PARTNER GUIDE
Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013-2016
Technology Regional roadmap perspectives
Viewpoints Case studies Partner Solutions directory
EDITOR SEAN DUDLEY
Welcome
Welcome to Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013-2016. This definitive guide to Microsoft technologies in the retail, consumer services and hospitality industries is brought to you by the same team that publishes the quarterly Speak magazine. Within the following pages you’ll find a wealth of information to help you make good technology decisions for your enterprise business. Our opening sections explore the latest developments in Microsoft technology and key trends in different regions of the world. We then hear the views of Microsoft partners and highlight some of the latest solutions for retail, consumer services and hospitality businesses. And our case study section profiles technology implementations at a number of forward-thinking firms, including Shell, Sony and Pizza Hut. Finally, our directory section provides business information for many of the most innovative technology suppliers in these industries, all of which use Microsoft technology in their services and solutions to help their business customer succeed. Please also visit our website – www.onwindows.com – for a host of additional information on enterpise technology on the Microsoft Windows platform. There’s regular news, in-depth features, a directory of partners and more information about our Global Outlook series and suite of business technology magazines, including Speak. I hope you find Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013-2016 an informative and useful resource. And please feel free to get in touch – I welcome your feedback and suggestions for future editions.
Sean Dudley, Editor [email protected]
Download the OnWindows app to your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device to access digital editions of each issue of Speak and all other industry publications in the OnWindows suite.
Just search for ‘OnWindows’ in the Windows Store.
1 Speak magazine PARTNER GUIDE Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013-2016 is published by Tudor Rose. To enquire about Speak is Microsoft’s customer participating in future editions, email [email protected] or call +44 116 222 9900. publication for the retail, consumer goods and services industries. Sean Nicklin Head of Partner Management Complete with news and views from Microsoft, its partners James Barnard Partner Manager and end users, Speak offers an Oliver Breed insightful approach to tackling Partner Manager the key challenges businesses Katie Cank face today using the latest in Partner Manager
technological innovation. Jay Gessey Partner Manager
Charlie Keys Partner Manager
Jacob Marshall Partner Manager
Joel Warby Partner Manager
Claire Brown Publication Manager, Speak
Editor Editorial team Sean Dudley Rebecca Gibson [email protected] Lindsay James Karen McCandless Head of Editorial Cherie Rowlands Rebecca Lambert Amber Stokes [email protected]
Design Marketing Paul Robinson Leigh Trowbridge Bruce Graham Libby Sidebotham Website development Chris Jackson
Publisher Reprints Toby Ingleton Stuart Fairbrother [email protected] Subscriptions Michael Geraghty Circulation [email protected] Ritwik Bhattacharjee
Published by Tudor Rose © 2013 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights Tudor House reserved. No part of this publication may be 6 Friar Lane, Leicester stored or transmitted or reproduced in any LE1 5RA, England form or by any means, including whether by Tel: +44 116 222 9900 photocopying, scanning, downloading onto Fax: +44 116 222 9901 computer or otherwise without the prior written [email protected] permission from Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. www.tudor-rose.co.uk Managing Director: Jon Ingleton Active Directory, BizTalk, Microsoft, Outlook, SharePoint, Visual Studio and Windows are either Follow us: twitter.com/onwindows registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft in Become a fan on Facebook the US and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Views expressed in this magazine are not Connect on LinkedIn necessarily those of Microsoft or the publishers. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply Order your copy To purchase additional copies of the Distribution official endorsement of the products or services & Services 2013-16, please contact Tudor Rose on concerned. While every care has been taken to +44 (0)116 2229900 or Michael Geraghty by e-mail ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can [email protected]. be taken for any errors and/or omissions. Readers now online at should take appropriate professional advice Printed in Great Britain by Zenith Media before acting on any issue raised herein.
www.onwindows.com/subscribe The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising material and editorial contributions. The publisher assumes no liability for the return or safety of unsolicited art, photography or manuscripts. Partners
Customers worldwide search Pinpoint and Microsoft product-specific marketplaces for Microsoft partners and their applications and professional services. At the same time, Pinpoint works with business and product groups across Microsoft to effectively integrate Pinpoint throughout their marketing campaigns and websites, driving customer traffic to partners like you.
Publishing partners
Sponsors
ALFALAK
3 SharePoint Workow and Signature Approval
Trust is created using digital signatures to provide authenti- cation and data integrity. Ascertia has years of experience delivering standards compliant and interoperable products to Government, Defence, Financial and others to provide high trust identity and data security solutions.
ADSS Connector for SharePoint - adding digital signatures to documents
Easy integration with SharePoint Display a document and digitally sign it C Individual signatures using local or server M keys/certicates Y Supports long-term ETSI digital signatures CM Adds status attributes to SharePoint to enable
MY workows
CY
CMY
K Ascertia Docs - Internal/External Workow & Digital Signature Approval
SharePoint integration (read from/ write back to) Digital signatures provide:
Traceability Data Integrity Long-term authenticity non-repudiation Legal weight
For more information search for Ascertia + Docs + SharePoint Or send an email to [email protected]
Or review these Ascertia websites:
www.Ascertia.com www.SigningHub.com Contents
Technology roadmap 10
Devices and services driving change 10 Microsoft is constantly developing products to drive change in the retail, consumer services and hospitality industries
Operating systems 12 Microsoft’s flagship operating system is providing new mobility and productivity scenarios for business users
Devices and studios 14 With the use of new devices proliferating, customers are posing new challenges to retailers and brands 12 Applications and services 15 Microsoft is focused on delivering scenarios that enable users to pursue activities they value most
Cloud and enterprise 16 Companies globally are using the cloud as a strategic asset to react more quickly to market shifts and deliver new products
Dynamics 17 Developing an omni-channel platform to connect traditional and online stores has never been more important
Regional perspectives
Mobilised consumer: global trends 18 As consumers’ use of mobile technology continues its 22 upward trajectory globally, we look at its importance across the retail and hospitality sectors
North America 20
Europe, Middle East, Africa 22
Asia 24 Latin America 26 26
5 Contents
33
37 29
Viewpoints Case studies
Buying is out, using is in 29 JJ Food Service 45 Paul Boekweg, CEO of Davanti Warehousing, discusses Distribution company revolutionises its customer the success two warehouse management systems are services and logistics operations bringing to businesses Dansk Niels Bo 47 What to do when your honey turns blue? 33 NAVertical partners with Admiral to deliver CO2 Simon Thompson, director of Commercial Industry at neutral Microsoft solutions Esri, believes the key to a successful supply chain is to connect the dots, one intelligent map point at a time Blue Mountain Resort 49 Cenium implements integrated IT system at B2b e-commerce, instead of B2B 37 Canadian ski resort Mario Fernandez, CEO of Signature South Consulting, discusses how electronic invoicing improvements will The Round Table on Responsible Soy 51 benefit business-to-business e-commerce Chainfood implements platform for managing traceability in soy business BI is revolutionising business 41 Morten Middelfart, CTO at TARGIT, says business Komatsu 53 intelligence is the difference between having data and Komatsu improves its operational efficiency with knowing what to do with it BizTalk Server www.onwindows.com/partners 59
53 57
Case studies
Defence Support Group 55 Abus 65 Demand Solutions helps improve distribution Safety concepts and products company implements channels of spares and items supplier Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Taxameter Centrale 57 Deloitte (Mauritius) 67 Dutch company improves productivity and Harel Mallac Technologies deploys turnkey efficiency with Dynamics Software Microsoft private cloud infrastructure for Deloitte
EDP Renewables 59 ATU 69 Renewable energy company implements echiron’s HSO implements Microsoft Dynamics AX at car Windows Azure Infrastructure-as-a-Service solution parts retailer, helping improve processes and reduce costs Carrefour Group 61 Distribution and retail company improve business Arbodania 71 analytics with Esri Microsoft-based infrastructure helps Christmas tree producer grow and handle extreme workload Petco 63 Esri helps national pet specialist retailer mitigate the risks of expansion
7 Contents
51 73
83 71
Case studies
Dahl Sweden 73 Aramark 81 Lexit Group helps Swedish wholesaler increase Based on Microsoft’s cloud platform Windows Azure, customer satisfaction and business opportunities Signature South Consulting’s solution provides with Windows Mobile reduced costs and mitigates administrative risk
Shell 75 Pizza Hut 83 Mydatafactory empowers data cleansing TARGIT’s business intelligence solution enables teams at global group of energy and Pizza Hut to gets to know its customers petrochemicals companies Czech Aeroholding/Czech Airlines 85 Sony 77 The KITE successfully migrated and upgraded Reysastech’s deployed solution at world-famous the flight and crew management system consumer electronics company based on ‘sales triggered replenishment’ ixmation 87 Global company focuses on Dynamics AX Entrajuda 79 increasing competition through harmonisation Sendys helps Portuguese non-governmental organisation support service improve its business processes
www.onwindows.com/partners 95 Partner directory
Search our extensive A to Z directory of 106 Microsoft technology partners that offer best-of-breed solutions for the distribution and services industry. The index lists partners by solution area and by industry sector, provides company details and descriptions for Microsoft partners, as well as contact details if you are interested in collaborating with a featured partner.
97
Solution profiles
Alfalak Microsoft Suite 89 mailworx 97 Saudi Arabian company offers a suite of Microsoft eworx’s newsletter software allows companies solutions for the enterprise, corporate and retail to communicate and improve interaction with markets customers
Apex Digital Solutions Managed IT Services 91 Le ERP – Predator Edition 99 Apex Digital Solutions offers managed IT services Information Management’s solution enables that fits the growing needs of organisations companies to keep track of their stock and streamline business operations DataCar Portal 93 DATAFIRST’s integrated web portal uses Milestone Cloud Services Suite 101 Microsoft SharePoint to help car dealers address Milestone’s range of cloud applications, based on modern challenges Microsoft Azure, provides customers with flexibility, security and support CORAX 95 Davanti Warehousing’s solution offers smart Modular Device Management workflows and is intuitive and user-friendly Cockpit & Portal 103 SPIRIT/21’s solution consolidates data from a range of mobile devices across an enterprise
10 Technology roadmap
Devices and services driving change
Microsoft is constantly innovating and developing products to drive change in the retail, consumer services and hospitality industries. We describe how each of the company’s main product groups are continuing to evolve
Cloud, mobility, big data and enterprise social: these are the four major trends that underpin Microsoft’s new role as a devices and services organisation. Addressing over 14,000 attendees in Houston at this year’s Worldwide Partner Conference, departing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reaffirmed the company’s commitment to focusing on delivering a new generation of devices and services to meet the demands of businesses and consumers today, as well as re-imagine the ways in which they use IT. Ballmer explained that the emergence of major trends around cloud computing, mobility, big data and enterprise social are the key drivers behind the company’s latest strategy and upcoming technology developments. Over the last few months in particular, Microsoft has been delivering on its new vision by launching some of the most significant product releases in its thirty- seven year history, all delivered with the cloud in mind. The list is impressive: the Windows 8.1 operating system, its mobile counterpart Windows Phone 8, the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets, as well as the latest iterations of some of the most powerful business software available services organisation. Employees are now including Office 365, SharePoint and Power organised by discipline and engineering area BI. And there’s more to come. According to in order to manage the company’s product Microsoft COO Kevin Turner, there will be line holistically. According to Ballmer, the a significant wave of launches and updates restructure will enable the company to move throughout the coming financial year – even forward as one Microsoft with one strategy more than the last 12 months. and one set of goals. Microsoft is now well underway “We’ll have one approach to the restructuring its business to help it execute marketplace, whether it’s business partners, on its mission to become a devices and innovation partners, developers, IT people, www.onwindows.com/partners Microsoft has launched some significant product releases in the last year, including Windows 8.1 or consumers,” he explained on a press and serve customers in entirely new ways. conference call. “We’ll have one technology Smartphones and tablets, intelligent systems, base to enable us in core areas as opposed to enhanced data visualisation, cloud computing two or more. We’re one Microsoft.” and social computing will all play a part in For the retail, consumer services and companies’ future technology roadmaps. hospitality industries, the implications of The following pages provide an overview Microsoft’s shift in strategy are significant. of how Microsoft is delivering on its Users across all areas of these industries commitment to innovate across each of its are now being offered a game-changing product groups and how we can expect opportunity to communicate, collaborate them to evolve.
11 Technology roadmap
Operating systems
With its reimagined application platform and a touch-first user interface, Microsoft’s flagship operating system provides new mobility and productivity scenarios for business users across the retail, consumer services and hospitality industries
The rise of the tablet form factor and the growing use of touch interfaces in small, light mobile devices has created demand for a new user experience without dropping the essentials of mobility, manageability and security. And so was born the blueprint of Windows 8, with its focus on delivering an exceptional user experience on any type of device, from any location, while meeting the standards of an enterprise-grade solution. One year on since its launch and Microsoft has released its Windows 8.1 update. Still featuring the unique tile interface that the operating system has become so well known for, Windows 8.1 offers a host of increased customisation refinements and functional improvements. One of the highlights of the Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition is Start Screen Control, which allows IT departments to control the layout of the Start screen on company-issued devices to ensure key apps are easily accessible. If preferred, IT teams can also prevent users from customising their Start screen to ensure consistency across work groups or entire companies. Windows 8.1 Enterprise also increases device and data security with the AppLocker feature, which creates a secure Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry was made environment by restricting which files and apps generally available at the same time as Windows users or groups can run on a PC. 8.1. This operating system allows enterprises to Other features in the Enterprise edition connect edge devices, such as kiosks, scanners include DirectAccess, which enables remote and digital signage, with their current IT users to seamlessly access resources inside a infrastructures and Windows environment – all corporate network without having to launch a on a single platform. separate virtual private network. In addition, On the day of the launch, Cuong Pham, with the BranchCache feature, employees in Windows Embedded product manager, said: branch offices no longer need to download “We celebrate the increasingly elegant and content multiple times across their wide area compelling Windows devices that are at the network. Files, websites and other content are heart of creating experiences that keep pace cached from central servers locally on hosted with our lives, and we at Windows Embedded cache servers or PCs. are excited to extend that commitment – www.onwindows.com/partners Microsoft now has over 125,000 apps in its Windows Store and growing
powering these experiences on specialised industry devices that deliver unmatched value to the enterprise via intelligent systems. When “We celebrate the these industry devices – those ‘things’ in the ‘Internet of Things’ – are connected, they increasingly elegant and unleash enormous potential through big data compelling Windows that take advantage of the information potential emanating from the device.” devices that are at the heart Looking ahead, Microsoft is expected to continue refining its Windows platform of creating experiences” to support an even broader wave of new, innovative, touch-first devices – from tablets and two-in-ones to laptops, all-in-ones and Cuong Pham specialised industry devices. Microsoft
13 Technology roadmap
Devices and Studios
New devices, ranging from tablets, smartphones and convertible laptops, are being used more and more in stores, warehouses, hotels and airports worldwide. In the retail space in particular, customers are bringing their own devices to the online or physical storefront and expect the retailers’ and brands’ systems to simply work. At the same time, retailers want to use devices to empower employees to provide the immersive shopping experience that consumers demand. But adopting a consumer device for use in the enterprise has been challenging for many businesses. They have had to purchase Microsoft Surface 2 went on sale in October 2013 additional IT tools to manage the devices, rebuild existing line-of-business applications Many businesses are already using the Surface for the new operating systems, and deal with to improve employee and customer experiences. the limited functionality of a device designed Delta Air Lines, for example, is currently rolling for watching movies, playing games and out Surface 2 tablets running Windows RT checking social media sites. 8.1. The company’s 11,000 pilots will use the Today though, Microsoft and its partner Windows devices in place of their traditional ecosystem are providing companies with a paper document flight bags. Flight crews will huge range of enterprise-ready devices to benefit from real-time access to essential tools choose from. There are currently over 1,700 and flight-related resources, including key charts, Windows 8-certified devices available on the reference documents and checklists. Not only will market, including desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, this help to improve productivity, but the devices convertibles and rugged devices. are also expected to help the airline save US$13 In October 2013, Microsoft’s latest Surface million per year in fuel and associated costs. tablets went on sale. Building on the success According to Tracey Issel, general manager of their predecessors, the Surface 2 and of Microsoft’s Worldwide Retail Sector and Surface Pro 2 not only include improvements Enterprise Solutions business, there isn’t a better to processing power and battery life, but time for retailers to embrace mobile technology. feature a higher resolution display and camera “The more we do to realise the value we can as well as a redesigned kickstand. On the day deliver to customers in store, the more the of the launch, Panos Panay, corporate vice consumer’s phone or device will need to feature president of Microsoft Surface, said: “Surface more prominently,” she said to Speak. “And is the most productive tablet on the planet. It’s everything we do to make that device more not just a laptop: laptops aren’t as thin or light valuable in the store increases the need for an and don’t have a battery that lasts an entire associate to have a tablet – a business tablet that day. It’s also not just a tablet: tablets don’t enables robust solutions and harnesses every have click-in keyboards and Microsoft Office opportunity to demonstrate the best of in store that allow real work to get done.” and online together.” www.onwindows.com/partners Applications and Services
Office 365 is proving a popular tool with businesses, which are using it to improve collaboration
Microsoft’s business realignment has Office 365 in particular is gaining seen Qi Lu take up the role as head of the traction with businesses worldwide. Many company’s new Applications and Services retailers and hospitality service providers Engineering Group. This department covers have embraced the platform, including broad applications and services related to International Airlines Group (IAG), the productivity, communication, search and parent company of British Airways and other information categories. Iberia, and one of the world’s largest airline Lu is now responsible for the research and groups. In August 2013 it announced that development teams across Microsoft Office, it had selected Office 365 as the business Office 365, SharePoint, Exchange, Yammer, Lync, communication solution for approximately Skype, Bing, Bing Apps, MSN and the Advertising 58,000 employees. platforms and business group. Speaking during a “Giving our employees the tools and Microsoft conference call, Lu explained what he freedom to achieve more in their day-to- wanted to bring to the role of Applications and day activities was a key component in our Services lead, and what Microsoft would be doing decision to engage with Microsoft,” said to advance its offerings in this sector. Nigel Underwood, chief information officer “The key focus is for Microsoft to deliver at IAG. “Office 365 will allow employees scenarios that enable our users to pursue to collaborate and achieve their work tasks activities they value the most,” said Lu. “Our regardless of the platform, product or device.” mission is always to help people not just find Looking ahead, Microsoft will release a information, but complete tasks, because when number of Yammer, SharePoint and Office people search, they’re always doing search in the 365 updates to deepen connections between context of accomplishing a task. They look at its services and enable greater collaboration Office — its strong server assets enable people to for businesses. “The Application and Services get more done. Skype in our new division is a key Group’s fundamental focus is to use all those asset in Lync, to connect all the people, because assets to truly deliver high-value scenarios that you do all these things always in the context of enable our users to accomplish their goals collaborating, sharing with somebody else.” doing things they value the most,” said Lu.
15 Technology roadmap
Cloud and Enterprise
According to the Microsoft survey The New Era of Hosted Services, companies globally are increasingly turning to the cloud to support business growth. As they look ahead to the next two years, more than 52 per cent of organisations identify the cloud as beneficial for either growing their business or realigning their organisation to a new company strategy. Already, many are using it as a strategic asset to react more quickly to market shifts, deliver new products and services faster, and get ahead of the competition. “The next two years will be the era of hybrid cloud, with 68 per cent of customers planning to adopt hybrid cloud models – up from 49 per cent today,” said Marco Limena, Satya Nadella (right) presented Microsoft’s cloud computing vice president of Hosting Service Providers strategy at the 2013 Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Briefing Business at Microsoft. “In addition, the survey found that as customers begin to move their In October 2013, Microsoft released an IT environments into the cloud, software is updated R2 version of this, as well as sticky and brand is even more important.” System Center 2012 R2. Together, these Accenture released a report in May 2013 new products empower companies to stating that the retail cloud market is expected create data centres without boundaries to more than triple from US$4.2 billion in 2011 using Hyper-V for high-scale virtualisation; to US$15.1 billion in 2015. It says that two high-performance storage at dramatically primary drivers – competition with online pure- lower costs; built-in, software-defined plays and customer demand for a seamless networking; and hybrid business continuity. experience – will motivate increasingly faster The new Windows Azure Pack runs on top adoption rates for cloud in retail. of Windows Server and System Center, Microsoft’s vision is to enable its customers enabling enterprises and service providers and partners to tackle a full range of critical to deliver self-service infrastructure and IT issues via its Cloud OS. This is a built- platforms from their data centres. for-the-cloud operating system (OS) that “As enterprises move to the cloud they are provides the level of intelligence, automation going to bet on vendors that have best-in-class and orchestration required to manage global software as a service applications, operate workloads that are increasingly large, diverse a global public cloud that supports a broad and demanding. It allows IT professionals, as ecosystem of third party services, and deliver well as the entire technology industry, to move multi-cloud mobility through true hybrid beyond simple virtualisation and instead think solutions,” said Satya Nadella, Cloud and about how to best transform the data centre. Enterprise executive vice president, commenting Windows Server 2012 was a significant on the new releases. “If you look across the release for Microsoft in terms of delivering vendor landscape, you can see that only a best-in-class cloud computing platform. Microsoft is truly delivering in all of those areas.” www.onwindows.com/partners Dynamics
In a generation where consumers are increasingly well informed about products and brands through review websites, blogs and social media channels, developing an omni-channel platform to connect traditional and online stores has never been more important. Launched in October 2013, the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables retail businesses to manage products, budgets and sales, and marketing resources on a single platform, ensuring they deliver a consistent level of customer service and a unified experience across all physical, social and digital channels. Using the solution’s integrated social media features, retailers can analyse social media Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 is optimised for touch channels to develop a 360-degree view of each individual customer, identifying their personal In April 2014, Microsoft is expected to preferences and purchasing patterns to generate make the next version of its flagship enterprise targeted marketing and sales strategies. resource planning solution available. Microsoft Retailers can use the integrated Lync and Dynamics AX 2012 R3 delivers new warehouse Skype functions to interact directly with and transportation management capabilities to online customers in real time, providing provide customers with real-time, end-to-end them with product and brand information, insights into supply chain execution. matching the level of service they would Microsoft has also reported that it remains receive in a high street store. They can also on track to deliver this next major version take advantage of Social Insights capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics AX on-premises as a result of Microsoft’s new alliance with and as a public cloud service offering. The social intelligence provider InsideView. solution introduces support for deployment Social Insights puts real-time company and on Windows Azure via infrastructure as contact information from 30,000 sources a service, bringing customers true choice into Microsoft Dynamics CRM. and portability between on-premises and “Customer relationship management today private cloud deployments, along with all the should be an enabler that detects trends, benefits and security features that come with facilitates decisions and suggests actions that lead the Windows Azure service. to successful outcomes and relationships,” said Looking ahead, Microsoft is also expected Bob Stutz, corporate vice president of Microsoft to continue to expand the solution’s Dynamics CRM. “This major new release delivers RoleTailored design, providing a more on this promise of customer centricity by context-sensitive experience based on new bringing together Microsoft technologies in a way HTML5 client technology with optimisation that helps businesses and organisations better for natural user interface technologies like engage and nurture their customers.” touch-based computing.
17 Regional perspectives
Mobilised consumer: global trends
As consumers’ use of mobile technology continues its upward trajectory globally, we look at its importance across the retail and hospitality sectors
Of little surprise to B2C enterprises is As stated in the study: “Emerging markets that mobile technology is playing an such as South Africa, Saudi Arabia and ever-increasing role in how customers China show a greater pace of change, with are researching, shopping and paying 96 per cent of respondents expressing a for goods and services. Retailers’ use desire to use their mobile to buy goods or of social media, big-data analytics, services, compared to 59 per cent in mature along with supply chain and inventory markets,” such as Japan, US, France UK, management, ultimately contributes to Australia and Germany. a more effective mobile approach that Differences across the regions are not only informs, but also encourages attributed to economics, with “greater consumers to use on-the-move devices consumer momentum in the BRIC during the purchasing process. (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations,” As a result, many retailers are looking which have mobile network and internet more closely at how this channel – now services infrastructures that surpass legacy commanding its own category term telecommunications in some developing m-commerce – can create a consumer-centric countries. Meanwhile, the ‘device culture’ experience that increases spending, value, evident in emerging markets means that loyalty and ultimately generates higher basic handset use and transactional SMS revenue. In a weak economy, consumers services prevail. are particularly budget-sensitive and mobile means of rewarding customer loyalty, offering Making consumer-friendly m-commerce greater value for money and attractive deals Overall, studies find that consumers would are increasingly imperative for retailers to be more likely to increase their use of mobile remain competitive. commerce services if mobile payments were accepted by more retailers, received regular An unmet need order updates and if they were further The September 2013 SAP study The mobile incentivised by brands and services. Just as consumer highlighted an unmet demand for important, the top factors getting in the way m-commerce services, with more than 80 per of consumers using m-commerce includes the cent of consumers “asking for more mobile hassle associated with entering a great deal of interactions with banks, telcos, retailers, personal information, security fears and lack utilities and other businesses.” Greater choice of internet access at the time of transaction. of payment methods, mobile payments being GSMA’s July 2013 Mobile Commerce accepted by more retailers, regular updates on in Retail study, closed in on how people orders, and brand or service incentives were decide where to shop and found clear clues ranked highest as motivators for consumers for both retailers and developers seeking to increase their use of m-commerce services flexible and consumer-friendly m-commerce across the 17 countries surveyed. solutions. For example, a consumer may But adoption and expansion of mobile want to combine a shopping trip with seeing purchasing varies from country to country. a movie, visiting a historical site, or walking www.onwindows.com/partners Car-parking information adds to the customer retail experience (pictured: Windows Parking Pal UK app) around a park. According to the GSMA report: “Consumers are more likely to adopt versatile mobile commerce propositions that help them travel to and from the retailer, as well as to undertake other activities during that outing.” Further, the study quoted from APT Skidata said “that 25 per cent of all travel time is used to find a parking space and 50 per cent of all congestion is caused by traffic “Consumers are more likely looking for parking.” For the many people to adopt versatile mobile who prefer to drive to shops, car-parking information is fundamental and therefore a commerce propositions that key service enabler of retail. help them travel to and from Thinking outside the immediate retail experience and incorporating mobile strategies the retailer” that include activities before and after a shopping event ultimately makes it easier for customers to get there – and purchase. Mobile Commerce in Retail, GSMA report
19 Regional perspectives
North America
Across the US retail and hospitality sectors consumers are increasingly engaging with mobile technology. We outline how an airline is capitalising on the trend The June 2013 Social and Mobile Commerce “The m-commerce Report delivers digital insight into how consumers are engaging with m-commerce revolution is building in the US. Published by Shop.org – a momentum and retailers division of the National Retail Federation – in conjunction with comScore and The must adapt to this new Partnering Group, the study showed that around 55 per cent of all retail-related landscape” internet time originated on smartphones and tablet devices combined, compared with only 45 per cent on desktop devices. Lynée Alves When it comes to popular mobile content comScore categories, retail was one of the fastest growing areas among consumers. Between June 2012 to allowing customers to share and highlight deals to June 2013, retail grew 49 per cent as a content their friends and family. category on smartphones. Boston Logan International Airport has “Mobile is having a profound effect developed apps that estimate the time it will on how people engage with the retail take people to travel from their starting point to experience today,” said Lynée Alves, the airport, on through security and to the gate. director of retail solutions at comScore. Part of an industry-wide initiative, Fast “Not only are consumers using their mobile Travel – developed by the International devices to engage more with retail sites and Air Transport Association – aims to give apps, they are also beginning to transact passengers the tools to speed up checking in. on these devices in a meaningful way. Customers are able to print their boarding The m-commerce revolution is building passes and luggage tags at home. momentum and retailers must adapt to this By doing away with the traditional check-in new landscape if they are to succeed.” counter, now ticket agents with tablet devices This applies across the travel industry too. in hand roam the airport ready to assist A 2013 study by eMarketer states that around passengers who may need help. two-thirds of US internet users will research These initiatives are becoming increasingly travel via online channels, but significantly, 40 common and have an important role to play. per cent of them will be planning their trips on “From rising fuel costs to the constant pressure a smartphone or tablet device. for flawless service, airlines are buffeted by a It is little wonder that both airports and airlines range of pressures,” said Matt Muta, Microsoft are seeking to ensure a superior passenger managing director of Global Hospitality and experience over their competitors through the Travel, in an interview with Speak. “We’ve seen use of mobile devices, apps and social networking an accelerated adoption rate with airlines as they sites. The Alaska Airlines ‘Deals and Destination’ recognise the potential for Windows devices app for Windows 8 promotes ticket deals on to help them become more agile in serving flights. This app integrates with Facebook, customers and getting flights out on time.” www.onwindows.com/partners
Regional perspectives
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Growth in EMEA’s developing markets is evident as we look at the latest in Russian retail expansion and the shift in regional focus within Africa’s hospitality industry
As global retailers pull back from quick-fire expansion in more mature segments, it is developing markets that are proving to be more significant sources of growth. This is according to the A T Kearney 2013 Global Retail Development Index report, which highlights Russia’s growing appeal to retailers. The food sector is growing, the report says, with Russian grocers – including X5 Retail Group and Tander – enjoying double-digit annual growth. Hypermarket Groupe Auchan, with 52 retail outlets in the country, intends to triple the number of stores within the next five years. In 2013, the company will be launching its first Auchan Drive outlet in Moscow, enabling its customers to order groceries online ahead of collecting them at the store, all without leaving the vehicle. The consumer electronics is expected to grow international hotel owners wishing to expand by at least 30 per cent between 2013 and 2016, their brand presence on the world’s second- with new televisions on the rise as a result of the largest continent. switch from analogue to digital broadcasting. Smartphones too, are proving a strong sector as Africa’s new hotel hotspot a result of technology investments by telecoms “One major international hotel company operators, according to the A T Kearney research. with a presence in Africa has a portfolio of The retail attractiveness of the Russian market 113 hotels and currently boasts a pipeline of is due to the nation reaching its first phase of 36 hotels in various stages of planning and maturity as consumers start purchasing more development in Sub-Saharan Africa alone,” the prudently in preference to cutting their spend. study said. “Another large international hotel Second, as St Petersburg and Moscow become company that was not active in the region ‘increasingly saturated’, retailers are setting up until recently now has a pipeline of nine hotels in other regions where they are have 500,000 under construction and another five in the potential purchasers in 42 cities to choose from. planning stages in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Moving beyond the traditional choices The report quotes that US$3.2 billion has for hotel development in Africa – South been invested in hospitality real estate in the Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt region during the past six years. – investors have their eyes on a new region, With this expansion come more visitors. according to Ernst and Young’s 2013 Global And more of these will be digitally connected. Quality Insights report. The coastal areas of A recent Visa study found that globally, 65 Sub-Saharan Africa have become a focus for per cent of travellers take smartphones on www.onwindows.com/partners A Visa study shows that more travellers are using their smartphones abroad their trips, while 80 per cent take laptops. As signage, enhance security and environmental a result, hotel guests’ bandwidth expectations sustainability, and transform the customer are on the up, according to research from experience with state-of-the-art cinematic Hotel Technology Next Generation, reported music, sound, and lighting controls.” by mid-east.info. In line with this, hospitality providers are taking a closer look at their own technology offerings. “Hospitality and retail sectors across the Middle East and Africa “Smartphones are proving are increasingly competitive, and hotels a strong sector as a result of and vendors are increasingly investing in audiovisual systems to deliver the best the technology investments by customer experience and engage with guests,” said David Lim, project director, InfoComm telecoms operators” Middle East and Africa. “Hoteliers can do more than provide high-speed internet – they can engage in professional audiovisual A T Kearney systems to enable dynamic content on digital 2013 Global Retail Development Index
23 Regional perspectives
Asia
Adoption of smartphone technology for transactional activities proves highest in the region’s emerging markets, as we look closer at the importance of retail m-commerce
APAC has the highest penetration of retailers, brands and developers will be able smartphones worldwide. According to SAP’s to tailor users’ live habits, including their day- 2013 The mobile consumer survey on APAC to-day location, to offer digital coupons that trends, more than 76 per cent of people in the are integrated into their mobile apps. They region are smartphone users – compared to the will also be invited to join the platform. The global average of 72 per cent. company hopes that it will be launching with Mobile purchasing goods and services in the 3,000 mobile apps, 5,000 digital coupons and region are also above the universal norm, led 1,200 retail partners. by India and China. In fact, 84 per cent of users The move makes the company the first demonstrated an enthusiasm for purchasing Asian telecommunications provider to deliver using mobile technology, compared to 82 per cent an all-inclusive mobile commerce platform. globally. “We are thrilled to be the first mobile operator In a recurring theme, emerging markets in Taiwan to offer an integrated social, local such as India and China are keen on a faster and mobile commerce platform,” said Far adoption of transactional activities using mobile EasTone internet and commerce executive devices, while Australia and Japan – more mature VP Charlene Hung, as reported by news markets – are less forthcoming. Aligned with channel Focus Taiwan. Far EasTone believes global attitudes, 67 per cent of APAC users FET SoLoMo will directly increase revenue for believe a wider choice of payment options would vendors and brands. motivate them to purchase from a retailer. But again, shooting higher is China at 70 per cent Asian hoteliers trip up on mobile and India at 81 per cent that are the emerging- Recent TripAdvisor research showed that market drivers. The mature markets of Australia hotel operators in Asia are not meeting their and Japan were more reticent at 49 per cent and customers’ mobile expectations, despite 56 per cent respectively. travellers being more mobile-connected than With wider adoption of m-commerce ever, reported TTG Asia. encouraging retailers to focus on their mobile The TripBarometer Mobile and Social study offerings, it is important for brands to ensure showed that although 24 per cent of travellers they are developing apps and systems that want location-specific deals and 27 per cent ensure fast and seamless transactions that beat are keen on special offers, the proportion of those offered by their competitors. hotels in Asia providing these are 5 per cent Further, the findings of the SAP study and 15 per cent, respectively. underline how important it is for retailers Julio Bruno, global VP of sales at TripAdvisor to factor in countries’ differing cultures and for Business, said: “TripBarometer findings characteristics when pitching forward with revealed that there are opportunities for m-commerce developments. hospitality businesses to provide value at various Far EasTone – Taiwan’s third largest points throughout a traveller’s journey. Businesses mobile provider – is expected to launch an should engage with potential and current guests m-commerce platform in early 2014. Named on mobile and social media to interact with them FET SoLoMo, the new solution will mean in real time through special offers and apps that www.onwindows.com/partners TripAdvisor has found that 88 per cent of visitors to Asia want to use their mobile devices on the go are popular with travellers. Ultimately, mobile is the direct link to travellers on the go.” With around 88 per cent of visitors to Asia using their mobile devices on the move, it is little wonder the study states that 53 per cent of Asian hoteliers are planning to expand their offerings – including providing mobile booking, “Led by India and China, mobile-friendly sites and mobile-specific special offers – in 2014. mobile purchasing of goods TTG Asia also reported that Asian hoteliers’ and services using was interactions with current and prospective guests is above the international average at 84 per cent, above the global norm” while global hoteliers came in at 82 per cent.
25 Regional perspectives
Latin America
Digital attitudes to purchasing and consuming information across the region mean that retailers and hotel operators need to keep pace with a more mobile consumer
The Ericsson ConsumerLab Insight Summary Report 2013 – which looked at Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico – highlighted that although the use of smartphones is growing and mobile devices are used for payments, remittances and banking, the current use is relatively low compared to the rest of the world. “A large portion of the Latin American population is left outside of the financial system, receiving their incomes in cash and lacking bank affiliations, savings accounts, and credit or debit cards, while at the same time smartphone adoption is increasing rapidly,” the report said. The Ericsson research predicts that in 2017, smartphone to household products are more active on penetration in Latin America will be around Facebook and Twitter, while retail brands are 60 per cent and consumers currently moving slower with online promotions and excluded from the financial system will find prefer door-to-door promotional leaflets,” m-commerce an attractive alternative to according to the GIA report. traditional financial services. According to the report from Global Hotels must be mobile and connected Intelligence Alliance (GIA), the Business With hotel guests becoming increasingly Perspectives on Emerging Markets Report 2012- digitally connected and mobile, hoteliers in 2017 – Brazil is the golden child of Latin Latin America must make sure that they too America’s growing consumer and retail market. are online and mobile. By 2025, this industry is expected to generate a “We believe the momentum for online combined GDP of US$15.14 trillion. hotel distribution will continue, as all Trends that are being established in statistics point to more guests booking travel the nation are likely to be good indicators online, particularly last-minute travel via of what can be expected in other fast mobile devices,” said Richard Wiegmann, developing markets in the region. The GIA managing director of Trust International, a research showed that underpinned by a reservation and distribution services provider healthy rate of employment, low interest to the hospitality industry, at the company’s rates and consumer confidence there is a 2013 customer conference. “With one in shift towards greater acceptance of debit three online purchases travel related, we and credit cards, smaller store footprints but crafted this customer event to drive home more of them, and bigger brands trialling 24- the importance of leveraging the online hour shopping in areas where smaller stores distribution market as well as best practices, may close. “Consumer brands from beer new technologies and products.” www.onwindows.com/partners Hotels like Accor Group are improving wi-fi access to cater to customer demands
International hotel chain Accor has standardised its wi-fi technology across its 100 hotels in Latin America – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay – after surveys confirmed it was the most important amenity the chain could provide its guests. “We not only improved our “We immediately decided not only to improve our wi-fi networks across many of our key Latin wi-fi networks across our key America properties, but that it was important Latin America properties, enough to offer it for free to attract new guests as well as to keep guests coming back again but offered it for free to and again,” said Carla Milovanov, IT director attract new guests and at Accor Latin America. “The results have been incredible. Our latest guest satisfaction surveys encourage guests to return” show that with the new wi-fi network in place, our quality of wi-fi service rankings are around 62 per cent higher than our previous scores. That’s Carla Milovanov astounding and we couldn’t be more satisfied.” Accor Latin America
27 M FROM DAVANTI
THE NEW ONLINE WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTE
:(B'$9$17,B$'9B&25$;BE[KB'()LQGG Viewpoint Warehouse management systems
Buying is out, using is in
Paul Boekweg of Davanti Warehousing discusses the success two warehouse management systems are bringing to businesses
Davanti is enjoying great market success with facilitates the management of different degrees two warehouse management systems: MLS of mechanisation. This ranges from fully Premium, a solution for larger operations and mechanised warehouses to partly mechanised complex challenges, and CORAX, a cloud-based operations with conveyors, pick-to or from-light system for smaller businesses. systems, and miniloads. A warehouse management system (WMS) MLS provides standard support for voice- manages, controls and optimises the processes driven standard outbound processes. This in your warehouse; it gives you support in ranges from single, batch or cluster picking up managing your company in the most efficient to pick-to-zero processes. Voice Picking in MLS and flexible way. It doesn’t matter in which increases efficiency and accuracy and increases industry you are active; there is always a WMS the job satisfaction of employees. that fits your situation. Its popularity and self-earned market You could say that MLS Premium is ‘the position has resulted in MLS being designated mother of our product thinking’, being an a ‘premium’ product. The funny thing is that extremely well thought-through warehouse we didn’t set out to be seen this way, it was our system that is often developed in cooperation clients who decided. with our larger clients and their very specific CORAX is the youngest offspring from the demands. The Netherlands is an important Davanti family. This cloud-based system for country for logistics, so we come up against smaller operations is based on MLS’s advanced incredibly diverse challenges. It’s like being a tools and developments. spider at the centre of its web. CORAX has been designed from the In addition to the numerous applications philosophy of easiness and can be implemented provided by MLS and its ability to put your quickly and easily warehouse ‘in control’ in the greatest of detail, With CORAX you can log into your logistic the system’s reporting capability is also highly process from anywhere in the world via your appreciated by clients. The finest details of PC, notebook or tablet. It’s easy, and CORAX every transaction is recorded and stored in works with all standard devices. the databases. The large amount of data An important point to note is that you don’t obtained in this way is an important and useful buy CORAX, you pay to use it. This statement source of management information. MLS then calls for further explanation. You could well ensures this information is available in close- compare CORAX with Spotify, the music to real-time to the business intelligence tool application where you pay a fixed price to listen Qlikview, which provides immediate reporting to what you choose. You don’t buy any whole and analyses. albums, but just pay to hear your favourite MLS has a substantial track record in tracks. The same thing happens when you mechanised warehouses. The standard module apply CORAX, which I have to say has been an for controlling material handling systems enormous hit, internationally. You are able to
29 completely tailor the system via the modules you decide month by month if you want to you need for your specific operations. keep it. There are no long-term contracts or The screen layout and ease of use have also multi-year commitments. come in for high praise. Another thing which The current climate is all about 6JGNGCFKPI has contributed to the trajectory CORAX is transparency and freedom. If you are taking is the simplicity and speed with which exceptional and innovative, you’ll get it can be implemented, plus its design which is noticed. Every quarter we introduce new largely based on configurable workflows. The functionality, which users can take or leave 0#8KPVGITCVGFUQHVYCTG user interface is very intuitive, which means as they wish. people can get to work after just a small amount A really nice analogy is that CORAX is the of training. plug and play, you could say. Latin name of a type of bird which moves HQTNQIKUVKEUGTXKEG Regarding what has led to CORAX taking very well on the ground and is a detailed the path it’s on, I think that has come observer. I think this bird will be embarking about through there being a lot of talk, and on a wonderful flight. in particular positive talk, in the logistics RTQXKFGTU world. It’s a fully flexible system that lets Paul Boekweg is CEO of Davanti Warehousing
6/5
9/5
www.navitrans.eu
(149#4&+0)
)LSNP\Tc-YHUJLc<:( ^^^UH]P[YHUZL\ www.onwindows.com/partners
$GYHUWHQWLH< 5B*OREDO2XWORRNB[LQGG 6JGNGCFKPI 0#8KPVGITCVGFUQHVYCTG HQTNQIKUVKEUGTXKEG RTQXKFGTU
6/5
9/5
www.navitrans.eu
(149#4&+0)
)LSNP\Tc-YHUJLc<:( ^^^UH]P[YHUZL\
$GYHUWHQWLH< 5B*OREDO2XWORRNB[LQGG 683(5LQÀQDQFHDFFRXQWLQJ,7 WD[DFRXQWDQF\
&2817,7*PE+ &R.* 6RIWZDUHSDUN $+DJHQEHUJ SKRQH HPDLO RIÀFH#FRXQWLWDW ZZZFRXQWLWDW advertisement_08102013indd.indd 1 25.10.2013 09:16:41 Viewpoint Supply chain management
What to do when your honey turns blue?
The key to a successful supply chain is to connect the dots, one intelligent map point at a time, says Simon Thompson of Esri
When bees in France began producing blue Float. What if we could float above it all and honey, people started to scratch their heads. It actually see where all our food comes from wasn’t until several months of intense sleuthing and where it has to go in order to get to us? No that the source of the colour was found: bees longer is the majority of our food produced and have a sweet tooth, and they’d made a beeline to supplied directly to the consumer. Unless you a local M&M/Mars production centre and found grow your own garden or are part of a farmers’ the blue M&Ms irresistible. co-op, you are getting food from the global When we want clover honey, we set up beehives supply chain, and that supply chain can be very near clover. The same goes for honeysuckle and long. On one recent shopping excursion, the blackberry, so it makes sense that the bees in this 25 ingredients I was buying for a family dinner area would use a local food source — albeit M&Ms came from 17 different countries. — and reflect it in their honey. A 2013 KPMG study identified 450 points What these bees understand — but at which supply chain integrity can be sometimes we humans don’t — is that our compromised. Think about this. That hamburger, world is connected. The case of the blue honey that pork sausage, that turkey sandwich you are could have been solved so much more quickly about to savour is part of a process that means it if we’d have taken that into consideration. could have been handled more than 400 times Often the best way to solve a problem is to go from the time it was a cow, pig, or turkey until it back to basics. What if, instead of the linear goes into your mouth. thinking that people did to find out why Appetising? Neither is the news that suggests honey was blue, people had thought of the bee some supply chains are broken — just recently, itself — the flight pattern and ground covered the news reported that faecal matter has been when a colony searches for food. From a bee’s found in more than 80 per cent of ground perspective, they were exploiting opportunities turkey in 21 states across the US. Are you in the geographic landscape as they searched getting a flashback to the first instance of mad for and used possible food sources. Isn’t cow disease? it more logical to assume, from a bee’s-eye Our food supply chain is not just reeling perspective, that something had changed in from a safety standpoint. Protection is a priority, the hive’s range or that something had but integrity and transparency are important happened to the hive’s environment? I wager too. As the supply chain expands, other issues, thinking in this connected, natural manner like culture and religion, come to play a more could have solved the case of the blue honey important role. In Islam, only halal foods are in a matter of hours, not months. allowed; in Judaism, food must be kosher; When we look at other mysteries in food Hinduism prohibits the consumption of beef. sources, and in this case, I’m talking human food Ensuring the quality and providence of food sources, we should channel Muhammad Ali and sources for many different cultures has significant all “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” ramifications for how businesses are perceived.
33 So, what if we could see and track all all the necessary stakeholders. Location these touch points, monitor all the processes analytics is an invaluable communication that are necessary at this vast global scale, tool to keep everyone updated on status so that we could better understand what it or to inform the public. For example, egg takes to get that chicken strip from a meat- farmers can be notified if their barns are at packing plant to your toddler’s table — and risk, politicians can be kept up-to-date on the do it safely, in a way that builds consumer latest developments, and information can be confidence rather than eroding it? Sound easily shared with public health and federal intimidating? It shouldn’t, because successful departments. To date, the application has companies are doing this now. helped to minimise damage and cut costs In 2004, an outbreak of avian influenza during more than 20 animal health events. in British Columbia, Canada, led to more And this is just in Manitoba. than US$500 million in damages and lost All across the globe, GIS and location productivity. As a result, the government analytics are helping meat and livestock of Manitoba implemented a mandatory producers to thrive while ensuring state, Premises Identification programme that regional, and national governments protect required the assignment of a unique number the public interest and health. Of course, this to anywhere livestock and poultry are involves a lot of data, big data, that is uniquely grown, kept, assembled, or disposed of. linked by the geographic location of livestock Each animal can be linked to every location and poultry; barns; trucks; processing it passes through, so now animal health plants; distribution centres; stores; legal land data, be it a herd or an individual, can be descriptions; owners; emergency contacts; tracked and connected to every movement. and detailed animal information from the day This doesn’t just help visualise disease it was born to the moment it appears on the spread but enables the root cause or sources shelf, freezer, or refrigerator. Having all this of a potential outbreak to be identified. information tied up together using location This focus on detailed location-centric data and maps allows us to understand, discern, has redefined the way animal health events and analyse — float above the information and are managed and responded to in Manitoba. see it for what it is and what we should do. Instead of staff travelling door to door, those The take-away? It’s all connected — just like likely to be impacted by an event can be our supply chain. quickly identified through spatial analysis, plotted, and understood against a map view, Simon Thompson is director of Commercial and plans put in place to involve and inform Industry at Esri
www.onwindows.com/partners
Viewpoint Electronic invoicing
B2b e-commerce, instead of B2B Mario Fernandez discusses how improvements to electronic invoicing will provide benefits across business-to-business e-commerce in Latin America
What is the role of e-invoicing in the evolution of model with all its customers, including large B2b e-commerce? buyers. This model seems to grow faster than the In fact, instead of B2B, we prefer to say classical e-procurement model, due to a great value B2b, which means that electronic invoicing from the natural relationship between the parties, allows small companies (‘b’) to easily exchange but also because it does not have any cost. In other electronic documents with large companies (‘B’), words, integrating suppliers and buyers through at minimum costs, but also with no functional their exchange of electronic business documents, and operational complexities. could not have any cost for both parties. The Latin American countries, like Chile, Brazil model is then achieved with funding from and Mexico, have implemented sophisticated value-added services that are promoted by that electronic invoicing models in which the tax relationship, such as e-payments, e-factoring and authorities set, from the format of electronic other business solutions that can be developed documents, to the mechanisms in which they and integrated to enrich this information exchange should be validated. Thus, electronic invoices in and their associated processes, especially those these countries have integrity and authenticity, related to logistics and distribution. since they must be signed electronically by using Unfortunately, during the last ten years, digital certificates, have a single standard format, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce models and are validated by the tax authorities. have not evolved much, leading to a significant This means that when a company adopts curbing development of electronic business electronic invoicing in these countries, regardless relationships. Most large companies that adopted of size or business category, it enables a company the classical model of e-commerce to automate their to communicate with any client, facilitating and procurement processes (buyers) use e-procurement democratising the relationship between buyers solutions, inviting their suppliers to register and and suppliers, from which it is possible to participate in its electronic purchasing processes. construct a robust electronic document exchange. Providers, most of which are small companies, The most interesting about these models is must pay a subscription to technology companies that, due to their integrity, authenticity and tax that support these e-marketplaces. Otherwise, they validation, electronic invoices and other related cannot do business with their largest customers. electronic documents, become very attractive The major problem with this model, designed for financial market so financial institutions primarily to meet the needs of large buyers, is that like banks reward companies that implement it does not generate much value for suppliers, electronic invoicing with much better financing especially for smaller companies, that are the conditions, generating strong incentives for majority in almost any supply chain. Suppliers models based on accounts receivable anticipation, simply need to adapt to the buyers’ rules, adopting known as factoring. communication mechanisms and proprietary tools Therefore, small suppliers have enough that they enforce. Sometimes a single provider motivation to adopt an electronic relationships must connect to four or five completely different
37 e-marketplaces, each of them focused to meet the needs of the respective buyers that promote them and, in general, none of these solutions integrates with the rest in order to facilitate providers functioning. Additionally, the format of the main electronic documents exchanged through these solutions does not respond to a single standard, but there are several types of popular formats and each solution is based on a company’s own needs. Consequently, formats of purchase orders, delivery notices and invoices, which are the document types most commonly used in e-procurement processes, can vary greatly from one solution to another, creating inconveniences for providers participating in several e-marketplaces. Moreover, these solutions tend to have a website of their own, which handles much of the functionality required to operate, which is complicated for providers with internal business solutions, because what they really want is a seamless integration with their systems, to operate naturally and without using web features imposed by the clients. Often, integrations with e-marketplaces are not possible or are so complex that they end up being unfeasible. This impossibility or received – as a main element, accurately of integration also urges the update process reflecting the business relationships of buying of the providers’ information, such as and selling of thousands of companies. Based product catalogues and other information on the adoption of electronic invoicing in transcendental to ensure process efficiency. Latin American countries, almost any business For all these reasons, despite the fact that can register free at Gosocket, and at least find these solutions have been implemented by some electronic invoices issued by some of its many major buyers, in practice the providers’ suppliers. The companies may also relate these adoption is not really significant, and so far it e-invoices with other electronic transactions has been impossible, bringing the effectiveness from customers and/or suppliers, through of this classic model into question. applications developed by third parties and We believe that, from business specially designed to add value to existing information contained in electronic invoices business information at Gosocket. The most issued by small companies, it is possible to important users of this network are just the automate the creation and management of small businesses, so it is been designed to be products catalogues, and also implement adopted by millions of business users, and a searching engine to effectively connect that is why it is based on Microsoft Windows buyers with providers, improving their Azure, a cost-effective and highly scalable procurement and sourcing processes. In cloud computing platform, and also has a our opinion, this is the starting point of the version for several mobile platforms, such as B2b e-commerce revolution. Windows Phone, in order to be accessible All these points can be addressed and from anywhere, at anytime. enriched via Gosocket, which broadly connects companies of all types and sizes, using Mario Fernandez is chief executive officer for electronic invoices exchange – issued and/ Signature South Consulting www.onwindows.com/partners
Viewpoint Business intelligence
BI is revolutionising business
Business intelligence is the difference between having data and knowing what to do with it, says Morten Middelfart
There are a number of factors that go Dashboards into making a critical business decision. Dashboards let you observe your organisation’s Unfortunately for many companies, one of those overall health. They give you instant insight factors often involves a bit of guesswork. That’s into your key performance indicators (KPIs) where business intelligence (BI) and analytics and how close you are to reaching your goals. comes in. Because even a little bit of guesswork Different data visualisation tools give you the is too much. Business intelligence and analytics power and flexibility to display data in clear gives you insight into the answers locked within graphical images that make the most sense to your data. And the past two decades have seen your company. Combine data from Microsoft an incredible surge in not only the use of BI and Dynamics AX or NAV with other available data analytics, but in the capabilities. From databases sources and get a complete picture of your to data warehouses, from cubes to the cloud, company and the world around you. BI is empowering companies to make informed decisions in as little as a few clicks and a few Reporting minutes or even seconds. And one company has Presenting pertinent information to people is emerged from the scrum as the number one BI about more than finding the right numbers and analytics solution for Microsoft Dynamics within your Microsoft Dynamics AX or NAV data. NAV and AX: TARGIT. Incorporate graphical elements that highlight Specifically in retail, businesses are tasked the trends and patterns in your data. Add an with staying on top of a complex and dynamic object to your report and watch the visualisation environment. New products are constantly automatically adjust itself to reflect data. Create emerging, customer loyalty fluctuates, and one template and apply it to all of your reports to seasonal buying patterns are the norm. With so ensure consistency. many plates retailers are tasked to keep spinning, It’s important to have a platform that lets TARGIT BI and analytics wanted to find a way to you work with reports, not just consume them. simplify the process (and eliminate broken plates). Reporting should be dynamic and interactive, BI and analytics is about more than just insight enabling users to apply filters and criteria to and data graphs pulled from the massive amount reflect the areas they have responsibility over. of information stored in your enterprise resource Interested in why certain numbers look the way planning (ERP) system. It’s about working within they do? Click through to the analysis section and the information to see where the trends begin and get to the bottom of things. Then take corrective how to move forward with them. And it’s about actions and get back on track. giving you the courage to act because fact beats fear. And generating reports should never take Sounds good, right? Let’s take a peek behind significant system resources. Unlike running the curtain to see exactly what BI and analytics a report directly from your ERP system, entails and how it could change the way you’re information is available almost instantly. And doing business. since all of the data comes from a centralised
41 data warehouse, you can be sure everyone is BI can help you accommodate this growth, looking at the same data to ensure consistency filter its relevancy, harvest what’s valuable, and and shared knowledge. analyse it intelligently and rapidly. Wondering if you should stock your shelves with Nike or Analytics Reebok? Need to know if you should order 100 It’s easy for companies to let opportunities fall of the newest Kate Spade totes or 1,000? You by the wayside or let problems go unsolved can take the pulse of what the buzz is online and because there simply isn’t enough time in the prepare yourself for emerging trends. day or resources available. Even worse, some problems could even persist undiscovered. BI in the real world It happens more often than you think. • Monitor how products perform by tracking Difficulties like these can be solved when revenue, gross margin, number of sold items, analysis is available to everybody. and more You don’t have to be in the IT department • Know exactly how much inventory to to create comprehensive analyses. With keep in stock to maintain current sales certain tools, such as TARGIT’s Intelligent levels and predict future buying patterns of Wizard, everyone can generate an analysis by your customers typing or speaking in natural language and • Better secure your products and change letting the system do the rest. Or build your assortment accordingly to decrease loss reports from scratch and take offsets in a • Share information between headquarters, corporate report or dashboard and click your store locations, and vendors to keep everyone way through to the details. informed of contribution ration and store Slice and dice your way through your performance relative to other locations data. Add or subtract different dimensions • Increase agility and adapt to new market such as customer, geography, or salesperson conditions faster and see new details emerge instantly. Then • Perform ‘what if’ analyses to prepare for share your analyses and dashboards with the various potential scenarios. rest of the organisation. New and emerging technology also makes Whichever way you look at it, BI helps you it possible to predict the future as the field optimise your business. Because in the end of external data continues to grow. This is it’s all about making decisions. Guesswork is the data that lies outside your own systems: replaced with comprehensive knowledge. With websites, social media, and global hype. Only BI and analytics, you can make those decisions a fraction of this is relevant to your company, confidently and faster than ever before. yet that sliver of information is priceless. Only those companies that manage to optimise that Morten Middelfart is CTO at TARGIT will survive in the future. www.onwindows.com/partners
$UH 6 \VWHPVWKH PLVVLQJSLHFH IURP\RXU WUDQVSRUW PDQDJHPHQW SX]]OH"
$GYDQFHG7UDQVSRUW 3ODQQLQJDQG5RXWLQJ 6FKHGXOLQJ7H FKQRORJ\
)RU8. ,QWHUQDWLRQDO (QWHUSULVHV
5HGXFHWUDQVSRUWFRVWV 5HGXFH&2HPLVVLRQV ,PSURYHFXVWRPHU VHUYLFH ,QFUHDVHYLVLELOLW\RI GDLO\RSHUDWLRQV (PEUDFHWHFKQRORJ\
2XUVROXWLRQVQRZVXSSRUW LQWHJUDWLRQZLWKWKHIROORZLQJ &RQWQ DFWXV
H H VDDOHV#V\VWHPVFFRPP
W
Z ZZZV\VWHPVFRRP
WZZLWWWHW U ##VV\VWHPPV Case study Transportation and operations management
JJ Food Service
JJ Food Service revolutionises its customer services and logistics operations by integrating Roadnet with Microsoft Dynamics AX
JJ Food Service is a leading independent organisation’s business processes. 121 also food service distribution company in the UK, took a proactive support approach during supplying over 60,000 customers. Most of JJ implementation and aimed to adjust any Food Service’s business is done in the UK, misalignments before JJ had chance to flag but the company also has customers overseas them up. in Europe, Africa and Asia who tend to place Mushtaque Ahmed, chief operating officer less regular but larger orders. The company at JJ Food Service says: “Businesses that run supplies everything a food outlet could need. outbound logistics operations needn’t worry if Established in 1988 with just a 3000 sq ft they are considering the integration of AX and warehouse, JJ Food Service now has its head Roadnet Transportation Suite. The process of office in Enfield and distribution depots in linking AX was fairly straightforward and took Enfield, Doncaster, Aston, Sidcup, Manchester, roughly about a week.” Basingstoke, Leeds and Bristol. Time spent has decreased and accuracy Integrating Microsoft Dynamics AX with a and directness of routes has increased. JJ transport management system is becoming Food Service now has a streamlined, reliable, increasingly common within this industry. stable and successful system, a step it had to Microsoft AX was used by JJ Food Service take to ensure the company could continue before approaching 121 Systems and JJ Food to grow while keeping customers satisfied Service was acutely aware that its systems and providing a quality, reliable service. By needed to integrate. using Roadnet and Microsoft Dynamics AX to JJ understands that customer service is one their full capabilities, JJ achieved a 50 per cent of the key components to brand loyalty and reduction in manpower to process the routes recognised that it needed to increase order and 10 per cent reduction in mileage travelled. status visibility within customer services while also creating more accurate routes and sequencing of deliveries to better serve its clients and meet time restraints. 121 Systems’ culture aligned perfectly with JJ Food Service. As a forward thinking organisation and changeling within the industry, JJ had already cultivated employees that had a deep understanding of technology Overview and how the seamless integration of solutions can benefit a business. Therefore this process Solution: Transportation and Operations was a smooth transition and the integration of management Roadnet to AX was fast. Benefits: Increased route accuracy, Throughout this period 121 Systems 50 per cent reduction in route provided very detailed technical assistance processing manpower during interfacing using a strict project Technology: Microsoft Dynamics AX methodology, this included 121’s Partner: 121 Systems determination to thoroughly learn about the
45 We have a sharp eye for your business... - but also the energy to keep an eye on the environment
NAVertical and Admiral is striving to be a “Carbon Neutral” company NAVertical A/S and Admiral A/S which is in cooperation, cares about the environment and this is reflected in everything we do. By combining energy efficient equipment with on-site green energy sources, we reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, minimize the Companies carbon footprint and lower the environmental impact on the natural resources such as water, land and air. In an attempt to move beyond the lack of common understanding of what “being green” means from one company to another, NAVertical and Admiral is currently assessing its Carbon Footprint in order to become a carbon neutral IT company. The company is committed to building a successful business with a strong commitment to make a positive impact on the environment. What does carbon neutral mean to us? Basically, we don’t want our energy use to add greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. After we have tried every way possible to do everything possible to remove or omit it directly ourselves, we’ll take out the same amount somewhere else by purchasing carbon credits towards renewable energy, energy efficiency or from environmental projects like reforestation. NAVertical and Admiral regularly purchase CO2 credits to cover the emission of CO2 footprint.
NAVertical A/S and Admiral A/S are companies that emerged from the reorganization of IT Supplier Admiral IT A/S. NAVertical is a consulting practice focused on Microsoft Dynamics NAV while Admiral works with classic Admiral Accounting Software and C5. Case study Supply chain management
Dansk Niels Bo
NAVertical partners with Admiral to deliver CO2 neutral Microsoft solutions
Dansk Niels Bo in Fredericia, Denmark, is the first directly ourselves, we’ll take out the same amount Microsoft Dynamics NAV customer implemented somewhere else by purchasing carbon credits under the CO2 neutral delivery model and towards renewable energy, energy efficiency or practice of Microsoft Partner NAVertical. from environmental projects like reforestation,” Dansk Niels Bo is a trading company stated Sanne Engelund, general manager. specialising in equipment and supplies for NAVertical and Admiral regularly purchase CO2 transportation, storage, waste management, credits to cover the emission of CO2 footprint. plastic boxes, transport vehicles and office NAVertical and Admiral are companies that equipment. As a direct supplier to Danish emerged from the reorganisation of IT Supplier companies, Dansk Niels Bo has a full range of Admiral IT. NAVertical is a consulting practice products within its speciality areas. focused on Microsoft Dynamics NAV, while “As a customer, our choice of supplier is Admiral works with classic Admiral Accounting frequently based on very narrow differentiation Software and C5. and when we had the opportunity to choose a supplier that sends a sharp signal of interest in the society demonstrated by a commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, we chose to work with NAVertical. We are proud of the opportunity to contribute by choosing a CO2 neutral IT- solution,” said Niels Bo Nielsen, general manager. NAVertical and Admiral care about the environment and this is reflected in everything the two companies collaboratively do. By combining energy efficient equipment with on- site green energy sources, NAVertical and Admiral reduced greenhouse gas emissions, minimising the companies’ carbon footprint and lowering the environmental impact on the natural resources such as water, land and air. In an attempt to move beyond the lack of common understanding of what ‘being green’ means from one company to another, NAVertical and Admiral are currently assessing its carbon footprint in order to become carbon neutral. The companies is committed to building a successful Overview business with a strong commitment to make a positive impact on the environment. Solution: Supply chain management “What does carbon neutral mean to us? Benefits: CO2 Neutral IT solution, lower impact Basically, we don’t want our energy use to add on natural resources greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the Technology: Microsoft Dynamics NAV atmosphere. After we have tried every way possible Partner: Admiral and NAVertical to do everything possible to remove or omit it
47
Case study Enterprise resource planning
Blue Mountain Resort
Cenium helps Ontario ski resort better serve boom with an integrated, one-view IT system
Blue Mountain is an all-seasons resort in With the new system, guests get an amped Collingwood, Ontario, best known for its ski up experience and Blue Mountain knows who hills. Drawing over 1,500,000 visitors annually, to target. For example, if a group of executives it boasts 60 shops and restaurants, 140 acres of were at the resort for a conference, many might lodging and extensive conference facilities. be good targets for the sale of new condos and When Intrawest ULC bought a 50 per cent season ski passes. Now with Cenium’s solution, stake in the company in 1999, a robust expansion the sales team will be alerted about their visit and plan was deployed and management was faced is able to cross-sell or up-sell to realise additional with the challenge of how to efficiently manage revenue opportunities, whereas before they the boom. With the help of Microsoft Gold would have been completely in the dark. Certified partner Cenium, Blue Mountain became The resort has also experienced internal the first North American resort to deploy Cenium, improvements in such areas as staffing, IT an end-to-end hospitality solution for customer updates and daily operating activities. relationship management (CRM) that aims to Since Cenium runs on a Microsoft platform, eliminate dozens of disparate and legacy systems most employees benefit from a familiar user for the hospitality industry. interface, since the resort already uses Microsoft Built on the Microsoft Dynamics platform, Office and SharePoint. Cenium is an end-to-end hospitality solution The time to book a reservation has been cut by for CRM that aims to eliminate dozens of half, and the night-auditing process, which used disparate and legacy systems for the industry, to take three to four hours each evening, is now rolling together financials, central reservations down to a mere four minutes, as the information systems, PMS, POS (restaurant and retail), is tabulated throughout the day. These time sales and catering, workforce management savings mean staff can perform other duties that and more. While Cenium is popular in Europe benefit the resort’s bottom line. and operates in more than 250 hotels, Blue Mountain was the first North American property to deploy the brand. Cenium also leverages Microsoft’s Hyper-V server, which allows businesses to consolidate workloads using flexible and scalable cloud-based storage on a single server. That is important in complex operations where multiple departments are sharing information, because it can improve Overview server utilisation and reduce costs. Not only can Blue Mountain offer guests a more Solution: Enterprise resource planning unified, streamlined experience than ever before, Benefits: More adaptive to customer-focused but they have also eliminated redundancies. They changes, ability to take on new and are also more adaptive to any customer-focused exciting projects changes, culminating in the biggest benefit of all: Technology: Microsoft Dynamics the ability to take on new, exciting projects which Partner: Cenium will expand profit margins.
49 We believe that sustainability is a product of collaboration
At Chainfood we believe that agro and food production chains can be much more effective and sustainable through a better collaboration, for the benet of all chain partners, consumers and our planet.
Improved collaboration between companies, both horizontally and vertically in the chain, can deliver enormous benets. Quality and sustainability can be increased, while risks and costs can be reduced.
Therefore Supply Chain Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.
With ChainPoint® as a turnkey software platform, we help to monitor supply chains by connecting systems and sharing information. ChainPoint® delivers traceability, trading, alerts, auditing, monitoring and business intelligence along the production chain. Our secure systems are based on Microsoft .NET® and SharePoint®.
Website: www.chainfood.com | Twitter: @chainfood Case study Traceability system
The Round Table on Responsible Soy
Chainfood implements platform for managing traceability in soy business
The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) is an The platform also facilitates trading of certified international multi-stakeholder initiative founded volumes from one supply chain actor to another. in 2006 that promotes the use and growth of Actors at the end of the supply chain, such as feed responsible production of soy. Members, such producers, can contribute to responsible soy by as those from civil society (WWF, Solidaridad), claiming the purchased soy credits. producers and industry, commit to a global By using the ChainPoint platform, built on standard for responsible production. Microsoft technology, RTRS has been able to rapidly Together with stakeholders, RTRS develops implement a soy ‘chain of custody’ system and global solutions leading to responsible soy support a wide variety of stakeholders. Because production. Criteria for responsible soy ChainPoint is a generic platform – already used in production and use have been defined. To over 100 sustainable supply chains such as cotton, follow up these criteria, RTRS uses Chainfood’s palm oil and meat – a rapid implementation is generic system, ChainPoint, for responsible possible. Moreover, the user group will benefit from sourcing and sustainability. all the developments that are made, improving the The platform enables RTRS and certification sustainable sourcing of products. bodies to manage audit and certification data for By using Microsoft business intelligence, RTRS both producers and supply chain actors, such as has up to date insight into certified production crushers, processors, traders and retailers. volumes per period or country, as well as trading Automated monitoring against overselling takes information. Most information is published by place based on the amount of certified soy. RTRS on its website. The round table initiative is a young initiative that has been growing rapidly during the last years. The scalability of the platform has been vital in facilitating this. Up to now, more than one million tons of sustainable soy has run through the platform.
Overview
Solution: Traceability system Benefits: Rapid implementation, flexibility in data and reports, scalability, supply chain visibility Technology: Microsoft BI, Microsoft SQL database Partner: Chainfood www.chainfood.com www.responsiblesoy.org
51 Global Check Express Curvas.pdf 1 21/10/2013 15:44:42
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K Case study Enterprise resource planning
Komatsu
Komatsu improves its operational efficiency with BizTalk Server
When Komatsu decided to look for a new and reduces the complexity and time span of communication platform that was more flexible, the process. reliable and easier to maintain, Microsoft BizTalk In order to provide dealers the possibility Server was the preferred software. of placing direct orders and consulting stock Cnext’s BizTalk migration tools have enabled information, Komatsu used their enterprise a successful migration away from the previous resource planning (ERP) platform through platform within time and budget, and without several web services. Microsoft BizTalk adds an impact to the business. Komatsu has also extra security layer, serving as single point of chosen Microsoft BizTalk as an easy to monitor contact with the ERP system. platform that enabled them to host some of During a second phase, a migration to an their low latency and highly critical processes. enhanced and highly-available Microsoft BizTalk This significantly reduced the risk of failure and 2010 cluster, with improved monitoring and provided the assurance that services could easily processing capabilities, took place. be restored before any major impact on the business would be noticed. Cnext configures new connections generically with Komatsu’s partners, faster and at a lower cost. Its managed services offer a flexible service assurance between internal IT architects and the managed services consultants. A critical process for Komatsu is the printing of shipping labels. Goods cannot be transported without these labels and a standstill of this process means a direct impact on the service- level agreement (SLA) for the delivery of goods. Microsoft BizTalk provides Komatsu with the required recoverability in case something goes wrong and guarantees the requested delivery SLA is always met. When a European dealer reimburses a customer for a broken Komatsu machine they can reclaim the money from Komatsu Europe. In this instance, the European branch provides the money. But when the machine has been produced in Japan, a claims process starts. Overview It issues a claim to Komatsu Japan to check whether they can refund the money, which has Solution: Enterprise resource planning to be processed by the end of the month or the Benefits: Eliminated human intervention, reduced claim is forfeited. process complexity Microsoft BizTalk handles individual Technology: Microsoft BizTalk requests and responses and does the Partner: Cnext aggregation, eliminating human intervention
53 Your supply chain planning decisions are only as good as the information you have. With Demand Solutions DSX you can see the bigger picture more clearly and more completely. And better clarity means better decision making, reduced inventory, increased service levels and increased pro tability. Cultivated from our 27-year supply chain planning expertise, we’ve built DSX as a platform for innovation to deliver the next generation of supply chain planning. To see what Demand Solutions can do for you visit: demandsolutions.com | (1) 800 886 3737 | [email protected] Case study Inventory planning Defence Support Group Demand Solutions helps future spares and repairable items supplier improve its distribution channels The Defence Support Group (DSG) provides same period,” says Andrew Sinclair, head of services for the supply of future spares and Land Supply at Defence Support Group. “At repairable items to the UK’s Ministry of Defence the same time stock holdings reduced by seven (MOD) and is showing sustained and continued per cent and service levels are now steady at improvement. approximately 90 per cent. We still have much The restructuring of the MOD in recent work to do but this demonstrates the agility years has seen the organisation move away of Demand Solutions in reacting to changes in from multidisciplinary clusters, streamlining demand activity and for the first time, provides its operation into identifiable and accountable us with the opportunity to truly manage our teams, each responsible for a specific process area customer’s inventory effectively. aiming to deliver operational excellence and high “Of course, we can’t afford to stand still if customer service levels. we want to continue maintaining an effective DSG’s own in-house data knowledge team had service,” adds Sinclair. “Now that we and the to meet three major requirements. customer see the benefits of using Demand Firstly, it had to react more expediently to Solutions, we are jointly focused on working changes in demand history and either increase with the project teams to develop the software or decrease suggested quantities to provision to capability further and integrate the customer’s meet the expected demand based on history. information on future plans for equipment, which Secondly, it had to determine patterns in will have an effect on spares consumption.” demand history, in order to allow the supply chain The developments so far have identified to improve its delivery performance through more opportunities to avoid procuring tens of millions sensible production schedules. of pounds worth of stock that may not be Finally, it allowed development capability required. It has also realised tangible benefits, to include future planned levels of activity at a such as avoiding unnecessary spend whilst platform level. This helped anticipate increases delivering high levels of customer service to the and decreases in demand, allowing sufficient time end user is the perfect outcome. to modify stockholdings to ensure the necessary levels of inventory are available to both training fleets and war fighting requirements. After some investigation, DSG soon recognised that the Demand Solutions system, now known internally as Demand Solutions Inventory Planner (DSIP) which uses Microsoft SQL Server 2008, could meet all its requirements. After proving Overview the concept of operation, and a detailed work instructions, Demand Solutions was rolled out. Solution: Inventory planning “Everyone worked hard to implement the Benefits: Significant cost savings, high level of use of the new software and processes. In the customer service last 12 months, we purchased 16 per cent fewer Technology: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 stock items than in the previous year, while Partner: Demand Solutions demands only reduced by three per cent in the 55 Case study Service management and mobile field service Taxameter Centrale Dutch company improves productivity and efficiency with Dynamics Software service management and mobile field service solutions Taxameter Centrale (TMC) is a key player already saved 1.5 hours daily which increased in the Dutch market for innovative (vehicle) their productivity by 25 per cent. Another mobility solutions. Founded in 1927, it offers factor TMC benefited from was that that solutions such as pay and display machines, invoicing went much faster. From sending payment systems for car parks, virtual and an invoice four weeks after a service job physical city access limitations, IVAS sensor sometimes it was able to send invoices within a technology and law enforcement systems. day if needed. TMC was looking to improve the structure and efficiency of its services. It was faced with the same challenges many service companies face when wanting to streamline their operations. These include overhead due to tedious and (sometimes lost) paperwork, slow billing cycles, misspent clock-time and lesser work orders serviced daily than optimally possible. It wanted to move from rudimental automation to a fully digital way of working and have one integrated platform for service management. TMC selected Dynamics Software Service Management Solution integrated with Dynamics Software Mobile Field Service Solution, both of which are embedded in Microsoft Dynamics AX. During the implementation process, TMC spent time in optimising AX itself. They were careful in selecting their handheld devices, not only because the devices needed to withstand rugged environments but also needed to be have certain specifications, such as larger keys to enter data for example. Quite some time was invested in testing as well as ensuring that the engineers and technicians were informed early in the process to get their support and buy-in. Attention was given to the job of servicing itself and how implementing these solutions would Overview impact not just the software but the back office and the (digital and online) impact this would Solution: Service management and mobile have on daily operations. field service Initially, TMC found that the biggest Benefits: Increased productivity, faster invoicing difference to their business was that with the Technology: Microsoft Dynamics AX Dynamics Software Service Management and Partner: Dynamics Software Mobile Field Service Solutions, its engineers 57 Case study Business Intelligence EDP Renewables Global renewable energy company implements echiron’s Windows Azure infrastructure-as-a-service solution to support application environment EDP Renewables (EDPR) is a leading, global application supplier in order to achieve the aggressive renewable energy company, currently considered deadlines and efficiently manage change requests, to be third in its sectors ranking, in terms including Azure resource changes. The development of electricity production. With European environment was provided within a week and the headquarters in Madrid, and a presence in global project deadline was accomplished. End user 11 countries, EDPR produces more than 8.1 satisfaction feedback has been positive, the main gigawatts of renewable energy through its wind benefit being the ease of access to important, accurate farms and solar plants, located globally. and timely management information. During the commissioning of a business The services echiron provides to EDPR also intelligence (BI) project, aimed at obtaining relevant includes the ongoing system administration of the BI management data, EDPR was faced with the environments, including systems monitoring, backup challenge of having to quickly implement an IT and security processes. These services are provided to infrastructure to support the complex application demanding Service Level Agreements. environment. This IT infrastructure would have During the course of the project and subsequent to support both development and production ongoing period, both echiron and the application environments, be available 24/7 to all EDPR staff supplier have been able to accommodate changes worldwide and respond quickly to requirements for required in both the application and IT infrastructure. more resources and additional services. Additionally These changes were facilitated by the flexibility and the development environment had to be made response times of the Azure platform. available in one week. In response to this challenge, echiron proposed a solution built on the Windows Overview Azure platform. The decision to use Microsoft’s infrastructure-as-a-service was based on the Solution: Business Intelligence security it ensures, the functionalities it provides, Benefits: Easily accessed management the Azure portal’s ease of use and capacity to information, efficient management interact with end user systems, as well as the of change requests overall cost effectiveness. Technology: Windows Azure During the implementation of the project, Partner: echiron echiron worked closely with both Microsoft and the 59 COMMERCE MADE COMPLETE Everyday made easier™ with merged hardware, software and services for how customers shop today and tomorrow. We are NCR, a global tech company—we run the everyday transactions that make your life easier. We’re the world leader in consumer transaction technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With our software, hardware and portfolio of services, we make more than 300 million transactions possible every day. We are NCR. We make everyday easier. www.ncr.com/retail Case study Geographic information system Carrefour Group Esri helps leading distribution and retail company improve business analytics through a greater understanding of location With a presence in 33 countries, more than Microsoft and Esri is a combination that 475,000 employees, and a turnover of €107 gives people everything they need to view, billion, Carrefour Group is a world leader in analyse, understand, question, interpret, and distribution and retail through more than 15,000 visualise geographic data, helping them make company-operated or franchised stores. It better decisions. currently runs four main grocery store formats: “Carrefour Group selected Galigeo because hypermarkets, supermarkets, hard-discount of its ease of implementation and its ability to stores, and convenience stores. meet technical requirements of Carrefour’s data With Esri partner Galigeo’s assistance, centres,” says Francis Rivière, Carrefour Group. Carrefour implemented a worldwide platform for geomarketing using the Esri ArcGIS platform together with Galigeo’s Location Intelligence software. The combined solution joins key business data with spatial location to improve store performance driven by better marketing decisions. The application is used by staff throughout the world, covering every store operated by the group. Staff use the solution to guide expansion and development strategy; optimise direct marketing actions, including distribution of weekly circulars; monitor store performance; and better understand the sales territory. ArcGIS, when combined with solutions such as Galigeo’s, assists people with different geospatial analysis, ranging from the store manager who needs reports to operate the store to the expert in charge of site selection. By representing and displaying business intelligence on maps, businesses can identify hidden trends and customer relationships and behaviour, as well as enable a deeper marketing analysis and improve business outcomes. For more than 20 years, Microsoft and Esri Overview have been working together to deliver complete GIS solutions. Esri software programs are Solution: Geographic information system compatible with Microsoft operating systems Benefits: Improved store performance, guided and software, ensuring the highest level of GIS expansion and development strategy, functionality for customers. Esri products run on ability to optimise direct marketing actions the Microsoft Windows platform, and Esri has Technology: Microsoft Visual Studio developed its core product family, ArcGIS, using Partner: Esri Microsoft Visual Studio development tools. 61 QURUS_AD_v6.pdf 1 11-Jul-13 18:09:13 Partner recruitment Partner readiness C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Case study Geographic information system Petco Esri helps national pet specialist retailer mitigate the risks of expansion Petco is a leading national pet specialist retailer, and software, ensuring the highest level of GIS with more than 1,200 Petco and Unleashed by functionality for our customers. Esri products run Petco store locations across the US. on the Microsoft Windows platform, and Esri has Petco staff members began using an Esri developed its core product family, ArcGIS, using geographic information system (GIS)-based Microsoft Visual Studio development tools. site selection solution to mitigate the risks Microsoft and Esri is a combination that associated with expanding its network of gives people everything they need to view, stores. As the number of stores has grown, so analyse, understand, question, interpret, and have the risks of selecting inappropriate or visualise geographic data, helping them make marginal locations or new stores that have the better decisions. potential to cannibalise the sales of existing “With the Esri solution, we have successfully stores. Petco sought to improve its ability to avoided the downside risk associated with assess both the sales potential for new locations several locations, which more than pays for the and any risks. Investing in the Esri solution investment,” says Shawn Hanna, director of provided scientific analysis that gave leaders financial analysis, Petco. more confidence in their decisions. Opening a new store often requires a long- term property rental contract and significant construction-related capital expenditures. Petco Overview minimised costly mistakes and improve the performance of sites with accurate site selection Solution: Geographic information system using Esri GIS technology. Benefits: Improved site performance, accurate For more than 20 years, Microsoft and Esri site selection have been working together to deliver complete Technology: Microsoft Visual Studio GIS solutions. Esri software programs are Partner: Esri compatible with Microsoft operating systems 63 Case study Enterprise resource planning Abus Safety concepts and products company implements Microsoft Dynamics NAV to advance its international connectivity With innovative safety concepts and products, solution. The new concept has now consolidated Abus August Bremicker Söhne has guaranteed the ERP landscape. the safety of its customers since 1924 – both “By introducing this integrated solution, we at home and on the road. In order to continue are optimising the flow of goods while also providing this level of safety, the company has improving communications between countries,” made some organisational adjustments. says Wolfram Schäfer, head of IT at Abus. As an internationally active company, Introducing the standard means expansions, headquartered in Wetter an der Ruhr, Germany, updates and adjustments can now be carried Abus has various branches worldwide. In order to out in a more cost-effective way. With role and establish the same processes at every location, Abus process-based work, which has been supported by has been using a standardised company solution Microsoft Dynamics NAV since the 2009 version, since 2011. Together with the service provider GOB users only see the information they need to Software & Systeme, based in Krefeld, the ‘unitop’ execute their own roles, increasing productivity. enterprise resource planning trade (ERP) industry Implementations of this size usually take solution is gradually being implemented at all of the between three and six months, but the ‘unitop locations, using Microsoft Dynamics NAV. ERP trade solution’ was implemented in just The main goal of this project is to technologically eight weeks at the new site in Austria. With connect the existing network with the international the introduction of the standard, this goal was locations. Abus holding companies are still achieved despite the short time frame. In recent equipped with various software solutions, which months, additional branches in Italy, Spain and as a rule include country-specific features. In the Poland (Warsaw) also went live with the solution. medium term, the internal company processes will be harmonised across all of the locations using an integrated software architecture. The company also wanted to define a standardised article master, allowing for article-related analyses, profit-margin calculations and evaluations to be created for the organisation as a whole. Uniform and binding processes needed to be defined for all of the locations. As part of the ‘unitop4sure’ IT project management, the existing processes at Abus were analysed and compared with the standard ERP software processes. The next step was carefully recording Overview the requirements at meetings with the process owners, and creating a binding process definition Solution: Enterprise resource planning for all of the locations. Only the deviations that Benefits: Cost-effective expansion, short were customised for Abus, or were essential to implementation time processes were considered separately. Technology: Microsoft Dynamics NAV Before the new IT systems were introduced, Partner: GOB Software & Systeme each location was working with a different 65 Case study Cloud computing Deloitte (Mauritius) Harel Mallac Technologies deploys turnkey Microsoft private cloud infrastructure for Deloitte Mauritius to increase agility, flexibility, and scalability while driving down costs Deloitte Mauritius (DM) is a member firm of • Networking, built upon Cisco switching and Deloitte, a brand under which tens of thousands routing expertise of dedicated professionals in independent firms • Security, secured by using Checkpoint security throughout the world collaborate to provide solutions audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services to selected clients. HMT’s turnkey Microsoft Private Cloud DM had its data centre hosted on premise Infrastructure solution provides the added value of with all workloads running on physical servers. having an integrated solution from a single supplier The company ensured high availability of with a solid service level agreement. It allows its critical workloads and services through business to easily justify the total cost of ownership Windows clustering backed by a disaster recovery and get the quickest return on investment. strategy (backup and restore) for its less critical By implementing HMT’s turnkey private workloads. As per most enterprise best practices, cloud infrastructure solution, Deloitte Mauritius it had one server running a service and a few was able to address their existing pain points servers having several less resource intensive and business challenges. The main benefits services that co-existed on the same server. and advantages were the highly available Deloitte Mauritius was faced with other major infrastructure, which is built on a three node business challenges, such as connecting to a clustered Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V 3.0. The global wide area network which is responsible for infrastructure is highly scalable and dynamic. hosting the core line of business application, and As with the systems centre 2012 suite, a layer preparing for the consumerisation of IT. of automation was applied that decreased Harel Mallac Technologies’ Systems Integration the amount of manual interventions and department’s experts, together with Dell, Cisco and administrative tasks. CheckPoint, developed a turnkey Microsoft private cloud solution DNA. This has numerous building blocks and has Microsoft Hyper-V and Systems Centre at the core of the solution architecture. Backed by Microsoft Enterprise Core Infrastructure (ECI) licensing model for enterprises, as well as related volume licensing benefits for SMEs, the following features of the infrastructure were implemented at Deloitte Mauritius: Overview • Virtualisation platform, built upon Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V 3.0 Solution: Cloud infrastructure • Management platform, using Microsoft’s Benefits: Increased agility, flexibility, scalability, Systems Center 2012 reduced costs • Licensing, through Microsoft’s flexible ECI Technology: Windows Server 2012, Hyper-V 3.0, • Compute, built upon Dell’s enterprise class Microsoft System Center Suite 2012, servers which is optimised for data centres Microsoft App-V • Storage, which is built upon Dell’s enterprise Partner: Harel Mallac Technologies (Mauritius) class storage optimised for data centres 67 Case study Enterprise resource planning ATU HSO implements Microsoft Dynamics AX at car parts retailer for improved processes and reduced costs When a car gets to a certain age, many drivers “Being seasonal, to avoid problems during the switch to independent repairers to cut costs. busy periods, we concentrated on the branches With 650 branches and an annual turnover of with the highest turnover first of all.” Today, €1.4 billion, ATU is Europe’s largest car parts 600 branches are using Dynamics AX with retailer and service company. For ATU, it is approximately 6,500 staff members in total. vital that customers have the same experience Following the implementation of Microsoft regardless of the store or region and that staff Dynamics AX, all sales and garage processes are have access to a single view of the customer. now transferred through a terminal server to “We can deliver more than 60,000 items, mostly the enterprise server, where they are available spares and consumables, straight away. What’s immediately for further analysis. Branches are more, our customers don’t need to wait for now seamlessly linked to the central enterprise an appointment at the garage,” says Manfred resource planning system, finance and Gerlach, director of ATU. “Our combination of management information functions – all in real specialist parts store and garage is what gives time. Furthermore, many suppliers and external ATU the competitive edge, coupled with our service providers are also linked to Dynamics ability to serve the customers’ needs regardless AX, improving processes across the enterprise of location, sales or service channel.” and beyond. Since all functions are combined in Individual ATU branches are managed a unified system, ATU can now serve customers centrally, which increased information significantly faster. “We are now able to check requirements. Over time it became an availability and reorder goods directly in impossible burden on the company’s old IT Dynamics AX. Also by eliminating dual data landscape. Branches had previously been entry, we are saving significant time and money,” working independently on their own local explains Gerlach. server. Different applications were used for operational tasks such as point of sale, work orders or availability checks. The capability of existing systems had been fully exhausted, new modules were constantly being added, increasing complexity. Slow data transfers meant that branches sometimes had different data for the same customers and vehicles – the antithesis of omni-channel retailing. Consequently, ATU began a project seeking a modern, unified and more Overview efficient solution. Microsoft partner HSO was selected for the Solution: Enterprise resource planning implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX. Benefits: Real time access to information, im- “HSO’s references and professional project proved processes across enterprise and methodology were deciding factors for us. They suppliers, cuts costs and time were also able to deploy sufficient highly-skilled Technology: Microsoft Dynamics AX staff -- something which you cannot take for Partner: HSO granted in a project of this size,” says Gerlach. 69 ,7%&+DOI3DJHBXSGDWHGSGI & 0 < &0 0< &< &0< . Case study IT infrastructure and productivity Arbodania Microsoft-based infrastructure makes it possible for European producer of Christmas trees to grow and to handle extreme workload during peak season Producing more than half a million Christmas trees expansion, as we expect to double our turnover a year, Danish company Arbodania is one of the in the next years. Finally, we enjoy a higher leading European producers of decorative products level of security through our hosted solutions for the holidays. But with a turnover that has tripled – Dynamics NAV and CRM – as well as on the in just three years, the company had to face the fact cloud-based Office 365 that handles all files, that the existing IT base would not cut it. e-mails and appointments.” “Logistics were handled with spreadsheets and “IT Business Center has provided sound post-it notes. But as the number of employees, counselling and demonstrated the determination orders and suppliers grew, so did the risk of and technical ability to get things done,” says mistakes,” explains CEO Sune Graae Norsker. Norsker. “Also, its management has readily “Likewise, e-mail and file handling was not quite provided extra resources and assistance when secure enough, and the infrastructure was easily challenges arose.” overwhelmed when all 16 employees – and more than 200 seasonal workers – struggle practically 24/7 for a month and a half before Christmas.” Therefore, the company asked Microsoft Overview partner IT Business Center to overhaul the entire infrastructure. IT Business Center recommended a Solution: IT infrastructure and productivity solution based on Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Benefits: Scalability, security, improved Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. performance and productivity, possible Today, Norsker looks towards the Christmas to implement standardised workflows season with confidence, as the company now has a and procedures coherent, modern, standardised and easily scalable Technology: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft IT infrastructure. Dynamics NAV, Microsoft “Today, our IT infrastructure performs Dynamics CRM when we really need it to,” says Norsker. Partner: IT Business Center “Furthermore, IT is able to follow our 71 ODEHOV V\VWHPLQWHJUDWLRQ SULQWHUV VFDQQHUV SULQW D SSO\ 5),' WUDFHDELOLW\ WUDQVSRUW ORJLVWLFV PRELOHFRPSXWHUV VXSSRUW YRLFH VHUYLFH /(;,7*5283125:$<$6 /(;,7*52836:('(1$% /(;,7*5283'(10$5.$S6 7URQGKHLPVYHLHQ .RQVWUXNWLRQVYlJHQ +HMUHYDQJ .O¡IWD125:$< 0|OQO\FNH6:('(1 $OOHU¡G'(10$5. 3KRQH 3KRQH 3KRQH 7HOHID[ 7HOHID[ 7HOHID[ ZZZOH[LWQR ZZZOH[LWVH ZZZOH[LWJURXSGN Case study Data capture software Dahl Sweden Lexit Group helps Swedish wholesaler increase customer satisfaction and business opportunities with Windows Mobile Dahl Sweden were faced with growing business, a and the quality of ordering, receiving, moving desire to streamline processes and increase customer and transferring goods between the Dahl Sweden satisfaction. A leading wholesaler of plumbing stores and warehouses is improved. Customers equipment and supplies, heating, ventilation, and now spend less time waiting; Dahl Sweden air conditioning (HVAC) installation, water and employees have more time for other tasks; and wastewater industry products, industrial refrigeration greater accuracy is achieved in all processes and building supplies, Dahl Sweden turned to Lexit throughout the business. Group for help. With customer self-service, accurate data Outdated and slow procedures for product capture, up-to-date product and shelf labels registration at point of sale, inadequate labelling streamlining workflows in all 64 Dahl Sweden of products and shelves made keeping up with stores, LexRetail is integrated with the enterprise an ever-changing mix of products difficult. resource planning system, ensuring full Also, simplifying their own and their customers traceability throughout the entire supply chain. everyday work hard, potentially ending up with high costs and losing customers. Already armed with a carefully selected range of quality products, smart services and solutions, Dahl Sweden wanted to use technology to gain a competitive advantage, increase end-customer satisfaction and help to maintain and grow new business opportunities at its 64 stores throughout Sweden. Lexit Group, being a leading supplier of high performance data-collection hardware and solutions, worked closely with Dahl Sweden to understand its business challenge. It applied its extensive expertise and experience to recommend a solution that would help Dahl Sweden to achieve its business goals by using best-practice processes, while ensuring acceptance from both store employees and customers. LexRetail, a Lexit Group software running on Windows Mobile Handheld computers with Overview barcode scanners, came to the rescue. A user- friendly interface, specifically designed for handheld Solution: Data capture software devices and one-handed use, enables customers to Benefits: More efficient and accurate checkout, register the items they want while walking around increased customer satisfaction, the store. Items are then checked out at the exit streamlined workflow and processes without the need for a customer service assistant. Technology: Windows Mobile Handheld The end-customer saves time; the need for Partner: Lexit Group customer service personnel is greatly reduced; 73 Case study Data cleansing Shell mydatafactory, an intelligent self-learning software tool, empowers data cleansing teams Shell is a global group of energy and work packages are defined and assigned to ‘data petrochemicals companies. With around stewards’. These work packages focus on specific 87,000 employees in more than 70 countries product domains, to align the process of import, and territories, Shell helps to meet the world’s classification, term extraction and normalisation, growing demand for energy in economically, quality assurance and export. The system environmentally and socially responsible ways. proposes to the data steward what terms and Shell currently has a project underway to clean values to extract and to which characteristics to their material masters that reside in different parse those values. mydatafactory also proposed enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and how to standardise those values. Missing or is using mydatafactory to help with the project. wrong suggestions can be modified by the data The result of having high quality, consistent steward. This knowledge is captured and re-used and accurate material master data in their for new suggestions. The process is finalised systems are numerous, like reliable catalogue by a ‘domain expert’, who makes any last search; smooth and flawless procurement; modifications, and who approves dictionaries, reduced production down time; reduced that were built on the fly by the data steward. stock levels; leveraged purchasing power; and During the process a governance framework is contribute to the technical integrity of their built, which holds classifications, characteristics installations. and their values. These data elements can be Shell selected mydatafactory for several managed easily by the domain expert. reasons. Firstly, mydatafactory offers an The knowledge that is captured during innovative approach as it was built on artificial the project can be made available as part of a intelligence and big data technologies. It offers gatekeeper function, to prevent any polluted a self-learning system that builds a knowledge new data from being entered into the ERP’s. base from user feedback. Shell required Time saving for data stewards and experts is a solution that would leverage efficiency over 50 per cent. mydatafactory is continuously and data quality, which is exactly what improving this number by having an agile mydatafactory offered. development process using .NET development Secondly, the solution is available as a platform and tools. software-as-a-service, resulting in competitive pricing and a low threshold project start, as Shell required a solution that enabled a quick start of data cleansing. The third reason was the extensive Overview knowledge of the mydatafactory team on the subject of product data cleansing, as Shell Solution: Data cleansing required their vendor to be able to understand Benefits: Knowledge capture and re-use, cost and map their data cleansing processes to the reduction, data quality gatekeeper, solution they selected. intelligent self-learning technologies The project started with preparation in Technology: Microsoft C# .NET platform mapping the existing cleansing processes to Partner: mydatafactory the mydatafactory application. For flexibility, 75 Case study Stock management Sony ‘Sales triggered replenishment’ is at the heart of Reysastech’s solution, deployed at world-famous consumer electronics company The story of the ST2AR solution dates back Reysastech’s solution. After a very short period to 2008, in the midst of the global economic the benefits of ST2AR came to the fore in downturn. Back then, the general tendency was Turkey. Firstly, automated and streamlined cutting costs as much as possible. Terms like order processing has cut the operational errors ‘efficiency increase’, ‘operational excellence’ on orders. The decrease in having too much lost popularity and ‘cost saving’, ‘head count stock for slow mover products caused lower and reduction’ became the trending topics between stock compensation costs. top executives. With the high gratification of ST2AR in Sony ST2AR stands for ‘Sell Thru Triggered Turkey, Sony Europe decided to extend the Automated Replenishment’. The ST2AR solution range. After a short period with the orientation creates a common platform where stock and process, Sony is now using ST2AR in over 20 sales information of both suppliers and retailers European countries. are integrated and maintained as a purchase By working hard and smart, Reysastech order process triggered only when an end user is expecting to be a worldwide business-to- or consumer sale happens. business company in future years. With open Reysastech had to find a solution that minded executives, well-educated development customers would be interested in, even in teams and customer-focused support teams, a crisis situation. After many brainstorming Reysastech will not only be known as a software sessions, Reysastech found that both suppliers development company, but will also partner and retailers were complaining about the same companies and deliver the solutions they require problems. Those problems were having stock to advance their business. levels that were too high and very low sales numbers. In order to overcome this problem, Reysastech created a strategy of promoting systems driven by consumer demand. The focus that Microsoft’s solutions have on infrastructure installation, software development and configuration meant that processes become stable and traceable. High performance and robust web applications and services were developed using a industry standard platform Microsoft .NET, which runs on Microsoft Windows Server on Hyper-V and helps customers across Europe achieve their goals and Overview empower their businesses. With the increased competition in consumer Solution: Stock management electronics, such as high costs of transportation Benefits: Fewer operational errors, lower stocking and excessive stocking, consumer electronics and stock compensation costs companies stand to lose a remarkable rate of profit. Technology: Microsoft .NET Sony has deployed the ST2AR solution, Partner: Reysastech and Sony Turkey was the first affiliate to use 77 ! ! " Case study Customer relationship management Entrajuda Sendys helps Portuguese non-governmental organisation support service improve its business processes Based in Lisbon, Entrajuda aims to support The system allowed for all of Entrajuda’s other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), processes to be highly digitised, making it helping them to improve the performance and practical, accessible from any mobile device, efficiency of their management for the benefit anytime, anywhere, and extremely fast. The of the socially disadvantaged. ultimate goal is to channel support from Entrajuda works daily with a database of Entrajuda efficiently for each NGO. over 3,000 NGOs that have management One of the biggest benefits was the requirements. Prior to the Sendys customer simplifying of all work processes. What relationship management (CRM) solution, each previously would take four days to process is area of Entrajuda kept its own management now achieved in minutes, with just one click information on Microsoft Access or Excel. and in real time with immediate answers. The Sendys CRM was implemented Only by adopting this system it was possible when Entrajuda initiated solidarity projects for Entrajuda to grow so quickly, since the nationwide, and started to create a database intersection of data and the speed with which which shortly became impossible to manage information is accessed lets users work much in one document. Sendys implemented the more efficiently. CRM, enabling the management of the database in a functional way and containing all the information about the NGOs and projects, such as their needs, reports, visits, services and donated materials. The Sendys CRM was replicated with ease for the voluntary sector, and fully adapted to their special characteristics and needs. When implementing this solution, a customised design was rigorously developed, and proved to be a dynamic platform that was also easy to use. The Sendys CRM is a fully web-based application developed on the Microsoft .NET framework and is based on Microsoft SQL Server Database. The Sendys CRM processes contacts management, visits, reports, meetings, number of supports, social responses and Overview characterisation of the respective institutions. All the NGO information is supported and Solution: Customer relationship management updated daily with documents attached, Benefits: Highly digitised platform, simplified allowing for a full control of operations. The work processes interconnection of all data helped speed up the Technology: Microsoft .NET, Microsoft SQL Server process, making Sendys CRM an essential tool Partner: Sendys to all employees. 79 Case study Cloud and server platform Aramark Signature South Consulting’s solution, based on Microsoft’s cloud platform Windows Azure, provides reduced costs and mitigates administrative risk Aramark is a leader in professional services, purchase orders, allowing the integration of providing award-winning food services, facilities business applications like e-PO, developed by management, and uniform and career apparel to third parties and specially designed to add value healthcare institutions. Not only this, but Aramark to existing business information. provides its services universities and school Both Gosocket and e-PO were developed districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses under Microsoft Windows Azure tools and around the world. Aramark partners with clients services, to provide this solution in a software- around the world, providing a broad range of as-a-service (SaaS) model. Signature South customised services, catering to both cultural Consulting chose Azure because of its unique preferences and needs, while achieving and mixture of tools and capacities available for maintaining high standards. In addition to its both developers and operators. significant presence in the US, Aramark also serves Aramark and other buyers and providers of customers in 21 other countries around the world. this hub capitalise on the value of Windows In 2013, Aramark Chile implemented e-PO, Azure every time their purchase orders are a transactional hub that provides a middleware integrated with their enterprise resource service where buying companies can publish, in planning system. By this service, connected an integrated way, their purchase orders (PO). companies save time and resources of On the other side, their providers receive those administrative personnel, avoiding risky data POs automatically and at no cost, containing all entry procedures and focusing their commercial the necessary information, such as product codes, efforts to increasing their customer’s loyalty. quantities, shipping addresses and payment Major distributors and other buyers get value terms. These are translated to the internal codes from Windows Azure when their electronic to be able to integrate all that information to their document interchange and conciliation take business solutions. This hub reduces both the place automatically, integrated and controlled. cost and risk of manual administrative data entry The combination of Microsoft’s technologies and management of POs, allowing electronic and Gosocket allows organisation’s to reach documents to be saved, integrated and, most user’s solutions within companies of any size, importantly, be conciliated with other main delivering value for their commercial, financial business-to-business documents, such as electronic and logistic departments. invoices, and credit and debit notes. Thanks to the hub, Aramark could better organise and manage its supply chain processes, improving the relationship with its providers, while improving their financial efficiency, because Overview of the integration of Aramark’s procurement with providers’ invoicing processes. This is possible, Solution: Cloud and server platform because e-PO is a very important application Benefits: Reduced costs and improved (Gadget) within Gosocket, a companies’ network administrative risk mitigation which broadly connects companies of all types Technology: Microsoft Windows Azure and sizes, using the exchange of electronic Partner: Signature South Consulting invoices and other related documents, such as 81 Case study Business intelligence Pizza Hut TARGIT’s business intelligence solution enables Pizza Hut to gets to know its customers Top Brands, the master franchiser for Pizza Hut “It’s not a task for IT anymore,” continues in Belgium, needed a way to better manage their Tillieu. “It’s much easier to get the information. 190 Pizza Hut locations throughout Belgium With TARGIT, the information is put directly in and France. The company had been relying on front of the decision makers. The tool has led us a Microsoft Dynamics NAV database to store to a whole new era. We discover what we have its data but struggled to make sense of the access to, and it allows us to ask more specific information. In particular, it had most trouble questions and make more qualified decisions.” tracking data on what was sold to better predict In fact, the most frequent TARGIT user within customer behaviour. Pizza Hut is the CEO. “He has a finger on the “Before we implemented our business pulse and looks at everything!” says Tillieu. “The intelligence solution, we could make some main reason why we chose TARGIT was because queries directly into the NAV database, but it was it works tightly with NAV. TARGIT is a tool that tedious work that we didn’t do on a daily basis,” can help you convert the value of information says Kristoff Tillieu, Finance and Development into Euros. With everything in place, we have a director for Top Brands. “We had a truck load solution that can be compared to a Rolls Royce, at of data, but it was too complicated to extract the price of a family car.” knowledge from that data.” Since implementing TARGIT business intelligence for Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Pizza Hut can analyse and predict customer behaviour. It has the power to track what was sold, when it sold it, what offers customers used, and how long delivery took. The results are displayed in clear graphs in TARGIT and easily shared with relevant employees. Pizza Hut area managers benchmark each store and identity any problems or progression. Based on that, managers can do a segmentation of their customers. The marketing department uses the information to organise campaigns relevant to different segments. And the campaign results are reintegrated back into the system. This enables the marketing department to measure how customers respond to initiatives, and helps predict what the Overview customer will respond well to. Tracking orders also helps Pizza Hut predict what the company will Solution: Business intelligence need, when it’ll need it to meet customer demands. Benefits: Customer reports and analysis, market- Pizza Hut prepares TARGIT reports and ing intelligence allows for focused analyses for all of its weekly and major meetings campaigning to display dynamic presentations of their sales Technology: Microsoft Dynamics NAV data. Users can make reports on the fly and drill Partner: TARGIT down into specific details unlike ever before. 83 www.kite.cz ,Q]HUDW[LQGG 30 Case study Flight and crew management system Czech Aeroholding/ Czech Airlines The KITE successfully migrated and upgraded the flight and crew management system. Czech Aeroholding is a group of companies were tested more than 20 times to ensure minimal operating in the air transportation and ground impact for users during the conversion of systems. handling services. Czech Airlines, a subsidiary of The complete migration process, including data Czech Aeroholding, provides connections between transformation (over 46 GB), was done successfully Prague and most European metropolises, but also in just five hours. The new AVES system did not with major destinations in the Middle East as well encounter any serious problems after being released as to the Caucasus and Central Asia. to users and has been in 24/7 production mode Czech Airlines, a member of the SkyTeam alliance since June 2013. and the flagship carrier of the Czech Republic, has The AVES system is a fully-integrated modular been in operation since October 1923, making it solution providing complete support of the flight one of the five oldest airlines in the world. and crew management with many automatic and One of the main operational systems, used optimisation functions. In addition to the core by Czech Airlines and other Czech Aeroholding graphical modules (scheduling, aircraft rotation subsidiaries, is AVES, which provides support for with maintenance, crew management, operations flight and crew management. The first version of control) there are a lot of add-in modules, such the system was introduced by The KITE in 1993. as slot management, message processing, cost Over the years, it was integrated with almost all key analyses, personal administration, fuel management, airlines’ systems including the in-house developed post-flight analyses, reporting and others. programs built on obsolete Informix 4GL. Creation of the software from the user In 2011, Czech Aeroholding decided to perspective resulted in a powerful intuitive tool. integrate all the software systems for the flight The AVES system is easy to use and enables and crew management into AVES system as rapid completion of tasks. AVES’ rich graphical well as to abandon Informix in order to reduce environment provides better data control with the maintenance costs. Hand in hand with that, instant information as well as faster and more UNIX terminal user interface has been completely accurate data manipulation. replaced by the new Visual WebGUI applications running on Microsoft Internet Information Services with potential for deployment in cloud and via mobile equipment. During the 18-month project (with nearly 100 project members involved) the database structure Overview was redesigned and optimised, almost half a million lines of software code was revised, refactored Solution: Flight and Crew management system and integrated into AVES. The functionality and Benefits: Rapid task completion, rich graphical performance of the new system was tested over environment provides better data control a six-month period. The migration scripts for Technology: Microsoft Internet Information Services data transformation, system reconfiguration and Partner: The KITE switching IT environment to new AVES servers 85 ERP for Industry -ANUFACTURING s $ISTRIBUTION s 2ETAIL 2012 Your business processes Flexible software Our know how Your success www.wika-systems.com #OMPANY 0ROl LE 0RODUCTS AND 3ERVICES 4HE MARKET FOCUS OF 7)+! 3YSTEMS WIKA Systems specialises The company focus is on the in the manufacturing and ERP solution $YNAMICS !8 s Manufacturing industry trading industry. It does this of Microsoft, an ERP solution s Machinery and industrial in national and international which, due to its technology equipment manufacturing customer projects, opera- and functionality, should be (IEM) ting from different locations part of every fi nal evaluati- in Switzerland, Germany, on. Studies by Garner show s Sensor technology, Austria and Singapore. a leading position with over Measurement engineering, 19,000 installations. apparatus engineering Since its foundation in 2003, s Trading companies customer satisfaction has ERP is not an end in itself; it been the top priority for increases profi t and compa- WIKA Systems. In Switzer- ny effi ciency. WIKA Systems land, WIKA Systems was offers an overall concept for #USTOMER VOICE FROM selected in 2010 and 2013 implementing ERP, which re- ixmation Group as the Microsoft Dynamics sults in sustainable business ERP Partner of the Year processes. In the summer of ³:LWK'\QDPLFV $; ZH KDYH and a lot of president club 2011, the remarkable new VXFFHHGHGLQ LPSOHPHQWLQJ D awards. AX 2012 version was laun- JOREDOSODWIRUPIRUWKHKDUPRQL ched. VDWLRQRIRXUSURGXFWVDQGSUR FHVVHVIURPWKH86$WR0DOD\VLD With strong enhancements DQG&KLQD0LFURVRIW'\QDPLFV in relation to multi-company $; LVDPRGHUQ DQG PXOWL skills and lean manufactu- IXQFWLRQDOVROXWLRQ ZKLFKZH ring, this product has made ZRXOGFKRRVHDJDLQDQGZKLFK successful inroads into the HQDEOHVXVWRFRQWURORXUFRP upper industry market seg- SDQ\LQWKHEHVWSRVVLEOHZD\´ ment. Erol Diener IT chief ixmation Group Case study Enterprise resource planning ixmation Global company focuses on Dynamics AX increasing competition through harmonisation ixmation is an enterprise of the Conzetta group The implementation has simplified the handling with sites in the US, China, Malaysia and of complex structures, enabled continuous Switzerland. ixmation is one of the world’s leading compilation of parts lists, allowed the early release suppliers for automation technology in production of procurement processes to parts lists that are still and assembly. First-class automation technology incomplete, and simplified capacity planning for from a single source for tailor-made solutions employees. It has also ensured reporting of time and which cover the whole production process. The materials in project and production is completed, high flexibility of the solution and the international and online project controlling is simpler. application convinced ixmation. This has succeeded with relatively few In 2010, the company decided in favour of adjustments. Some of ixmation’s special features Dynamics AX. In accordance with the build as had to be implemented specifically to the corporate template in AX, the US, Malaysia and customer, and the strength of Dynamics AX has China were introduced sequentially. also proved itself here. The parts list designer With WIKA Systems, ixmation chose a partner enables flexible work on structures, which are still which had relevant experience of ixmation on in progress. Authorisations now control access to all continents. Other companies of the Conzetta data and functions. Group were also focusing on Dynamics AX. The corporate template of AX 2009 which was created in accordance with the best practice approach was very significant. The cornerstone for a suitable solution was defined and implemented jointly. This kernel forms the basis for the rollouts, which has resulted in shorter implementation times. With the introduction of enterprise resource planning (ERP), the present group-wide process definition will now also exist in all branch offices with Dynamics AX. This facilitates the cooperation between the branch offices, as they all ‘speak the same language’. The exchange of employees or shifting of projects is possible at any time. In the implementation process, different cultures and languages are barriers that must be overcome. In a project team consisting of Swiss, American, Malaysian and Chinese employees, Overview a global language and cultural awareness are significant if the project is to be successful. Solution: Enterprise resource planning Retaining the implementation team in all Benefits: 160 users in the final capacity stage, rollouts is crucial for successful and fast launches. hosted application in all branch offices ixmation works in the field of automation in plant Technology: Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft SQL manufacturing. This is a typical project business Partner: WIKA Systems where the project module is at the centre of the work. 87 $ONKREDU 7HO )D[ 5L\DGK 7HO )D[ -HGGDK 7HO )D[ (PDLO GLVWULEXWLRQ#DOIDODNFRP Solution profile Enterprise solutions Alfalak Microsoft Suite Saudi Arabian company offers a suite of Microsoft solutions for the enterprise, corporate and retail markets Alfalak Electronic Equipment and Supplies and mutually growing its product portfolio for is a leading IT and communications solution their clients. Alfalak offers a complete array of provider in Saudi Arabia. With more than 30 enterprise solutions ranging from Microsoft ERP years of experience and operations throughout and CRM to Active Directory Management. the Middle East, the company is focused on Alfalak offers Microsoft Dynamics ERP, delivering complete end-to-end solutions. Since a global enterprise resource planning its establishment, it has engaged a continuous (ERP) solution that offers specialised retail, improvement process to effectively blend IT manufacturing, service industry, distribution, consultancy with customised IT solutions. and public sector capabilities. Microsoft Alfalak’s personnel is comprised of qualified Dynamics ERP allows companies of all sizes professionals, and internationally trained IT to manage their entire business organisations, experts, consultants, specialists and technicians. including supply chain, procurement, human This combination helps ensure that the company resources, financials and projects. Because this is fully responsive to industry standard platform solution touches so many parts of a business, changes and offers continuously updated these ERP solutions collect data to provide systems integration, installation, programming, insights into gaining efficiencies, cutting costs, training and supplies. Alfalak Distribution is a or making additional investments. division of Alfalak that caters to the enterprise, Alfalak also offers Microsoft Dynamics CRM, corporate and retail markets, more specifically to help reduce costs and increase profitability by power retailers, showrooms, corporate and organising and automating business processes enterprise resellers, and consultants. that nurture customer satisfaction and loyalty in Alfalak is committed to improving and the sales, marketing, and customer service fields. strengthening relationships with its channel partners, making business simple for them Key features • Helps manage supply chain, procurement, human resources • Reduces costs • Increases profitability 89 Apex Digital Solutions keeps your IT systems and infrastructure operating smoothly, while providing a partnership that can stimulate and inspire new growth opportunities. Managed IT Services from Apex Digital Solutions – Keep Growing www.apexdigital.com Solution profile Managed IT services Apex Digital Solutions Managed IT Services Apex Digital Solutions offers managed IT services that fits the growing needs of organisations It can be a complex for businesses when it infrastructure roll-outs, desktop refreshes, comes to managing IT. How much time and specialised IT projects, setting of security policies, expertise do customers have to stay up to date day-to-day support and cloud deployments. with the latest security needs and technology advances? As they expand and grow how will Cloud and hosting businesses quickly add more IT infrastructure Cloud computing enables organisations to without losing focus? Apex Digital Solutions access information, applications, storage and can take the pressure off with its managed services from virtually anywhere. Whether IT services. looking for a private, public or hybrid cloud, Apex Digital Solutions offers Managed IT Apex Digital Solutions Managed IT Services Services powered by Microsoft technology, powered by Microsoft Solutions can expand giving users best-in-class technology through customer scalability and profitability with Office 365, Windows Azure, Microsoft System Microsoft Office 365, Windows Azure, Microsoft Center and Windows Server while providing System Center, and Windows Server. support for customer IT needs. Various levels of support based on organisational needs can Compliance and security be selected. Businesses handle sensitive or confidential data on a daily basis. These data types have Virtual CIO special regulatory guidelines to comply with. What are customers’ IT strategies and how will Apex Digital Solutions Managed IT Services it impact daily business operations? How will works with customers to provide process and one solution set perform versus another in their technology solutions to address those ever- environment? Virtual chief information officer changing requirements and stay on top of services provided by Apex Digital Solutions can Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Payment Card Industry develop and nurture a company’s IT strategy (PCI) and the Health Insurance Portability and by providing business objective meetings, Accountability Act (HIPAA) legislations. technology assessments, vendor management, status updates and strategy meetings, as well as monthly, quarterly and annual reviews, business continuity reviews and security reviews. Traditional IT Whether expanding infrastructure or deploying Key features a desktop refresh, managing the day-to-day IT needs of a business consumes vast amounts of • World class IT infrastructure without the cost resources. IT department burdens and expense • Increased efficiency for all staff can be reduced by moving to Apex Digital • Scalability to meet growth needs Solutions Managed IT Services to support 91 Solution profile Integrated web portal DataCar Portal DATAFIRST’s integrated web portal uses Microsoft SharePoint to help car dealers address modern challenges DATAFIRST, an expert in IT solutions for the distribution sector, suach as Automotive automobile distribution sector has innovated with CRM, Automotive DMS, Web and Business Generation DataCar, undertaking to address new Intelligence solutions. challenges facing today’s car dealers, namely: • Reduce ownership costs - by hosting DataCar DMS applications on shared platforms administered A complete, multi-company, manufacturer- by a service provider (outsourcing or cloud approved data management solution (DMS) computing), helping familiarise users with covering all dealer activities, DataCar DMS software tools, spreading infrastructure costs, includes four main modules sharing the same • Increase productivity – by adopting new data: vehicle sales, workshop, shop and reporting, technologies, managed via a general administration module. • Change customer relationship habits – by keeping up with customers who can now DataCar CRM stay connected all day with their tablets A CRM solution designed specifically for the and smartphones, car distribution industry, enabling sales teams • Drive their businesses forward – by adopting to centralise all their data and customer-specific new tools putting emphasis on results actions within a single tool. It provides a and indicators. complete view of customers and prospects. Generation DataCar integrates a set of DataCar BI components organised around a web portal Beyond traditional reporting and business known as the DataCar Portal. intelligence (BI) tools, DataCar BI transforms raw DataCar Portal is designed to simplify the data from dealer DMS and CRM systems into in- use of DATAFIRST’s software solutions and depth knowledge about your business performances. provide customers with a single point of entry Generation DataCar also introduces a new to DATAFIRST’s environment. Whether it be and improved interface that takes account of information about new releases, hints and tips new advances in technology, by providing easier or the latest news, DataCar Portal puts all the menu navigation and improving the clarity information dealers need at their fingertips. of information. By logging into the portal, customers are instantly identified and can: • Launch their DATAFIRST applications • Consult activity reports by domain: new car/ used car, workshop, shop, CRM (customer relationship management) • Administer user accounts • Access support services Key features The applications DATAFIRST develops and • Enables customer single entry point deploys are modular management, marketing • Increases productivity and sales solutions designed for the automotive 93 Ultimate Shipping Solutions FlexShip and FlexPort, Maritime Logistics Solutions powered by Microsoft Dynamics AX2012 www.ultimateshippingsolutions.com Solution profile Warehouse management system CORAX Davanti Warehousing’s solution offers smart workflows and is intuitive and user-friendly CORAX is the new warehouse management and work under optimal conditions, while system from Davanti Warehousing and is based CORAX itself is developed with a zero footprint. on Microsoft Azure, Azure Servicebus, Workflow CORAX can be installed quickly and does foundation, IIS, SQL Server, C# and .NET. not require a long implementation or training. Highly flexible and configurable, the solution The system works immediately on every device distinguishes itself from traditional and rigid and platform. systems, many of which are only available CORAX is a smart modular system which no on a fixed platform. These often bring high longer requires high investments in licences or implementation costs, long implementation runs, implementation. Users pay monthly to use the are dependent on databases, contain tailored system, functionality and/or warehouse location. software, and make maintenance and support The solution is, just like a warehouse, complex and expensive. continuously developing; allowing users to take The system works on any platform, is advantage of new functionality. Users choose web-based and functions in the cloud. It which functionality they want to use. is therefore fully scalable and accessible, The system is designed based on the need making investments in hardware and system to provide an identifiable, clear operation. The management a thing of the past. user interface works intuitively and is easy to Cloud computing is energy saving and understand. Users can modify the layout of the sustainable: cloud servers are extremely efficient screens, by using the configuration possibilities and various skins. Furthermore, CORAX is web and cloud based. Users have worldwide online access. If desired, the solution can also be installed on the user servers. It’s just whatever a customer wants. CORAX version 1.5 is suitable to support basic processes in smaller warehouses. Depending on the new techniques and market developments, CORAX continuously offers new configurations and modules. By configuring the warehouse processes in workflows, users can create their own warehouse management solution. Key features • Quick start • Flexible subscription • Worldwide online access 95 ZZZPDLOZRU[LQIR&50&RQQHFWRUQQQHHFWF RU 7+(($6,(67:$<72 <285352)(66,21$/ 1(:6/(77(5 3HUIHFWO\FRQQHFWHG 0$,/:25; <2856<67(0 HZRU[1HWZRUN ,QWHUQHW*PE+ $XVWULD +DIHQVWUDHD/LQ]+DQULHGHUVWUDH5RKUEDFK RIILFH#PDLOZRU[LQIRZZZPDLOZRU[LQIR&50&RQQHFWRU Solution profile Newsletter management mailworx eworx’s newsletter software allows companies to communicate and improve interaction with customers Tailored to the needs of the customers and with latest technology also ensures the best possible measurable success, mailworx offers a simple way delivery so that the e-mail ends up in the inbox of to create a professional newsletter. the recipient and not in spam filters. One of the most important and successful A big advantage for mailworx clients is channels in online marketing is company statistical data, which makes the success of newsletters, which are used across all industries. a press release measurable and immediately This is how companies interact with interested provides comparisons to benchmarks that detail a parties and customers, informing them and stay clear picture about the campaign performance. in touch with them. mailworx clients are supported by a professional The newsletter software mailworx by eworx and dedicated support team that handles requests is a multilingual, web-based e-mail marketing quickly and effectively. The mailworx development system in the enterprise space, which combines team continues to innovate and constantly add simplicity and professionalism. Benchmarks new features and functionality – clients are not and analysis of open and click rates over many only current with the latest marketing innovations, millions of e-mails confirm that mailworx they are actually a step ahead. customers are measurably more successful. The mailworx application programming interface allows for a seamless integration with other systems. For example, the mailworx customer relationship management (CRM) connector connects mailworx with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Users work as usual in the CRM environment, send their newsletter campaigns with mailworx and receive valuable statistical data back to the CRM system, which they can then use in their decision making. The integration of mailworx with other systems simplifies the company workflow, enabling companies to leverage both the CRM and marketing worlds to their best advantage by seamlessly integrating the CRM marketing circle. The mailworx editor makes it easy to create, edit and send professional newsletters in a matter of minutes. Because mailworx is an encrypted online tool, it can be accessed with the Key features appropriate login credentials from anywhere. This eliminates any complex IT installations. • Online system The mailworx template technology ensures • Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration that the e-mail campaigns not only look good in • mailworx editor the mailworx system, but are displayed correctly • Measure campaign success through the use for the recipients – regardless of which e-mail statistical data program or output device recipients use. This 97 Solution profile Enterprise resource planning Le ERP – Predator Edition Information Management’s ERP solution enables companies to keep track of their stock and streamline business operations When Dalo, the project manager, received the keeping units and their description, customer call that morning, she did not expect that it codes and their names, invoice headings and would last for so long. Frida, the IT manager their lines, items and their serial number and a at the hospital, was frantic: someone has been lot more? changing the prices of prostheses in some of the Dalo’s major concern, she thought, was invoices sent to the insurance company. How that, even if we could include these features was this possible? The billing application used in the new application we were developing, an advanced security system. how to apply it to all the modules of the base Before ending the call, Dalo promised to application? investigate the matter and revert during the Peter, the analyst, had the answers – he was day. She put the phone down and worked her in a predatory mood – these requirements, and way through the workflow. She was looking others, he discovered, were the facets of a single now at the screen that allowed the billing issue: how to develop once and use everywhere. manager, or his replacement, to verify the bills ‘Le ERP – Predator Edition’ from Information before sending them to the insurance company. Management is a brand new version of the It was only at this point that the security company’s mature application, which addresses subsystem allowed price modifications. Only these issues and solves them. The solution is two people had the permission to access this built using C#, with the ability to connect to field on the screen. all Microsoft databases, as well as 12 others. It Dalo recalled a conversation with Frida includes more than 20 new practical attributes, about an audit trail. She remembered Frida’s developed once and used everywhere. reluctance to invest in an expensive feature that They enhance its ten modules. They answer will call on a member of her team to produce ‘yes’ to questions posed everyday by managers audit reports, full time. This would satisfy the seeking immediate answers. management. The application had thousands of tables. The preparation of audit reports, although abated by the report designer, would need the creation of views to relate list of values to their descriptions, and this was tedious, lengthy and time consuming. However, today, this would have been handy, as the system would have logged the modifications, their author and other interesting tidbits. Frida could have caught the culprit in no time, vindicating the long days of report writing. This is a real story. Businesses face similar situations every day. Wouldn’t it be nice if Key features such a feature were included in applications, especially if it did not require the dedication of • Simplified preparation of audit reports a programmer? How about being able to create, • Streamlined SKU detail logging on the fly, all the associations between stock 99 & 0 < &0 0< &< &0< . Solution profile Cloud computing Milestone Cloud Services Suite Milestone’s range of cloud applications, based on Microsoft Windows Azure, provides customers with flexibility, security and support The cloud is one the most prominent topics out is a tech company, it understands that there are there today, and generates heated discussion. better-suited companies out there to provide Is there a right answer or a perfect path wit the services like data centre, e-mail and other cloud? Absolutely not. But it is possible to judge operational services. each case and evaluate each individual course. With regards to software development, a Common wisdom tells us that it is possible strategic decision was taken to concentrate to have better control over what can be seen or efforts on developing applications built on the touched. That’s the reason a number of enterprises cloud. Based on the Microsoft Azure cloud still prefer to own and manage their own services, Milestone has, for the last two years, infrastructure and data centres. Let’s try to rethink been developing a suite of business applications, this common, but nevertheless wrong, notion. helping customers from business consulting that A lot of business literature has demonstrated are making the transferring some of their own over the years that organisations should applications to a cloud environment. At either end, concentrate on their ‘core business’. Excluding the flexibility and security tools provided enables the technology sector, companies do not need to Milestone to focus on its value creating activities. invest in their own infrastructure, train their own The cloud concept, in all its forms and tech staff, negotiate several supplier contracts and practices, is a reality that is accelerating and is ultimately manage risk for an activity that’s not here to stay. It cannot be implemented as prêt-a- their primary focus. porter, and each organisation needs to evaluate Cost brings both advantages and disadvantages, their path and how to walk it. But the advantages is often quoted by both advocates and naysayers. of flexibility, service levels, technology updates or Milestone firmly believes in an analysis the risk management cannot be ignored. factors in all variables in a quantified manner. A There may be some boldness involved, but simplistic approach, that includes only equipment above all, it is the rational course of action. acquisition, will wrongly demonstrate the advantages of the traditional methodologies. Understandably not everything is where it needs to be and some high-profile failures have hindered progress. Sure, cloud providers need to increase transparency or clarify procedures and security measures, and as is usual in technology- driven innovation, regulation does not keep up the pace. There is still an amount of work to do. Key features Milestone has relied on the cloud for both its back-office operations and software development. • Highly flexible Milestone invested in a solid communications • Secure solutions infrastructure but otherwise it relies on services • Risk Management provided on the cloud. Even though Milestone 101 &ĂƐĐŝŶĂƟŽŶ/d zŽƵƌĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶƚďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐƉĂƌƚŶĞƌŝŶ'ĞƌŵĂŶLJ͕^ǁŝƚnjĞƌůĂŶĚĂŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂ͘ ůŽƵĚ DŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ DĞƐƐĂŐŝŶŐ ŽŵƉƵƟŶŐ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ DŽďŝůŝƚLJ ^ĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ĂƚĂďĂƐĞ ǀŝƐŝƚƵƐĂƚ ▶▶ ǁǁǁ͘ƐƉŝƌŝƚϮϭ͘ĐŽŵ Solution profile Mobile device management Modular Device Management Cockpit & Portal SPIRIT/21’s solution consolidates data from a range of mobile devices across an enterprise The solution by SPIRIT/21 combines effective usage The consistent data pool enables comprehensive of mobile device management (MDM) and high reports, for example unveiling the number of potential for cost reduction – independent of the unused mobile devices or MDM-licenses or MDM provider’s solution. monitoring compliance – offering potential for cost Today, businesses require adequate support reductions. To benefit from the highest level of through software for the centralised management flexibility, the user can define individual reports. of mobile devices. The market offers a large The integrated helpdesk module significantly variety of systems. However, not every system simplifies support. Independent of the includes all necessary functions like a self-service implemented MDM service, the support agent can portal or the possibility of individual, customer- access the data of all devices within a few seconds. based enhancements. Businesses using several Customers only using one single MDM service MDM-services for the administration of their can also benefit from SPIRIT/21’s solution to a devices need to run various administration user large extent. Users can access their own devices interfaces in parallel. This prevents them from via a self-service portal and request a new running comprehensive reports, increasing PIN for example. This further relieves central complexity and costs. administrative functions. This is where the solution SPIRIT/21 applies. Sophisticated access management enables a The solution contains one consistent user very granular configuration of user rights like the interface for the MDM services of different creation of VIP groups among others. providers and consolidates all data from The user interface is designed to be modern and any kind of mobile devices throughout the effective. It can be customised entirely to comply enterprise. New MDM providers can be added with the customer’s corporate design. Moreover, or replaced on demand. All that is required is further functional customisation is possible anytime. the respective connector, ensuring a high level of Optionally available apps perfectly enhance investment protection. SPIRIT/21’s system. Key features • Enhancement of MDM systems, independent of the provider • Self-service portal and user helpdesk • One consistent user interface for different MDM providers • Comprehensive reporting • Cost reduction 103 Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013–2016 Partner Directory 106 Partner index 110 Partners A-Z Partner directory Partner index Welcome to the Microsoft partner directory section of Distribution and Services Global Outlook 2013-16. You can find a Microsoft partner in the area of descriptions in the process of selecting a partner, specialism you require by reviewing our partner rather than make a recommendation. index. The first part of the index lists partners by Please visit www.onwindows.com for live listings industry sector and the second by solution area. and the latest news and research from hundreds of A full business description and contact details can Microsoft partners in retail, hospitality, distribution then be located in the partners A-Z section. and services, as well as other industries. Please bear in mind that this directory is based on If you are a Microsoft partner and would like your information provided by the partners themselves. organisation to be listed online, or in future editions of Our intention is to equip you with a resource for this printed directory, you can submit your details at easy access to contact information and corporate www.onwindows.com/partners PARTNER INDEX – BY SOLUTION AREA Application development and Business intelligence Collaboration hosting 121 Systems AGR 121 Systems advarics Apex Digital Solutions advarics Arsis Ascertia AGR Cenium Chainfood Arolla Chainfood Count IT Arsis Check Express Group Demand Solutions Europe Chainfood Count IT Descartes Systems Group Check Express Group Creativesystems Exigy Count IT DATAFIRST Gfi Portugal Creativesystems Demand Solutions Europe Harel Mallac Technologies Descartes Systems Group Descartes Systems Group Ingram Micro echiron echiron IT Business Center eworx Network & Internet Exigy IT Peers Godrej Infotech Gfi Portugal Madeforit Harel Mallac Technologies GOB Software & Systeme Maginus Information Management Godrej Infotech NCR Ingram Micro Harel Mallac Technologies Sultan Solutions IT Peers HSO International Var Group ITI Computers Information Management Lexit Group Ingram Micro Commerce solutions Link Management Solutions IT Peers 121 Systems Madeforit ITI Computers advarics Maestro Link Management Solutions Ascertia Maginus Madeforit Check Express Group Milestone Consulting Maginus Count IT NCR Milestone Consulting DATAFIRST Qinisa Consulting Qinisa Consulting Davanti Warehousing Reysastech Qurus Descartes Systems Group SoftwareONE Norway Sultan Solutions Exigy Sultan Solutions TARGIT Business Intelligence GOB Software & Systeme The KITE Ultimate Software Harel Mallac Technologies Var Group Var Group Information Management VELTIONoptimum VELTIONoptimum Ingram Micro W+P Solutions W+P Solutions IT Business Center WIKA Systems WIKA Systems ITI Computers Wise Lexit Group www.onwindows.com/partners Maestro Arsis NCR Maginus Ascertia Var Group Qinisa Consulting Cenium Qurus Count IT INDUSTRY SPECIFIC The KITE echiron SOLUTION Var Group Exigy 121 Systems WIKA Systems GOB Software & Systeme advarics Godrej Infotech Arsis Consumer Harel Mallac Technologies Chainfood 121 Systems HSO International Count IT Check Express Group Information Management Creativesystems Creativesystems Ingram Micro DATAFIRST Exigy IT Business Center Dynamics Software Harel Mallac Technologies ITI Computers Exigy Information Management Link Management Solutions Harel Mallac Technologies Ingram Micro Maestro HSO International Lexit Group Maginus Ingram Micro Maginus Milestone Consulting ITI Computers Qurus NEXON Lexit Group Wise Qinisa Consulting Madeforit TARGIT Business Intelligence Maginus Customer relationship The KITE Milestone Consulting management Ultimate Software Qinisa Consulting 121 Systems Var Group SoftwareONE Norway advarics WIKA Systems Sultan Solutions Alpha Solutions Wise Ultimate Software Arsis Var Group Ascertia Hardware W+P Solutions Cenium 121 Systems WIKA Systems Check Express Group Check Express Group Young & Partners Count IT Count IT DATAFIRST Davanti Warehousing Integration eworx Network & Internet Gfi Portugal 121 Systems Exigy GOB Software & Systeme AGR Gfi Portugal Harel Mallac Technologies Apex Digital Solutions GOB Software & Systeme Ingram Micro Arsis Godrej Infotech IT Business Center Ascertia HSO International IT Peers Check Express Group Information Management ITI Computers Count IT Ingram Micro Lexit Group Creativesystems IT Business Center Link Management Solutions DATAFIRST ITI Computers Maginus Demand Solutions Europe Link Management Solutions NCR Descartes Systems Group Madeforit Var Group Exigy Maestro Gfi Portugal Maginus High performance computing GOB Software & Systeme Milestone Consulting 121 Systems Harel Mallac Technologies NCR Check Express Group Ingram Micro Qinisa Consulting Count IT IT Business Center Qurus DATAFIRST IT Peers Sultan Solutions Davanti Warehousing ITI Computers Ultimate Software Harel Mallac Technologies Lexit Group Var Group Ingram Micro Link Management Solutions WIKA Systems IT Peers Madeforit Lexit Group Maginus Finance, accounting and HR Madeforit Milestone Consulting 121 Systems Maginus Reysastech Alpha Solutions Mydatafactory Sultan Solutions 107 Partner directory Partner index TARGIT Business Intelligence Count IT ITI Computers The KITE echiron Lexit Group Ultimate Software Gfi Portugal Link Management Solutions Var Group Harel Mallac Technologies Maginus VELTIONoptimum Ingram Micro Qinisa Consulting W+P Solutions IT Business Center Qurus WIKA Systems IT Peers SoftwareONE Norway Link Management Solutions Sultan Solutions Mobility Maginus Var Group 121 Systems Var Group W+P Solutions Apex Digital Solutions WIKA Systems Arsis Storage Ascertia 121 Systems PARTNER INDEX – BY Cenium Apex Digital Solutions INDUSTRY SECTOR Check Express Group Arsis Accommodation Count IT Count IT Cenium Creativesystems echiron echiron DATAFIRST Gfi Portugal Exigy Descartes Systems Group GOB Software & Systeme GOB Software & Systeme Dynamics Software Harel Mallac Technologies IT Business Center Exigy Ingram Micro ITI Computers Gfi Portugal IT Peers Lexit Group GOB Software & Systeme Link Management Solutions Link Management Solutions Harel Mallac Technologies Maginus NCR Ingram Micro Var Group NEXON IT Peers SoftwareONE Norway ITI Computers Systems and network Lexit Group management Amusement, gambling and Link Management Solutions 121 Systems recreation Madeforit Apex Digital Solutions Ascertia Maginus Check Express Group Cenium Milestone Consulting Count IT Count IT NCR Creativesystems Exigy Qinisa Consulting DATAFIRST IT Business Center Sultan Solutions Descartes Systems Group ITI Computers TARGIT Business Intelligence echiron Lexit Group Group eworx Network & Internet NCR VELTIONoptimum Gfi Portugal NEXON GOB Software & Systeme SoftwareONE Norway Operating systems Harel Mallac Technologies TARGIT Business Intelligence 121 Systems Ingram Micro AGR IT Business Center Convenience and gas Apex Digital Solutions IT Peers AGR Count IT ITI Computers Count IT Demand Solutions Europe Lexit Group Demand Solutions Europe Gfi Portugal Link Management Solutions Dynamics Software Harel Mallac Technologies Maginus IT Business Center Ingram Micro Var Group ITI Computers IT Peers Lexit Group ITI Computers Training NCR Maginus 121 Systems NEXON Var Group AGR SoftwareONE Norway W+P Solutions Count IT TARGIT Business Intelligence DATAFIRST Security Descartes Systems Group Distribution and logistics 121 Systems Exigy 121 Systems Apex Digital Solutions GOB Software & Systeme advarics Arsis Godrej Infotech AGR Ascertia Harel Mallac Technologies Arsis Check Express Group Ingram Micro Ascertia www.onwindows.com/partners Cenium AGR NEXON Check Express Group Arsis SoftwareONE Norway Count IT Cenium TARGIT Business Intelligence Creativesystems Chainfood DATAFIRST Davanti Warehousing Life sciences Davanti Warehousing Demand Solutions Europe Ascertia Demand Solutions Europe Dynamics Software Demand Solutions Europe Dynamics Software Exigy Dynamics Software echiron Godrej Infotech Godrej Infotech Exigy IT Business Center IT Business Center GOB Software & Systeme ITI Computers NEXON Godrej Infotech Lexit Group Qinisa Consulting Harel Mallac Technologies Link Management Solutions SoftwareONE Norway HSO International NCR TARGIT Business Intelligence Information Management NEXON IT Business Center Qinisa Consulting Mail order and catalogue IT Peers SoftwareONE Norway 121 Systems ITI Computers TARGIT Business Intelligence Arsis Lexit Group VELTIONoptimum Count IT Maginus Davanti Warehousing Milestone Consulting General merchandise Demand Solutions Europe NEXON 121 Systems Dynamics Software Qinisa Consulting advarics IT Business Center Qurus AGR Lexit Group Reysastech Check Express Group Maginus SoftwareONE Norway Count IT NEXON TARGIT Business Intelligence Davanti Warehousing SoftwareONE Norway The KITE Demand Solutions Europe Sultan Solutions Ultimate Software Dynamics Software W+P Solutions VELTIONoptimum Exigy W+P Solutions IT Business Center Speciality retail WIKA Systems IT Peers 121 Systems Wise ITI Computers advarics Young & Partners Lexit Group AGR Maginus Arsis Food and drug NCR Cenium 121 Systems NEXON Check Express Group AGR Qinisa Consulting Count IT Arsis Qurus Creativesystems Ascertia SoftwareONE Norway Davanti Warehousing Chainfood TARGIT Business Intelligence Demand Solutions Europe Count IT VELTIONoptimum Dynamics Software Davanti Warehousing WIKA Systems Exigy Demand Solutions Europe Godrej Infotech Dynamics Software Health and personal care Harel Mallac Technologies Godrej Infotech Arolla HSO International IT Business Center Arsis Information Management IT Peers Davanti Warehousing IT Business Center ITI Computers Demand Solutions Europe IT Peers Lexit Group Dynamics Software ITI Computers Maginus echiron Lexit Group NCR Godrej Infotech Maginus NEXON Information Management NCR Qinisa Consulting IT Business Center NEXON SoftwareONE Norway IT Peers Qinisa Consulting TARGIT Business Intelligence ITI Computers Qurus VELTIONoptimum Lexit Group SoftwareONE Norway Link Management Solutions Sultan Solutions Food service Milestone Consulting TARGIT Business Intelligence 121 Systems NCR W+P Solutions 109 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z 121 Systems Admiral and NAVertical No 1, Nottingham Science Park, Jesse Boot Avenue, Bredskifte Alle 11, 8210 Aarhus V, Denmark Nottingham, NG7 2RU, UK Thomas Mandsfeldt, Director of Admiral/Sanne Chris Sisson, Managing Director Engelund, Director of NAVertical Tel: +44 845 6031703 Tel: +45 7022 7999/+45 7022 9999 [email protected] [email protected]/[email protected] www.121systems.com admiral.dk/navertical.dk 121 Systems is a dedicated and passionate Admiral and NAVertical has been helping organisation that specialises in the development, customers and partners successfully run and implementation and support of sophisticated grow their businesses for more than 30 years. transport management software that ultimately The focus is on continuously developing results in safe, sustainable and efficient logistics products and solutions based on Microsoft processes. The company started working with and the Microsoft Dynamic stack. Admiral and Microsoft products in the 1980s and employees NAVertical aims to be at the very frontier of have seen it evolve into the technology behemoth technological developments to deliver business it has become today. value to its customers and partners. Admiral As providers of a multifaceted order delivery and NAVertical provides and delivers integrated platform series, 121 Systems helps enterprises solutions for a number of industries and has to cut transport costs, reduce planning time, developed fully-integrated vertical market raise customer service levels and improve solutions for various industries. Its expertise productivity. The company provides insight includes accounts, enterprise resource planning, into areas that other solution providers often customer relationship management and many overlook, such as providing advice on best other parts of the Microsoft stack. practice techniques for introducing transport The Admiral and NAVertical also has a line in management software into a business culture the US, specialised in fashion industries. Admiral that may initially reject the new delivery and NAVertical is striving to be ‘carbon neutral’, execution processes. and by combining energy efficient equipment Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and with on-site green energy sources, the company 121 Systems is constantly evolving its order reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, minimises delivery platform series to mirror this. The its carbon footprint and lower the environmental company is focusing on four elements that are at impact on the natural resources such as water, the top of the agenda for most forward thinking land and air. In addition, Admiral and NAVertical organisations. These include big data, social, regularly purchase CO2 credits to cover the cloud and mobile. It is clear that businesses emission of CO2 footprint. and organisations need to position themselves Admiral and NAVertical has emerged from correctly to take advantage. the reorganisation of IT supplier Admiral IT. All of the company’s solutions are built on a NAVertical is a consulting practice focused on Microsoft platform which includes Windows, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, while Admiral works SQL and Windows Phone. with classic Admiral Accounting Software and C5. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index advarics AGR Wiesenweg 2a, 6063, Austria 3000 Cathedral Hill, Guildford, GU2 7YB, UK Roland Köhler, CEO Finnur Bragason, Marketing Manager Tel: +43 512 367190 Fax: +43 512399390 Tel: +44 1483 243575 [email protected] [email protected] www.advarics.net www.agrinventory.com AGR is a supply chain planning specialist advarics is a retail enterprise resource planning offering software and consultancy solutions solution, entirely conceived, developed and that optimise the flow of goods throughout operated as a cloud platform based on state- the supply chain for wholesale, retail and of-the-art web browser technology (Microsoft distribution companies. AGR’s main expertise Silverlight and HTML5). advarics is a leader in is in the field of inventory planning, offering an innovation, delivering one of the latest industry inventory planning and optimisation solution. solutions to the lifestyle sector (sports, fashion, The company’s main solution, AGR Inventory shoes and accessories). Optimiser, eliminates excess costs from the supply chain by optimising inventory levels, reducing lost sales and replacing time-consuming manual replenishment processes. The system uses raw data from any enterprise resource planning (ERP) or transaction system and automatically selects the most appropriate forecasting method to estimate future demand. Order proposals that minimise inventory costs and optimise service levels are generated from these forecasts and uploaded back into the ERP system. AGR Inventory Optimiser has been implemented at companies from a wide variety of industries. The company is currently working with business sectors ranging from DIY stores, auto parts, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, catering, cruise ships, and many more wholesalers, distributors and retailers. The system is being used in over 100 companies in 18 countries and AGR has offices in UK, Scandinavia and Iceland. 111 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z ALFALAK Alfalak Electronic Alpha Solutions Equipment & Supplies Schuppisstrasse 7, St. Gallen, 9016, Switzerland Alfalak Tower, King Abdul Aziz Highway, PO Box 1963, Al Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia Daniel Popp, Sales/Member of the Board Tel: +41 58 2001010 Iyla Ashadawi, Marketing Manager [email protected] Tel: +966 3 8829996/+966 3 8591990 www.alpha-solutions.ch Fax: +966 3 8822156 [email protected] Alpha Solutions is a service company with 45 www.alfalak.com people. Since 2000, the company has been implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV for small With over 33 years of experience and operations and medium sized companies. About 300 clients throughout the Middle East, Alfalak Electronic in Switzerland are working with solutions of Equipment & Supplies is a leading IT and Alpha Solutions. communications solution provider that focuses The company offers affordable, proven and on delivering complete end-to-end solutions and flexible solutions for the service industry, and provides a wide range of products and services. with Alpha’s solution for service providers, Since its establishment in 1981, Alfalak the company offers customers flexible web- has been providing both public and private based software that is easy to use. Due to organisations with a unique blend of IT standardisation customers can use the software consultancy and customised IT solutions. Its within days. Alpha Solutions offers a professional strategic partnerships with leading international implementation method, which proves a big IT companies has positioned Alfalak to meet the advantage to customers. most demanding IT requirements of its clients, Alpha Solutions combines all services while assuring maximum client satisfaction. necessary for a successful project under one roof. Alfalak has been particularly committed Customers receive the hosting, the cloud services, to the development of human resources, maintenance and support, and where individuality with a particular focus on refining the skills is required, the company’s development of Saudi nationals, especially with regard to department provides support. Alpha Solutions’ computer proficiency, English language usage, system engineers create a stable technical basis for administration skills and financial training. This the optimum operation of IT environments. is provided by a team of training staff, comprised of more than 2,000 male and female employees working in 82 centres across the Kingdom, and serving more than 50,000 male and female trainees annually. Alongside its exceptional business performance, Alfalak has demonstrated its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility by introducing a green policy in the company and by supporting charitable organisations. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index Apex Digital Solutions Arolla 1000, Town Center, Suite 340, Southfield, MI, 21, rue du Bouloi, Paris, 75001, France 48076, US Aude Amarrurtu, Human Resources and Laura Malmstrom, Business Development Communication Director Tel: +1 586 9777087 Tel: +33 1 75504920 Fax: +33 1 42332862 [email protected] [email protected] www.apexdigital.com www.arolla.fr Apex Digital Solutions is a leading provider Arolla is a consulting firm that works on issues of managed and traditional IT services and of application architecture and development on support headquartered in metropolitan Detroit. the Microsoft .NET platform, among others. Its Specialising in public, private and hybrid job is to promote agile best practices of design cloud deployments, Apex Digital Solutions and test, inspired by eXtreme Programming, enables organisations to get to market faster comprised of test driven development (TDD), by leveraging existing IT investments. The behaviour-driven development (BDD) and experience gained from serving businesses domain driven design (DDD), and collectively across multiple industries has enabled Apex called ‘Software Craftsmanship’. Digital Solutions to provide customers with Arolla allows its customers to secure their an array of cost-effective solutions across three projects completing their teams with consultants decades. Apex Digital Solutions is committed who are specialists of the art practices of clean to excellence and ‘technology for people’s sake’ code and are able to be proactive in any initiative – using best of breed technology to improve to improve the code quality. In addition, Arolla productivity and collaboration. proposes high added value consulting to coach development teams about the adoption of ‘test- driven’ approaches such as TDD and/or BDD, using DDD as possible. These agile techniques eventually allow Arolla’s customers to overcome the constraints of their legacy code (difficult to maintain because not tested or testable) to optimise their time-to-market, to deliver more quickly and to a better standard. Arolla allows its customers to get a well thought code that's testable, simple and inexpensive to maintain. 113 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z Arsis Ascertia Zelenograd, 602-82, Moscow, 124489, Russia Unit 70, Lynch Hill Park, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7NF, UK Ilya Pukhovskiy, Software Development Manager Tel: +7 495 9802931 Rod Crook, Solutions Director [email protected] Tel: +44 1256 895416 Fax: +44 1256 896120 www.arsis-it.com, www.arsis.ru [email protected] www.ascertia.com Arsis is a software development company with Ascertia offers products that deliver functionally almost twenty years of experience in custom rich, easy to deploy security solutions. Its software development in various fields including focus is making it easy to digitally sign healthcare, logistics, warehouse automation, staff business documents and data within workflow management, payment terminals, specialised processes. Signatures deliver the essential trust hardware integration and security solutions. services needed by governments, financials, The company is oriented to the usage of telecommunication, healthcare and other Microsoft technology in general, but also uses organisations to conduct electronic business. other technological platforms. Arsis is focused Digital signatures deliver the assured authenticity on the web and Microsoft Windows application and data integrity needed to meet internal development as well as other platforms. controls requirements, plus traceability, Today, Arsis has approximately 50 highly accountability and audit services to meet qualified employees. Most developers are highly legislative and regulatory requirements. skilled Microsoft Certified Professionals. The Fraud often involves fake data or company is proud of its team and does the best unauthorised changes and so trusted services to keep a friendly atmosphere for comfortable are needed to protect organisational brands and professional growth of its members. core data. Ascertia’s products are designed to Arsis has proved its high professional level be easy to deploy and use in various scenarios. with vendor’s certification and client feedback. These include centralised bulk signing of Arsis is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. documents such as reports submissions and Among its clients, are well-known enterprises financial documents, individual user-based such as 3M, Danone, Mondelez (Kraft Foods), signing of web-forms and document, including Otis, Ikea and AIG Insurance (Chartis). These integration with Microsoft SharePoint. A customers trust Arsis and have remained its separate product, Ascertia Docs, offers partners for years document workflow and signature approval, also available as a service – SigningHub.com Standards compliance includes comprehensive support for PDF, XML DSig, CMS, S/MIME, ETSI XAdES, PAdES and CAdES signature standards and OASIS DSS and DSS-X protocols. Also available are ADSS server modules for OCSP, TSA, SCVP and XKMS and long-term archiving. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index Camwood Cenium Marlow House, 1a Lloyds Avenue, London Drammensveien 123, Oslo, 277, Norway EC3N 3AA, UK Jon Snilsberg, Managing Director David Gilfillan, Sales Director Tel: +47 922 03469 Tel: +44 207 9770999 Fax: +44 207 9770998 [email protected] [email protected] www.cenium.com www.camwood.com Businesses are asking more of the humble Cenium is a global organisation providing a application today than ever before. The need unique enterprise resource planning platform to adapt to new operating systems, as well as established exclusively for the hospitality emerging trends, such as flexible working, industry. Cenium has developed a fully bring-your-own-device, bring-your-own-access integrated solution that accesses management and corporate app stores, can threaten to stretch information across an entire enterprise, typically application portfolios to breaking point. employing a single database. With diverse demands placed on business The solution embraces back-office finance apps, it’s also all too easy to lose track of what and accounting that includes customised applications are deployed where, how necessary procurement and inventory across the supply they are, and what they’re costing the business. chain. Cenium also offers a fully integrated Camwood makes sense of businesses’ suite of front-office applications comprising, ‘application chaos’ through a process it calls property management , restaurant and retail ‘enlightened migration'. point of sale, and hospitality focused customer Camwood takes a people-and-business-centric relationship management all embedded in the approach to assess application estates in terms of Microsoft Dynamics platform. Other modules app usage, cost, criticality, security and other factors, include: sales and catering, golf and spa. helping businesses to rationalise-out unnecessary Cenium has also created a resort operations apps. It also advises on how to migrate/remediate module that includes ticketing, rental and apps to optimise application portfolios for the way class scheduling for complex resort operations. tomorrow’s businesses will be run. Radio-frequency identification enablement and The Camwood advantage is its focus on and mobile products tailored for the employee and expertise in apps, and little else. Camwood guest are also available. delivers app rationalisation, remediation and The Microsoft Dynamics platform provides repackaging more efficiently and effectively than the hospitality industry with a unified one-stop anyone else, with minimal cost and disruption, gateway to management information across the and is now looking to form new channel enterprise. It is successfully proven by chains relationships in order to deliver its services to the and individual hotels globally, with offices in Las widest possible base of customers. Vegas, Toronto, Hong Kong and Oslo. Cenium is a Gold awarded development centre and partner in the Microsoft Dynamics community. 115 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z Chainfood Check Express Group Kroonpark 10, NL-6831 GV, Arnhem, Avenida Maria Coelho Aguiar, 215 Bloco E 8º Netherlands andar, 05804900, Brazil Johan Zandbergen, Managing Director Simone Cantuária Pinheiro, Marketing Manager Tel: +31 26 845 3650 Tel: +55 2131 5000 [email protected] [email protected] www.chainfood.com www.checkexpress.com.br Chainfood is a leading provider of chain The Check Express Group provides innovative collaboration solutions behind some of the solutions and technology for credit and means world’s most established sustainable sourcing of payment. It consists of eight companies programmes. Its software platform, ChainPoint, operating in the areas of credit and risk, capture improves collaboration and transparency transactions and message switching, credit card between all partners in the chain, delivering processing, banking correspondent network, quality and sustainability benefits, while multi network services, database marketing, reducing risk and cost. As a partner facilitating loans and advancement of receivables. more than 100 sustainable supply chains Every year millions of transactions are worldwide, supply chain collaboration is at the processed by the company’s networks and heart of everything Chainfood does. message switching software. With expertise Enabled by a flexible, secure software-as-a- in development information systems, Check service platform, Chainfood’s technology provides Express provides products with quality and deep insight into the sustainable performance security for different market divisions, using the of chains of all types from source to retailer. best of the Microsoft technology platform. ChainPoint can be rapidly customised to serve the The excellent partnership with Microsoft most complex of supply chains, supporting seven allows Check Express the opportunity to be the unique sustainable sourcing scenarios covering first company in Latin America to receive the identity preservation, mass balance, segregation, brand Microsoft .NET Connected Premium; the book and claim, auditing and certification, first company in Latin America to establish its monitoring and evaluation, and story telling. products on .NET Connected Directory; and one Built on top of Microsoft’s .NET framework, of four companies considered Microsoft’s World ChainPoint integrates seamlessly with enterprise Reference in financial services industry. systems, as well as bespoke systems via its web Check Express presently ranks as one of the services interface. Rich analysis, alerting, reporting 200 biggest technology companies ranking and dashboard capabilities give stakeholders the and 100 most connected companies, from the vital information they need to collaborate towards Brazilian publication INFO Magazine. their sustainable goals along the chain. Founded in 2003, with offices in multiple countries, Chainfood has unparalleled success in implementing IT solutions for sustainable chains. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index Cnext Count IT Zeutestraat 2b box 303, Mechelen, Softwarepark 494232, Hagenberg, Austria 2800, Belgium DI (FH) Peter Berner, MACEO Peter Van Roosbroeck, General Manager Tel: +43 7236 200770 Tel: +32 475 857575 Fax: +32 2 4030628 Fax: +43 7236 20077880 [email protected] [email protected] www.cnext.eu www.countit.at Cnext speeds up business processes and The Count IT Group is situated in Hagenberg helps customers generate more value from on the edge of the world famous Softwarepark relationships with partners and customers. Hagenberg in the region of Muhlviertel, Austria. Cnext designs, develops and tests customers’ With more than 100 employees, the company is integration platform to meet functional objectives one of the leading corporate service providers in while focusing on the lowest cost to maintain it. three areas. These are finance and accounting, IT To do this Cnext relies on more than 40 years and tax accountancy. By combining these areas, of combined experience in various industries and great synergies are created which provide special its Gold partnership with Microsoft to deliver the and unique benefit to the customer. The Count desired outcome. IT Group enables companies to concentrate on their core capabilities by supporting and improving their daily business activities. The company’s product and service portfolio includes various consulting activities, interim management in all three areas, outsourcing or supplementation of resources in accounting and IT as well as specific products, such as the enterprise resource planning system Microsoft Dynamics NAV and a document management system. In addition, various individual software solutions, like websites, webshops, data warehouse systems and mobile solutions, are offered. 117 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z Creativesystems DATAFIRST Centro Empresarial e Tecnológico, Rua de 117 rue Bataille, Lyon, 69008, France Fundões, nº1513700-121 S.J. Madeira, Portugal Rémi Clemendot, Marketing Director Adriana Cardoso, Marketing Manager Tel: +33 478 781100 Fax: +33 478 781122 Tel: +351 256 303150 Fax: +351 256 303148 [email protected] [email protected] www.datafirst.fr www.creativesystems.eu DATAFIRST develops and deploys modular Creativesystems is a technology company focused management, marketing and sales solutions for on creating innovative solutions and interactive the automotive distribution sector: automotive experiences that improve efficiency and promote customer relationship management, dealer well-being. Pioneer in the implementation of management system, web and business item level radio-frequency identification (RFID) intelligence solutions. technology, Creativesystems develops integrated and Its solutions are designed to adapt to an added value solutions for data flow optimisation, organisation and take into account different automatic identification and traceability, with companies, numerous sites, as well as the various particular application in fashion retail (apparel and brands the organisation sells. DATAFIRST’s footwear), where it holds a deep know-how and product offering includes all those applications experience worldwide. required to make up an IT system. The different Established in 2002, the European company is components are nonetheless designed to be directly present in Portugal, Germany, Brazil and installed separately and gradually. Dubai. Throughout time, the company has been DATAFIRST’s products are used by dealers setting strategic partnerships with reference sector and dealer groups as well as the world’s leading providers and is embracing global projects with automotive manufacturers including BMW Mini, some of the leading retailers in the world. Chevrolet, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia, Through its vision of digitising retail inventory, Chrysler, Abarth, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Honda, Creativesystems’ smart solutions combine RFID Hyundai, Kia, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, cutting edge identification technologies with best- Mitsubishi, Opel, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, in-class expertise to build and deliver today the Renault, Nissan, Dacia, Saab, Subaru, Suzuki, ‘internet of things’. Toyota, Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Creativesystems has been experiencing significant Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. growth in the last years. The technology company DATAFIRST was founded in 1985 and works with the best project management practices today has over 120 employees. The company and constantly strives for excellence in order headquarters are in Lyon in France and it to ensure projects’ success at all phases, from maintains an active global presence with several consulting to design, development, implementation thousand users throughout Europe. In order to and support. Its creative nature nurtures continuous widen the range of services on offer, DATAFIRST innovation cycles with strategic constant investments has built strategic alliances with local partners to address global market needs. who are themselves specialists in the automotive Currently, Creativesystems develops tomorrow’s distribution sector. state-of-the-art retail solutions. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index Davanti Warehousing Demand Solutions Europe Hogeweg 35-E, Zaltbommel, 5301 LJ, Suites 1-3270 London Road, Wallington, Surrey, Netherlands SM6 7DJ, UK Paul Boekweg, CEO Robert Thornton-Davidson, Commercial Tel: +31 88 3454500 Manager [email protected] Tel: +44 20 86693941 Fax: +44 20 86692349 www.davantigroup.com [email protected] www.demandsolutions.com Davanti specialises in warehouse logistics and has its own state-of-the-art warehouse Demand Solutions is a Microsoft Gold Certified management systems (WMS): MLS Premium Partner that offers fully integrated supply chain and CORAX. Both WMS are flexible and widely planning software that is certified for Microsoft configurable which allows the control of many Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics AX, different industries. with a tested interface to Microsoft Dynamics MLS Premium is the enterprise solution for GP. Companies can forecast customer demand, large complex warehouse environments and optimise inventory, collaborate with sales people, CORAX is a cloud solution for the small SME and execute sales and operations plan with segment with less complex warehouse processes. Demand Solutions affordable products. Besides WMS solutions, the Davanti team has Demand Solutions has over 27 years 350 years of logistics knowledge and experience of experience working with supply chain in implementation projects, and has seen professionals, and has incorporated best hundreds of warehouses and will give sound practices and real-world business requirements advice on how to optimise logistics processes. in its software from its extensive customer base Davanti’s solutions are developed in in 76 countries. Zaltbommel, Netherlands, by a team of 50 Demand Solutions helps businesses improve employees. Customers can capitalise on direct fill rates, optimise inventory, increase inventory access and short lead times. For each specific turns, increase customer satisfaction, create wish of a MLS Premium user, Davanti can greater efficiencies, collaborate with the sales immediately tell how and when it can grant force and unlock working capital. them. CORAX is based on a strict one-version- Demand Solutions empowers its customers to philosophy with a clear roadmap, which is increase profits and its quarter of a century supply managed by Davanti with the input of customers chain expertise and world-class customer support and market developments. network to help businesses and their customers. Davanti has a lot of international experience and ambitions, and the company is present through its WMS solutions from Iceland to France and Ireland to the Russian Federation. 119 Partner directorydirectory PartnerCompanies index A-Z Descartes Systems Group Dynamics Software Uraniumweg 44, Amersfoort, 3812 RK, Netherlands Newtonstraat 27A, Veenendaal, 3902 HP, Netherlands Renate Kok, Marketing and Communications Executive Monisha Ferreira, Director Marketing and Tel: +31 33 4606273 Communication [email protected] Tel: +31 318 507800 Fax: +31 318 518604 www.descartes.com [email protected] www.dynamicssoftware.com Descartes is a leading provider of on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on Dynamics Software is a dedicated Microsoft improving the productivity, performance and independent software vendor amplifying the security of logistics-intensive businesses. power of Microsoft Dynamics AX with additional The company’s core competencies include software for service (including mobile), route planning, electronic data interchange maintenance, rental, warehouse and dealer outsourcing, transportation management and management as well as planning and scheduling customs solutions. of project and production. The company’s Descartes aims to unite the people and solutions are sold, implemented and supported technology that move the world. worldwide by a group of Certified Value Added Descartes has over 147,000 parties using its Resellers of Microsoft Dynamics AX. Dynamics cloud-based services. Customers use Descartes’ Software is a member of the Microsoft Dynamics modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, President’s Club 2011; won the 2011 Microsoft schedule, track and measure delivery resources; Dynamics ISV of the year award (Western plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit Europe); and was a finalist in 2012. On a and pay transportation invoices; file customs and group level, Dynamics Software is a Microsoft security documents for imports and exports; and Dynamics Inner Circle Partner 2013. complete numerous other logistics processes by Dynamics Software solutions include Service participating in the world’s largest, collaborative & Maintenance Management, which supports multi-modal logistics community. The company’s service organisation with daily (field) service headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada business processes such as complaints and and Descartes has offices and partners around warranty, repairs and periodic maintenance the world. while providing real-time information across customers’ business. Rental Management provides a clear view of all current operational information in real time, enabling optimum performance and is fully integrated with the Microsoft Dynamics AX logistics, projects, finance and fixed assets modules. Graphical Planning and Scheduling for Production and Projects offers a real-time overview of planned capacity per work centre and allows easy (drag and drop) modifications to the planning. www.onwindows.com/partners Partner directory Partner index echiron Esri Alameda Fernao Lopes 16, Piso 10, Miraflores, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA, 92373, US Algés, 1495-190, Portugal Meghan Karavidas, Industry Coordinator Rosalia Dias, Customer Services Director Tel: +1 909 7932953 Tel: +351 21 4127000 [email protected] [email protected] www.esri.com www.echiron.com Esri is a leading provider of location analytics Echiron was established in Portugal in 2000 and technology, data and services for retail. The provides IT outsourcing services, with a special company’s innovative platform works with the focus on cloud services. business systems companies already have to let Echiron strives to enable customers to obtain users improve the performance and profitability high performance and optimised efficiency at a of every facet of their retail operations. From reasonable cost for both IT services and business understanding where customers can boost sales, applications. Echiron adopts an integrated improve marketing effectiveness or increase approach to IT service delivery, incorporating customer intimacy, Esri uses the power of place communications, security, applications to connect datasets together and deliver tangible hosting and system administration, network insight and better outcomes. No matter what role management and service desk. customers play in the retail industry or the size Echiron has developed a three tier approach of their organisation, Esri has a solution to help to cloud services: 1) cloud assessment, where customers make their businesses more profitable opportunities for using IT services and components and successful. on the cloud are identified and analysed; 2) cloud migration, where existing IT services are migrated to the cloud; 3) application management on the cloud, that corresponds to the ongoing operation of IT, associated with service management to ensure delivery to the agreed service level agreements (SLA) and full user support. Services are delivered to demanding SLA, encompassing the application level. Service management skills have been applied to the cloud environment, allowing for long lasting relationships with customers, based on a track record of compliance and transparency. Echiron counts on valuable partners such as Microsoft to provide credible solutions. Echiron is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. 121 Partner directory Companies A-Z eworx Network & Internet Exigy Hafenstraße 2a, 4020, Austria Demajo Technology Centre, Dun Karm Street, Birkirkara, BKR 9038, Malta Dr. Eduard Krackowizer, mailworx Sales Manager Francois Grech, Executive Director Tel: +43 728920072 Fax: +43 72892007220 Tel: +356 2011 2020 [email protected] [email protected] www.mailworx.info www.exigy.com eworx Network & Internet is an IT specialist. Exigy delivers strategic software solutions aimed With over ten years of experience in newsletter at providing customers with an effective bridge and e-mail marketing, the company is one of between business and technology. Exigy holds the pioneers in this field in Austria, as well as a over ten years of software experience in the Microsoft Certified Gold Partner. The company’s delivery of enterprise resource planning, retail services cater for a diverse customer base, from one management, customer relationship management, man businesses to multi-national corporations. collaboration, business intelligence, e-business, The eworx newsletter tool ‘mailworx’, which identity management and e-government solutions. has been developed in-house, is a multilingual, Throughout the years, Exigy has been web-based enterprise level e-mail marketing system, entrusted with key government and private sector which stands out due to its simple interface and projects in multiple industries – namely retail, professional features. One of the great advantages wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, e-gaming, of mailworx is the ability to interconnect with telecommunications, financial and professional systems like Microsoft Dynamics CRM, or other services – across Europe and the Mediterranean. systems based on customers unique requirements. Exigy has been recognised as a specialised Benchmarking and analysing of several million Microsoft Gold Partner in enterprise resource e-mails and their opening and click rates verify planning and collaboration and content solutions, that mailworx customers have greater success in which has led the company to win the Microsoft reaching their customer base. Malta Partner of the Year award in 2012. Exigy The second area of expertise within eworx is also holds the ISO 9001 quality certification in the the ‘eworx IT service division’, providing a fully provision of software solutions. comprehensive IT solution for your business Exigy has a certified team of solution whether you have five or 150 workstations. developers, consultants, architects and project The company’s IT experts look after aspects managers who work together to successfully of customers’ IT systems for a flat monthly deliver every project in line with customer management fee allowing for a focus on the expectations, while providing all the services core business, while saving money on IT needed throughout the project lifecycle – from administration and giving greater security. scoping and analysis, to design, development, data eworx constantly invests in product migration, implementation and support. Having development and training to ensure that completed numerous solution certifications, customers get the best service possible, which Exigy’s team of technical experts are continuously can be seen by the level Microsoft certifications. being trained in new software developments and project management approaches. www.onwindows.com/partners FreedomPay Gfi Portugal 100 Matsonford Rd, Building 5, Suite 100, Edifício Atlantis, Avenida João II, Lote 1.06.2.2, Radnor, PA, 19087, US 1990-095, Portugal Andrea Waldin, VP, Marketing Susana Gonçalves, Marketing Manager Tel: +1 866 3231869 Fax: +351 914 297224 [email protected] [email protected] www.freedompay.com www.gfi.pt As a cloud-based commerce platform Gfi Portugal is a multinational enterprise revolutionising the payments world, the consulting, outsourcing and systems integration, FreedomPay Commerce Platform provides with more than 10,000 professionals and strong an interactive, open architecture that allows presence in France and southern Europe. In Microsoft customers across all sectors to leverage Portugal, Gfi has been present since 1999, legacy systems to engage consumers. offering professional excellence and the best The FreedomPay platform includes mobile solutions to clients, with a team of over 570 payments and incentive technologies that highly qualified professionals. integrate with live POS systems, a state-of-the-art Gfi Portugal has a set of skills to build and gateway that transports exceedingly detailed offer services and solutions that are adapted data, rigorous security tools and the ability to to the market needs in several sectors, such as leverage the platform to improve sales, customer public administration, healthcare, media and loyalty and incentive effectiveness. communications, financial services, industry and utilities, and transport and distribution. The company’s services include business solutions, consulting, engineering and system integration and outsourcing. Gfi Portugal provides services to some of the Top 100 companies in Portugal and to the most important agencies of public administration. Gfi Portugal enjoys privileged partnerships with the market’s technological leaders. Its partners represent an essential link in the value chain that are offered to clients, helping Gfi Portugal to create innovative solutions both in terms of technology and of business processes. The company has six practices: business intelligence, cloud computing, digital, mobility, outsourcing and testing. The company’s values define Gfi’s culture and individuality, with ambition, innovation, commitment, team spirit and social responsibility guiding the company’s approach and decision-making. 123 Partner directory Companies A-Z GOB Software & Systeme Godrej Infotech Europark Fichtenhain A4, Krefeld, 47807, Germany Plant 10, Gate 4, Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli West, Mu 400079, India Nicole Wassenberg, Marketing Manager Tel: +49 2151 3493000 Kingshuk Chatterjee, Global Head - Sales and [email protected] Marketing Tel: +91 22 67964050 Fax: +91 22 25181728 GOB, founded in 1965, is located in Krefeld, [email protected] Germany. With more than 250 employees and www.godrejinfotech.com 1,000 national and international projects, it is one of the largest and most successful Microsoft Godrej Infotech is a software services and Dynamics partners worldwide. unitop, an consulting company headquartered in Mumbai, integrated company solution, is based on the India providing enterprise resource planning Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP software. unitop (ERP) implementation, global rollout, upgrade is used by medium-sized companies that focus and application support related services on the sectors of trade and industry, as well as by primarily focused into retail, distribution, non-profit organisations. logistics and manufacturing industries Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides a wide worldwide. With more than 300 customers range of business process functionality, and GOB across the globe in these industry segments, supplements it with additional features that are Godrej Infotech is one of the premium ERP essential to fulfil specific industry requirements. service providers. The company draws its In addition to these industry-specific features, strength from deep domain knowledge and unitop relies on a standardised product base. technology expertise, which enables it to deliver Features from other target markets are thus value to customers through reducing total cost of integrated into the unitop base, so that anyone ownership and faster return on investment. can use them. As a result, GOB’s customers benefit from synergies between various industries, regardless of their own industry. GOB is an integrated provider of IT solutions. In addition to software solutions, that also includes solid IT project management. When introducing IT projects, GOB relies on its unitop4sure IT project management system. In addition, GOB offers comprehensive services in the area of systems technology. As a result, GOB’s unitop solutions can run on customer servers on premises as well as through cloud solutions. www.onwindows.com/partners Harel Mallac Technologies HSO Enterprise Solutions 22, Eugene Laurent street, Port-louis, 742CU001, Atlantic House, Imperial Way, Reading, Mauritius Berkshire, RG2 0TD, UK Siddick Elaheebocus, Head of Department Gavin Oberholzer, Tel: +44 7896988354 (Infrastructure Solutions/Services Lead) [email protected] Tel: +230 207 3200 Fax: +230 207 3232 [email protected] Sergio Cardoso, Tel: +44 7961533633 (Rental) www.hmtechnologies.mu [email protected] Established in 1987, Harel Mallac Technologies is a Hector Hickmott, Tel: +44 798577571 (Retail) subsidiary of Harel Mallac Group and has evolved [email protected] through acquisitions and mergers into one of the www.hso.com leading regional company in the field of technology. Harel Mallac Technologies encompasses a HSO has more than 25 years of experience as a wide and comprehensive range of solutions trusted provider of industry-focused enterprise to address the needs of small and large resource planning (ERP) software. HSO is a pure- organisations within and across multiple play expert in Microsoft Dynamics AX, delivering industry sectors, including infrastructure predictable results with unrivalled levels of (servers, storage, virtualisation and customer satisfaction and support availability. consolidation); networking, telecoms and HSO has delivered more than 1,000 successful security solutions; banking and hospitality ERP implementations in manufacturing, solutions; enterprise applications (enterprise distribution, wholesale and retail. The HSO Group resource planning, customer relationship employs more than 300 people across Europe, management); hospitality; physical security; North America and Asia. Its international availability business process automation. means it can comfortably manage large multi-site In view of enhancing customers’ experience implementations while providing the local expertise and satisfaction, Harel Mallac Technologies has needed, wherever a company is located. invested in required training and certifications As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner since for its engineers. These certifications are 2002, HSO is proud to be named Microsoft recognised by major vendors such as IBM, Dynamics Reseller of the Year for Western Europe Dell, Microsoft, Cisco, Checkpoint, McAfee and Most Customer-Focused Microsoft Partner in and Symantec. The company has customised 2010. HSO is further recognised as a member of its service level agreements to meet the the Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle. requirements of its customers ranging from HSO prides itself on its customer satisfaction normal working hours to 24/7 agreements. Its and was named ‘Most customer-oriented Microsoft after sales service is the authorised repair centre Dynamics partner for 2010’. Its expertise and for IBM, Dell and Acer. pragmatic approach to each customer’s business needs enable it to provide a 100 per cent reliable solution, underpinned by award winning support. 125 Partner directory Companies A-Z Information Management Ingram Micro IML Building, 2100 Tabet Forest, Sin El Fil, Luchthavenlaan, 25A, Vilvoorde, 1800, Belgium 55333, Lebanon Alain Caeymaex, Marketing Manager Europe Cherif Bedran, Managing Director [email protected] Tel: +961 1 481075 Fax: +961 1 481047 www.ingrammicro.com [email protected] ww.iml.as Ingram Micro is the world’s largest wholesale technology distributor, by net sales, and a global Since 1981 Information Management Limited leader in IT supply chain management, mobile (IML) has been committed to delivering device lifecycle services and logistics solutions. innovations that help customers harness As a vital link in the technology value chain, their knowledge to dramatically improve the Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability management of their business. opportunities for vendors, resellers and other IML provides information technology customers through unique marketing programs, solutions for the banking, healthcare and outsourced logistics and mobile device lifecycle wholesale industries, specialising in factoring, solutions, technical support, financial services call accounting, enterprise resource planning and and product aggregation and distribution, hospital management systems. solutions creation and cloud services models. The products and services offered by IML Since its beginnings in 1979, Ingram Micro are cost effective and use state-of-the-art has connected technology solution providers development tools, making them easy to use, with vendors worldwide, identifying markets striking to look at and, last but not least, reliable and technologies that shape the IT industry. and enduring. Today, Ingram Micro remains at the forefront of the global technology marketplace, bringing the latest products and services to market and finding new ways to bring value to its customers. www.onwindows.com/partners IT Business Center IT Peers Sverigesvej 164200, Denmark Rua da Lionesa, 446, Edifício C38, Leça do Balio, 4465 – 671, Portugal Stig Herstal, CSO Tel: +45 70 233283 Jorge Duarte, CEO [email protected] Tel: +351 220101587 Fax: +351 220101588 www.itbc.dk [email protected] www.itpeers.com IT Business Center delivers IT solutions for the small and medium-sized business market, IT Peers offers specialised services in primarily in Denmark but also for Danish infrastructure optimisation, through end- companies with subsidiaries abroad. The to-end proven methodologies and analysis main focus is to deliver an A-to-Z solution for tools. A strong focus on core competencies customers with premier support backing up the like virtualisation, cloud computing, business daily use of the IT systems delivered. continuity and application performance The solutions on offer consist of Microsoft’s services provide its customers with state-of-the- cloud universe, with Microsoft Office 365, art solutions that are both efficient and cost Microsoft CRM Online and Microsoft Dynamics effective. IT Peers delivers solutions using proven NAV Online being the most important Microsoft technology to help companies to elements. Along with professional services for always achieve best-in-class return on investment implementation and support, the necessary and maximise the usage of their IT assets. hardware and a cloud based phone system (PBX) The company has been consistently providing completes the customer offering. All solutions are services to leading customers worldwide, offered as ‘as-a-service’ with a recurring payment. implementing infrastructures that meet the Retailers are able to contribute with IT highest quality standards at the best possible Business Center’s easy, but yet advanced point of price. All its customers know that only the best sale (POS) solution. The POS solution is cloud work for IT Peers, and that, no matter how based and can be connected with both Microsoft difficult the challenge is, the company always Dynamics C5 and NAV. delivers results. Online retailers are also offered a chance to IT Peers’ offer also includes DATAPEERS, expand and optimise their business with an a suite that allows the automated creation of advanced webshop solution, with integration non-production databases based on consistent to both Microsoft Dynamics C5 and NAV. The subsets of production data, ensuring the company’s implementation team will analyse the protection of sensitive data through advanced customer’s needs and come up with a solution masking techniques. Its solution MULTIPEERS that will support the customer’s needs. is a unique business activity monitoring IT Business Center has been delivering IT services tool that greatly enhances collaboration and since 2002 and 20 highly motivated and skilled communication in companies by pushing real employees support more than 500 companies. time heterogeneous information from virtually any data source to the user’s desktops and mobile devices. 127 Partner directory Companies A-Z iTi Computers Juice Cira Carica 3, Dubrovnik, 20000, Croatia Canadabaan 18, Nistelrode, 5388 RT, Netherlands Niksa Ivanovic, Manager Tel: +385 20 438777 Fax: +385 20 438775 Eppo Loeffen, Director [email protected] Tel: +31 412 611453 www.iticomputers.hr [email protected] www.juicebv.nl The vision of iTi Computers is to offer superior quality and an innovative approach to building Juice develops web and software solutions for an integrated information system as one of the businesses – from relatively small, informative fundamental points of carrying out efficient websites to complex but easy-to-run web shops. business operations, and to provide timely and Juice can also help online businesses with relevant management information. their search engine optimisation. The company The Diventa Business solution is the company’s does this for small and one-man businesses, but software product that presents a modular, also for renowned international companies. customisable and tightly integrated information Juice’s designers design fresh, professional system made for resort businesses and commercial and clear online house styles. Even for office activities. Diventa provides timely, reliable and automation, Juice has all the necessary expertise transparent information to all hierarchical levels of at its fingertips. management in the process of short-term and long- A young and dynamic team, Juice has the term business decisions, and quick and efficient capacity, know-how and expertise for the most flow of business operations. diverse web and software assignments. The iTi Computers provides support, consulting company also very happily works together with and information system design, agile in various regular partners. They all have the same customising modules or developing new ones in ambition as Juice does, which is to develop the accordance with the specific needs of users. ideal solution for the client. Solutions offered by iTi Computers include Diventa Business System, Diventa PMS, Diventa Camp, Diventa Charter, Diventa Marina, Diventa Internet Booking, Diventa Spa and Wellness, Diventa Gastro, Diventa Wholesale, Diventa Retail, Diventa BI, Diventa Planning and Diventa Mobile App. The quality of iTi Computers’ products is based on knowledge, skill and more than 30 years of experience acquired in tourism centre of Dubrovnik, Croatia, and abroad, as seen by numerous successful solutions that are already in practice. www.onwindows.com/partners Lexit Group Link Management Solutions Trondheimsveien 642040, Norway Avenida Duque D’Ávila 23 Lisboa, 1000-138, Portugal Joachim Næss, Key Account Manager Tel: +47 63984080 Jose Mouraris, ENG [email protected] Tel: +351 213100101 Fax: +351 213100008 www.lexit.no [email protected] www.link.pt Lexit Group is a leading supplier of high performance data collection and product Link Management Solutions’ key mission labelling hardware to every vertical there is; print is to generate value to its customers by and apply solutions to leading food and industry offering technology innovation in the areas of manufacturers retail solutions; and point of sale information and communication technologies. equipment. Lexit Group also produces high Link’s main business is the implementation quality labels of all sizes and shapes for a variety of planning and management control systems in of customers throughout Scandinavia. organisations, with vertical solutions for the most With a unique Scandinavian presence, made representative markets in the area of services, possible through offices in Oslo and Trondheim transportation, industry and utilities. in Norway, Gothenburg in Sweden, and Link Management Solutions is the Partner Copenhagen and Vejle in Denmark, Lexit Group Power representative for Portugal. has successfully been focused on creating value and helping more than 1,000 customers and 200 partners solve business challenges for more than 20 years. Through knowledge, innovation and strong connections to all the industry leading manufacturers, Lexit Group aims to be a key partner to user, whether they need to comply with new government regulations regarding traceability, ensure they are up to date on the latest labelling standards, create more value from an enterprise resource planning/warehouse management system, meet margin pressure or increased competition, increase customer satisfaction or grow their business. 129 Partner directory Companies A-Z Madeforit Maestro Harasveien 9A0283, Norway Mannerheiminkatu 7, Lappeenranta, 53900, Finland Marius Dima, Owner Tel: +47 40456242 Jussi Montonen, Marketing [email protected] [email protected] www.madeforit.com www.maestro.fi Madeforit’s mission is to provide innovative and Maestro is an agile and independent vendor of flexible solutions to address the needs of users. information systems. Maestro specialises in retail The company builds custom applications business, services, wholesale trade and chained involving mobile, web, Windows Azure, and commerce in Finland. Maestro’s goal is to help Microsoft Office-related projects. customers to succeed. Maestro’s cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system MaestroNG covers all of a company’s vital needs for business management but also includes a fully integrated solution for e-commerce, customer relationship management and point of service. As a result of this ERP suite, customers can cut down the number of different software and integrations and monitor and use everything via a single state-of-the-art web user interface. This unified system is able to produce accurate financial reports in real time, all through a cloud-based server application. Various sales channels, including web stores can be integrated to provide an overarching view of the business, all of which is communicating in real time. The importance of customer orientation is an unquestionable cornerstone for Maestro and it is shown by a profound interest in its customers’ businesses. It is important for Maestro to continuously develop its operational skills and deepen customer relationships to foster genuine partnerships, where both parties will gain more benefits. Because of this, the company is able to develop the software further: with the customers and for the customers. www.onwindows.com/partners Maginus Milestone Consulting Floats Road, Manchester, M23 9PL, UK Estrada de Alfragide, 107 A22610-008, Portugal Janice Mawhinney, Marketing Manager Rui Martins, Senior Manager Tel: +44 161 9460000 Tel: +351 21 4710646 [email protected] [email protected] www.maginus.com www.milestone.pt Maginus fully understands the challenges of Milestone Consulting is a consulting company running multi-channel retail and distribution with strong process knowledge. The company businesses, that’s because the company focuses uses this asset to develop web-based access to entirely in this marketplace. As a result, Maginus be used in companies that want to provide web is an expert in delivering multi-channel and e- access to their own processes. commerce platforms that help retailers improve It provides web access to clients, sales people, customer service, grow revenues while at the same branches and headquarters teams through PCs, time controlling and reducing operational costs. notebooks, tablets and smartphones to corporate The company’s skills and capabilities stretch applications (i.e. enterprise resource planning, from online store to back office, hosting to digital customer relationship management). marketing. With the highest fit of any multi- Milestone’s main purpose is to ensure team channel solutions provider, Maginus provides members can process internal activities via a solutions that will meet all business management single platform. The platform’s goal is to offer needs in a single integrated environment, built simplicity and quick usage in order to highly on the Microsoft Dynamics AX platform – increase user performance. scalable, adaptable and highly functional. This platform can be used anywhere. It can be Maginus’ solutions give comprehensive control accessed via a PC, notebook, tablet and smartphone over multi-channel sales, fulfilment and service, and access is supported in a web environment. allowing companies to market, sell and deliver This platform can be used anytime. It works products and services via retail outlets, web, best with online access but in the case of network catalogue and mail-order, kiosks and mobiles. coverage absence, certain critical functionalities To get the best out of a business, it is essential can be performed and synchronised as soon as to extend the various channels to the market. network coverage is obtained. Maginus can help organisations to extend Available functionalities will be presented in business reach and knowledge of their customers order, enabling each user to only access required across channels and to provide a true customer- data. Permissions to create, modify and display will centric experience each time they engage. exist at a screen and field group level. It supports a predefined number of profiles but it is possible to define new ones, if required. User authentication is managed in a specific organisation through single sign-on. According to the client decision, the platform can be available as software-as-a-service or installed on a client independent database. 131 Partner directory Companies A-Z myAppsOnline Mydatafactory Rua Das Lapas, C.C. da Charneca, Lj 11, Cascais, Stationsweg 51a, 7941 HC, Netherlands 2750-536, Portugal A.A. Herskamp, Director Jose Bello, Owner Tel: +31 521 550200 Tel: +351 914 593353 [email protected] [email protected] www.mydatafactory.com www.myappsonline.com Mydatafactory focuses on fixing product data As an IT service provider, myAppsOnline’s quality problems by delivering to customers mission is to provide customers with cost-effective the best software to clean, update, structure, solutions that maximise their productivity. standardise and enrich their product data. The management and quality experience The software is intelligent and improves itself of myAppsOnline helps ensure all customer depending on the usage. Where others work services and IT solutions are aligned with the with rule-based functions, Mydatafactory strategy of clients’ businesses. works with advanced language processing With over 20 years of IT experience, and a algorithms and dictionary driven technologies. Microsoft partner since 1998 in consulting, Mydatafactory is the tool of choice for serious business continuity, backup, security, help desk, product data cleansing needs. software development and project management, myAppsOnline acts as sole contact for all the technology needs of its customers. It manages projects throughout their entire lifecycle. Customers can therefore concentrate all their efforts on the core activities of their business. This results in an enduring relationship between the customers and myAppsOnline, which is advantageous to both parties. By giving customers all knowledge, the company assures that there will be no artificial customer dependency created. myAppsOnline implements an automated, process driven model to achieve high levels of efficiency and client satisfaction With its partner Evidensys, a leading web and mobile development company, myAppsOnline can design, develop and promote web or mobile apps across various operating systems. Its team is business oriented and operates in a lean and agile environment. www.onwindows.com/partners NCR NEXON 3097 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, Georgia, Budapest, Vaci ut 186 1138, Hungary 30096, US Katalin Heray, PR Specialist Tel: +1 800 2255627 (In US)/+1 937 4451936 Tel: +361 4655100 Fax: +361 4655101 (outside US) [email protected] www.ncr.com www.nexon.hu NCR Corporation is a global leader in consumer As Hungary’s leading human resources transaction technologies, turning everyday management software developer and service interactions with businesses into exceptional provider, Nexon offers solutions that assist experiences. With its software, hardware and its clients in the acceleration and efficiency portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 450 enhancement of their business innovation. million transactions daily across the financial, Nexon is one of the largest information retail, hospitality, travel, telecom and technology technology companies in Hungary with a industries. NCR solutions run the everyday market share of 30 per cent. Present on the transactions that make customers’ lives easier. Hungarian market for more than two decades, NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia the company offers its solutions to entities of all with over 26,000 employees and does business sizes, from custom-tailored software to meet the in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR needs of small and medium businesses, to the Corporation in the US and other countries. The comprehensive application packages required company encourages investors to visit its website, by global organisations to cover their entire which is updated regularly with financial and other operational processes. important information about NCR. The whole spectrum of payroll, workforce and human resource (HR) management is covered by Nexon’s HRM software portfolio. The company provides best-practice functionality and a high user experience for HR professionals as well as employees through its self-service application. With Nexon’s software-as-a-service solution, the cost of running internal infrastructure and, consequently, the total cost of ownership is reduced. Nexon also provides comprehensive payroll and HR administration outsourcing services. Its outsourcing services offer a fast and accurate solution for those who want to solve their business challenges in an often changing legal environment and focus on human capital management. 133 Partner directory Companies A-Z Qinisa Consulting Qurus 6 Montrose Avenue, Claremont, Cape Town, Hoofdstraat 1-3M, 2351 AA, Netherlands 7708, South Africa Lucy Kennedy, Managing Director David Rigby, General Manager Tel: +31 610 845666 Tel: +27 673 7300 Fax: +27 683 6031 [email protected] [email protected] www.qurus.com www.qinisa.co.za Qurus specialises in offering channel partner Qinisha Consulting’s passion is to deliver communication and management services to successful business and technology solutions clients throughout EMEA. Qurus has more than to mid-sized and corporate customers. The ten years of experience working with national leadership team at Qinisa have more than 20 years’ and multinational clients to discover, enrol, train, experience in successfully delivering enterprise communicate with, and incentivise their channel resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship partners. Qurus services deliver a return on management (CRM) solutions to customers. investment by maximising the value of a client’s The company’s partners play a very important channel activities. role in ensuring success, and Qinisha is able to Qurus partner discovery, survey and offer customers highly functional and affordable recruitment activities will expand customers’ software solutions. Partners include some of the partner bases and swiftly onboard new partners leading software companies. to their channel. Qinisha has a team of very talented, passionate Qurus partner readiness plans and multi- and committed individuals with the experience language content/training ensure that partners and expertise to make a critical difference understand and are correctly positioned to and ensure the success of every project. increase their sales of products and services. The company’s resources have vast project Qurus demand generation and channel experience and have acquired strong industry incentive programmes will drive (pull) more knowledge and expertise to provide customers customers to partners, and will incentivise with value-added services and software solutions. (push) partners to sell more products. The company is committed to delivering Cooperative marketing programmes are both solutions using the Microsoft technology a valuable funding source and administrative platform. Its primary business software solutions effort. Qurus services will ensure that customers are Dynamics NAV and Dynamics CRM. make maximum use of earned funds, while Qinisa provides a range of services and simultaneously reducing administrative effort. software solutions to companies operating in Qurus channel and partner data analyses the supply chain and services market, and the will provide insights into the health of channel company offers solutions for specific industries and the actual or expected effectiveness of such service, retail, fashion apparel, food and campaigns. beverage, as well as a number of horizontal solutions for internal staff training, operations, fleet management, property management and business intelligence analytics. www.onwindows.com/partners INC. Reysastech S.J. Softech Cyberpark Tepe Binasi Kat 1, No 4 Bilkent Stoneway Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K2G 6R2, Canada Ankara, 06800, Turkey Suresh Rapur, President Nazlan Develioglu, Coordinator Phone: +1 6138438930 Tel: +90 312 4368330 Fax: +90 312 2664484 [email protected] [email protected] www.sjsoftech.com www.reysastech.com The S.J. Softech team comprises of highly Reysastech is a technology company developing talented Microsoft .NET, BizTalk Integration supply chain management systems. experts, Microsoft Dynamics experts, developers, In the company’s portfolio there are different project managers and business process solutions like warehouse management systems architects. S.J. Softech has a proven history of for logistics service providers, automated delivering quality projects successfully and it replenishment systems for retail and statistical offers 100 per cent money back guarantee to forecasting for manufacturers. their customers. With presence in more than 20 European S.J. Softech also offers IT consulting, managed countries, Reysastech systems are used daily. and outsourcing services, as well as complete Its offices are located in major cities in Turkey services for design and implementation of integrated and the company’s research and development solutions customised according to the specific needs centre is located in Ankara at the Bilkent and goals of the particular organisation. University campus, where the company enjoys S.J. Softech is also a software product academic cooperation with projects, from development company. Some of its flagship industrial engineering, software engineering products are: BizTalk Adapter for Microsoft and statistics departments. Dynamics CRM, which customers can use Reysastech believes in continuous innovation to cut down integration development and and thinks that customers have to be on the field implementation cost by at least 50 per to keep up momentum. cent. Ghatana is an enterprise complex Therefore in 2012 Reysastech created the event processing engine which is capable of Logistics Operations division and opened small- processing a huge volume of events and taking scale warehouses across the country. Using its actions on those events at runtime dynamically. own latest systems, the company has created a It’s so easy to author and manage event real laboratory for its technology business. specification using Ghatana. At Reysastech, the triangle of innovative technology development supported by academic contribution and hands on real-world experience is key for the company’s success in this business. 135 Partner directory Companies A-Z Sendys Signature South Consulting Visconde Valmor, No. 66 - Piso 1, Lisbon, Vitacura 2808, Piso 4. Las Condes, Santiago, 1050-242, Portugal 7550597, Chile Rodrigo Bernardo, Chief Sales Officer Mario Fernandez, CEO Tel: +351 707 230230 Tel: +56 284 07172 Fax: +56 284 07172 [email protected] [email protected] www.sendys.pt www.southconsulting.com Sendys is one of the oldest and most experienced Signature South Consulting is a Microsoft Portuguese software houses, with 30 years of Gold Certified independent software vendor strong focus on an excellent service based on specialising in electronic invoicing solutions. customers’ direct support. Based in Santiago, Chile, the company has been At the forefront of integrated management operating since 2001, building a large client solutions, Sendys designs, develops, markets base throughout Latin America. The company’s and implements software solutions that help solutions are used by more than 2,500 corporate improve management, control and foster business customers across many industries, including enterprises. It also presents a wide range of qualified financial services, pharmaceuticals, insurance, complementary services, which places it in a unique retail, telecommunications and mining. position to offer global IT solutions for companies. The company’s flagship product is Signature The challenge of Sendys is to help each e-Invoicing, a hosted electronic invoicing customer find the best solution, with tools that solution launched in 2003, which is available help minimise time, cost and risk. for all Latin American countries that have It offers a wide, specialised and integrated regulated the electronic invoicing. Businesses use management solutions of enterprise resource the solution to streamline invoicing processes planning, customer relationship management, by eliminating paper documents and account business process management, business validations, which in traditional invoicing intelligence, key performance indicators, and scenarios are resource-intensive activities. Today, document management. the solution handles more than five million Sendys is a business partner of trust and high electronic invoices monthly. availability. It is a valuable resource for the growth The company develops Gosocket (www. and expansion of the costumer’s business as they gosocket.net), a platform that allows companies create and develop innovative, robust and value- issuing electronic invoices to effectively deliver added business in a quick and effective way. these documents to their customers, which is High adaptability and the possibility of especially useful when the receivers are small designing specific business processes, company- businesses. The basic service of publication and wide integration and information available delivery of e-invoices doesn’t have any cost for anytime, anywhere, are just some of the issuers nor for receivers. However, facilitating the advantages Sendys offers. management of accounts payables and accounts With a global presence, the company has over receivables from companies of all types and sizes 10,000 customers worldwide, in a diverse range is possible with Gosocket’s viable new financial of business areas. solutions, such as e-Factoring and e-Payments. www.onwindows.com/partners SoftwareONE Norway SPH e-Commerce Systemhaus Martin Linges vei 251364, Norway Maybachstr. 39, Stuttgart, 70469, Germany Gerhard Behr, Country Leader Peter Hartmann, Head of Strategy, Marketing, Tel: +47 67792230 Fax: +47 21547235 Finance [email protected] Tel: +49 711 8905311 www.softwareone.no [email protected] www.sph-ag.com SoftwareONE is a licensing solutions provider with the unique combination of being truly global, SPH was founded in 1975 as Softwarehaus focused on software licensing solutions and privately- Peter Hartmann and has specialised in direct owned since 1985. The company’s 1,000-strong marketing and mail order business for over 35 team of licensing professionals provide expertise years now. through a consultative, long-term approach, helping The company offers customers many possible customers optimise their software spend, while ways to address optimisation, providing a range facilitating relationships between the customer, of support services to customers, whether it software publishers and local service partners. concerns software integration, the service in the The company’s Software Lifecycle Portal data centre, or an internet enquiry. is a leading-edge web platform providing SPH’s software is successful due to simple single-point access to software license and operations, fast run-times and outstanding quality. agreement information, procurement and One of its core competences is the holistic IT reporting. This intuitive, globally-connected consultation for direct marketing. portal enables seamless communication and The company’s field-tested and efficient software collaboration between customers, work teams, solutions covering everything around addresses and SoftwareONE, streamlining the purchasing result from this direct marketing know-how. process and increasing the bottom line. Furthermore, it has developed an enterprise SoftwareONE’s SAM program eliminates the resource planning/customer relationship guesswork normally associated with the software management fulfilment solution with which up licensing process. Instead, customers can make to 250,000 orders can be processes per day. fact-based purchasing and asset management The company’s partnerships with Microsoft decisions backed by detailed information on and other companies give customers maximum deployed software and software application security and a guaranteed connection to the usage within their environment. latest technology. Whether a single snapshot of the software environment is needed, or an ongoing programme across an organisation is required, SoftwareONE offers several levels of service, depending on business needs. SoftwareONE’s award-winning VARassist partner programme aligns it with best of breed IT service providers to bring customers comprehensive solutions and value across the entire technology spectrum. 137 Partner directory Companies A-Z Spirit/21 Sultan Solutions Otto-Lilienthal-Strasse 36, 70134, Boblingen, Nieuwland Parc 74, Papendrecht, 3351 LJ, Germany Netherlands Stephan Friedlin, Director Jean Paul Teunisse, CTO Tel: +49 7031 7149696 Tel: +31 78 7112500 [email protected] [email protected] www.spirit21.com www.sultansolutions.nl Spirit/21 is an internationally operating Sultan Solutions provides customer relationship consulting and services company that is management, mobile customer relationship rated among the ten leading mid-sized IT and management, and contact management software communication services providers in Germany. solutions for sales, marketing and customer Its customers include national and international service teams. It offers an enterprise software companies as well as medium-sized businesses solution, as well as professional, education and across all kinds of industries. training services. The company also provides Spirit/21’s consulting services, application Sultan CRM Azure, a cloud-based customer services, infrastructure services and education relationship management (CRM) solution for services support and advise clients through organisations. It serves entrepreneurs, multi- comprehensive, sustainable solutions. national organisations, small and medium-sized The company’s clients benefit from strategic businesses, and divisions of large enterprises. partnerships that Spirit/21 has built with leading Because there is no intervention between manufacturers and solutions providers. supplier and/or reseller, Sultan Solution Thanks to many successful projects, the establishes a direct relationship with its company offers the know-how and diverse customers. This results in affordable software experience that is needed for sound consulting licences and friendly consultancy rates. and the best possible project execution. Most CRM software is based on the principle Its employees are the decisive success of one size fits all. The implementation of this factors. Their technical professional training software requires hiring expensive consultants, and further personal development are a first which is coupled with expensive licences to get priority. Spirit/21 Group currently has around the desired functionality. 450 permanent employees and 300 freelancers. The way Sultan’s software is established is As an attractive employer, Spirit/21 offers all with a focus on the specific needs of the end user the advantages of a medium-sized company: flat without compromising the standard functionality hierarchies and outstanding career opportunities of its CRM solution. This allows Sultan Solutions in interesting and challenging projects. to deliver the desired CRM implementations in a Through appreciation, quality consciousness short time at affordable prices. and honesty, the company seeks to build and develop performance-oriented business relationships based on trust and cooperation. www.onwindows.com/partners TARGIT Business Intelligence The KITE 3450 Buschwood Park Dr, Suite 22033618, US Radlicka 751/113e, Prague, 515800, Czech Republic Valerie Hornbach, Sales and Marketing Coordinator Pham Huu Uyen, Manager Tel: +1 813 9334600 Fax: +1 813 3156511 [email protected] [email protected] www.kite.cz www.targit.com The KITE Company provides a wide range According to Gartner, TARGIT is the world’s of software solutions for flight operations largest business intelligence vendor for companies management, for leasing companies and banks using Microsoft Dynamics NAV or AX. The since 1993 and covers the entire spectrum of company is also included in Gartner’s ‘Magic IT services including consulting, application Quadrant for Business Intelligence Platforms’ development, implementation and support. and BARC’s business intelligence survey with The key element of The KITE’s mission is to high scores in user-friendliness, visualisation and provide smart solutions with strong emphasis innovation. In the US alone, TARGIT has achieved on optimising functions for all processes of seven business intelligence (BI) and analytics customer’s operation. The KITE believes that related patents, and 21 more worldwide. optimisation techniques are very important for TARGIT BI was designed to give users the customers to reduce costs, increase effectiveness answers they need to take action in the least and maximise profit. One of the company’s amount of time. With BI accelerators for AX, NAV, solutions is the AVES system, designed for the GP and CRM, users can get up and running in as flight and crew operation support. It has powerful little as a day. The mobile TARGIT application, and flexible optimisation functions that can help TARGIT Touch, enables users to analyse on the go airlines to reduce operational costs and smartly and receive notifications of changing parameters manage schedule and daily operations as well. directly on their mobile device. The KITE cooperated as one of the key suppliers Through TARGIT’s intuitive design, users are on the winning IT project ‘Implementation of empowered to independently create and analyse Collaborative Decision Making at Prague Airport’ reports, analyses, dashboards and more. Users in the prestigious IT Project of the Year 2011 in all departments and levels of an organisation competition, organised by the ICT CACIO Union - can gain greater insight, improve processes, and Czech Association of IT managers. make better decisions faster thanks to TARGIT’s The company is certified according to flexibility and ease of use. ISO 9001 in the field of development and With data holds the key to intelligent business maintenance of software products and supply of decisions, TARGIT helps companies find the computer technology. courage to act. The KITE is a Microsoft Partner with the Silver Application Development competency. 139 Partner directory Companies A-Z Today IT Ultimate Software Computerlaan 12, Delft, 2628 XK, Netherlands Maanlander 33Amersfoort, NL-3824 MN, Netherlands Frank de Vos, Managing Director Tel: +31 115 7501050 Rene Altena, Senior Vice President [email protected] Tel: +31 88 4242424 Fax: +31 88 4242499 www.today-it.nl [email protected] www.ultimateshippingsolutions.com Today IT is an international market leader in providing software solutions for returnable Based in Amersfoort, Netherlands, Ultimate transit packaging management, also known Software is a leading Microsoft Dynamics AX as reusable packaging management (RPM). partner. Working closely with clients, Ultimate’s By providing both standard and tailor-made certified specialists realise the implementation of solutions, Today IT enables companies of all profitable business systems. Ultimate Software sizes to gain more control over their valuable delivers and implements software solutions to transport items, to streamline their processes and support business processes in the following to prevent unnecessary losses. industries: maritime sector, manufacturing, Its solutions are used by more than 15,000 warehouse management, logistics, project driven users in over 20 countries and support the organisations, supply chain execution, SharePoint management of more than 4,500 different and business intelligence. types of returnable transport items (RTIs), Specifically for these businesses, Ultimate’s representing a value of more than €1 billion. professionals combine their domain knowledge Although initially aimed at the floriculture with the technology of Microsoft’s Dynamics market, Today IT’s solutions are now used in a AX business software. This standard platform wide variety of markets such as the automotive, provides functionality to simplify and structure retail, aviation, logistics and pooling markets. work processes and communication with a In today’s complex supply chains, it is critical proven fast return on investment, high value and that packaging is available when and where low total cost of ownership. customers need it. Today IT’s software solutions Ultimate Software is a Microsoft Gold significantly cut back the time and effort needed Certified Partner, for both its Dynamics AX to track, retrieve, clean and inventory packaging and business intelligence activities. In addition, assets, thereby achieving cost savings that can Ultimate Software has extensive expertise in amount up to three per cent of a companies’ data platform services. turnover. Today IT’s solutions are proven, Ultimate Software provides customers with a flexible, user friendly, based on extensive strong, user friendly and innovative platform that is market experience, and are continuously being future proof. Ultimate Software can help you achieve improved to provide customers with the most your goals. Using the broad functionality of the effective and innovative solutions. standard Dynamics AX system, Ultimate delivers the specific functionality clients need for their business and industry. Specifically for the maritime sector, the company created an add-on FlexPort/FlexShip based on Microsoft Dynamics AX. www.onwindows.com/partners Var Group Veeam Software Via della Piovola 138, Empoli, 50053, Italy Global Headquarters, Linden Park, Lindenstr. 16, Baar, 6340, Switzerland Simona Pelli, Marketing [email protected] Nicolas Savides, Microsoft Alliance Manager www.vargroup.it [email protected] www.veeam.com Var Group, with headquarters in Empoli, is the holding company for a group of companies Veeam is modern data protection – providing specialising in the integration of technology and powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions that IT solutions. The group is a leader in Italy in are built for virtualisation and the cloud. Veeam the provision of services and IT solutions to the Backup & Replication delivers VMware backup, market of end users belonging to the enterprise Hyper-V backup, recovery and replication. and SME segments This VM Backup solution helps organisations Var Group expected revenues and meet recovery point objectives and recovery consolidated returns equal to €154 million time objectives, save time, eliminate risks and in April 2013, up by 3.6 per cent compared dramatically reduce capital and operational to the previous year, with an Ebitda over €9 costs. Veeam Backup Management Suite million and a consolidated net profit after tax of provides all the benefits and features of Veeam approximately €1.5 million Backup & Replication along with advanced The supply of applications, services and monitoring, reporting and capacity planning for specialised technologies per line of business the backup infrastructure. Veeam Management (LOB) and industrial sectors is possible thanks Pack extends enterprise monitoring to VMware to a model of network of companies, specialised through Microsoft System Center and also offers by LOB and territories able to achieve a wide monitoring and reporting for the Veeam Backup market. It has 15,000 customers which are & Replication infrastructure. Veeam also provides mainly industrial and commercial companies. free tools for the virtualisation community. Var Group provides its offer in three key areas Founded in 2006, Veeam is privately owned of activity: and has been profitable since 2009. Veeam • Applications – IT solutions in order to meet currently has over 20,000 ProPartners and the needs of companies more than 80,000 customers worldwide. • Technologies – selling of hardware solutions Veeam’s global headquarters are located in and infrastructure Baar, Switzerland and the company has offices • Services – IT services such as technical throughout the world. assistance, strategic outsourcing, facility management. 141 Partner directory Companies A-Z VELTIONoptimum W+P Solutions 1425 Osprey Drive, Suite 204, Ancaster, Ontario, Breitwiesenstrasse 1970565 Stuttgart, 70565, L9G 4V9, Canada Germany Antonis Halkeas, Managing Director Anika Schall, Marketing Tel: +1 905 6907700 Fax: +1 905 6892200 Tel: +49 711 7705580 Fax: +49 711 770558222 [email protected] [email protected] www.veltion.com www.walter-partner.com VELTIONoptimum is a Microsoft Certified W+P Solutions has 30 years of successful Partner, specialised in logistics information experience in consulting and software systems and warehouse automation. development in the fashion industry. Aberon, the integrated information platform Accomplished industry know-how and many developed by VELTIONoptimum, is a cutting-edge years of expertise, as well as innovative IT platform in the supply chain arena. It provides and reliable software solutions, ensure the a suite covering complete supply chain such as optimisation and integration of all processes warehouse management, distribution management, of production and trading companies in the demand forecast and inventory planning and textile, clothing, accessories, footwear and traceability of raw materials in production and sports industry. order picking automation. As a fashion specialist and certified Microsoft The Aberon suite is supported by a Dynamics partner, W+P Solutions guarantees specialised corporate organisation with maximum functionality on a modern and significant experience implementing solutions object-oriented platform. With this independent across all business sectors. technology base, it supports its customers in Aberon has been awarded by the European a complex, international, multi-language and Union with the first prize distinction, as an country-specific environment of all business areas. innovative product of high technological The company’s solutions include WP Fashion standards. VELTIONoptimum has been AX, an enterprise resource planning vertical certified with ISO 9001: 2008 on development, solution based on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 parameterisation, installation and training of R2; WP Model, a product lifecycle management logistics information systems. solution which can be used as an integrated solution or as independent of other systems; Space Management; and WP Retail For Fashion AX, an overall retail concept for space oriented planning and control www.onwindows.com/partners WIKA Systems Wise Motorenstrasse 35, Wetzikon, 8620, Switzerland Borgartun 26105, Iceland Alfred Josi, Sales Manager Iris Magnusdottir, Marketing Manager Tel: +41 44 9315080 Fax: +41 44 9315099 Tel: +35 45 453200 [email protected] [email protected] www.wika-systems.com www.wise.is A dynamic and qualified team is available Wise Solutions are sold around the world under to contribute its international experience to the names Wise in Iceland and WiseDynamics in companies. Successful implementation projects North America. in Europe, Asia, Africa and America underline Wise sells and implements innovative, industry- the international expertise of WIKA Systems’ focused software and service solutions powered consultants. The company’s approach is ‘Think by the Microsoft Dynamics NAV platform. global – act local’, and is especially applicable in As a leading Microsoft Gold Certified partner, international projects. National customers also the company has experience covering hundreds benefit from WIKA Systems’ experience and of implementations. structures, making it possible to safely care for Wise’s extensive product suite is built on top of both large and small organisations. In numerous Microsoft Dynamics NAV and includes certified projects WIKA Systems has proved its ability to solutions and add-ons: Wise Business Solutions, find the best-fit solutions. Wise BI Solution, WiseFish Seafood Software Solutions and Wise Transport Solutions. The suites also include stand-alone products built on the .NET Framework, Silverlight and WCF RIA Services to give users both mobile access to their data using the Windows Phone platform and analytical capabilities for decision making and a true business intelligence experience. Today, Wise has 80 employees and over 500 customers globally using Dynamics NAV. 143 Partner directory Companies A-Z Young & Partners Kortrijksesteenweg 321/16, Harelbeke, 8530, Belgium Stefan Dedrie, VP International Business Development Tel: +32 5673 2010 Fax: +32 5673 2019 [email protected] www.navitrans.eu Young & Partners’ Microsoft Dynamics certified solution NaviTrans delivers specific functionality to manage a company that offers services in transportation, forwarding and public warehousing. Built on the latest Dynamics NAV platform, it can easily connect to customer and supplier systems. Young & Partners international partner network supports layered logistic service providers globally. NaviTrans is based on three main functionalities: Transport, Forwarding and Public Warehousing. NaviTrans Transport manages transport processes for full and partial loads, bulk, container or express to multi-depot hub and spoke networks. Additional modules such as the Graphical Plan Board (drag-and-drop planning, automatic calculation of distance, time, toll and CO2, route optimisation and integrated fleet monitor), on board computer interface and subcontractor management provide further benefits. NaviTrans Forwarding allows forwarders to take full control over complex multi-modal transports while NaviTrans Warehousing deals with every aspect of public warehousing where multiple articles can belong to multiple customers. The Cross- Docking module enables cross-dock transfers with no warehouse storage in-between. NaviTrans also includes its proprietary key performance indicator dashboard that measures and evaluates information throughout the company and lets the customer define its own indicators. The Alert-Agent sends and receives proactive alert messages between users and groups and helps manage the exception. www.onwindows.com/partners SJ So ech's BizTalk Adapter for Dynamics CRM Seamless, Easy and Fast Integraon CRM SDK's, Proxies, Custom .Net Code BizTalk Dynamics CRM Dynamics CRM Integration Implementations BizTalk Adapter Managed Custom Product Services BizTalk Adapters Development GHaTana Cloud An Event Testing CEP S.J. So ech team comprises of highly talented Microso .Net, BizTalk Integration experts, Microsoft Dynamics experts, developers, project managers and business process architects. S.J. So ech has a proven history of delivering quality projects successful. INC. www.sjso ech.com Phone : +1 613 843 8930 email : info@sjso ech.com THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS ARE PUBLISHING PARTNERS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICES GLOBAL OUTLOOK 2013-2016 © 2013 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.