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IFS - 11/21/2012
Strong and Growing Interest in Embedded CSR Tracking Tools, Global IDC Survey Says
According to the new IDC study, “Global Corporate Citizens—the state of corporate social responsibility”, sponsored by IFS™, accurate and reliable corporate social
responsibility (CSR) data will become increasingly important as a competitive factor for global companies. This development is driving the interest among
companies in CSR tracking tools embedded in the enterprise software.
The IDC survey, based on interviews with CFOs in global companies with an annual turnover in excess of EUR 100 million in eight countries, shows that
accurate and reliable CSR data will become increasingly important as companies are pressured to document their CSR activities and integrate sustainability and
financial reporting.
61 percent of the surveyed companies state a strong interest in embedded enterprise software to track and measure the company's impact on the environment.
Comparing these results to the 2010 IDC survey on the same topic reveals a growing interest in this type of functionality as pressure for more accurate data
increases.
“The survey clearly points to a burgeoning interest in CSR tracking solutions as an integrated, natural part of the overall ERP system,” IFS CTO Dan Matthews
said. “By investing in embedded solutions instead of third-party best-of-breed systems, companies can avoid complex and potentially costly integrations. We see
non-financial reporting as an organic part of the value chain and by deploying embedded tracking functionality, companies can benefit from increased business
transparency and improved process efficiency while complying with laws and regulations.”
The survey shows that only 21 percent of the surveyed companies have environmental tracking and measuring functionality embedded directly in their
enterprise system. Some rely on third-party product integration, while 38 percent are not able to track CSR impact at all. Compared to the IFS-sponsored 2010
study, more companies are today able to track the environmental impact. However, they are less confident with the results.
“Interestingly, in the time since the last survey in 2010, the share of companies able to track CSR-related data has increased while confidence in the gathered
data has declined. This indicates a lack of reliable reporting solutions that can deliver accurate data,” IDC Research Manager Anders Munk Ebbesen said.
According to the study, 63 percent of companies have tried to quantify the financial contribution from CSR tracking, compared with only 23 percent in the 2010
study. Despite the increase in financial tracking, companies’ confidence in correctly tracking the financial contribution of CSR has fallen to 66 percent, from 76
percent in 2010.
“Over the past decade, CSR has moved from being a merely legislative or moral imperative to becoming a critical business issue and a growing number of
companies are embracing CSR as a key organizational component,” Anders Munk Ebbesen said. “Looking at the results of the 2010 study, we can clearly see
that CSR will continue to increase in importance, driving the need for technology that can turn non-financial reporting from a challenge into a business
opportunity.”
www.softwaremag.com
IFS - 10/15/2012
IFS™ Announces Fourth-Generation Mobile Solution for Service and Maintenance
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, has launched its fourth-generation mobile client for service and maintenance, running on Android smartphones
and tablets. The solution offers robust service management functionality, including offline mode, through an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
The new solution leverages the best-in-class field mobile technology of Metrix Mobile for Android, which IFS gained through the acquisition of Metrix earlier this
year. The solution is built into IFS Applications, offering a complete mobile solution for field service and maintenance management. Being designed and
optimized for the Android platform, the new version complements IFS’s existing mobile solution for the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform.
“We are very excited about how quickly we have been able to marry Metrix Mobile with IFS Applications, presenting a beta release of the combined solutions
only five months after the acquisition,” IFS VP Research & Development Thomas Säld said. “The solution offers a remarkable user experience with a look and
feel that is very comfortable and easy to use. More importantly, however, it can easily be configured to reflect the user’s work process. Our customers can simply
plug and play with the solution as standard functionality, ensuring quicker time to value and easy product upgrades. With this launch, we are executing on our
goal of becoming the global market leader in the mobile service and maintenance management space.”
The solution handles the complete process—from the moment the order is received by a technician, until it is reported and sent back to the server from the mobile
device. Work status updates are logged on the work order and instantly sent back to the dispatch center. The field technician can capture photos, retrieve map-
supported driving instructions and complete the job by filling in time, material, and expenses. Through flexible query functionality, any data captured in the
field—from work safety instructions to customer care data—is easily configured per customer and type of work process.
Mobile workforce management is a prioritized area and one in which IFS has invested heavily during the past years. Today’s announcement is a milestone in
IFS’s product history as it combines the ERP infrastructure of IFS Applications with the market-leading resource optimization capabilities of IFS 360 Scheduling
and the best-in-class functionality of the Metrix Mobile solution. The end result is a complete mobile workforce management system that leverages unparalleled
product synergies.
“During the past years, we have delivered a number of solutions that target the rapidly growing mobile workforce,” IFS CTO Dan Matthews said. “Among these
are the mobile-friendly and touch-screen optimized IFS Enterprise Explorer user interface and IFS Touch Apps, a series of cloud-based smartphone apps for the
mobile individual. We are now proud to add a fourth-generation mobile solution for the professional service and maintenance crew to the list. Mobility will remain
a strategic investment theme for IFS going forward.”
www.softwaremag.com
IFS - 10/15/2012
IFS™ Launches New Smartphone Apps
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, launches seven new smartphone apps in the IFS Touch Apps series, in addition to its first app for Windows
Phone and Windows 8. The new applications—which are available from Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Windows Marketplace—offer intuitive mobile
functionality in areas such as human resources, customer relationship management, ad-hoc reporting, enterprise application search, vehicle management, and
IFS support services.
Following the release of IFS Notify Me, a cloud-based smartphone app for purchase, expense and invoice approvals, IFS is now extending its offering for the
mobile workforce with seven new apps. In addition, IFS is also releasing IFS Notify Me for Windows Phone and Windows 8.
The new IFS Touch Apps are:
IFS Time Tracker for project time and attendance reporting, confirmation, etc.
IFS Trip Tracker for real-time, as-you-travel expense reporting for the mobile individual.
IFS Sales Companion for sales people to manage their accounts, tasks and opportunities.
IFS Quick Reports for running and viewing ad-hoc reports on a mobile device.
IFS Quick Facts for fast keyword search of any object in IFS Applications.
IFS Flight Log for management of platform operational data in the aerospace and defense industry.
IFS Support Companion for interaction with IFS support centers.
“By focusing on the actual needs of our mobile users, we have developed an app concept that delivers enhanced user experience, ease-of-use, and security to
promote high user acceptance and increased efficiency,” IFS CTO Dan Matthews said. “The functionality of the new Touch Apps has largely been determined
by our customers to exactly match their needs. In this way, we continue to produce functionally rich, elegant apps that are easy to try, buy, and use.”
IFS bridges the gap between the fast-moving world of smartphones and apps and the slower-moving world of ERP software via a unique use of cloud
technology. Rather than having the apps talk directly to the ERP back-end, the apps talk to services running inside IFS Cloud.
The IFS Touch Apps are designed to offer great, hassle-free user experience to the mobile workforce. The apps are focused on quick-to-complete tasks and
present the user with only the relevant, rather than all, information. The apps are designed to minimize typing and allow the user to exit the app at any point and
continue later.
Note to editor: At the time of publication, all IFS Touch Apps are available for download from Google Play store and/or Apple App Store except the IFS Flight
Log, which will be privately hosted to reflect the requirements of the aerospace & defense industry.
www.softwaremag.com
IFS - 8/1/2012
Systra chooses IFS Applications for Worldwide Project-Based Operations
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that SYSTRA, a global engineering and consulting company focusing on rail and urban transport,
has chosen IFS Applications to support its project-based operations in France and worldwide. The contract includes licenses and services and covers a full
enterprise management solution.
Paris-based SYSTRA is a global leader within rail and mass transit transport, providing engineering and consulting services to its customers. In order to maximize
global project efficiency and control, the company has decided to invest in an integrated industry solution that ensures real-time access to accurate project data.
“We chose IFS Applications because it was the best fit for our project-based operations,” Pierre VERZAT, President at Systra said. “IFS’s proven track record in
our industry, along with its global support capabilities and skilled employees, were also deciding factors for us.”
“We are very pleased to welcome SYSTRA as a customer,” IFS France President Amor Bekrar said. “Project-oriented companies need a holistic solution to
obtain real-time control of the project lifecycle. IFS delivers a single and integrated project portfolio management system which covers all of these requirements.
The system enables real-time access to accurate project information and comprehensive support for project finance and execution processes for improved
business control and increased profitability.”
The implementation will start in September, 2012.
www.softwaremag.com
IFS - 7/26/2012
Process Group Selects IFS Applications to Enable Rapid Growth of Oil & Gas Engineer-to-Order Operations
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced that Melbourne-based Process Group, a leading global provider of technical solutions for the
oil and gas production, refining, petrochemical and carbon capture industries, will implement IFS Applications™, the project-based ERP suite, to enable it to scale
its capacity by 100% in the next 12 months and improve scope and quality of service offering to its customers.
Process Group is IFS’s fifth Australian customer in the past year in the fast-growing area of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. They will
implement the newly released IFS Applications 8 to capture the powerful new and enhanced features for project management, project financials and execution
control. This will create further efficiencies in their project-based operations.
According to David Johnston, the company’s General Manager, “IFS Applications 8 will be the enabling vehicle for Process Group to successfully grow its
business and better service its customers. Our target for next year is to approximately double turnover with larger jobs and broader scope of work,” he said.
Before it could break through $50 million in annual revenue, Process Group needed an integrated software system providing much higher visibility of project
information across the business to mitigate risks, maintain or improve quality, and increase its operational efficiency.
After a nine month review process evaluating four competing ERP solutions, Process Group chose IFS Applications as the best solution, meeting all of its
requirements with a core focus on project management.
IFS Applications will give Process Group accurate and immediate visibility of operations for improved project management and business efficiency. Expected
benefits include reduced project initiation time, better quality management, improved scheduling efficiency, a higher win-loss ratio on new business, and time
savings in the creation of reports.
“A realistic estimate of business benefits would see the cost of the new ERP solution paid back within 12 months, with a more conservative business case
estimating the payback period at 2-3 years,” Johnston said.
IFS Applications will provide greatly enhanced project management capabilities, replacing mainly spread sheet-based systems and Process Group’s current
Financials software. It will automate many of the project and financial reports currently created manually, saving staff time and eliminating reporting delays.
Other ERP functionality to be progressively rolled out across the organization includes Human Resources, Engineering Management, Document Management,
Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Sales & Service. Process Group also intends to deploy IFS Applications’ business intelligence capabilities.
A higher win-loss ratio on bids is expected from the ability to more accurately analyze costs, including the efficiency of its current projects. “Our estimates will
become more accurate and that will give us the confidence to put in more competitive bids,” said Phil Tuckett, Sales & Marketing Director for Process Group.
The new system will also improve the company’s ability to provide accurate reporting to its clients, particularly those that place a high value on quality and
service and which are strategic to the company’s growth plan.
“As we take on larger and more complex projects, our clients have more demand for information and transparency,” said Tuckett. “Everyone is trying to manage
risk and putting in new systems and that places an obligation on us to provide visibility to our clients into their projects.”
The company also expects the new ERP solution to accelerate the growth of its after-market sales and services business. With immediate access to information
about technical solutions, such as packaged process systems and process trains it has designed and assembled, Process Group can lower its costs and better
assist its clients with preventative and corrective maintenance.
“The Resources and Oil & Gas industries continue to create opportunities for fast growing services companies like Process Group, offering high levels of
innovation and quality,” said Rob Stummer, Managing Director at IFS Australia and New Zealand. “Process Group realized it needed a robust and agile ERP
system to enhance productivity and manage risk more effectively. We look forward to a successful long-term partnership with Process Group to expedite their
business goals.”
www.softwaremag.com
IFS - 7/5/2012
Polish network operator Emitel selects IFS Applications
Emitel, Poland’s leading TV and radio network operator, has signed an agreement with IFS Poland concerning the implementation of the extended ERP suite
IFS Applications. The implementation is aimed at optimizing and enhancing business processes within all significant operation areas.
Emitel provides services in the field of TV, radio and telecommunications. The company owns hundreds of terrestrial broadcasting facilities in Poland. Due to the
dynamic development of the company’s services, Emitel’s management board decided to implement an ERP system that could optimize the company’s business
processes.
After conducting an ERP evaluation process, the IFS solution was selected as the best choice in terms of functionality and other requirements. IFS’s experience
and industry excellence were also significant factors for Emitel’s choice.
“In advanced broadcasting services, reliability is the key element which ensures that our clients can count on service continuity. We believe that IFS
Applications will help us optimize our key business areas, especially in the field of project management,” said Przemyslaw Kurczewski, the President of EmiTel
Sp. z o.o. Management Board.
The implementation of IFS Applications was recently launched. In the first phase, human resources management and payroll management will be implemented.
During the two subsequent phases, IFS Applications will be implemented in the areas of finances, project management, procurement and sales. The go-live of
the first phase is scheduled for October, 2012, and the entire implementation project is planned to be finalized in June, 2013. The system will be used by 800
users.
“The telecommunication sector is very important for IFS. IFS’s clients in this industry include giants such as Orange France and Ericsson. We are most pleased
to welcome Emitel to this group. Being awarded this prestigious contract confirms that our solutions are tailored to the needs of the telecommunication industry,”
said Marcin Taranek, President of IFS CEE.
www.softwaremag.com
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