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STURGIS LOCATION:
118 South Monroe
Sturgis, MI 49091
269.651.1080 • 800.253.4871 |
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PORTAGE LOCATION:
269.329.0605 • 800.253.4871 |
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OUR SOLUTIONS: |
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In the Beginning . . .
Automation Plus, incorporated as a Michigan corporation on June
23, 1980.
Initially as a "Service Bureau". For younger individuals reading
this a service bureau is like an ASP only initially we physically
received all data, performed the input, throughput, and output
on our site. We would then physically deliver the data turned
into information (invoices, checks, inventory movements, reports…etc.).
The service bureau gave us tremendous experience in the actual
operation of systems in "Real life environments"; I say environments
as we were running numerous clients (entire business infrastructure)
on our IBM "Mini" computer. This background gives us a true
understanding of data capture and control, an area we find most
resellers can not relate.
We operated the service bureau using an IBM System 34. As the
market place changed and software and systems became affordable
we expanded our products and services.
Entry into Software Solutions . . .
Our relationship with IBM and our operations background, offered
us the opportunity to become an IBM Business Partner. This included
training and implementing MAPICS and CAFRS in addition writing
a tremendous number of custom software systems. Dedication to
staff training became paramount, based upon the scope of the
software. State of the art made us recognize that computer technical
training was of course necessary, but, business theory, process
flow and control, project management experience including leadership
development was also mandatory to serve our growing client base.
This was a tremendous education and growth for us as an enterprise
team.
As a side note, we still have custom software systems we wrote
back in the early 1980's that is still in operation today, migrated
to current IBM mini systems. Another sidebar, our top sales,
operations and management people are still with us, now as owners.
Introduction of the Personal Computer
. . .
Time marches on, networked microcomputers came on the scene,
and again we faced a paradigm change! The horsepower and operating
systems were not on the standard of the "Mini", but the price/performance
was undeniable.
SBT Computing, a California corporation, was beginning to market
their accounting/inventory "off the shelf" solutions. With our
experience we were invited to become resellers. We still represent
and are certified in the small to mid size market with this
software. The software has continued to improve through the
acquisition process starting with Computer Associates and is
now part of the family of products of Sage Corporation.
Client demand kept (and still keeps) us involved in the design,
programming and tailoring of custom software, including add-ons
to software packages. We are proud of our full custom and enhancements
we have created. I am referring to examples where we tailored
(or wrote from scratch) software to perform tasks exactly as
the client's envisioned. We offered to the client a competitive
advantage through the use of technology and talent.
Y2K Hits . . .
Y2k! Need any more be said? Prospects that did not understand
the scope and timetable of their ninth hour requests, we sent
to our competitors! They were sold software not a solution!
ERP Comes of Age . . .
Demand from clients began fueling ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning
systems) and full system integration. TIW was our initial MRP
offering. Note MRP, as ERP was not a reality, still vaporware!
The Alere product has continued to expand in functionally and
stability, now incorporating full ERP. We enjoy working with
TIW; they have excellent management and always work towards
product improvement.
Ten years ago we were introduced, and were accepted to represent
a beautiful (if I may use that word) software product line;
SYSPRO, a Strategic E-Fulfillment Accounting, Manufacturing
and Distribution modular software ERP, CRM, Internet inclusive,
SCM… offering. This package is extremely robust, stable, and
inclusive; from base in-house infrastructure to a full collaborative
Internet extension.
The WEB a new paradigm . . .
The Web revolution! We realized that we are a "nuts and bolts"
organization. Our value system told us that to receive the ROI
on the Web expenditure (that we were watching organizations
make) infrastructure must be in place before extensions to the
outside world could be implemented! We have since witnessed
a lot of internal "Islands of information" develop, very little
ROI, and client expectations were seldom realized.
Presently we do market Web ERP applications and collaborative
B2B and B2C "off the shelf" packages. Our value system held
true, and our client base was not misled and has not misspent
their precious assets. The present systems we market are built
around the concept that the Web is an extension of customer,
employee, stockholders, and vendor input/output. The Web is
a methodology for data gathering and information to make the
jobs of those who interact with your organization simpler! Now
clients are building their infrastructure to attain the first
steps toward Supply Chain Management.
Where are we going?
Our commitment to your success is never ending. The team is
committed in both culture and through our continuous process
improvement methodology to to provide you solutes that meet
your Business vision within budget, on time, and with measureable
results.
As the software market place continues to evolve, we face a
new paradigm of Software as a Service (Saas) and systems that
offer more functions for less dollars. Effective 2009 we expanded
our software offerings to include Intuit's QuickBooks Enterprise
systems, including the addition of a certified Pro Advisor.
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