No eBusiness = no success

eBusiness and IT automate, accelerate and integrate business processes. The worldwide flow of goods, capital and information depends as much on IT as on a functioning global competition.

No businessman buys a software package for the end in itself! Moreover, it is necessary to execute business processes easier, faster, and thus, more cost-effectively, in order to secure a competitive advantage.

eBusiness and IT automate, accelerate and integrate business processes.

The worldwide flow of goods, capital and information depends as much on IT as on a functioning global competition.

Many companies already attribute over 50 percent of their competitive edge to integrated software solutions.

The user environment of abas Business Software has also realized the possibilities offered by the integrated eBusiness platform abas eB.

The over 40 participants in the eBusiness information day, carried out on February 2, 2006, by the abas Partner ABAS Projektierung in the Novotel in Mannheim, indicate this trend.

There has been a "gold rush feeling" in the eBusiness area before.

Then, in the years 1999 and 2000, the stock prices in the new economy soared.

Companies thought it was chic to have their own Internet appearance.

The disillusionment followed immediately, share prices fell dramatically and many companies went out of business.

With all options that certainly are provided by the Internet, one thing was often disregarded: the precise user benefit! Projects are doomed to fail if the use of eBusiness does not result in an improvement of the internal and cross-company business processes or of the provided service.

This is exactly the point in which today's increasing interest in eBusiness solutions differs, says Dirk Ramthun, authorized officer of ABAS Projektierung Holding.

A poll that was carried out in 2006 by IBM and the magazine Impulse, anticipates a growth of approx.

5%.

The volume of eBusiness investments thus almost arrives at the same level as before the turn of the millennium.

This time, however, a new sustainability of the development can be determined according to Ramthun.

This also can be seen in the abas Business Software users: many areas could no longer be imagined without eBusiness.

This can be impressively emphasized by the great interest in the workshop and abas eB.

What is eBusiness? The question Dirk Ramthun asked the workshop participants was answered by Markus Greiter, project manager at ABAS Projektierung.

Thus, abas eB represents the fast implementations of ideas.

Thanks to the eB workbench, a tool for the simple and fast adjustment of business-specific concerns, which is contained in the release version, there are no limits to the design.

Vendors e.g obtain access to warehouse data via eBusiness; thus, the stock can be reduced and inventory turnovers can be increased.

Up-to-date information such as data sheets, product catalog or descriptions recorded on the Internet can be provided to prospective customers within seconds.

Many products are then right away ordered via the Webshop which is also realized with abas eB.

Medium-sized companies have more and more production locations abroad.

Here the multilinguality of abas eB proves its worth.

Whether internal data is exchanged or sales orders are entered - in abas eB this can be done in 25 languages.

Already existing abas customers are also using manifold abas eB applications.

Product catalogs are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If a purchase order is placed, the customized conditions recorded in the system will come into effect.

Security queries and the layout adaptability to the company's corporate identity were also of interest to the abas users.

When adjusting the layout to the company's corporate identity, it is recommended to include a Web designer; the realization of the design specifications can be implemented quickly using the abas eB workbench.

The Web presence should be well planned, so that customers and prospective customers can access the information at any time and to protect sensible data.

The selected infrastructure is the decisive factor.

A well-established security scenario was presented by Markus Greiter.

The server on which abas eB is running is in the company and in a special sub-network, the DMZ (demilitarized zone).

This zone is protected from the rest of the world by a firewall.

The real server with the sensitive company data is on the Intranet, which is protected from external access by a firewall.

Databases can be "hidden" in the DMZ on the so called shadow client which is a copy of the real server.

Sensitive company data, such as financial accounting, can thus not be accessed via the Internet.

Naturally, the software partner will provide advice in all questions concerning hardware and performance.

Markus Greiter, project manager at ABAS Projektierung and Jurgen Weiss, customer advisor at ABAS Projektierung, presented the current abas eB version by means of palpable scenarios in a live demonstration.

The examples included for example access data, various roles and rights and a purchase order was carried out via the virtual Webshop.

From the comfortable processing of helpdesk queries, over uncomplicated customer data maintenance up to the generation and processing of manifold information such as the list of outstanding items: the new customer center in abas eB provides many useful functions and is easy to operate.

A methodical implementation concept is recommended for eBusiness projects, just like in the ERP environment.

The ABAS Projektierung therefore came up with a 6 step implementation concept whereby the focus is placed on security and efficiency.

By means of a special eB check list, a first step roughly outlines the way the eBusiness project is to appear.

Now precise statements on the implementation effort and the required function modules can be made.

Then the project starts.

As with the ERP implementation method, a test system is also installed in the eBusiness area.

All project participants thus get to know the system and "speak the same language".

The organizational meetings then follow, during which the structure of the planned eBusiness application is specified.

Then the master files which are required in the application are prepared according to the requirements which resulted from the meetings and the adjustments in abas ERP are carried out.

Then the Web interface is implemented according to the requirements.

Extensive tests are carried out subsequently.

If these run smoothly, the real start of the system can take place.

abas eB, abas ERP and abas Trade have an evolutionary system approach.

In his contribution, Werner Strub, CEO of ABAS Software AG, emphasized the so called "soft" factors when selecting a software.

Many factors that are important for the successful operation of an eB solution will only become obvious after the real start of the system.

If pure functional and physical aspects are in the center of consideration until a system has been selected, then the value of the selected software for the company can only be seen in real operation.

Is the solution upgradable and do company-specific adjustments remain intact? Is it possible to carry out additional expansions in the eBusiness area easily and cost-effective? Is a competent, long-term cooperation tailored to the needs of medium-sized companies is ensured with the system provider? Is the software continuously developed and will it be possible to depict new IT requirements in 5 or even 10 years? Is it possible to realize permanent, noticeable improvements of the business organization by using the software and to increase the company's competitiveness? Is the software multilingual and is there on-site support in many countries? Can the investment security be guaranteed in all areas? abas eB inspires its users in all points.

This can be confirmed impressively by a series of studies in which the abas Business Software was given top marks by users, especially in the areas flexibility, adaptability and releaseability.

Since the end of the 1940s, the Krieger company, located in Rhodt Germany) develops mechanical appliances for viniculture and similar row crops.

Through the permanent further development, Krieger was able to always put newer and better models with innovative, sophisticated, technological features on the market which often set noticeable impetus for the entire development of narrow track tractors.

Nowadays, the product range comprises modern, praxis-oriented narrow track tractors from 34 to 58 KW.

Krieger also successfully sells used vehicles.

In mid-2005 Krieger was looking for an eBusiness solution to increase the worldwide distribution, to guarantee an individual dealer service and to reduce the administration effort at the same time.

Special offers should also be managed in real-time.

A cheap solution was always out of the question for Christoph Krieger, project manager for the abas Business Software implementation.

The maintenance of the interfaces to the ERP system and the data alignment in "cheap shops" would be too time-consuming, a verification of the ability to deliver and the delivery date is not possible, a manual double and triple data maintenance is too expensive and prone to errors and since Krieger distributes its vehicles worldwide, the required multilinguality of the shop was not given in most systems.

Krieger opted for the eBusiness platform abas eB.

Used vehicles are unique.

Therefore, it is important to present this in the shop in realtime.

If a machine has been sold, this is indicated in the abas ERP system respectively and the used machine is then automatically removed from all catalogues.

Thus, there is no extensive double data maintenance.

The ability to provide information to customers and prospective customers is given at any time.

Via a PDA connection, it is now possible to access technical data online when talking to prospective customers on site.

The abas Business Software thus optimally supports the continuing improvement process at Krieger; the service quality, as well as the ability to provide information has improved.

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