COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 2, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the implementation of a new business management software solution, several systems now are integrated at Nera Networks. This will increase precision, reduce costs and provide seamless information flow between local divisions -- and later on in their locations in 25 countries.
Nera Networks AS, a subsidiary of Nera ASA, and Columbus IT Partner AS have completed the first phase of a collaborative project to install the business management system Axapta from Microsoft Business Solutions. With this new solution, all information on sales, projects, production, logistics and finance can flow seamlessly between divisions. Over the course of the coming year, Nera offices in more than 25 countries will gradually be connected.
Nera is one of Norway's most advanced high technology exporters in the supply of teleinfrastructure. The company produces and sells senders, receivers, antennae and electronics for high-speed radio lines. The total turnover in Nera ASA surpasses 2.5 billion NOK. Nera altogether has circa 1,700 employees.
"We wanted a fully integrated system that we could easily implement locally and at all of our subsidiaries and sales offices around the world, without having to incur costly IT projects in each location. When all of our units collaborate globally, the information flow, access to the same data, and the system's capacity to handle many simultaneous users are important. The goal for our new solution was that the information is located in one place regardless of whether is it being used by production, on the internet or locally in each country," said the IT Director at Nera Networks, Arvid Hovland.
In addition to administrative and financial functions, the new system handles the flow of materials from suppliers, while planning, control and monitoring production. The e-commerce part of the solution is central for handling external business processees with customers and suppliers, too. Nera offices in many countries can connect to the system and communicate directly with each other.
"We have reviewed and redesigned our business processes so that the information flow is the most effective it can be, and support this with the fully integrated management solution. The goal is to reduce duplication of work and sources of errors. This involves all links in the chain from when we send out offers, through production and delivery to follow-up and invoicing," reported Hovland.
"Our IT strategy had big demands for integration and flexibility. This required a database platform and Windows NT-based applications. Axapta satisfies all of these needs, together with multi-language capabilities and ease of implementation in our offices in many countries," added Hovland.
With this new solution, Nera Networks has created its own B2B portal for integrated transactions with high-volume suppliers. The portal will handle both purchasing and sales.
"E-commerce provides more secure and faster flow of information. With ordering on the internet, there is an automatic message about the product availability. In the long run, we plan to let OEM," revealed Arvid Hovland. "All of the solution is developed in English for functioning easily in the concern's foreign divisions."
Nera Networks is a part of Nera ASA, publicly listed on the stock exchange in Oslo, and with subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dubai, England, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Marocco, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Soeuth Africa, Spain, Thailand, Czech Republic, Germany, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam.
"Only 10 percent of our turnover comes from Norway. Our customers are first and foremost public institutions and tele-operators in more than 30 countries," said Arild Hovland.
Kai Kolstad, Managing Director of Columbus IT Partner Norway, the leading value-added reseller of Axapta, said, "This has been an important project for us. Just like Nera Networks, we are an international player in the marketplace. This means that we can handle implementation and support all over the world."
It is Nera products that broadcast Norwegian radio and TV, and ensure communications for supply fleets and oil platforms. When mobile telephones began to take over the world and tele-monopolies fell in one country after another, this lead to an international breakthrough for the Norwegian technology.
Columbus IT Partner has a fleet of almost 1,000 employees in 27 countries that have helped over 7,000 customers to navigate new worlds of technology. More than a decade of expertise with ERP solutions to optimize back-office processes supports expansion into the front-office areas and the Internet with solutions for both horizontal and vertical needs. Columbus IT Partner is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.