IBM and IBS form global strategic alliance to support Supply Chain Management integration
IBM Global Services to sell and implement IBS’ new Virtual Enterprise software worldwide
IBS and IBM today announced a global strategic alliance to deliver e-business and Supply Chain Solutions for businesses in distribution and sales as well as international manufacturing groups. The alliance incorporates IBS’ Virtual Enterprise Supply Chain collaboration software with key IBM middleware products, servers and IBM Global Services Supply Chain Management (SCM) services.
The combined offering provides an easy to install, comprehensive integration solution linking different ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications and integrating supply chain business partners. The alliance will help customers reduce costs and manual processes, increase customer service and cut lead times.
"The challenge for companies today is to integrate and harmonise processes both internally and externally across company trading boundaries. The trick is to place technology on top of existing enterprise systems, to act as a unifying layer. Software like IBS’ Virtual Enterprise uses this approach and when combined, under this partnership umbrella, with the power and resources of IBM, offers an attractive solution proposition," explained Simon Pollard, VP European Research, AMR Research.
Increasingly, companies need to integrate and coordinate different ERP systems within a geographically dispersed group of companies and between supply chain partners to enable integrated SCM and order fulfilment. Investments in integration give high returns by maximising existing investments in different brands of ERP systems or tailoring software already present in the organisation.
IBS and IBM will jointly market, sell and install the integrated solutions worldwide. IBM Global Services will establish consultancy practices in selected countries and provide customisation and integration services for joint IBM and IBS solutions.
IBS’ new generation of Virtual Enterprise software utilises Java and the WebSphere development platform. Virtual Enterprise is unique in combining supply chain and multi-company integration with advanced business logic.
Murray Mitchell, vice president and global practice executive, Buy & Supply Services, IBM Global Services, said, "This alliance expands a relationship that began 25 years ago and will allow customers to maximise previous technology investments through tighter systems integration across their organisations."
"The alliance with IBM will significantly enlarge our capability and resources to deliver world class supply chain management solutions to demanding international corporations," says Staffan Ahlberg, CEO of IBS. "We believe that it will have a major impact on our competitiveness and revenue. If the cooperation develops according to plan, IBS licence revenue from this additional channel has the potential to become as big as our present sales of software."
Fran Miller, MIS Manager for Miele US said, "Since implementing IBS software, Miele USA has reduced its inventory level by 15 per cent whilst coping with 30 per cent growth. Miele and IBS have partnered in a number of countries, giving us the benefit of greatly increased productivity and profits."