Eastern Software System

Introduction

Ebizframe is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software created by an Indian company Eastern Software Systems Pvt. Ltd.[ESS] ESS was incorporated in 1990 as a software services company in Delhi. ESS launched its ERP product Makess(1), (2) – subsequently redesigned and launched as ebizframe in year 1999, (3) with possibility of extending it to customers and vendors. Makess on the Net was the first ERP in India to be offered on rental – what is now called SaaS model, in year 2000. (4) (5)

ESS received its first venture funding in 1998 from FMO, Intel and Citi Bank. (6). It is assessed at CMM level5 and follows ISO standards 2000:1901. (7)

ESS was the first Indian company to get into highly competitive branded ERP market and it has been mentioned as one of the successful Indian software products by various independent agencies. (8), (9). Its focus was Indian SME market. ESS moved into international arena in the year 2002-03 through business alliances and is present in 26 countries currently and is a leading player in ERP space in these countries.

Ebizframe has been mentioned as among the top 6 ERP vendors in India for two years in running by Frost and Sullivan. (10) It is one of the rare Indian ERP companies to have grown consistently since its birth and recorded profits unfailingly since 2002-03

History of ebizframe ERP

• The precursor to ebizframe, called Makess was launched in 1998 in India on client-server technology on Oracle platform. (11)

• First customer for Makess was Sterling Tools Ltd. in Faridabad (12) and is now using its latest version of ebizframe ERP.

• ESS introduced first Indian WAP enabled ERP. (13)

• A generational jump was taken in year 2000 by launching a web based version of Makess, named “Makess on Net” (14), (15) in collaboration with Oracle and Sun Systems. (16). It was an ahead of the times SaaS (‘pay as you use’) model and it attracted a good number of customers and appreciated well by critics and industry people alike for its visionary use of technology and future road map for users. (17), (18)

• The new version on a new technology platform of Oracle with e-commerce and extranet collaboration possibilities was launched in year 2000 and called ebizframe.(19), (20)

• Ebizframe upgrades have been released regularly and version 7.4 on Oracle 11g is slated to be released in May 2009. (21)

• Ebizframe came up with the concept of ‘bolt-ons’ i.e. functional upgrade granules that are released every quarter and can be added at a customer site without much pain. This concept takes care of major disruptions in customer usage when a new version is sought to be upgraded irrespective of what functionality a customer may be interested in. Now some other global ERPs are also finding merit in this approach.

• During its last 10 years of existence, ebizframe has come up with many flavours for different industry verticals. Major segments apart from engineering, chemicals/pharma ( 22), (23),(24),(25), (26), (27) being retail (28), dairy, food processing (29), (30) agro-industries like Sugar, Breweries and Distilleries, Paper & Packaging (31), Jewelry (32), Retail (33)Textiles & Apparel (34) etc. etc.

• Ebizframe is running currently in 26 countries in different industry segments. (35),(36)

• Ebizframe is also being offered in four more international languages. (37), (38)

• Ebizframe has come up with web portal for customers which can sit on the top of the ERP, tightly integrated with the ERP that provides access to employees, vendors and buyers, and also facilitates its extension to e-commerce. (hyperlink to portal screenshot).

Technology

• Ebizframe is based on Oracle technology, middle-tier being provided by Java technology. It is currently on Oracle 11g platform and is fully web enabled.

• Interestingly it does not require a middle ware like Citrix Server for running on browser.

• It can run on Windows, Sun, Solaris, Unix and Linux platform. Certified for Redhat Linux (39), (40).

• ESS has recently introduced state of art Management Dash Board with latest web based light technologies like PHP and Flex. (41)

• ESS has recently introduced excel based Reporting capabilities in ebizframe, giving users virtually unlimited capabilities to generate their own reports and graphic based MIS, Dash board etc.

• Ebizframe can have integrated interface within its menu for Oracle Discoverer.

• Can run on LANLAN, WAN, Internet – in-house hosting as well as ISP hosting

Implementation possibilities

• ERP web-hosted on static IP address in-house with global access

• Hosting by ISP – with server hosted remotely at ISP data centre. It has tied up with Datacentres like Netmagic, India for this purpose.

• SaaS model and MSP model

• Hybrid connectivity through VSAT, Broaband, leased and ISDN lines. ESS has tied up with many leading service providers to provide customers rich options.

• Ready to use low cost standard implementation with core functions and fast implementation - ebizframeCORE

Implementation methodology

ESS implements its ERP through its own project teams and doesn’t depend on third party consultants. This is much different methodology but highly successful resulting in very high success rate. ESS believes in incremental ERP implementation. It is more successful and leads to least disruption in regular business of the customer. This model is being slowly adopted by other ERP players in the industry.

Product features

• Business functions – CRM, Sales, Procurement, Manufacturing, Licensed (sub-contracted mfg.) Finance, Asset maintenance, Statutory Compliance, Customer Service, Administration

Modules –

• Sales – pre-sales activities (SFA), Sales & Distribution, Export sales, Sales returns, Inter-location transfers, a separate optional module for Point of Sales, Marketing schemes, incentives for sales & distribution

• Purchase - normal purchases (local and imports), job work, services and service contract management

• Inventory management – Raw material, bought-outs, finished goods, multi-location warehouses etc.

• Production and PPC – Shop floor activities as well as back-office activities, Process based level2 Bill of Material, MRP, production planning, Job cards, WIP etc.

• Fixed Assets – Management of Fixed Asset register with user defined parameters for depreciation calculation

• EQM – preventive and break-down maintenance, both in-house and third party, tracking spare part consumption, stock ledger and machine history

• Customer Care – post sales complaints management, warranty and out of warranty repairs and billing, tracking support activity for customers

• EIS – Management Dash Board, macro-drill down reporting

• In-built report writing capabilities and user defined dashboard for managers and directors

• Integration of Oracle BI tool Discoverer within ERP

• Extension to Extra-net – web portal integration, e-commerce, EDI,
• Possible to interface with other ERPs.

Partnerships

ESS prefers Business Partnership model outside India and is represented by well known IT companies in various countries. ESS also provides marketing support by providing training to the partners’ marketing tea, and where required, deputes trained personnel to help the partners in marketing the software.

References

1. Economic Times, New Delhi, June 26, 2000 - Ess-tablishing goals (1)

2. DataQuest – Jan 31, 1999 – Sizzlers of ’99 – cover story (2)

3. DQ Week – June 8-14, 2000 – ESS discontinues Makess, launches ebizframe (3)

4. DataQuest – Feb 15, 2000 – Sizzlers of 2000 – cover story (4)

5. Computer Resellers News – June 15, 2000 – Advantage ASP (5)

6. DataQuest, Nov 30, 1999 – Interview with Atul Vijaykar (Intel), Anil Bakht (ESS) (6)

7. CMM5 and ISO certificates (7)

8. computer world – Jun 16-30 2000 – ERP special – User survey ESS in top 10 (8)

9. PCQuest – Dec 1999 – Trends 2000 – Made in India – Ten world class products developed in India (9)

10. Frost & Sullivan Reports (10)

11. Economic Times, Aug 6, 1999 – ESS for Success (11)

12. Unkown publication, Makess – Driving Sterling Tools to success (12)

13. Times of India, New Delhi – Dec 5, 2000 – Cellbiz from ESS (13)

14. Computerworld Nov 1-15, 1999 – ESS brings Makess on the Net (14)

15. DQ Week, Sep 16-22, 1999 – India’s first ERP on the NET (15)

16. DQ Week, Jan 13-19, 2000 – Sun, Tech Pacific, ESS tie up (16)

17. IT – Information Technology, April 2000 – ERP on Net by Mantra Online, Wipro Net offers rental ERP via Internet (17)

18. DataQuest, Feb 29,2000 – New, Net-savvy ERP Software (18)

19. Business Line, May 2000 – ESS unveils ebizframe (19)

20. Computer Resellers News, 15 June 2000, ESS shifts gear from ERP to ebiz solutions (20)

21. CIOL, July 2006 – Ebizframe – Developers to benefit from Ebizframe-Oracle marriage (21)

22. Financial Express, June 17, 2006, Case Study - Alpha Pneumatics (22)

23. DataQuest, June 15, 2007, Making In-roads (23)

24. DataQuest, Special Report, Case Study – Sidel (24)

25. DataQuest, Special Report, Case Study – Vir Rubber (25)

26. The Machinist, Aug 2007, Case Study – Monarch Catalyst (26)

27. BenefIT, October 2007, Best Practices (27)

28. Economic Times, Nov 11, 2004, Shopper’s Paradise takes to IT (28)

29. DataQuest, Special Report, March 2007, Q&A, Milkfood, (29)

30. Express Computers, …………………., Managing multiple Issues, Case Study Recon Oils (30)

31. ExpressComputers – April 4, 2005, SMI caps production wastage (31)

32. Dataquest – May 15, 2007 – Gems & Jewelry, Case Study - Shrenuj & Co. (32)

33. DataQuest, March 2007, Special Report, Gems & Jewelry – Case Study – Laabh Jewellers (33)

34. ………………………………………., Case study of a Garment manufacturer (34)

35. EFYTimes.comEFYTimes, Oct 6 2006, ESS honoured with Software Export Excellence (35)

36. India infoline, Oct 6 2006 -ESS wins market development award from ESC (36)

37. DQ Channels, Aug 31, 2006, ESS goes global (37)

38. ZDNet India, ……………, ESS translates ebizframe ERP into five international languages (38)

39. CIOL, June 2006, ESSESS solution for Red Hat Linux (39)

40. Linux for you, Aug 2006, evuzfrane wears Red Hat (40)

41. Screenshots of MDB