their manufacturing via the world’s key manufacturing quality certifications.

SYSPRO has supported Rochester Electronics since 1997 through the company’s period of rapid growth to become the leader Rochester is today. What speaks to the timeless strength of SYSPRO’s even early releases is the fact that Rochester never upgraded from its original software release and yet scaled the business with it.

“Talk about a parallel model to everything we believe in our own business model. SYSPRO stood the test of time even in its original form,” Mr. Murray said. And it was lacking the bells and whistles that were never even conceived of back when it was originally implemented. But, it did not break – closed the books, did the ordering, did what was needed to grow a company profitably.”

After the massive update to one of SYSPRO’s most current releases in 2012, Rochester Electronics gained a wide range of new efficiencies:
• Through SYSPRO’s Business Objects, the company has integrated its warehouse and CRM systems to SYSPRO, providing live inventory and customer information;
• Rochester Electronics’ warehouse processes have improved exponentially. The company no longer needs an army of people at multiple inventory receiving locations scanning inventory receipts. People resources are now better utilized on quality assurance, sales and service activities;
• SYSPRO’s Business Intelligence presentation layer helps the company make much faster, better business decisions on the fly – or longer term on issues requiring deeper analysis for big opportunities. Previously, the company had very limited insights into its operations, no real-time trending, and most of management’s decision making needed to be done by looking backwards with limited data, and lengthy processes.

Mr. Murray cites this great example of where these insights identified what would surely have been a missed opportunity. “Our services business operates at a very high margin, but previously was only a small part of our overall business model. However, we discovered through our new SYPSRO BI capabilities that we recently experienced a huge spike in demand for our services business. Since then, we’ve quadrupled our resources in our services operations, have purchased new equipment to support requests for our tape and reel services, and now have achieved a significant increase in revenue from that very high margin area.” Through the increased business, the company has now built a brand reputation as the premier tape and reel boutique shop, executing a high volume of these jobs at a high margin.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

87% See Ability to Compete Tied to IT Infrastructure; 48% Expect U.S. Better Positioned in 5 Years;
Profitability Cited as #1 Impact of SYSPRO ERP Solutions, Followed by Sales, then Product Expansion

SYSPRO, a provider of world class, award-winning ERP Solutions for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, unveiled today the results of the company’s twice yearly SNAP survey of the mid-market U.S. manufacturing and distribution industry. The short ‘SYSPRO Needs Answers Please’ (SNAP) pulse survey is designed to identify key trends and opinions from a random sample of 100 respondents. Results of the survey were released in Chicago this week at the JRocket Marketing Grape Escape ® IT analyst event attended by more than two dozen leading technology analysts.

Survey respondents say that the impact of technology on the ability of U.S. manufacturing companies to compete in the market is nothing short of game changing: 87% say IT has a moderate to substantial impact on their operation’s competitiveness. Interestingly, when it comes to being offered a choice between making a more basic or recurring technology investment improvement (like an ERP release upgrade, new computers or mobile devices, etc.) versus purchasing a key new piece of manufacturing equipment, SYSPRO’s initial assumptions here had an interesting outcome.

“We initially rejected placing this question in the SNAP survey since we believed zero manufacturers would admit they’d add to the burden of bringing on expensive new shop machinery PLUS undertake a new ERP release or new computer equipment purchases,” said Joey Benadretti, SYSPRO U.S. President. “But we left the question in and were we surprised by the answers: 9% of the respondents say they fairly regularly choose to undertake both projects at the same time and almost half (48%) say that this is a decision they’ve undertaken a least once or twice.”

Some industry analysts were not surprised that mid-market U.S. manufacturers are electing to undertake both equipment purchases and technology upgrades simultaneously or in tandem. “This is less about liquidity and funding than it is about the pragmatic fact that equipment expenditures and technology improvements – like mobile devices or new ERP capabilities – go hand in hand,” said Cindy Jutras, CEO of Mint Jutras. “Today, even smaller companies must marry their IT spend and equipment spend so that the two work together, particularly in fast growth situations where new capacity drives new operating requirements.”

SYSPRO U.S. management also wondered about their buyers’ perception of the general direction of the U.S. manufacturing industry; specifically, where they believed their industry would be five years from now:
• 48% said it would be marginally to significantly better
• 13% expected no change from present
• 39% said “it all depends on the next election.”

“Now, more than ever, we see that economic confidence of manufacturers is tied to their perception of the political landscape and any accompanying regulatory changes,” Benadretti said. “We look forward to measuring this five year projection after the next presidential race to see if expectations have changed.”

Since ERP solutions are the operational IT backbone of organizations large and small, respondents were asked to rank their customers on what they perceived to be the “truth of SYSPRO ERP’s impact” on their business across four variables. The results by ranking of perceived importance were:
1. They’ve become more profitable based on their SYSPRO ERP capabilities;
2. They’ve substantially grown their sales based on SYSPRO ERP capabilities;
3. They’ve been able to expand their product sets based on SYSPRO ERP capabilities;
4. They’ve extended their geographic reach of their products based on SYSPRO ERP capabilities.

“In essence, this SNAP survey once again reflects the continued importance of ERP and technology to the future of U.S. manufacturers,” noted Benadretti.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Says SYSPRO Software Scalability/Customization Helps Grow Texas Lighting Firm 30%+ Annually,
Adds SYSPRO’s ‘Can-Do,’ ‘Fair and Logical’ Service Commitment is “Unmatched in ERP Landscape”

SYSPRO, a provider of world class, award-winning ERP Solutions for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, received high acclaim from Dallas lighting distributor 1000Bulbs.com this week during the company’s annual attendance at the JRocket Marketing Grape Escape ® analyst event in Chicago. In a speech delivered at Shedd Aquarium before 25 of the world’s most influential technology analysts, 1000Bulbs.com CEO Kim Pedersen attested to a level of customer service, scalability, customization and data/system integration capabilities that he says has fueled a 30-35% annual growth rate.

Says Pedersen, “We all hear and read regularly of big and small enterprise software providers that fall short on promises made regarding their technology capabilities, deployment schedules and resource commitments. I’d like to provide a contrasting example of a mid-sized ERP company (SYSPRO) that has provided outsized performance across multiple dimensions. The technology is not only world class and capable of supporting a complex and rapidly growing business like ours, but the corporate culture of SYSPRO is also absolutely fantastic. This is a company that cares about its customers, cares about our successes and challenges, and has shown over the past seven years that they are there to help us every step of the way.”

1000Bulbs.com is an internet-based retailer of more than 30,000 lighting-related products and employs more than 200 people in the Dallas area. The 20-year-old company operates out of two facilities and is supplied by more than 200 vendors sourced globally, and sells primarily to a U.S. customer base of both consumers and companies. 1000Bulbs.com processes more than 1,700 customer orders per day, and ships out an average of 3,700 packages daily.

The SYSPRO ERP solution, installed since 2007, has supported more than a million customers of 1000Bulbs.com, processing as many as 3,600 daily orders during the December holiday season. While SYSPRO’s typical target is mid-sized organizations, the company’s thoroughly reviewed and highly scalable Quantum Architecture model-based implementation framework has repeatedly supported a wide range of companies with revenues in the billions of dollars. SYSPRO has more than 15,000 customers, and has been in business and profitable for more than 30 years.

SYSPRO’s deployment at 1000Bulbs.com is a full suite of operational modules suitable for e-commerce solutions – ranging from financials, purchasing, human resources, order management, through analysis and requirements planning. “The company may be better known as the best in class solution for mid-sized manufacturers, but we’re a great example of how an internet retailer can thrive using its software advantages,” Pedersen said. “We would not be where we are today without SYSPRO – a company that delivers on its promises.”

About 1000Bulbs.com
1000Bulbs.com is an award-winning Internet-based lighting retailer. The company offers everything from simple, household light bulbs to cutting-edge specialty lighting systems. Nationally recognized for growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction, 1000Bulbs.com is an influential force in the lighting industry. Follow @1000Bulbs on Twitter for the latest company announcements.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

“Passionate User Comments Affirm SYSPRO ERP Success,” States Analyst

SYSPRO, a provider of world class, award-winning ERP Solutions for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, has announced that Nick Castellina, Aberdeen Research Research Director, Business Planning and Execution, has noted that SYSPRO, a provider of leading edge ERP technology, also reaffirmed its industry reputation for outstanding customer support at the annual SYSPRO co-sponsored JRocket Marketing Grape EscapeR. In addition to labeling the event held this year in Chicago “fun,” Castellina notes that the purpose of his blog is to report “what I learned about SYSPRO . . .

“You’re probably aware that SYSPRO is a comprehensive, flexible ERP vendor that supports a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and wholesale / distribution,” notes Castellina, who reports on the event’s emphasis on SYSPRO Espresso, the company’s mobile solution. “The solution offers easy to use ERP applications that can be accessed on mobile devices in formats that are tailored to those specific devices.” However, Castellina is quick to note, “But what I most wanted to focus on was a SYSPRO user who spoke at the press conference and sat at my table at dinner. This is because I think the speaker, Kim Pedersen, CEO and company founder of 1000Bulbs, has a story that truly speaks to how SYSPRO can be a true business partner for organizations as they grow.

“1000Bulbs is an internet-based distributor of more than 30,000 lighting products. It was started by Pedersen in 1994, with $5,000 and a ton of hard work. Pedersen had a passion, and special skill, for selling light bulbs and has since become the only competitor in its space, achieving $90 million in online sales for its lighting products. As an online retailer, SYSPRO is an integral part of 1000Bulbs’ success,” says Castellina, “listing the numerous ways that SYSPRO ERP has enabled the company to grow and prosper.”

“But really what struck me,” writes Castellina, “was Pedersen’s passion for his company as well as how thankful he was to SYSPRO for their help in its success . . . . Pedersen states that the company is growing by 30% every year, and for this reason he is thankful for SYSPRO’s scalability. The amount of internet transactions has grown exponentially, and the system has been able to handle it. Further, Pedersen is most thankful for the level of support that SYSPRO provides . . . . Pedersen stated ‘I like to say about SYSPRO that when we cry, they cry; when we laugh, they laugh.’ Our conversation at dinner really drove home how a well-suited ERP system can mean so much to a business as they attempt to establish themselves, due to how emotional Pedersen was about.”

SYSPRO USA President Joey Benadretti, adds: “1000Bulbs.com is an outstanding company that’s growing at a rapid rate, adding 1,000 to 1,200 new customers a day and shipping thousands of orders. The bond the SYSPRO community has established with 1000Bulbs.com is exemplary of the community’s culture of building and maintaining strong customer relationships, beginning with the implementation of SYSPRO ERP software, in-depth training and ongoing quality support.”

About 1000Bulbs.com
1000Bulbs.com, an Internet-based company, offers everything from simple, household light bulbs to cutting-edge specialty lighting systems. Nationally recognized for growth, innovation and customer satisfaction, 1000Bulbs.com is an influential force in the Lighting Industry. Today, 1000Bulbs.com enjoys annual sales of eight figures along with double digit sales growth. 1000Bulbs.com has been recognized among Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 Private Companies, SMU Cox School of Business Top 100 and has received a host of other awards. Kim Pedersen, company president, was also recognized in June 2010 as Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Goods – by Ernst and Young within the market region that includes Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX.

About Aberdeen
Aberdeen Group is the leading provider of fact-based research helping organizations and individuals make better business decisions. Founded in 1988, Aberdeen has earned the reputation as being the “voice that matters” when it comes to understanding the implications and results of process innovation, methodology advancements, technology deployments, and business re-engineering. Contact Aberdeen at: www.aberdeen.com

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Mint Jutras Report Predicts Executive Decision Making Will Benefit from SYSPRO Mobile Connectivity

SYSPRO, a provider of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that SYSPRO Espresso, the SYSPRO mobile solution, is the subject of a new Mint Jutras report, “Can SYSPRO Put A Genius in a Manufacturing Executive’s Pocket.”

In the report, author Cindy Jutras, President of Mint Jutras, points out that a recent SNAP (SYSPRO Needs Answers Please) Survey found a “growing recognition of the impact IT has on a manufacturer’s ability to compete.” In the past, says Mint Jutras, manufacturers might have chosen an investment in facilities, people and equipment instead of enterprise software as the tools to enhance the company’s competitive stance. However, says the Jutras report, the SNAP survey is indicative that “manufacturers now need new tools to manage . . . profitable growth.”

Mint Jutras states that in 2013, the analyst firm noted that executive access to ERP was on the rise. This trend has continued, says the report, noting that mobile access, such as SYSPRO Espresso, and the added intelligence it can provide executives, may “just serve as the catalyst and the game-changer.” Still, notes the report, while a study indicates that 32% want access to business intelligence from their chosen device (BYOD) “. . . what seems to get lost in the shuffle: many don’t realize most data from which they are likely to derive that intelligence resides in ERP.”

The Mint Jutras report lists the strong advantages enabled by the SYSPRO 7 Espresso Mobile Solution. “SYSPRO has taken many steps to insure that SYSPRO 7 Espresso provides a ‘leading edge’ solution without losing sight of what manufacturers and distributors really need.” The paper lists the following as the components of SYSPRO Espresso that make it a “strong platform:”

o Device and platform independence
o Users can personalize their user interface
o Real-time or offline access
o Secure communication
o Enable alerts to be sent via push notifications
o Uses active tile technology
o Multi-lingual support
o Mobile applications packaged with Espresso and via the SYSPRO App Store.

The Mint Jutras report: “Can SYSPRO Put A Genius in a Manufacturing Executive’s Pocket.” can be viewed here.

About Mint Jutras
Mint Jutras is a research and advisory firm focused on the business benefits of enterprise applications. Cindy Jutras, president and founder of Mint Jutras, is a widely recognized expert in analyzing the impact of enterprise applications on business performance. Utilizing over 35 years of corporate experience and specific expertise in manufacturing, supply chain, customer service and business performance management, Cindy has spent the past 8 years benchmarking the performance of software solutions in the context of the business benefits of technology.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Clippard Instrument Laboratory Selects SYSPRO ERP

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that Cincinnati, Ohio-based Clippard Instrument Laboratory, a leading manufacturer of miniature pneumatic valves and cylinders, has selected SYSPRO ERP. According to Clippard Controller Paul Dorger, SYSPRO ERP was the choice based on “functionality, documentation and support.”

Dorger notes that Clippard has been utilizing legacy software, but sought new Enterprise Resource Planning software to facilitate growth and maintain industry leadership. “We want to increase the speed with which we ship orders, enhance access to company data and improve productivity,” says Dorger, adding, “All this is necessary to accommodate our growth and position us to make acquisitions.”

About Clippard Instrument Laboratory
William Leonard Clippard, Jr. founded Clippard Instrument Laboratory in 1941, (Inc., 1946). The initial product line consisted of electrical test equipment, magnetic windings, and radio frequency coils. The first miniature fluid power devices designed and built by Clippard were for use in the manufacture of this equipment. In the early 1950′s, Clippard introduced Minimatic® components as a new product line. The need for miniature pneumatics was widespread, and since no such products had been previously available, the Minimatic® line was successful enough to become Clippard’s primary product line. Until his retirement in 1977, Leonard Clippard continued to be a pioneer in miniature pneumatics. For more information on Clippard, go to: www.clippard.com

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Write-Up Follows SYSPRO, Customer Presentations at JRocket Marketing Grape Escape

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that the company is the subject of a CHAINLINK paper by analyst Ann Grackin, who authored the write-up following her attendance at the SYSPRO co-sponsored JRocket Marketing Grape Escape held last month in Chicago.

“I was fortunate to have meetings for several hours, one-on-one, in-depth with both Brian Stein, CEO of SYSPRO USA, and Joey Benadretti, president of SYSPRO USA, which gave me the opportunity to grill them a bit about the company, its product direction, customers, and channels,” notes Grackin, who states, “SYSPRO, remarkably, is a unique player in the market in that it does not have to play technology catch-up like many other ERPs. The company hasn’t taken a breather or gotten lost and then needing to seek redemption, unlike some in the market who need a financial safe harbor in order to keep the lights on and continue supporting their customers.”

Grackin continues: “SYSPRO demonstrates that you don’t have to be a large ERP firm to be successful. Focusing on innovation and taking really good care of the channels and customers actually does make the difference. For ERP firms, business success is more like a marathon. It requires long-term commitment and yet speed to implement the current technology trends and keep pace with the market and a growing customer list. ERP customers expect to go the distance with their software provider, often over decades. All this has paid off for SYSPRO . . .”

Noting that SYSPRO primarily sells SYSPRO software via resellers, Grackin remarks, “SYSPRO has a lucrative channel arrangement and is known for its collaborative, rather than adversarial, relationship with the channel.”

Addressing SYSPRO technology, Grackin notes that the newest version of SYSPRO ERP, SYSPRO 7, “. . . arrives in the market with impressive technology as well as upgraded methodology and tools for users . . .
“There are only a few mid-market players who really have manufacturing nailed,” she continues, adding, “SYSRO supports multi-stage, multi-level BOM production, as well as process manufacturing.

The Grackin report includes comments on the GrapeEscape presentations made by SYSPRO customers Rochester Electronics and 1000Bulbs.com: “Rochester Electronics has been able to do more than just improve cost saving. They have increased sales, margin, and productivity. What a great ROI! During his talk, Mike [Murray, Manager of Information Systems] passionately described the support he got from SYSPRO during the implementation and beyond. He’s become a strong advocate, stating that ‘SYPRO is a great business partner.’ One thing Mike told me after his speech, ‘Often, you feel like the vendor has you over a barrel. I never felt that way with SYSPRO.’”

Grackin quotes Kim Pedersen, president of 1000Bulbs.com on SYSPRO support. “Without SYSPRO’s analytic capabilities, there would otherwise have been a lot of hunch-playing versus action based on accurate information. We do this kind of weekly analysis regularly now—and can capture the best market opportunities for our products on a regular basis.”

Concludes Grackin: “My main takeaway from these presentations and those of other SYSPRO customers I have talked to is that pegging SYSPRO as a small-company-only ERP may no longer be accurate positioning. Yes, their pricing and easy-to-implement technology are a great fit for a complex small business, yet they can scale. Many of the lite-ERPs on the market just can’t go the distance.

“Another mis-positioning is to categorize SYSPRO as only a manufacturing-centric ERP. Customers like 1000Bulbs demonstrate the strong ecommerce aspects as well as the distribution back end that can support almost any business model the enterprise has. Thus, we have seen many defections—from a variety of ERPs that have not continued to evolve—to those, like SYSPRO, who have been keeping up.”

About ChainLink Research
Since its founding in 2003, ChainLink Research has quickly established its growing influence and thought leadership in Supply Chain Management. As the leading Supply Chain research firm, ChainLink works on emerging and validated best practices enabling its customers to achieve leadership in chosen markets. www.clresearch.com

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Eval-Source Concludes: “SYSPRO 7 Offers Leading Edge IT Advances, Mobile Device Leadership”

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that the most recent Eval-Source Technology Insight report states that “SYSPRO 7 not only meets the market’s requirements for ‘better-suited solutions, including functionality upgrades, natively connected systems and simplified user capabilities’ . . . but that SYSPRO’s newest capabilities is looking to set the IT benchmark.”

Eval-Source bases its appraisal on presentations at the JRocket Marketing Grape EscapeR event held last month in Chicago. Says the Eval-Source Report, “SYSPRO, one of the world’s leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) companies dedicated to the success of . . . manufacturers and distributors, is rapidly gaining recognition with its new IT innovation and functionality in Release 7.”

Regarding the release of the SYSPRO Espresso mobile solution in SYSPRO 7, Eval-Source states it is indicative that “SYSPRO [is] gaining ground as [a] technology innovator: SYSPRO’s approach to mobile applications is thorough, built with the manufacturing/distribution marketplace in mind, and includes a high degree of easy customization options. Users have easy access to navigate and change menus and screens – available to them at system, company and operator level and/or by specific role. This is a major improvement in the ERP space in general, as these configuration options are not usually available at the mobile level (and likely not at all) by everyday non-technical users.”

Eval-Source summarizes “Key takeaway: SYSPRO has built more than a mobile extension of its ERP solutions. It has allowed users to evolve their usage of mobile devices and utilize them as if using the desktop application.”

The Eval-Source Technology Insight Report can be accessed here.

About Eval-Source
Eval‐Source is a consulting firm that provides enterprise software selection and strategic technology consulting services for organizations to achieve success in their IT initiatives. Eval-Source consulting practices include cloud and on-premise software evaluation services, ERP Project Management and Recovery, Supply Chain optimization, Corporate training and technology consulting. The Tru‐Eval selection system allows organizations to avoid IT failure, receive greater ROI and provide accurate decision support for enterprise software procurement. What sets Eval-Source apart is our unbiased best in class consulting services that provide our clients with value, direction and success in selection, planning and optimization of their technology systems. For more information go to: www.eval-source.com

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

Winners Announced at October 9 Awards Gala Celebrating Technology Innovation in Orange County

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that the company has been named a finalist for the Orange County Technology Alliance annual High-Tech Innovation Awards in the category Clean Tech/Green Tech. SYSPRO was selected for the ability of SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning Software to enable manufacturers and distributors to employ operational efficiencies and implement sustainable initiatives within their business processes. SYSPRO ERP software enables companies to cut costs, save time, drive revenue and improve their carbon footprint in the areas of product lifecycle management (PLM), order demand capture, sourcing, mobile access, technology and integration infrastructure, procurement and other areas of the supply chain.

“We are honored to have been selected as a finalist in this year’s awards,” said Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA. “The High-Tech Innovation Awards presented by the OC Tech Alliance is an important tradition for recognizing technology innovation. We believe SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software epitomizes the high caliber of technology produced in Orange County every year.”

Joey Benadretti has also been named a finalist for a High-Tech Innovation Award for outstanding technology leadership.

“We received many outstanding nominations this year, from companies all over Orange County, including large well-established firms to start-ups,” said Peter Craig, CEO, OC Tech Alliance. “We congratulate SYSPRO for being selected as a finalist. This selection is exemplary of the many companies that drive technology innovation here, across the country and around the world.”

Now in its 21st year, the High-Tech Innovation Awards is Southern California’s premier awards program event celebrating achievement among the regional tech industry. The OC Tech Alliance honors local companies, individuals and products that drive innovation in Orange County. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on October 9, 2014, at the Westin South Coast Plaza.

In addition to the product awards, OC Tech Alliance will recognize excellence among chief executives leading Orange County-based tech companies as well as outstanding tech companies. OC Tech Alliance will celebrate educators and students for their innovative use of science, math and technology in the classroom and the community in partnership with Project Tomorrow. The organization is the nation’s leading education nonprofit group focused on preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s innovators.

About Orange County Technology Alliance
Orange County Technology Alliance is a 501(c)6 nonprofit trade association committed to fast-forwarding the local innovation economy. It is the successor organization to the Orange County Council of TechAmerica and AeA. It is the only technology association addressing the needs of small-to-midsize technology companies and their leaders based in Orange County, Calif. The alliance serves members through local networking, professional development, state and federal advocacy, savings on business services and industry recognition. To learn more about membership, contact OC Tech Alliance at info@octechalliance.com or www.octechalliance.com. Follow alliance activities on Twitter at www.twitter.com/octechalliance.

About Project Tomorrow
The vision of Project Tomorrow is ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world. http://www.tomorrow.org/

Technology Evaluation Centers Appraisal Follows Attendance at JRocket Marketing Grape Escape Event

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) has commented on the results of a recent user survey, as well as SYSPRO customer presentations, at the JRocket Marketing Grape Escape R event held in Chicago in June, 2014.

The survey results queried a sample of respondents from within the SYSPRO reseller and customer community. “Benefiting from the latest software capabilities is indeed essential for mid-market manufacturers and distributors,” says TEC. “The survey results . . . show that 85% of respondents stated that thanks to SYSPRO’s technology and service they were able to ‘do more with less’ resources; 90% indicated that SYSPRO helped them improve go-to-market strategies; and 85% said that they achieve better business process, thanks to SYSPRO.”

The TEC report continues: “As we attempted to understand what ‘do more with less’ better go-to-market strategies or improved business process means at a more granular level, . . . SYSPRO’s clients attending the event from Rochester Electronics and 1000Bulbs.com stated it clearly:

• Flexibility and scalability — SYSPRO can sustain growth for its clients, and if the client’s business is in a make-to-order rather than make-to-stockroom operational mode, SYSPRO ERP is able to handle a very large number of diverse transactions. Furthermore, as stated by Michael Murray, Enterprise Applications Manager at Rochester Electronics, SYSPRO ERP’s flexibility goes as far as being able to accommodate single or small production of many thousands of different items.

• Customization capabilities — Thanks to the .Net framework that SYSPRO is using, anyone who knows the language can produce a piece of software that complements SYSPRO ERP.

• Analytics — Making sense of data—whether from operations or sales, etc., is a SYSPRO advantage for profit-building and sales-growing purposes. For example, weekly analysis of operational data helps manufacturers understand buyer behavior. Also, sales teams can base their strategies on reports that show cancelations, sales rep or supplier activity, product or marketing campaign performance, etc. Resources can be reviewed, measured, and altered as well to improve margins.

• Trust — SYSPRO is recognized for providing great customer support as well as delivering on its roadmap promises. Kim Pedersen, CEO & Founder, 1000Bulbs.com asserts: ‘They [SYSPRO] make it very clear to their customers that they love helping us to be successful.’ In other words, with SYSPRO it is not about the money.”

The complete Technology Evaluation Centers report can be viewed here.

SYSPRO USA President Joey Benadretti notes that the various analyst reports emanating from the Grape Escape are indicative that “SYSPRO solutions are broad and can support various forms of manufacturing, including Custom Job Shop, Engineer-to-Order, Configure-to-Order, Assemble-to-Order, Made-to-Order, Make-to-Stock, Mixed-Mode and Batch Process.”

About Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC)
Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) helps private- and public-sector organizations choose the best enterprise software solutions for their unique business needs—quickly, impartially, and cost-effectively.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that SYSPRO 7 ERP release has been named a Silver Winner in the Category “Software Innovation” at the 6th Annual 2014 Golden Bridge Awards. The coveted annual Golden Bridge Awards program encompasses the world’s best in categories that include organizational performance, innovations, products and services, executives and management teams and customer satisfaction programs from every major industry in the world. Organizations world-wide are eligible to submit nominations.

More than 40 judges from a broad spectrum of industry voices from around the globe participated, and their average scores determined the 2014 Golden Bridge Business Awards winners. The recipients were honored during an awards dinner and presentation September 8, 2014 in San Francisco attended by the finalists, industry leaders, judges and the press.

SYSPRO 7 is the latest iteration of SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software focused on manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO 7 encompasses a host of new functional features and numerous enhancements to the user experience, including mobile access on any mobile device, customization techniques and capabilities, more ease-of-use features, plus built-in business process flow graphs. SYSPRO 7 sets new standards in enabling customers to harness the power of business critical information, facilitating efficient and expedient decision making to achieve competitive supremacy in a variety of targeted industries.

Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA, commented on the Golden Bridge win. “Being honored among the best of the best in Northern California, the hub of technological innovation, is further recognition that SYSPRO is a modern and highly innovative company with a true focus on product, technology and customer success.”

About the Golden Bridge Awards
Golden Bridge Awards are an annual industry and peers recognition program honoring best companies in every major industry from large to small and new start-ups in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin-America, Best New Products and Services, Best Innovations, Management and Teams, Women in Business and the Professions, Case Studies, Customer Satisfaction, and PR and Marketing Campaigns from all over the world. Learn more about The Golden Bridge Awards at www.goldenbridgeawards.com

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

SYSPRO ERP Release SYSPRO 7 Scores Second Major Award in Two-Week Span –Wins Silver for “New Product or Service of the Year – Software – Supply Chain Management Solution”

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise, cloud-based and mobile utilization, today announced that SYSPRO 7, the latest iteration of SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software for manufacturers and distributors, has garnered another award, the second bestowed on the software within a two week period. Following a major win at the Golden Bridge Awards for software innovation, SYSPRO was honored with a silver Stevie® in the category: “New Product or Service of the Year- Software- Supply Chain Management Solution.”

“This latest honor validates the impact of SYSPRO’s superior product innovation,” notes Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA. “It’s terrific to see that SYSPRO’s powerful capabilities, coupled with the world’s best customer experience, earns us widespread recognition from customers, leading analysts and technology associations around the globe. Being the recipient of these great honors is a testament to our commitment to provide world-class enterprise solutions for our customers.”

Winners of the American Business Awards were announced on September 12 at an awards ceremony in San Francisco.

About the American Business Awards
The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the trophies were presented to winners during a gala banquet on Friday, September 12 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. More than 250 nominees and their guests attended for the presentation of new product awards, website awards, app awards, and more.

More than 3,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 240 executives nationwide who participated in the judging process.

Details about The American Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners who were announced on September 12 are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

ChainLink Research Cites Benefits of SYSPRO’s Organically Built, Single-Source System

SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today announced that Ann Grackin, CEO of ChainLink Research, has in a recent report cited the benefits of SYSPRO’s organically built, end-to-end, single-source ERP solution. The result, says Grackin, is the “type of deep data integration that is facilitating faster decision-making capabilities.”

In her paper “Moving Off and Moving Up Part 2,” Grackin sees today’s ERP market growth falling into three categories: Companies seeking their first solution; Customers seeking a refresh/upgrade to their existing ERP; or Maintenance only customers. “Unfortunately,” states Grackin, “existing ERP providers are failing to address the pent-up demand by existing users who are seeking more functionality or newer tools to augment their ERP solutions.”

Grackin also cautions that a changing work force is also having a greater impact on the tech market each year. “The evaluation team looks a bit different these days with a new generation of decision makers – echo boomers,” she says, adding, “Their tastes in technology are significantly different. This again is a huge risk and opportunity for ERP.”

“However,” notes Grackin, “the ERP market, in spite of challenges, continues to thrive.” She adds, “Questions still persist if there are too many products for the marketplace. There are many solutions whose sales are very limited or not at all and whose ERP is not maintained on behalf of the customer.”

Grackin adds a cautionary note: “The technology edge and vertical expertise are critical, but how well the company cares for the customer has to matter as much.”

Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA, comments, “I agree that the customer experience is the critical component for long term true satisfaction, provided that the necessary functionality and technology are in place. I am pleased to say that SYSPRO continually strives to offer a technologically superior product with an ongoing emphasis on customer service.”

The ChainLink Research Report, “Moving Off and Moving Up Part 2,” is available at: http://www.clresearch.com/research/detail.cfm?guid=7F8B57CC-3048-79ED-9955-5C54FCA2F1F5

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

SYSPRO, a provider of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise, cloud-based and mobile utilization, announced today that SYSPRO USA Manager, Joan Rood, has been named a finalist in the 11th Annual Stevie Awards for “Women in Business.” The award recognizes the contribution of women to the success of an organization. As a finalist, Rood will receive either a gold, silver or bronze “Stevie” in the category “Woman of the Year – Technology.” The awards will be presented on November 14, 2014, at a gala in New York City.

Joan Rood is Implementation and Training Services Manager for SYSPRO USA. Her career spans more than twenty years working with SYSPRO software. During the course of her career, she has held portfolios within the Sales, Implementation and Training environments. Rood was influential in the development of the award-winning STARS Implementation Methodology for the SYSPRO ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software product. STARS revolutionized ERP implementation by speeding software installation for customers while, at the same time, streamlining business processes, thus enabling the customer to realize a faster ROI and enhance customer service.

Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA, “We are extremely proud of Joan, who continues to apply her talents, knowledge and experience to enhance the SYSPRO ERP user experience. Rood is instrumental in applying ‘best practices’ into our implementation methodology and is a huge proponent of promoting the benefits of better product training and certification.”

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 14,500 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us here.

SYSPRO, a provider of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise, mobile and cloud-based utilization, has announced that The Sentral Group, one of the largest independent manufacturers of wire and cable assemblies in the United States, has selected SYSPRO ERP to enhance manufacturing and elevate customer service.

The Sentral Group continues to invest in its operations to insure that customer’s expectations for cost, delivery and quality are exceeded. With the rapid growth in its Tennessee facility, The Sentral Group chose SYSPRO ERP to replace its existing ERP system. The new platform is expected to provide an unparalleled capability for managing additional growth and simplifying complexity within a high mix manufacturing environment. According to Eric Warshawsky, Information Technology Manager, the choice of SYSPRO was based on the software’s ability to handle multiple facilities, different languages, robust forecasting, advanced scheduling options and outstanding report generation. “SYSPRO has been identified as the platform of the future — one which will allow The Sentral Group to consolidate existing and future entities into a single enterprise solution. The system is well suited for a manufacturing organization that competes in the demanding contract manufacturing industry and differentiates its self by offering flexibility within a high mix, high complex manufacturing environment.”

ABOUT THE SENTRAL GROUP
The Sentral Group is a leader in the manufacture of electrical wire harnesses for a wide variety of industries. Founded in 1990, the company has grown into one of the largest privately held wire harness suppliers in the United States. The company is headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL with manufacturing facilities in Lincolnshire IL, Itasca IL, Junction City KS, Cumberland City TN, Hopkinsville KY and Fresnillo, MX. With more than 200,000 ft2 and over 350 employees, The Sentral Group can offer customers optimum solutions that fit their service needs.

Publication Selects 100 Companies “Leading the Way to Supply Chain Success”

SYSPRO, a provider of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise, mobile and cloud-based utilization, has announced that Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine has included SYSPRO it its listing of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100. The list honors companies that are “models of what can be done to ensure prosperous businesses.”

In the Supply & Demand Chain Executive video announcing the list, Barry Hochfelder, S&DCE editor, notes that “as the world grows smaller, the need for a transparent supply chain is paramount.” He then names the companies, SYSPRO among them, that are “leading the way to supply chain success.”

The recently released SYSPRO 7 Enterprise Resource Planning Software is exemplary of the ways SYSPRO software empowers users to gain supply chain visibility and controls, productivity improvements and business growth advantages. SYSPRO 7 features a flexible ERP mobile platform, SYSPRO Espresso, that is device independent. SYSPRO 7 also includes numerous functional updates and an array of features that promote ease-of-use.

Explains Joey Benadretti, president, SYSPRO USA. “SYSPRO has a deep understanding of the priorities and needs of manufacturers and distributors – we’ve lived along side of them for three decades. SYSPRO knows what it takes to help these companies survive and thrive through the use of technology, and our newest product keeps pace with the changing times.”

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive’s user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. Supply & Demand Chain Executive is a publication of Cygnus Business Media. Visit us on the Web at www.SDCExec.com and on smartphones and tablets at www.SDCExec.com/mobile.

Newly Released 3-Part Supply Chain Management/Analytics Solution for Manufacturers, Distributors. Streamlines Inter-Company Buy-to-Stock or Buy-to-Build Processes with New Visibility, Predictability

SYSPRO USA, a provider of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise, mobile and cloud-based utilization, has announced today the general immediate release of a new supply chain management solution for global manufacturers and distributors. Called Voyage & Container Tracking, the powerful three-part solution was built from requirements outlined by SYSPRO’s base of more than 15,000 global clients and has been refined over a two-year period of operation with a metro-New York City area cosmetic component manufacturer/ distributor.

The solution is available now as part of the SYSPRO ERP solution in either an on-premise or cloud deployment model and was launched here in Boston today at the company’s Winter Analyst Roadshow before two dozen industry technology analysts.

The Voyage & Container Tracking Solution for SYSPRO has three major components with multiple features and functions embedded throughout:

1. Release Matrix (Identification/Management of Items Available for Shipment): This multi-part release includes visibility and management of items outlined in purchase orders and sales orders, unifying both components into a single release. SYSPRO allows users to assess what’s available, adjust quantities and view expected departure/delivery dates.

2. Container Management: Determining which of the released products/parts/goods will travel in which containers, at which times, is a critical component of managing both single and multiple releases. Since released goods are no longer available for change once they’ve been added to a container, SYSPRO provides the ability to consolidate purchase releases or transfer order releases into single or split formats. This allows the company to maximize container usage, regardless of products shipped and gain predictability on arrival and departure times, ports, etc.

3. Disposition Management: This feature has multiple components, and SYSPRO allows companies to manage the delivery and processing of multiple containers in a single voyage or shipment number, as required. Ultimately, the disposition involves several factors inherent in the container shipping industry, including visibility into quarantine holds, transactional processing and voyage modification visibility. SYSPRO analytics chart elements such as the inventory costs, impact on elapsed time between ports, management of the number of containers shipped (by month, voyage, shipper and specific ports) etc.

“This is a huge opportunity for SYSPRO’s globally operating companies to streamline, analyze and gain predictability into their container shipping activities,” said Brian Stein, CEO of SYSPRO USA. “The container shipping industry is a massive $150 billion market, and the implications of even small changes can be enormous to the mid-market manufacturers and distributors that comprise the SYSPRO base. SYSPRO is renowned for taking the drama out of ERP operations, limiting the hype on technologies and offering easier to use and implement software solutions. Once again, SYSPRO is leveling the playing field for the mid-sized company that wants to compete profitably and efficiently against much larger companies.”

SYSPRO Infusing Analytics into Container Tracking/Delivery
SYSPRO is meeting, head on, some of the largest supply chain management challenges inherent in the global container tracking industry: inventory ownership, predictable/on-time shipments, quarantine management, “keep or reject” decisions and assessment of the overall availability of the contracted shipper to deliver. By infusing visibility and analytic components into the assessment of the supplier’s performance, the container component’s accuracy, comparative shipper cost analysis and transportation and other trends, SYSPRO ERP customers gain newfound efficiencies. The ability to graphically view comparatives on various shippers and suppliers, coupled with real data on inventory shipped, is a powerful factor in both top and bottom-line decision-making.

“By removing the information silos that are pervasive throughout the supply chain process, SYSPRO is uniting massive amounts of data into a useful dashboard for decision makers,” Stein said.

Proven by Wormser Corporation in 6 International Locations
In 2012, Wormser Corporation, an importer and manufacturer of cosmetic components for globally recognized brands, abandoned its ERP deployment in favor of SYSPRO ERP. With six worldwide locations, including Shanghai, Germany, England and others; increasingly complex supply chain and distribution requirements, Wormser needed a fully-integrated ERP solution that provided multi-area visibility into its global business processes and operations.

After reviewing offerings from Sage, SAP, Epicor and SYSPRO, Wormser saw clearer value from SYSPRO and ultimately deployed SYSPRO Financials, Reporting, Inventory Controls, Distribution Management and Supply Chain Management. Wormser also sought to streamline its container tracking management by infusing greater tracking, predictability and analytic features that would deliver new efficiencies through the Voyage and Container Tracking Solution developed by SYSPRO USA.

For more information on SYSPRO, or to request a demo, please contact us here.

This is an interview with Scott Brickler the Chief Software Architect and a partner at SolutionsX LLC. Recently he answered the following questions concerning the benefits of having CAD-ERP integration.

Why would companies consider adding a CAD integration tool to their ERP system?
Brickler: CAD to ERP integration makes a lot of sense when a company is doing a large amount of engineering or turnover of new designs and/or design changes. Businesses like these are often designing and building custom or configurable products for each customer and are often trying to find ways to cut the lead time from order to shipment. The manual transfer of data between the CAD software and SYSPRO can add unnecessary hours and days to the lead time of a product. If you factor in the possibility of BOM errors the delays are even worse. It is critical that companies in the MTO or ETO industry think lean and reduce their activities to the value added processes like design and manufacturing. Engineers are often tasked with getting the BOM information into the ERP and this can be a huge drain on their time. Any time savings for these high value employees has huge returns for a company.

What types of companies benefit the least from having their CAD product integrated with their ERP?
Brickler: CAD integration isn’t as beneficial for companies who have extremely infrequent and long design cycles for product. An example could be a company who builds a cell phone or automobile where new models are generated every few years instead of every few days or weeks. Companies in this space typically benefit from a more formal PLM type software to manage the complexity of the design process.

What are some things a company should be looking for in a CAD integration solution?
Brickler: Businesses should look for a solution that has had a deep partnership with both the CAD vendor and ERP vendor. The ERP vendor relationship is actually the most critical. ERP often requires much more information than the CAD system does and the customer will benefit the most by going with a product that has deep integration and knowledge of the ERP package. It is also important that the CAD integration tool be very flexible and allow for future changes to the logic without extensive programming.

What would you say to companies that are leery of add-on products or fear they won’t get an ROI?
Brickler: For companies that use ERP for manufacturing, the Bill of Material (BOM) is the keystone data that drives every other aspect of the ERP system. MRP uses the BOM to determine demand and offer recommendations for supply. Costs for manufactured parts are driven from routing and BOM data. Order entry needs to know what items to put on orders. Everything in ERP system starts with a BOM. Therefore, it is critical that a company invest in making BOM as accurate as possible so that they can realize the full benefit of their ERP investment. CAD integration is a way to ensure that accuracy. If you consider the far reaching importance of the BOM to the ERP system the ROI for that investment is measured in weeks and months.

How long should it take for a company to get a CAD integration tool implemented?
Brickler: Implementation time should be measured in days and weeks instead of months. We are not implementing an ERP system. Very often companies can implement the basics and get a big benefit in hours. Once implemented additional areas of improvement become apparent and easily added for additional savings. The most successful implementations typically start with the basics and evolve from there.

How are companies able to quantify the benefit of using CAD integration?
Brickler: Hard cost savings are made using labor hours saved entering Stock Code and BOM data manually. Many customers can also place a hard cost saving in the reduction of BOM errors that always accompanies this type of integration. Harder to measure soft cost savings are lead time reduction and additional benefits provided by employees no longer burdened by entering BOMs manually.

-Scott Brickler

Scott Brickler is the Chief Software Architect and a partner at SolutionsX LLC.
Among his specialties are Lean Manufacturing, Software Development & Architecture, CAD/CAM, Workflow Automation, System Integration, Project Management, and SYSPRO ERP. Scott was instrumental in developing CADTalk which is an add-on solution available for SYSPRO users.

About SYSPRO
SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 15,000 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us.

It’s no secret that we live in a world where, often, the brands with the largest, loudest megaphone (and the accompanying outsized marketing budgets) get the lion’s share of the press/PR attention. That’s to be expected –nothing new there. Knowing this, it is important that for ERP buyers ask themselves the question, ‘Which matters more? ERP vendor size or service quality?”

Recently, I read an article about how to avoid bad ERP choices, and decided to form my own list. While there is no single right way to prove which ERP solution is right for you since everyone’s requirements are different, there are some simple steps you can take to stack the deck in your favor:

2. What do the industry experts say about your short list picks? The big analyst firms are going to recommend the big vendors. That’s pro forma, and again, to be expected. A high percentage of their revenue comes from these vendors and business is business. But if you start to look at what a larger swath of technology analysts say, those smaller firms and industry experts with great reputations, you may be surprised. SYSPRO has dozens of industry analysts who will readily point out that our solutions are not only world class in feature/functionality, but that provide options (like multiple deployments – on premise or cloud), that can really give you choice.

3. Can the newer ERP entrants, with less experience and fewer modules, stand the test of time? We’re not so sure. SYSPRO is time tested across many different platforms and our vast experience in the manufacturing industry has allowed us to build many different modules in a single DNA application. This experience enables us to foresee technology trends and adopt best of breed technologies as they emerge. SYSPRO, with all its modules, has been deployed on platforms ranging from minicomputers, PC-LAN, client/server, web/Internet all the way to the cloud. Two great examples are SYSPRO’s Espresso mobile capabilities, which deliver our modules on a device agnostic platform, as well as our ability to deliver these modules on-premise and via the cloud in many deployment configurations. If you investigate thinner solutions from cloud-only providers, you are going to get a one-size fits all view of the world which entertains a more generic and smaller module list with less functionality. This exposes the lack of experience by newer ERP entrants that is required in robust manufacturing environments where functionality and user experience is key.

I’ll close with what I think is great advice and in keeping with the homework metaphor: do the math, add up the columns and create tables that compare and contrast. While ERP is a commodity in the number of modules most vendors offer, there is a wide difference in the capabilities offered by individual vendors. Figure out what your priorities are: price, service, breadth, choice, etc. We think that if you take a good look, you’ll want to put SYSPRO at the top of your list for your consideration.

- Joey Benadretti

Joey Benadretti is the President and Joint Managing Director of SYSPRO USA. He is a champion of US manufacturing and is a strong advocator of the rebuilding of the US manufacturing base.

Benadretti’s footprint in the software community has established him as an influential and innovative leader, where has been a driving force in gaining significant international industry recognition for SYSPRO, including multiple ‘Company of the Year’ awards as well as a long list of other top industry honors and accolades.

Benadretti is passionate about community initiatives, education and supporting institutions that boost the local workforce

About SYSPRO

SYSPRO is the leading supplier of ERP software to mid-market manufacturers and distributors. SYSPRO has more than 15,000 licensed customers in over 60 countries around the globe. If you’d like an ERP expert to contact you and further discuss how SYSPRO ERP can streamline your business processes, please contact us.