IDII News - New Website Features

• SAP Books & Peoplesoft Books are now listed in our book catalog!
• New WMS Software Directory by IDII - April 2002
• Two new CRM books added to our CRM Book List.
• WMS & SCE Discussion - Ask a question! - Share your knowledge! - Discuss trends & frustrations!
  
  

• Free Book! The Auto ID Book (Bar Coding)
  
  
• New White Papers!
• New - Slotting Optimization - The Cuber™ - Great Article
• New - Dynamic Scheduling - Excellent
• New - Multi-Tasking (Interleaving) Paper - Excellent
• New - eService - Strategies for Success in the Customer Age - Excellent
  
  
• In the last newsletter, IDII announced these white papers:
  
• Last Issue - Bluetooth in Logistics - Will it still slip between the cup and the lip? - Excellent
• Last Issue - Voice Technology in the Distribution Center - Excellent
• Last Issue - Optimizing Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
• Last Issue - Optimizing Safety Stock
• Last Issue - Practical Guide to WMS - Good History & Insights of WMS Vertical

Software Company News

• Apriso (CRM, ERP, MRP, SCM) announces FlexNet(TM) Version 7.1, collaborative manufacturing and supply chain execution platform consisting of over 24 dynamic Web services applications built for the Microsoft® Windows® .NET® Server.
  
  FlexNet Version 7.1 introduces two completely new Web services applications, Process Builder and Production Manager, that interoperate fully with over 22 workflow, manufacturing, warehouse, time, attendance and data collection applications previously sold under the CIM+(TM) name. "Microsoft's Integrated Development Environment allows us to maintain COM+ objects written in C++, together with Web services components written in the new C# object-oriented programming language, providing a seamless migration path for our customers," comments Chris Will, Apriso's Vice President of Research and Development. "Today, all FlexNet applications utilize Microsoft .NET, including ADO.NET and XML Web Services, to support transactional and data access mechanisms that are flexible yet independent of platforms and protocols."
  
  
  
• Catalyst International, Inc. (WMS, Nasdaq: CLYS) and TrenStar, Inc.(TMS, Mobile Data Solutions) announced their alliance whereby Catalyst will resell and integrate TrenStar's mybarcode.com SAP R/3 certified middleware product. mybarcode.com is a leading SAP R/3 enhancement solution designed to extend the warehousing and logistics capabilities of SAP's WM and MM modules.
  
  About mybarcode.com: component-based, mobile data computing middleware solution for use with SAP R/3's WM/MM modules. mybarcode.com provides flexible integration of data collection and printing technologies while enabling mobile data communications for SAP R/3. Through its business process management capabilities, mybarcode.com also extends the reach of SAP through a portfolio of function-specific templates including automatic identification (Auto ID), data capture and printing, warehousing and logistics fleet management, security and retail point of sale applications. Based on user requirements one or more of these functional templates will be integrated. mybarcode.com also supports user-defined business processes and rules through its rapid development Business Logic Manager toolkit that is based on a certified (SAP V4.xx) seamless IDOC, RFC & BAPI integration with the SAP host. A transitional database supports extended business processes without affecting the core SAP solution or introducing a third party warehouse management or logistics system.
  
  
• Descartes Systems Group Inc., (TMS, Nasdaq:DSGX, TSX:DSG), announced Fleetwise Monitor®, a new routing and scheduling software application designed to enhance the performance of customer service representatives for order fulfillment. Applications in the suite include:
  • Fleetwise Reservations: acts as an intelligent reservation agent, incrementally offering customer service and/or delivery appointments, verifying addresses and validating service availability. Reservation agent is essential for balancing costs and route efficiencies in concert with customer requests to support reservation systems. Without Fleetwise reservations, manufacturers and distributors run the risk of inefficient routes not based on zip codes or delivery logic.
  
  
  
  • Fleetwise Route Planner: helps operators and transportation service providers ensure more predictable, profitable and efficient routes.
  
  
  
  • Fleetwise Dispatch: when paired with Fleetwise Route Planner, provides dispatch managers with a single screen view of their entire fleet plan. This solution is designed for automatic capture of updates from delivery drivers via a range of wireless devices.
  
  
  
  • Fleetwise MobileLink: a suite of routing and scheduling applications to help dispatchers connect with their mobile work force using wireless technology. Designed for any device and any network, the Descartes' MobileLink product is flexible to meet any corporate standard.
  
  
  
• Kewill (SCEM, WMS, TMS) has agreed to dispose of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Division to Exact Holding N.V., the Netherlands based provider of e-business and ERP software and solutions, for a total cash consideration of USD19.0 million (GBP13.0 million) on a cash and debt free basis. The Disposal will be subject to Kewill shareholder approva. The Disposal reinforces Kewill's strategic objective to focus on the high growth, supply chain execution management (SCEM) software market.
  
  
• Manugistics (TMS, B2B, Nasdaq:MANU) Acquires Digital Freight's Collaborative RFQ Capabilities, Expanding Global Logistics Management Solution. Manugistics acquired the business of privately-held Digital Freight, a Lexington, Kentucky-based provider of collaborative logistics solutions that facilitate online, real-time bids for global transportation contracts.
  
  
• OMI International (WMS, TMS, YMS) released MDS - Mobile Distribution System, Version 4.1, of their real-time, wireless yard, asset and dock management system. This latest release advances the level of resource optimization and visibility by enabling real-time asset and equipment cycle counting, "guardless" gate entry, inter-facility transfer capability, multi-door trailer loading, multi-yard management and the ability to configure pad locations dynamically based on utilization. Now installed in over 25 locations worldwide.
  
  The MDS solution enables Expert System Logic to direct and control activities real-time while tracking and monitoring all trailer and labor activity in a yard and dock facility. The application is designed for Windows NT/2000 and either Microsoft's' SQL ServerTM or Citrix server environments. MDS effectively utilizes a range of technologies from bar code and key data entry to active and passive RFID tags and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) technology.
  
  
• Optum (WMS, YMS, LMS) Delivers New Warehouse Management Solution MOVE 7i.
  MOVE 7i provides New Visibility, Labor and Yard Management Tools To Take Control of Their Warehouse Operations. MOVE 7i delivers major enhancements including:
  
  -- With MOVE 7i WMS, Optum delivers a browser-based user interface, fundamentally improving how users interact with the system and how companies deploy it. This "zero footprint client" slashes administration costs and enables user access from any web-enabled PC and RF device. The system provides n-extensible language, supporting global implementations.
  
  -- MOVE 7i Yard Manager: Move 7i Yard Manager's full integration with Move 7i WMS enables company's to schedule and prioritize the arrival of inbound shipments to ensure personnel, space and equipment are optimally utilized.
  
  -- MOVE 7i Labor: Using real-time data from MOVE 7i WMS, MOVE Labor plans inbound and outbound workloads based upon available resources in the distribution center and reports productivity, order fill rate, and product velocity. It also provides historical visibility into supply chain operations, particularly important to companies impacted by seasonal spikes.
  
  -- Move 7i Alerts: monitors events across MOVE 7i, providing notification to the right people via e-mail, pager or fax. Examples of typical alerts include notifying: a) customers their shipments have left the warehouse, b) vendors their shipments have been received, c) a warehouse supervisor that an order slated for pickup in an hour has fallen behind, and d) a driver to delay entry into the yard based on order and resource availability.

  Additional enhancements include MOVE 7i Wave Manager, Manifest, Workflow Manager, and Integrator. More information can be found at http://www.optum.com/move/index.cfm?site=pr

  
  

• PeopleSoft( CRM, HR, SCM, Nasdaq: PSFT) and Vigilance (SCEM) team for supply chain event notification. The integration of PeopleSoft`s Supply Chain Management (SCM) applications with Vigilance`s Supply Chain Event Management Suite (SCEM) will enable companies to immediately alert employees and suppliers to unexpected events and take corrective action throughout the supply chain.
  
  The new solution combines cross-enterprise event detection, closed-loop analytics, role-based portals, and collaborative business rules to enable companies to identify and prioritise emerging issues, alert escalation paths, and facilitate immediate corrective action. For example, procurement managers can be alerted immediately to an unexpected production stoppage with a key supplier, and apply real-time analytics and alternative business rules to rapidly deploy a new sourcing strategy. As a result, companies can minimise costs and short-term disruption.

• Radcliffe Systems Inc. (WMS) launches StarLite, a mobile inventory tracking solution. This solution provides customers with access to:
  • Proof of delivery signature capture displayed on the web, embedded within shipment documents or emailed with supporting documentation
  • Reconciliation reports for over, short and damaged inventory that are verified on site with the customer upon shipment delivery
  • Shipping documentation that accurately confirms both pick up and delivery times and quantities
  • Track and trace functionality for shipments, by piece, based on physical and mechanical contact with the item as opposed to the vehicle's last or current location
  
  
  
• SAP AG (ERP, NYSE:SAP) announced the introduction of Collaboration Projects (cProjects) for mySAP Product Lifecycle Management (mySAP PLM). cProjects enable manufacturing and services companies to increase collaboration in project management and execution, improving product innovts helps companies to improve project transparency and reduce time-to-market and cost-to-market.
  
  With the cProjects capabilities of mySAP PLM, companies can excel at project set up and performance management and increase transparency by providing users with access to dates for each project, phase, task, and checklist item. And the expert finder functionality assists in project team creation. It helps to identify people with the right skills within the company and allocate resources based on their availability. Individuals can be assigned to project elements, and they can be notified of project developments via workflow. In addition, the cProjects capabilities of mySAP PLM guarantee controlled transitions between project phases by incorporating approval procedures at appropriate stages of each phase.
  
  
• SAP AG (NYSE:SAP) announced that it has enhanced the mySAP Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM) by providing customers with the solution that delivers total supply chain visibility. The latest enhancements to the visibility solution of mySAP SCM leverage the supply chain portal infrastructure, event management, performance management, partner content network, and hosting capabilities. This allows enterprises across the supply chain network to better adapt to changes through a consolidated view of inventory, events, plans, schedules, and performance indicators.
  
  
• Syspro Group (ERP, SCM) Adds Shipping System Module to IMPACT Encore. The IMPACT Encore Shipping System automates the entire shipping process, from the packing of items, to carrier selection, to transit times. The system menu is divided into key components that guide users in setting up a shipment. The Setup component provides options for carriers, shipping zones, rates and defaults. The Processing component details various packing choices, carrier selections, including "best way," and freight calculations; the Reports component lets the user define the format of the Bill of Lading document, including number of shipments and customers covered.

  Up to date shipping rates and electronic scale interface ensure the accuracy of shipping charges, enabling intelligent estimates to be provided customers during order entry. Since the system automatically updates IMPACT Encore's sales order module with shipping charges and tracking numbers, data entry is reduced, and the chance for human error is lessened. In addition to providing the most current shipping rates from carriers such as FedEx, UPS or Airborne, the system also caters to manually entered rates.

  
  

Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.

• "If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking.
  Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk."
  --Raymond Inmon
• "Quality means doing it right when no one is looking."
  --Henry Ford
  

• "A faithful man will abound with blessing,
  but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished."
  - Proverbs 28:20
  

• rickdurisunplugged.com is a NEW newsletter by Rick Duris and it is called Rick Duris Unplugged Newsletter. Rick is also involved into software and system integration work. He speaks plainly about important issues. His writing is in a discussion (speak format). It's free! To subscribe - hit the website and Rick's e-mail is Rick@rickdurisunplugged.com
• Agilebrain.com is a website and e-zine dedicated to ideas for innovation. We're trying to create a space for exploration and discussion of what it means to be an innovative company, bringing you the people, the companies, and the products that push the performance envelope. We're focused on developing and sharing: case-studies across various industries:
  
  • interviews with business luminaries
  • how-to articles and research reports
  • reviews of ground-breaking books
  • profiles of companies with new ideas
    
• nextslm.org is the world's premiere Service Level Management learning community. A very useful Customer Satisfaction Survey Template (for you to use) is found at http://www.nextslm.org/customersat.html. This site has many excellent articles, white papers, case studies, and templates for improving service level agreeements and more!
• Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) web site located at http://www.agvsystems.com/.
  This site is intended to be a reference site for AGVS. It is full of unbiased information relating to the history of AGVS, types of systems, how to concept and prepare bid specs, how to evaluate AGV suppliers, etc. In addition, there are tools for estimating the AGV fleet size for a give application along with a significant library of pictures and video clips.

Online Book Catalog - Intuitive Categories

Books on Shipping, Warehousing, Distribution, Operations, WMS, ERP, CRM, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Logistics, Facility Layout & Design, Metrics & Measurements, and software solutions SAP, Peoplesoft.

"Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory" Order From Amazon or IDII
Obal, Philip	See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com

"ADVANCED WMS RFI Search Bundle" Available from IDII only
Obal, Philip	Advanced Version is available only from IDII

"Warehouse Management Handbook" See Reviews & Order From Amazon
"Warehouse & Distribution Automation Handbook" See Reviews & Order From Amazon
"Warehousing Tips" by Ken Ackerman See Reviews & Order From Amazon

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