Arena Solutions Issues Fall '06 Edition of "On-Demand" Software for Product Lifecycle Management
Arena Solutions, a vendor of product lifecycle management (PLM) software, has made available the Fall '06 release of Arena PLM. The new version features a number of enhancements, including improved product data with dynamic reference content, greater bill of materials accuracy and easier collaboration across the outsourced supply chain. Integrating with Avnet Promiere's dynamic content and working with Skype's internet communications software, Arena makes possible "mash-up" services, the vendor said. Users can incorporate content from Avnet Promiere directly into Arena PLM through a point-and-click interface. Promiere offers a database of electronic component content through an existing content-reseller relationship with IHS. Content available from Promiere includes purchasability data from Avnet Electronics Marketing, the component distributor, as well as parametric and analytical data. The total database consists of information about more than 19m unique electronic components, Arena said. In addition, manufacturers can now integrate Avnet reference content within the context of their BOMs in real time, improving the critical BOM "scrubbing" process. The result, said Arena, is improved item selection and reduced component duplication, as well as the ability to spot environmental compliance and supply-chain issues early. Through the partnership with Skype Software, Arena PLM users can instantly call and text-chat with co-workers, suppliers and partners within the context of their PLM environments. http://www.arenasolutions.com/
Procuri Launches On DemandPracticeCenter With Supporting Templates Procuri, a vendor of supply-management software, has launched an On Demand Best Practice Center (BPC), along with On Demand Category Intelligence and Templates. The center will provide Procuri customers with phone and Web-based access to the provider's team of supply-management experts and best practices. Extending the capabilities of Procuri's Technical Help Desk support, the BPC will offer best practices and methodologies for a wide range of supply-management issues, including spend profiling and analysis, plotting strategies and auction tactics, contract and language development, supplier registration and performance-measurement strategies. BPC services are delivered in an on-demand fashion through remote phone- and Web-based call centers. A Web-based knowledge library includes up-to-date supply-market intelligence, category analyses, request-for-proposal and negotiation tips, costing surveys and diagnostic tools for sourcing best-value supply agreements in more than 135 spend categories. Procuri BPC, SupplyMarketKnowledgeCenter and Category Sourcing Templates are available to Procuri customers for an annual subscription fee. The center is located at Procuri's Atlanta, Ga. headquarters. http://www.procuri.com/
Adeptia Adds Data Transformation Server for Metadata, Mapping Adeptia Inc. has introduced the Data Transformation Server, software that combines data-transport capability with metadata management and data transformation. The new tool is designed for use in a collaborative environment by business analysts and developers, the company said. Together they can document and automate mapping rules, then modify them quickly when data formats or rules change. Results, claimed Adeptia, are improved data integrity, higher productivity, greater flexibility and better control. Adeptia Data Transformation Server consists of several distinct components, including a Web-based Design Studio which provides wizard-driven, graphical ability to document data rules as they relate to validations, mapping and edits. Multiple users with varying rights and permissions can log in to collaborate on mapping objects. A second component, the Central Repository, serves as the place where all rules and mapping objects are saved. Finally, the Run-time Execution Engine allows for mapping rules and data-flow transactions to be executed on incoming data files and messages. The software is centrally administered and managed, with detailed logs and audit trails available to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. http://www.adeptia.com/
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Seko Expands South American Presence With New Brazil Office Seko, the global freight forwarder and logistics service provider, has expanded into Brazil. The Seko-Brazil unit is headquartered in Sao Paulo, in the heart of the country's southeastern industrial corridor. Heading up the office is managing director Lourenco Cortico. The operation will offer the full range of services for transportation by air, ocean and ground. It also provides logistics consulting, customs brokerage, import/export documentation, customs clearance declarations, bill-of-lading issuance, warehousing and freight-rate negotiation. Brazil has recently experienced an increase in international trade affecting several industries, including textiles, footwear, coffee, beef, steel and machinery parts, said Cortico. Seko has 46 offices in North America, in addition to offices in more than 40 countries. Services include expedited and time-definite air freight, ground and ocean logistics. http://www.sekoworldwide.com/
PeopleNet Offers Onboard Truck Communications, Driver Displays PeopleNet has created g3 Services, the latest enhancement to the company's onboard communications and fleet-management system for truckers. The tool enables third-party providers to share the capabilities of PeopleNet's g3 onboard system, including mobile communications and operational data, at the discretion of the fleet customer. G3 is PeopleNet's transportation and fleet-management system. It is supported by a built-in application programming interface, which permits third-party applications to access the g3 system while allowing g3 to access data from those applications. PeopleNet has announced the first three applications to be delivered through the g3 service interface. They are collision-avoidance system integration, remote vehicle management and disablement system integration, and tethered trailer-tracking system integration. The last makes it possible for fleet operators to be sure that a tractor is hooked to the correct trailer; users also know when a trailer has been dropped and precisely where it can be found. The applications will be brought to market later this year and into early 2007, PeopleNet said. In a related development, the vendor has created new driver-friendly displays for the g3 onboard system. Available in 2007, they include both tethered onboard versions and a selection of portable, handheld wireless devices. The Enhanced Driver Display platform will run on the Windows CE operating system. http://ww.peoplenetonline.com
WebTech Unveils New Wireless Technology for Fleet Operators WebTech Wireless Inc. has released three new products within its Quadrant Locator suite, to aid transportation fleet operators in tracking assets. The WT5800 Locator, which operates over WiFi, offers the benefits of Quadrant's fleet-management system for companies that don't require real-time updates or driver data communications while on the road. Location and vehicle telemetry information is stored in the unit and uploaded automatically when the vehicle returns to a company's authorized 802.11 local area network (LAN) coverage areas. The WT1700 Bluetooth Adapter Kit connects to a WebTech cellular locator to provide a Bluetooth vehicle area network for Bluetooth-enabled laptops, PDAs and machine-to-machine devices. It allows companies to give field service personnel real-time access to their back-office applications through Bluetooth-enabled handheld devices, without the need for cellular modem upgrades to the handheld or multiple cellular data service plans. The Locator Driver ID Kit lets users monitor vehicle usage by individual drivers. Requiring only a WebTech Locator and an iButton keyfob, the kit connects directly to an available serial port on the locator device. When a driver's iButton keyfob, containing a unique ID, is pressed against the reader probe, the driver is automatically identified and registered to the vehicle. http://www.webtechwireless.com/
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ILS Issues New RFID Starter/Pilot Kits to Aid in Compliance Integrated Labeling Systems, Inc., a vendor of automatic identification systems, has released its new RFID (radio frequency identification) Starter/Pilot Kits. The tools are intended to help suppliers meet the basic RFID requirements of such major customers as Wal-Mart Stores, Target Stores, Best Buy and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). ILS said it has designed several multi-protocol configurations for users who desire a "low-cost, easy path" to compliance. The kits aid in the rapid implementation of RFID technology, the vendor added. They can serve as the initial phase to larger and more complex pilot programs. Customers implementing the first phase often find opportunities to deploy the technology to improve internal processes, in addition to boosting compliance, ILS claimed. The company is also offering a UID (unique identification) Starter Kit, including customized software for suppliers to the DOD. http://www.ilsinc.com/
Savi Wins Approval in China for Use of Active RFID Products Savi Technology has received official approval from China's State Radio Regulation Committee (SRRC) to deploy its family of active radio frequency identification (RFID) products throughout the country. Savi tags and readers approved by SRRC, a division of the China Ministry of Information Industry, are compatible with the International Standards Organization's ISO 18000-7 standard for active RFID products operating at the 433.92 MHz radio-frequency band. The Chinese government's move follows similar Savi product approvals in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Following testing and document reviews, SRRC has issued Savi a Radio Transmission Equipment Type Approval Certificate and Code for five of the company's hardware products, including tags, readers and signposts. http://www.savi.com/
Epicor Links Its ERP Applications to Microsoft Office 2007 Epicor Software Corp. has introduced Epicor Information Worker (IW), a new desktop productivity tool which allows the vendor's enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications to link up with the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Microsft Office can now be used to enhance the experience of an Epicor application with familiar desktop productivity tools. Epicor IW users can synchronize Microsoft Office Outlook contacts, appointments and tasks with an Epicor application, along with other items such as customer information, sales history, inventory levels and production scheduling for offline access. Customers can search for and drag Epicor ERP data from the Epicor Task Pane to fields on a Word 2007 document or Excel 2007 spreadsheet. Saving the document to Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 initiates a workflow process that creates a transaction in Epicor, along with the link to the document managed by SharePoint Server 2007. Epicor IW is scheduled to become generally available in December, and will be made available across all Epicor product families, including Enterprise, Manufacturing, iScala and CRS Retail. http://www.epicor.com/
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Sopheon Beefs Up Accolade With Tools For Faster Process Adoption Sopheon has devised a set of add-on applications to its Accolade product lifecycle management (PLM) software. Known collectively as Accolade Accelerators 2.0, the new offerings are designed to help companies improve the governance of their innovation processes, the vendor said. Each Accolade Accelerator consists of a prepackaged software configuration built around best practices for governing innovation. Version 2.0 comprises three applications: Stage-Gate Accelerator, which reduces the time required for a company to implement a fully functional innovation process; Portfolio Management Accelerator, which provides a software-based process model for portfolio management, and Product Planning and Roadmapping Accelerator, which provides short- and long-term views of product-development schedules, to support the creation of reliable product plans. It charters interdependencies among projects, allowing the user to view potential bottlenecks in advance, and eliminate them before they derail launch plans. http://www.sopheon.com/
RedPrairie's DigitaLogistix Is Now "Powered by NetWeaver" RedPrairie Corp.'s DigitaLogistix software for performance metrics has achieved "Powered by SAP NetWeaver" status. The development allows for the integration of RedPrairie's software with the latest applications from SAP. Two certificates were awarded: one validating the real-time, seamless integration of RedPrairie's performance metrics into the SAP NetWeaver Portal, and the second validating business scenarios in SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure (SAP NetWeaver XI) as complete, correct and well-documented. With the certification, users can access up-to-the-minute supply-chain performance data through SAP's standard business portal. For customers using DigitaLogistix, the packaged integration content in SAP NetWeaver XI will ease the integration with SAP ERP Central Component 5.0, RedPrairie said. http://www.redprairie.com/
