Johannesburg, 15 Apr 2005
Namibian retail chain Woermann & Brock has reported more reliable sales prices, better stock availability and improved customer service following its implementation of a complete integrated back-office financial and retail application solution from Quality Business Consultants (QBCon), a software developer and partner of Progress Software South Africa.
The application, QBFin, is completely integrated and supplies all information from the company`s branches in real-time to Woermann & Brock`s head office through its replication environment. Jesko Woermann, MD of Woermann & Brock, says QBFin`s stable database is allowing the company to grow its business, and to rely on the accuracy of its information systems.
"The availability of reliable and timely data affects our overall success and ability to compete. Not only was our previous database unstable and outdated, but we also had difficulty in getting all our price updates to the respective branches and point-of-sale (POS) computers," he says.
Modules implemented include QBFin Financials, Management Reporting, Point of Sale, Inventory & Forecasting, and Purchasing.
"QBFin`s robustness and scalability have addressed these concerns, and also given us added functionality that enables us to make information available online, and immediately. For example, our supermarket butcheries can now calculate and cost prices for meat products, and our bakery sections can easily cost the various fresh items they produce."
Built on version 9.1 of the Progress relational database and development platform using Red Hat Linux 7.3, the QBFin system features a relational database architecture; full transaction rollback and automatic recovery with full transaction integrity; data replication which provides full redundancy (based on a two-tier deployment approach); online or offline backup; and Web-based budgeting and management information.
"The system we supplied to Woermann & Brock also has no single point of failure as all branches and even POSs can function completely on their own. This was an important consideration for our client," says Gustav Piater, technical director of QBCon. "If a data line goes down, for example, the replication will buffer all information until such time as the link is established again, upon which it will complete all buffered transactions."
Woermann says the supermarket chain chose QBCon`s solution as a result of the company`s willingness to customise QBFin based on Woermann & Brock`s business strategy, business functions and business processes. "QBCon was able to provide us with a totally integrated solution that has given us additional levels of functionality not readily available in similar vertical market products. In addition, QBCon`s team was committed to finding the correct solution for us in a minimum amount of time."
"QBCon has long recognised the benefits of using Progress`s development environment," says Rick Parry, MD of Progress Software South Africa. "The company`s industry-specific expertise, coupled with Progress technology, will ensure a competitive advantage for Woermann & Brock. In addition, Progress`s low cost of ownership makes it a particularly attractive option for African countries."
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