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| Cambashi press release |
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BEYOND THE YEAR 2000 CBS.021/04/99/F "Today's ERP systems keep the score - but tomorrow's businesses will need systems that provide continuous business improvement" 13 April 1999: developers and vendors of engineering and manufacturing computer systems were today warned against over-reaction to issues associated with the year 2000 and Euro compliance at the tenth annual seminar run by Cambashi, the UK's leading consultancy specialising in engineering and manufacturing IT. Among the predictions was the imminent demise of 2D (computer-aided design (CAD) in favour of 3D solid modelling, and a move away from "ERP" (Enterprise Resource Planning" to a new technology, "ORP (Optimisation of Resources and Processes). "The manufacturing IT industry is going through troubled times at present, but we forecast a recovery for the year 2000," said Cambashi's founder and managing director, Mike Evans. "Once users have overcome their current preoccupation with Y2K and Euro problems, they will begin to look beyond ERP to a new generation of technology that does more than keep the score. We predict the emergence of ORP - systems that provide for a continuous improvement in business performance." The seminar, held at Chilford Hall, Linton, just outside Cambridge, attracted directors and senior managers from many of the leading manufacturing IT suppliers in the UK and Europe, including companies such as Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Cadcentre, CoCreate, the Computing Suppliers Federation, Delcam, Greenock Bv, Hewlett-Packard, ICL, SAP, Siemens, Silicon Graphics and Smallworld. Entitled "Scylla and Charybdis", the seminar took an in-depth look at the current position of vendors and likely future trends in the industry, and gave advice on how to negotiate the difficult year ahead. The speakers included Cambashi's top consultants, who are among Europe's leading authorities on the market for engineering and manufacturing computer systems, as well as a number of invited experts. Cambashi's Peter Thorne and Beverley Johnson began by giving an in-depth look at the changing trend in users expenditure. They demonstrated that 1998 had been a year of considerable and rapid change from the vendors' point of view, but that 1999 had shown a decline, particularly in sales of enterprise-wide manufacturing business systems (ERP - "Enterprise Resource Planning"). The conclusion was that 1999 would be a difficult year for manufacturers, and this would be reflected in IT system sales. However, once the initial problems associated with the Millennium bug and Euro compliance were overcome, the year 2000 should see solid growth. Derek Ashburner of Kvaerner Corporation, a major corporate user of manufacturing IT systems, gave the keynote presentation on "How your sales team can help me", highlighting the buyer's dilemma in making the right choice. He maintained that some software applications are not tested properly, and are shipped before they are ready for the market. Kvaerner needed reliable IT systems and suppliers who could provide detailed advice on the best systems implementation to suit its particular business needs. He also explained that, in common with many large organisations, Kvaerner is reducing the number of its sub-contract suppliers, looking instead for long-term relationships. The seminar then split into two parallel sessions. One of these focussed on the future of computer-aided design and manufacturing business systems. The other, on sales techniques, examined changes in direct and indirect sales models, and giving an insight into how the latest knowledge management techniques can be used to improve sales and marketing productivity. Three IT system resellers were then put on the spot with a question and answer session on their approach to the business. Allan Behrens, managing director of design systems specialist Cadtek Systems; Phill Nightingale, from Photonic, one of the country's largest AutoCAD resellers; and Russell Howarth from ERP/MRP systems vendor Apex Systems, had all gone recent through mergers and acquisitions, and gave a succinct and amusing account of the changes in their business models. Cambashi's founder and managing director Mike Evans drew the day to a close with "Tales of Brave Ulysses - where are we going?" He concluded that, although Ulysses managed to negotiate between Scylla (the sea monster) and Charybdis (the whirlpool) with the loss of only six sailors, manufacturing IT systems companies were still experiencing difficult times. However, with careful planning and attention to users' needs, they had a bright future. |
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