Sonata to acquire Premier United States based Microsoft Dynamics Partner I.B.I.S., Inc.

Sonata Software, a global strategic IT solutions firm, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the supply chain software and services provider I.B.I.S., Inc. (INTERACTIVE BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.). Founded in 1989, I.B.I.S., Inc. has a strategic partnership with Microsoft for the Dynamics solution and delivers world-class supply chain solutions, including its proprietary Advanced Supply Chain Software solution. The acquisition of the United States based IBIS will allow Sonata, aBangalore, India based company to accelerate its footprint globally.

Advanced Supply Chain Software™ powered by I.B.I.S., Inc. is a total Dynamics® AX and CRM supply chain solution designed expressly to meet the needs of modern distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. A winning combination of industry supply chain expertise, world-class supply chain software, and 26 years of successful Microsoft Dynamics® implementations has culminated in making IBIS the preferred Microsoft Dynamics® partner and solution provider for distributors and manufacturers worldwide. The company already serves leading US enterprises.

Sonata’s vision is to provide digital transformation solutions to Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), and Distribution companies. Microsoft Dynamics® AX and CRM solutions are being increasingly adopted globally by companies to transform their businesses. Sonata’s expertise, intellectual property, scale, and global presence with Microsoft Dynamics® AX, especially in the retail industry, along with IBIS expertise,intellectual property, and strong local footprint in the US within the distribution industry space will create a powerhouse that caters to Retail, CPG, and Distribution companies globally who want to deploy Microsoft Dynamics®.

Speaking on the occasion, Srikar Reddy, MD & CEO of Sonata Software said, “Sonata has a strong partnership with Microsoft on Dynamics globally. We have a strong footprint in Microsoft Dynamics® based Retail solutions. Together with IBIS, we now have a strong management team, world class Advanced Supply Chain Software™ for distribution companies, a solid referenceable customer base, and a strong and deep partnership with Microsoft in the United States. The marquee customers currently with Sonata and IBIS will both gain from the complementary capabilities we bring to the table.”

Andy Vabulas, founder and CEO, I.B.I.S., Inc. commented, “IBIS is excited to be a part of Sonata, which adds significant scale, a wider geographic footprint, and client base we can now access. We have built IBIS as a company over the past 26 years and believe my team and I have the right partner in Sonata to achieve our vision of a global scale Dynamics organization. Our clients, products, and services will gain from the rich engineering and delivery capability that Sonata has in the Microsoft Dynamics® portfolio. I’m sure this acquisition will enhance our product reach as we will be capable of delivering enhanced services while reaching many more clients globally. Our customers will benefit from the depth and breadth of the products and services that a global company like Sonata brings to the table.”

About Sonata Software

Sonata Software is a global IT services firm focused on catalysing transformational IT initiatives of its clients through deep domain knowledge, technology expertise and customer commitment. The company delivers innovative new solutions for Travel, Retail & Consumer Goods and Software Product Companies by integrating technologies such as Omni-channel commerce, Mobility, Analytics, Cloud and ERP, to drive enhanced customer engagement, operations efficiency and return on IT investments. A trusted long-term service provider to Fortune 500 companies across both the software product development and enterprise business segments, Sonata seeks to add differentiated value to leadership who want to make an impact on their businesses, with IT.

About I.B.I.S., Inc.

Founded in 1989, I.B.I.S., Inc. provides business solutions which enable companies with complex supply chain requirements to maximize their business success. Through a Strategic Developer Partner relationship with Microsoft, the company provides world-class solutions for enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence (BI), and application development. I.B.I.S., Inc. specialties include Microsoft Dynamics AX and CRM solutions focused on the supply chain needs of distribution, manufacturing, and retail industries.

NetSuite Unveils New User Experience

NetSuite chief executive officer (CEO) Zach Nelson unveiled the new NetSuite user interface (UI) with a more intuitive and visually engaging work experience during his keynote address at the company’s SuiteWorld 2014 conference yesterday. Founder and chief technology officer (CTO) Evan Goldberg discussed and demonstrated the new capabilities more deeply in his SuiteWorld 2014 keynote presentation today. NetSuite plans to roll out the new UI with NetSuite's 2014.2 release, scheduled for Q3 2014.

As the pioneer in cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), NetSuite has been at the forefront of UI design trends. Its first release in 1999 abandoned the Microsoft Windows desktop standard look and feel of the era and adopted the web metaphor. The company’s UI introduced role-based business intelligence (BI) dashboards, while its 2006 UI featured in-line editing in web-based applications (instead of just viewing) and incorporated Ajax technologies to develop dashboards and portlets that live natively in core business applications (see image depicting the development of NetSuite UI over the years).



NetSuite's 2014 UI

To again reinvent its business application UI, NetSuite conducted 3 years of deep usability research with its customers. It reportedly completed extensive research, user observations, and usability testing with users across various roles—from front-line sales, marketing, finance, e-commerce, human resources (HR) and services employees through to C-level executives. Leveraging and supporting HTML5 and based on principles of modern ‘flat design,’ which emphasizes crispness and clarity, the NetSuite UI exhibits easy-to-read fonts, attractively redesigned icons and graphics, increased whitespace, and greater aesthetic simplicity (see figure).

 


Overall, 2014 UI highlights include easy access to navigation and tools such as Global Search, Recent Records, Help, and Shortcuts, as well as a new global Quick Add feature that enables users to rapidly add tasks, events, contacts, and more from anywhere in the product. In addition, the ‘progressive disclosure’ feature conceals action prompts until mouseover for a “cleaner” experience, and there is also an improved experience on tablets through a responsive dashboard, larger menus and controls, and improved scrolling (see image).