Web-based supply chain additions set to boost process industries

Pragmatic enhancements to existing supply chain and ERP investments in the process industries are being offered by what was enterprise and e-business software developer SCT, about to change name to Agilisys under new Golden Gate Capital ownership. Under the curious title ‘Relationship Network Modelling’ (RNM), the firm’s new suite offers wide add-on functionality: everything from supply chain event management, to supply chain execution, vendor managed inventory (VMI), promotions management, collaborative replenishment and even new product development. The emphasis is on the words ‘collaborative’ and ‘communication’. Mike Spragg, UK managing director, says existing clients had been asking for what they termed CRM (customer relationship management) functionality, but when questioned harder, actually expected considerably more. The common themes, however, were working with users’ networks of customers, suppliers and partners over the web and building on the firm’s installed supply chain systems. “With our system you can start by defining and modelling relationships so that everything flows from that,” says Spragg. “Everyone who needs to be aware of, for example, an event, or a change, will be.” The system is entirely thin client, web- and browser-centric, and it all links back into the firm’s key advanced planning and scheduling suites, covering internal finite APS, collaborative demand planning and supply chain planning, management and optimisation. Speaking of the Golden Gate take-over, Spragg says it’s been a “great release”. He suggests this division of SCT has seen under-investment in the last 18 months in difficult trading conditions, but insists that with its new backer, which paid $13.2 million cash for SCT, the firm will be back on track with $60 million turnover this year and more new products to follow for the process industries.