Double Launch for Barloworld Supply Chain Software Users

Written by Molokini
Written on Wednesday, 01 June 2011

Barloworld Supply Chain Software User Forum 2011

Global supply chain planning and inventory optimisation company, Barloworld Supply Chain Software (SCS) recently launched two products at its annual forum in the UK, where users were invited to trial the new software.

Barloworld SCS’s annual user forum allows existing CAST and Optimiza software users to learn about recent and upcoming developments, trial the software and offer their feedback about the products. This year’s event saw the launches of CAST Aurora and Oriana Lite, in Warwick, UK.

CAST Aurora is a decision support software application used for supply chain modelling, strategic network design and optimisation. According to Barloworld SCS, users can typically expect to achieve a 10-15% saving on their supply chain costs.

“The user forum provided an opportunity to engage with existing software users, following the global launch of CAST Aurora at the Multimodal exhibition in April” says Fraser Ironside, Head of Strategic Modelling at Barloworld SCS. “The forum allowed CAST users to trial the new software’s new features in a workshop environment, supported by Barloworld SCS staff.”

A key feature of the new CAST Aurora is the multi time period function, which enables companies to identify the ideal location for warehouses and the ideal times to open and close them, based on seasonal peaks and falls in demand and supply. Technological developments enable scenarios that previously may have taken hours to run through the software, to be carried out in minutes, in a single sitting.

Visitors to the user forum also saw the launch of Oriana Lite, which was the first, exclusive showing of the new software, following several years of research and development. Oriana Lite is a development of the longstanding Optimiza demand and inventory optimisation software. Key differentiating features include dynamic dashboarding for strategic, analytical and operational reporting, highly specific user configuration with hyperlinked prompts, extensive scenario modelling with approval staging for all key inputs and outputs, major improvements in scalability and process alignment capability including task workflows.

“Oriana Lite was well received by the users” says Kevin Boake, MD of Barloworld SCS. “The workshop was a good opportunity for our users from across Europe to get together and discover how others employ the existing Optimiza software.”

The annual user forum is an important event in the Barloworld SCS calendar. “Engaging with our users in a workshop environment is vital to the success of our software” explains Fraser. “We invite our users to share their feedback and experiences and we endeavour to incorporate their suggestions and requirements into the software.”

Several CAST and Optimiza users from around the world attended the forum, with Senior Project Managers, Purchasing Managers and other key figures from major retail companies, major food and drink manufacturers and major logistics operations present.

The event closed with two awards ceremonies. From the Optimiza business, the Optimiza User of the Year Award went to Kwik-Fit. The award was presented to Craig Douglas at Kwik-Fit, by Kevin Boake, after the event. The CAST business presented awards to the CAST Aurora Development Stakeholders, Agility, Belron, Carlsberg, DHL, Tesco and Unipart. Travis Perkins was recognised for being the first company to fully deploy CAST Aurora, and will be presented with the award by Fraser Ironside at a later date.

“This year’s forum saw the highest attendance to date and we have had really positive feedback from the day” Fraser adds. “The users enjoyed the ‘hands-on’ interaction in experiencing the new products and developing their partnership with Barloworld SCS.”

Barloworld Supply Chain Software is a leading global supply chain planning company, providing expertise, tools and solutions to help companies optimise their supply chain networks, inventory and transportation. For more information, please visit www.barloworldscs.com.

Ends – 605 Words

NOTES TO EDITORS
Barloworld Supply Chain Software is a leading global supply chain planning company, providing expertise, tools and solutions to help companies optimise their supply chain networks, inventory and transportation.

It has over 20 years’ experience in supply chain planning, with more than 400 software installations across over 600 international clients, supported from offices in the UK, USA, Africa, U.A.E, China and partners worldwide.

Barloworld Supply Chain Software provides planning software and methodologies to support supply chain efficiency and continuous performance improvement. It offers global solutions in: Network design, Demand planning and forecasting, Inventory management, Inventory strategy, Integrated demand and supply planning, Carbon emissions optimisation and Transportation management.

Barloworld Supply Chain Software is part of the Logistics arm of Barloworld Plc, a South African multinational with over 18,200 employees and a turnover of more than $5.9 billion.

For further information please visit www.barloworldscs.com

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