SYSPRO/Preactor integration promises advanced plant scheduling out of ERP

Manufacturers running ERP systems from SYSPRO will soon be able to license a tightly integrated, PC-based advanced planning & plant scheduling tool from U.K.-based Preactor International. Called SYSPRO APS to avoid confusion with Preactor APS in Preactor's own sales channel, the product will be pre-compiled in a number of fixed configurations to SYSPRO's specifications.

"The core scheduling code will be the same, but supplied with different 'wrappers' aimed at different targets," says Mike Novels, managing director for Preactor. The rules-based Preactor family of planning and production scheduling solutions range from Preactor Lite to Preactor Enterprise, aimed at larger corporations implementing Preactor APS in multiple plants.

Simon Bragg, European research director for Dedham, Mass.-based ARC Advisory Group, sees the partnership as a win for both companies.

"It's good news for SYSPRO resellers, which now have an integrated scheduling solution that's easy to sell and easy to implement," he says. "It's also good news for Preactor, which has been trying to get into SYSPRO for years."

The Preactor deal is SYSPRO's third such offering, adds Bragg. An earlier tie-in involved a solution from STG, since acquired by Manugistics, which itself was acquired by JDA Software Group. "Preactor has such an excellent reputation in the marketplace that it made sense to be integrated to it," says Phil Duff, CEO, SYSPRO.

For Preactor, the tie-in is a familiar one because the vendor only sells through systems integrators, resellers, consultants, and ERP systems suppliers. The Sage Line 50 and Line 500 APS solutions, says Duff, are Preactor products, selling at a steady 10 new users a month.