Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions provider ACS-Embrace has recently released a new version of its Embrace ERP software, Embrace 14, which it launched at its convention held in Midrand, Gauteng.

Under the theme ‘Embrace the future’, the event in March highlighted the enhancements and benefits of the new innovative Embrace 14, while examining how Embrace clients will be able to access their data, adopt new technologies and embrace digital transformation.

Two strategic partnerships were announced: one with information and communication technology solutions company EAI South Africa and the other with information management solutions firm Decision Inc. These partnerships are aimed at providing enhanced and more engaging solutions, built together with Embrace, to address changing needs, create clear competitive differentiators and help clients take their business to the next level.

The event was hosted by renowned keynote speaker and scenario planner Clem Sunter and comprised by presentations from Merck Pharmaceuticals – a case study on the implementation of Embrace 14; EAI South Africa, on Embrace mobility; Decision Inc, on enhanced reporting and analytics, and how these partnerships with ACS-Embrace will support client solutions, customisation and growth.

The ongoing development of Embrace is strongly influenced by new technologies, which provide new approaches and ways to integrate business processes and software; new legislation being introduced; the need for compliance; new business models; and new businesses and entirely new industries evolving. The development of Embrace 14 was driven by all of these and following the successful upgrade at a beta site, it is now the latest version on general release.

The enhanced Embrace value-added tax (VAT) system provides supporting detail for the completion of the South African Revenue Service IT14SD return with VAT figures that tally to annual financial statements. This saves clients time and ensures that all VAT-related transactions are accurately recorded, reported and balanced.

The integrated Embrace black economic-empowerment (BEE) functionality and comprehensive reporting tracks and measures all qualifying procurement spend with BEE partners. Clients can increase the benefit, calculate their preferential procurement score and report on compliant and noncompliant suppliers.

The introduction of the Embrace secure socket layer (SSL) network bridge for the Embrace desktop enhances network security with full SSL encryption, adding a robust network connectivity layer and is ideal for environments with unstable network connectivity. User sessions are retained even if connectivity is lost, enabling users to proceed with processing.

Infrastructure costs are reduced as neither Citrix, nor Windows terminal services are required. All Embrace traffic is 128-bit encrypted and SSL for telnet is also available. The Network Bridge together with the Rollback function provides robust user session handling.

The introduction with Embrace of automatic data exchange facilitates the integration of third-party systems directly, allowing electronic transactions to be processed with little or no human interaction.

The integrated Embrace service, repair and maintenance solution has been enhanced to improve productivity, increase asset use and control costs. Embrace manages, schedules and processes all service jobs, tracking unplanned and routine maintenance repair jobs.

The new Embrace tyre management system enables clients to improve tyre performance, reduce costs and enhance vehicle and driver safety.

Pharmaceuticals group Merck director of information services Paul Palm was a guest speaker at the Embrace convention and presented a case study on how the firm successfully implemented Embrace 14. He outlined the importance of proper planning, management involvement, regular steering meetings, obtaining staff buy-in, user acceptance testing and training – all of which contributed to Merck’s successful upgrade.

“This new platform will enable us to embrace the digital transformation, take advantage of self-help applications (apps) and improve customer satisfaction,” Palm said.

EAI South Africa CEO Francois Flamengo demonstrated ‘Embrace on the move’ on various mobile devices. Built on the backbone of Embrace Web services, a new Embrace mobile app is ready to extend the reach of the Embrace solution onto handheld devices, smartphones and tablets. These advances exemplify the ways ACS-Embrace is empowering users to intuitively improve the use of technology.

Decision Inc CEO Nick Bell demonstrated the qualities of QlikView software as a dynamic business intelligence tool, which allows for rapid and cost-effective deployment while delivering swift and seamless business insight.

“We are very excited about our partnership with ACS-Embrace. Key to this partnership is their vision of taking the product into the digital environment, something that very few vendors have been able to realise. With new additions of mobility and analytics as part of the product offering, ACS-Embrace is positioned uniquely as a technology that is adapting quickly to the future demands of their users,” said Bell.

Hall M2 Stand 1