iWork Software Releases New Order Management Technology For Furniture Manufacturers

Furniture World Magazine

iWork Software, an e-business integration software vendor focused on the industrial sector, announces the general release of Order Write Now™, the first fully integrated business-to-business e-commerce solution developed specifically for the furniture industry. Using a hand-held wireless device to scan bar-coded sample tags, the iWork system captures order information as the buyer makes purchase decisions on the showroom floor, sending it in real time to the manufacturer’s ERP and/or order-entry system. iWork developed the innovative solution working with Deloitte Consulting’s CMD Systems and a major furniture manufacturer. "With only a limited number of reps to serve thousands of dealers at market, furniture manufacturers are often faced with showroom back-ups, inconvenienced customers and orders that don’t get into the system accurately," says Morris Cornwell, vice president of CMD Systems. "With the iWork solution, sales reps can respond to buyers much more efficiently while eliminating much of the current non-value-added time spent by the manufacturer processing each order." Since it fully integrates with the manufacturer’s back office, the iWork solution has the added advantage of validating data as it is entered, eliminating the possibility of data entry errors and instantly displaying availability during the buying process. "The iWork Order Write Now system will dramatically streamline the market buying process, creating efficiencies that will make the time spent by both the buyer and the sales rep much more productive," says iWork Global Accounts Manager Bob Shelton. The system utilizes iWork ADC, the automated data collection adapter of the iWork Business Integration Suite that enables manufacturers to send data collected on the plant floor in real time to integral systems throughout the enterprise. The Order Write Now system works much the same way, delivering showroom floor sales data into the manufacturer’s host system in real time simply by scanning bar-coded sample tags. Here’s how it works: As buyers enter the showroom, their ID badge is scanned with a hand-held device. This brings their information up on the receptionist’s screen, including the name of their sales representative, who is then called. As the buyer makes purchase decisions, the sales rep uses a hand-held wireless device to scan the showroom sample tags of each piece ordered, and enter quantity information. The information is then instantly sent into the manufacturer’s ERP or entry order system via a LAN and RF (radio frequency) receivers set up in the showroom. At any time during the process, information can be edited, brought up on the screen for audit or sent to a printer located in the showroom for printout, all on the fly. Timing the release of the system to coincide with the April 2001 International Home Furnishings Market (IHFM), iWork distributed demo CDs of the new order management technology to manufacturers attending the premier meeting of the Information Technology division of the American Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (AFMA), March 27-28 in Charlotte. Because of the similarities in the furniture industry between the B2B furniture buying process and the retail buying process, iWork also plans to take the solution to furniture retailers, bringing similar efficiencies to the consumer furniture shopping experience. A software enhancement package already in development will be available before the October market. Manufacturers or retailers interested in a full demonstration of the system should call 1-336-852-0455 or send an email to contactiwork@iworksoftware.com. About CMD Systems CMD Systems is an information technology consulting practice operating as a subsidiary of the Deloitte Consulting family. Well known for their capabilities around the IBM AS/400, CMD Systems specializes in providing full information systems life cycle consulting services to clients in multi-platform, midrange-computing environments. CMD’s technical specialists, applications designers, programmers and analysts support clients in systems analysis and conceptual design, software selection, detail design and construction of software, application implementation and conversion, capacity planning and hardware configuration, and telecommunications design and development. CMD Systems is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with additional offices in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.cmdsystems.com. Deloitte Consulting is one of the world's leading e-Business consulting firms, providing services in all aspects of enterprise transformation, from strategy and processes to information technology and human resources. For more information, visit www.deloitteconsulting.com. About iWork Software iWork Software provides powerful business integration software to companies who need to cost-effectively implement e-business processes. Building on more than a decade of experience in deploying IT solutions to manufacturing enterprises, iWork offers its Business Integration Suite, a rich integration environment complete with application and data integration adapters designed to help management apply e-commerce for a competitive advantage. Through the integration of data and the automation of business processes, the iWork Business Integration Suite enables real-time collaboration of ERP, WMS, APS, CRM, order management systems, trading exchanges, wireless applications, people and more. Supported platforms include IBM AS/400, System 390, eServers, RS/6000, Sun Solaris, HP 9000, NT Servers and Microsoft 2000. iWork-built systems accept input from diverse data sources such as palm pilots, wireless devices and any system that is Java Virtual Machine 1.2 or higher. iWork Software is supported by integration service partners around the world who provide in-depth domain expertise. iWork is a privately held limited liability corporation with U.S. headquarters in Greensboro, NC, and European headquarters in Sandhurst, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Visit www.iworksoftware.com.