Software solutions prove efficient

By ADRIANNE HARTLEY, SUN MEDIA

Many industries face logistical challenges, but with the help of supply-chain orientedsoftware, challenges are being met head on. Richer Systems Group Inc. offers one suchsoftware solution, Enrich, which is used throughout North America by companies in thecommercial transportation field.It features online, real-time data processing to give clients up-to-the-minute information fromany area of their operation, regardless of size and number of facilities — from front-office operations to maintenance and materials to lease and rental information.”Information is playing a more important role than it ever has before in the success of ourcustomers in this industry,” says Tim Bowes, vice-president of sales and services withRicher Systems Group Inc.”The need to provide more information increases in order to make the supply chain moreefficient.”Bowes says a specific solution is vital for most companies, because there is morecompetition in the marketplace.Also, as companies outsource to other companies, the need for information and progressreports on operations must easily be generated beyond just invoicing.”A consolidated system provides accurate and timely data back to customers,” he says.Enrich consolidates transactions so that companies can provide key performance indicators to their customers.”The supply of information is becoming critical in this age, and the ability to collect it and make sure it’s accurate and then deliver it in a timely fashion is what Enrich does,” saysBowes.In the steel industry, Steelman Software Solutions Inc.’s Steel Enterprise ManagementSystem Version 4 creates a collaborative environment for customers, suppliers andprocessors of steel and other metal products.In the past, the metals industry kept track of inventory with a series of cumbersomedatabases.Steelman’s system makes sense of all the confusion by delivering end-to-end solutionsbased on industry best practices as well as their customers’ unique operating practices and processes.”This is very current and specific enterprise resource planning technology designed to suitthe steel marketplace,” says Daniel Brody, managing director of Steelman.