See How Infor And Brown Smith Wallace Team Up To Improve Your Business Processes With iMap

Drive your business forward with a process improvement evaluation.
 
iMAP-Industry Measure, Analyze, and Perform-is an industry-focused, business-process improvement evaluation for Infor clients. This independent offering brought to you by the Brown Smith Wallace Business Process & Systems Group is designed to map key business processes to industry best practices. Brown Smith Wallace has a long history of advising wholesale distributors on best practices and leading software evaluations. With more than 25 years of service, we have the expertise to quickly assess your business challenges, compare your performance to industry benchmarks, and help you build a high-ROI business case for justifying process redesign and system upgrades.   Learn more at: http://tinyurl.com/hzj66a7

Brown Smith Wallace and Decision Modeling

Congrats to Todd Snover and CPA firm Brown Smith Wallace. Following his completion of the decision modeling course presented by Bruce Silver, Todd is now the first person to be "DMN Method and Style Certified."   Bruce Silver Associates has trained over 1100 individuals in process modeling using his BPM Method and Style.  With this new course, Bruce is now also supporting the OMG standard for Decision Modeling.

Decision Model and Notation (DMN) allows decision logic (and associated rules) to be precisely defined and maintained by subject matter experts themselves, using business-friendly graphical models that can be automatically validated for completeness and consistency. Though applicable to managing operational decisions in any industry, the relatively new standard is quickly establishing itself in the financial and insurance sectors.

DDI System Releases Newest Inform Software Upgrade

Adds user-defined screens, more functions and a fresh new look.

DDI System continues its commitment towards innovation and industry-specific tools with its latest release - Inform Version 21.0.10.32.

This new version provides an even greater feature set - fully integrated as part of DDI’s inform solution. DDI System expands its offerings and adds user defined screens with updated new looks, making inform one of the most advanced and user-friendly ERP solutions available today.

Additional print screen and email notification options provide greater flexibility in providing information to all applicable employees.

Enhanced warranty returns handling allows distributors to define vendor requirements for warranty returns complete with pop up notification and more.

Improved back-order release handling tools and so much more have been added with this latest release.

Thousands of DDI System users nationwide are achieving a higher level of efficiency and increased profitability with inform’s advanced capabilities. DDI continues its tradition of innovation and exceptional values with this free upgrade for DDI System inform subscribers.

Distributors can see the many benefits of the inform software at www.ddisys.com or by calling DDI for a demonstration at 877-599-4334.

Acumatica Launches Cloud xRP Platform, Enabling Software Companies to Get to SaaS, Fast

ERP and Cloud business management solutions provider Acumatica augments its product suite with a Cloud platform offering.

Acumatica, the fast-growing leader in Cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and business management solutions for small and medium-sized companies (SMB), announced it has added the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform to its product line-up.

The Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform empowers the more than 6 million .NET developers and software companies to get their solutions to SaaS, fast. The “x” in xRP represents any-sized company, anywhere, in any industry. 

Acumatica CEO Jon Roskill said: “What Salesforce has done for CRM, Acumatica will do for xRP. Our Cloud xRP Platform, built on the world’s best Cloud and mobile technology, is available immediately in the Acumatica Cloud or private Cloud configurations, the form factors the market demands. As with our Cloud ERP products, we believe in offering choice to our partners and customers.” 

Ali Jani, VP of Product Management, said: “The Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform, built on the standard Microsoft stack, is a technological breakthrough that finally allows developers and software companies trapped in legacy technologies to modernize quickly and stay ahead of the technology curve once and for all. Our platform empowers developers and software companies to focus on industry-specific functionality without sacrificing control and flexibility.” 

In addition, developers and software companies building on top of the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform can take advantage of Acumatica’s pre-built ERP and CRM capabilities, while enjoying flexible deployment and tenancy options. 

“We’re excited to offer the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform to the world,” said Christian Lindberg, Acumatica’s VP of Partner Solutions. “Developers and software companies that need to deliver a SaaS offering at scale can leverage our platform to get to market faster while saving development costs and without compromising on functionality, performance, or flexibility. This technology lets you focus on domain and process expertise, while leaving the plumbing to us.” 

Industry luminary Buck Forland said: “For developers, it’s a floor wax and a dessert topping in one.” 

Acumatica’s partner ecosystem now includes more than 270 partners around the world such as ISVs JAAS Systems and Jamis, and OEMs MYOB and Visma. Visma, the leading provider of business software solutions to SMBs in Northern Europe, white-labeled Acumatica’s Cloud technology for thousands of its own customers and launched Visma.net last August. 

JAMS — JAAS Advanced Manufacturing Software — an end-to-end manufacturing solution, was built using Acumatica tools in record time. JAAS Systems’ General Manager Fred Szumlic said: “We saved $400,000 in development costs and delivered a Cloud manufacturing application in 10 months instead of three years.” 

About Acumatica

Acumatica is a leading provider of cloud business management software that empowers small and mid-size businesses to unlock their potential and drive growth. Built on the world’s best cloud and mobile technology and a unique customer-centric licensing model, Acumatica delivers a suite of fully integrated business management applications such as Financials, Distribution, CRM and Project Accounting, powered by a robust and flexible platform. In an interconnected world, Acumatica enables customers to take full control of their business; to play to their strengths, since every business is unique; and to empower their people by going wherever their people go, on any device. 

Acumatica
Dorothy Ho, +1-425-658-4913 (office)
Mobile: +1-206-303-7750
Director of Communications
dho@acumatica.com

 

 

ECi Software Solutions Acquired by The Carlyle Group

Global Alternative Asset Manager to Support ECi’s Growth, Commitment to Small and Medium Size Businesses

 

ECi Software Solutions (www.ECiSolutions.com), a leader in industry‐specific business management and e‐commerce software solutions, announced it has been acquired by global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

ECi Software Solutions is a leading provider of industry‐specific business management and e‐commerce software for growing and midsize companies in a broad variety of industries, including office products,office furniture, office equipment, lumber/building materials, hardware, manufacturing, retail distribution and many more. ECi combines technological innovation with a dedicated customer focus to deliver fully integrated solutions that fuel the expansion and efficiency of every aspect of customers’ operations.

 

ʺWe are very happy to partner with The Carlyle Group to continue building our leading industry‐specific business and e‐commerce solutions across a variety of important industries,” said Ron Books, President and CEO of ECi Software Solutions. “Carlyle is committed to investing in ECi as we support the entrepreneurial spirit and profitable growth of small and medium size enterprises. I am confident that with Carlyle, we have made the right choice for the future of our employees, our customers, and our business partners.”

 

Charles Rossotti, Carlyle Operating Executive, said, “ECi has developed a proven and effective capacity to provide small and medium size enterprises with technology solutions that make them competitive with much larger businesses. We believe this capacity is a very special asset for the global economy, in which small businesses generate so much innovation and job growth.”

 

Steve Bailey, Carlyle Managing Director, added, “Carlyle’s investment will enable ECi to continue investing in its great people, delivering exceptional customer service, enhancing the functionality and features of its leading solutions, and expanding its global footprint.”

 

Equity for the investment came from Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund, which is a Carlyle fund
focused on middle market investments. Carlyle has a long history of successful investments in leading middle market, industry‐specific application software solutions companies, including Compusearch, serving the government sector; Gemcom, serving the mining sector; Primatics, serving the financial services sector; Quorum, serving the energy sector; RMI, serving the rail sector; and SchoolNet, serving the education sector. Other select middle market investments include Dynamic Precision Group, an aerospace component manufacturer; Philadelphia Energy Solutions (formerly Sunoco Refinery); Service King, the third largest collision repair multi‐shop operator in the United States; and Worldstrides, a provider of educational student travel programs.

 

ECi was advised by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Harris Williams & Co., and Carlyle was advised by Latham & Watkins LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

About ECi
The ECi Software Solutions family of companies provides business and e‐commerce solutions, offering onpremise and cloud‐based technologies. For 30+ years, ECi’s companies have served the manufacturing, office equipment, office supplies, contract office furniture, lumber and building materials, hardware and janitorial/sanitation sectors. Privately held, ECi is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, with offices and companies throughout the U.S., Australia, England and the Netherlands. For information, email info@ecisolutions.com, visit www.ECiSolutions.com, or call (800) 959‐3367.
 

ECI

Traci Johnson, SVP Global Corporate Marketing

800‐959‐3367 x23276

tjohnson@ecisolutions.com

 

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $189 billion of assets under management across 118 funds and 100 fund of funds vehicles as of December 31, 2013.  Carlyleʹs purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,500 people in 34 offices across six continents.

The Carlyle Group
Elizabeth Gill
+1-202-729-5385
Elizabeth.gill@carlyle.com

Registration Now Open For UnleashWD 2014

The 2014 Innovation Summit will be in Chicago on Oct. 29-30. UnleashWD is the only innovation summit for the wholesale distribution industry.

The innovation journey continues on a familiar date and with a keynote speaker that will inspire.

The third annual UnleashWD innovation summit will continue its effort to promote innovation and fresh ideas in the wholesale distribution industry on Oct. 29-30 in Chicago. Andrew Berlin, the CEO of Berlin Packaging and the owner of the minor league baseball team the South Bend (Ind.) Silver Hawks, will serve as one of the keynote speakers.

“The UnleashWD community is privileged to have a business leader of Andrew’s stature join us,” Dirk Beveridge, Founder of UnleashWD said. “Andrew is a titan within wholesale distribution, but his talk is going to focus on the lessons he has learned as a baseball team owner. He is a game changer and his speech will be one as well.”

Beveridge founded the UnleashWD innovation summit based on reinventing the values of innovation, thought leadership, company culture and business model design for the wholesale distribution industry. The conference sought to take the best ideas from all of business and to lift and shift them into the wholesale distribution industry. Lift and shift is the UnleashWD concept of applying ideas from outside of wholesale distribution and applying them to the industry.

UnleashWD features a line-up of innovative business leaders from outside of wholesale distribution. They speak during 18-minute presentations, which are followed by lift and shift workshops that place the speakers’ lessons into the context of wholesale distribution.

“We have grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years,” Dirk Beveridge, Founder of UnleashWD said. “We have created a forum to promote change within an industry that desperately needs it. We started something here a couple of years ago, and we are starting to see the results.”

Registration is now open at UnleashWD.com.