Operational throughput: CDC delivers new version of Ross Enterprise, leveraging smart client technology
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 8/28/2008 2:01:00 PM
CDC Software says the introduction of Ross Enterprise v6.3 ERP can help overcome some of the challenges resulting from today’s soft economy—including the rising cost of commodities and transportation.
Ross ERP now offers CDC Software’s Smart Client technology to provide the benefits of a “thin client” GUI with the rich user experience capabilities necessary to support improved navigation, ease of use, and the deep business functionality required for extensive users.
Improved access and integration to the Microsoft desktop also enables users to extract data seamlessly from Ross ERP with familiar Microsoft Office products for greater user adoption and flexibility. From an IT support perspective, the new technology is expected to carry a lower total cost of ownership through centralized system administration, minimized deployment costs, and reduced maintenance requirements when installing system upgrades.
In fact, Berner Foods, a private label manufacturer, is enjoying the familiarity of the Microsoft desktop after recently launching a new beverage line of milk-based products, including ready-to-drink coffee latte and coffee energy drinks in glass bottles and aluminum cans.
“As a make-to-order manufacturer, we are pleased CDC Software continues to protect our investment in our IT strategy by enhancing the technical foundation and delivering additional functionality to help grow our business,” says Troy Grove, CIO, Berner Foods. “We are especially excited about the Microsoft Smart Client user interface option and the new costing features in this new product since it gives us even stronger visibility into our demand, inventory levels, and actual process and product costs.”
Other enhancements to Ross Enterprise v6.3 ERP include:
Extensive inventory visibility with a projected inventory inquiry is now available to provide an up-to-date “net change” picture of the actual time-phase availability of finished goods and related intermediate products and ingredients, without having to perform a complete analysis. A new process and production flow user inquiry also lends visibility into material availability at one or all levels of production, based on scheduled dates and the recipe formula requirements.
A new project accounting module allows users to help improve financial reporting requirements against individual projects over time. The management of direct costs and expenses associated with all types of projects, such as new product development, quality testing and compliance with government regulators, can be significantly streamlined.
A new landed cost feature allows manufacturers to include additional related costs of material such as freight, insurance, handling and duty as part of valuing inventory at time of receipt. A new product costing enhancement provides the flexibility to value different types of inventory using different costing methodologies within the same warehouse.
“CDC Software delivers on our long-term commitment to vertical-specific solutions that protect our customers’ investments and allow them to choose the technology that best fits their strategy and business requirements,” says Alan MacLamroc, chief product and technology officer. “Customers can now choose smart client desktop technology in addition to our existing thin client interfaces to meet their specific IT requirements. All of these new features and enhancements—along with our vertical-specific expertise—further differentiates us in the marketplace and provide our customers with a compelling competitive advantage.”
