Scala Business Solutions has announced the commercial launch of iScala 2.1, which it describes as the only purpose-built collaborative ERP system available today. According to Scala Africa CEO Shamik Sinha, the company began re-designing its ERP software and building a new platform specifically for online collaboration over two years ago. "Scala has now packaged together full functionality for collaborative business in one standard software system. This means a business can begin genuine collaboration with its subsidiaries, customers, partners, and suppliers," he says.
"This marks the evolution of our core product range to the platform for the future - iScala," says Sinha. "We have built a new platform to offer the market's only purpose-built system that will allow automated processes between companies as part of a standard package. Other vendors are simply bolting on what they call collaborative functionality to their old products, which is nothing more than basic e-business capability with a new name.
Scala has beaten the competition to market with a cost effective platform for collaborative ERP, ready for worldwide deployment, because of our product development vision two and a half years ago. What we have will change the complexity and speed of global business for the better, and for the long term."
Sinha adds that Scala's successful standard ERP product will continue to be sold and supported. "Our customers who do intend to move from Scala 5.1 to iScala 2.1 will be able to take advantage of a standard upgrade path and conversion toolkit, making such a move relatively simple."
Market Needs
The iScala collaborative ERP package is more than a product; it is a way of working. Sinha notes that this new way of working plays an important role in the current trend towards industry consolidation. "With this new product and our unique market position - endorsed by our customers - Scala is in a strong position to successfully provide customers with what they need in order to simplify business."
New technology will slash the costs of business co-ordination with the introduction of genuine collaboration - something that Scala has achieved with the release of iScala 2.1. Companies throughout the supply chain will have cross-company visibility, putting an end to redundant factory space and half-full delivery vans. iScala is designed to make a whole chain of companies work better together and not in isolation.
Wide Welcome for iScala
Industry commentators have stated that the need for collaborative technologies means that older, traditional ERP systems are architecturally redundant. "Businesses collaborate every time they place an order via fax or phone, but then staff need to manually re-key this data into at least one other system in order to raise purchase orders and invoices, which are then returned via fax," states Sinha. "Scala's platform enables the complete automation of everyday processes that soak up time within the supply chain. Staff are then free to carry out more meaningful tasks, such as improving customer care, while the company can speed up the production cycle and work to shorter lead times," he explains.
The Product
iScala 2.1 comprises two products, the iScala Business Server and the iScala Enterprise Server. The iScala Business Server is an entry-level product for medium-size companies needing full ERP functionality to automate business processes across applications and customer or supplier systems. The iScala Enterprise Server brings scalability, as well as business centralisation for larger companies. In addition, iScala Developer is a development environment to allow internal and external IT staff to alter the basic iScala product in order to deliver company-specific functionality where required. The new architecture also means that iScala is ready for web services, and can be made available through any device.
"Many other vendors claim they are delivering ERP systems that can connect to other applications, and even work as web services" comments Sergey Shvedov, Scala's senior vice president for research & development. "To try and achieve this, they are simply wrapping Internet technology around their traditional ERP software. This approach has many limitations and cannot be sustained in the long term. You need to re-design and re-write your software to meet all the requirements of the connected world, which is precisely what we have done with iScala 2.1."
Over the past two and a half years, Scala has worked closely with its early-adopter customers to create a collaborative ERP system that will bring standardization of business processes across all companies in a supply chain, provide a foundation for enterprise portals and dashboards and will readily integrate with other software such as SAP. "iScala is the platform for a collaborative future, where subsidiaries, divisions, suppliers, customers and partners can connect at any point in a seamless matrix," concludes Shvedov.
Further information available on www.scala.net/iscala includes:
* A white paper on iScala
* Product sheets
* Graphics
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