IBM Corp, JD Edwards and Co and Synquest Inc teamed up yesterday to announce a pre-configured e-commerce bundle for mid-size industrial fabricators and assemblers. The package, called Supply Chain Advantage, pre-integrates JD Edwards’ OneWorld ERP suite with SynQuest’s modules for shop-floor scheduling and execution and IBM’s Net.commerce e-business software and ERP Bridge data collection software, according to Doug Willis, IBM’s JD Edwards practice executive in its Global Services division. The bundle will be offered on IBM’s high-end RS/6000, mid-range AS/400 and low-end Netfinity servers and pricing will be between $2 and $4m per implementation. As well as hardware and software, IBM is also using the opportunity to sell its services and support.
Willis said the companies got together nine months ago after they realized that manufacturers needed more than just a basic ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution. The need advanced planning, data collection and e-business capabilities too, he said. Typically, companies would add this functionality afterwards but because the systems are so complicated implementation times are very high – around 26 months he says – whereas the trio’s new offering takes half that time to install and get up and running, enabling manufacturers to start seeing return on their investments much quicker than before. On top of that, companies can also elect to have other products, such as sales force automation software, integrated into the bundle.
In addition, IBM has also set up a new factory, which it’s calling the SolutionWorld Implementation Factory, in Atlanta, to dedicate development time to the bundle. Willis said IBM also planned to offer packages in other vertical markets, including the automotive and CPG markets, as well as partnering with other software companies that specialize in those areas. To start with, the supply chain bundle will only be offered in North America but the trio plans to sell it globally within the next 6 months, Willis said. This is the second such move IBM has made in the ERP space in the last couple of weeks. In June, Big Blue set up its first implementation factory, with Baan Co NV. Under that alliance, IBM said it would integrate its hardware with Baan’s ERP, front office and supply chain software solutions. Additional partnerships will be added in the future, Willis added.
