To assist the professional dealing with software in Warehousing Distribution, Logistics, and the Supply Chain.

Techniques, Vision, & Educational Thoughts

"The Internet Barrage hits the Software Vendors between the Eyes"

Tired of being bombarded with the Internet marketing message? The "e" push within the business arena over the last (2) years has radically transformed the business arena as customers realize the absolute necessity to implement quickly a robust, highly successful Web strategy. Likewise, the Internet Barrage has affected the Supply Chain Software Vendors—i2 Technologies, EXE Technologies, Catalyst, Manhattan, and Yantra—who also are changing their Marketing strategy to accommodate the Web as the basis to optimizing the entire Supply Chain. For example, take a look at the 1,000% valuation increase in i2’s [ITWO-Nasdaq] stock price over the last (6) months to reflect the Web’s importance and necessity in adopting a Supply Chain/Business-to-Business, B2B successful strategy. Or, glance at the Supply Chain Execution (SCE) leader’s website—EXE Technologies, www.exe.com. Since August, EXE has transformed their product [Exceed 2000 and 4000 WMS] from a Supply Chain Execution (SCE) solution to an e-Fulfillment Solution (eFS). Has the product changed its inherent character? No, but the message has changed.

What does this all mean for businesses looking for answers in adopting a Web strategy? The Web is here to stay and will become the dominant medium of conducting business within the next few years, both in respect to B2B and B2C. Look at the Forrester Research’s estimate of $1.3 trillion by 2003 for B2B alone; this estimate has already been increased nearly 100% in the last month by an independent Boston research firm to $2.5 trillion. As a company, you need to evaluate Vendors who can provide you a successfully deployed, robust Web product that employs many components—ERP, SCM, SCE, Fulfillment/Logistics, eCRM (e-Customer Relationship Management), and IRM (Internet Relationship Management). Vendors will also begin to be evaluated on the tools and foundation to their product suite. Just look at Oracle (ORCL-Nasdaq) setting the stage for the other several hundred Enterprise Software vendors in the aspect of a web-based, not web-enabled solution. The playing ground is changing, and the Vendors who have articulated a dominant Web message will end up being the long-term winners in terms of Market Share. Who will those winners be? Time will tell, but the indications now point to firms such as i2 Technologies, Manugistics, EXE, Yantra, Siebel, Octane, Peoplesoft and Oracle. (Jared Faellaci, Independent Writer)

IDII News

• If you are searching for a new Warehouse Management System, then this new product can save "significant" time in building your RFQ, RFI, or RFP! Announcing the "Advanced Electronic WMS RFP". This product saves time and money for building the questions into a WMS RFP. It has 700+ detailed questions that validate vendor responses with color highlighting. One may add questions to the Advanced WMS RFP and may e-mail it to the Software Vendors. An adobe acrobat PDF is available describing this more at www.idii.com/pdf/wms_rfi.pdf or view the press release Cost is $795 U.S. and is available in a bundle of products for $895.

• Free software is now being listed on our website at www.idii.com/freeitem.htm

• New white papers have expanded to include WMS RFP preparation and WMS installation tips. See www.idii.com/wp-index.htm

Software Company News

• AllPoints Systems Inc (WMS) - Lands contract to provide software solutions for NFI (3PL with dot.com customers)

• American Software (ERP) – Announces e-intelliprise(TM), an Internet-ready ERP to hit the market.
  
  
• Ames & McBain (WMS) - New product FRESH-TEC(TM) SYSTEM - A WMS system for poultry, meat, and fresh food industry.
  

• Epicor (ERP) - Strategy for eBusiness expands by utilizing Clarus Corporations's eProcurement solution. Clarus eProcurement is a B2B electronic procurement solution that directly connects buyers and suppliers of goods and services via the Internet.
  
  
• Industri-Matematik International (ERP) - VIVALDI(TM) solutions to enable grocery, speciality hard goods and direct merchant retailers that are in the high-volume, high-velocity environment. VIVALDI is now available on the Sun Soloaris operating system.
  
  
• Kewill (WMS,SMS,3PL) - Kewill and E-Stamp (NASDAQ: ESTM) to expand into new markets and offer integrated mailing and shipping solution Kewill will now reach into the rapidly growing SOHO market, currently estimated at 11 million Internet connected U.S. businesses..
  
  
• Logistics Consulting Group (3PL, Warehouse) – Opens New Office in Mexico City.

• McHugh (WMS) – Announces Logistics Suite 2000

• Provia Software (WMS, TMS) – Opens Australia office in Sydney to serve the New Zealand & Australia markets.

• Provia Software (WMS, TMS) - 3PL Provider USCO Logistics Selects Provia's Transportation Management Software (TMS). USCO to Use Provia's TMS and WMS to provide clients real-time inventory and web visibility of orders from inception to delivery.

• Robocom Systems International (WMS) - RIMS(TM) is now available on Linux operating system. Now runs on NT, Linux, and Unix.

• Syspro Impact Software, Inc. (ERP) - The Accounting Library, a powerful accounting software needs analysis program, has certified Syspro's IMPACT Encore". This certification is an affirmation that the software meets The Accounting Library's highest standards and that the described features perform as specified.

Websites To Check Out

www.logistics.about.com – Educational articles on supply chain & logistic issues.

Quote to Ponder

"The human body is an amazing invention." Thaddeus Obal

Scripture to Ponder

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty." Proverbs 21:5

About This Newsletter

We educate and share news on software for warehousing, transportation, shipping, packing, slotting, loading, optimization, and enterprise wide software solutions. This free newsletter is published twice a month and is targeted toward supply chain professionals involved in software. Currently, it is only available electronically. Feel free to forward this newsletter to others that you know. One may quickly subscribe by accessing our website at www.idii.com. To submit information to be considered for inclusion in our newsletter, send any news, events, press releases, research, and newsletters to editor@idii.com. The current and back issues of our E-Software Newsletters can be accessed at www.idii.com/esn

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