Manugistics Introduces OAI/Net for Business-to-Business Integration
Open, Scalable Integration Provides Foundation for Dynamically
Connected e-Chains
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Manugistics Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MANU) today expanded its Open Application Integration (OAI(TM)) product family with the planned introduction of OAI/Net, a product that will address direct, real-time, business-to-business integration for the extended supply chain. OAI/Net will empower organizations to leverage the Internet for easy integration with trading partners such as customers, suppliers, distributors or transportation providers, transforming today's disjointed supply chains into tomorrow's seamless, dynamically connected e-chains. Manugistics believes that e-chains will ultimately replace existing supply chains, improving supply chain velocity and driving additional revenue through both on-line and traditional sales channels.
The OAI product family will include two products -- the currently available OAI/Enterprise and OAI/Net -- the products will work in concert to power Manugistics e-Chain Solutions. OAI/Enterprise ensures data consistency and integrity across applications within the enterprise by connecting Manugistics solutions to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Execution (SCE) systems through auto plug-ins. In contrast, OAI/Net will reach outside the enterprise to provide secure, Internet-enabled, business-to- business integration with trading partners across the extended supply chain. As a result, Manugistics will be the only open solution available for e- business, offering easy integration with other systems within the enterprise as well as other systems used by trading partners.
"Increasingly, clients are recognizing that the significant benefits of e- business can only be fully realized through solutions containing open integration, intelligent collaboration, and robust optimization," said Jeff Holmes, senior vice president, North American operations, Manugistics. "The tight linkage of trading partners through business-to-business integration that will be using OAI/Net represents a substantial opportunity to increase the real-time responsiveness of the extended supply chain, ultimately reducing total supply chain costs."
Building on third-party partnerships, the OAI/Net product will connect trading partners across firewalls to facilitate Intelligent Commerce through real-time, optimized collaboration. Customer benefits will include:
-- A Customized Approach for an e-Business Solution: OAI/Net will allow organizations full freedom of choice by easily and reliably integrating key pieces of existing packaged applications and industry specific applications to Manugistics' robust optimization engines.
-- Proven, Reliable Technology: Prior to the planned introduction of OAI/Net, business-to-business integration options in the marketplace for supply chain planning were limited and often required custom code. OAI/Net will use proven third-party integration solutions for reliable, real-time integration throughout e-chain communities.
-- Rapid Implementation: OAI/Net will provide a solution that is easy to implement and configure, allowing clients to move at 'e-speed.'
"Today, many companies are trying to speed business processes and hold lower inventory. This results in a high velocity supply chain with a need for added visibility for 'capable to promise' information -- committing to customer promise dates based upon the availability of key supplier components," said Steve Banker, senior supply chain analyst, ARC Advisory Group. "Good real time visibility, through business-to-business integration using OAI/Net, represents a substantial opportunity to increase customer responsiveness and improve profitability."
OAI/Net is planned to be released over the next six months as part of the Manugistics6 family of products. Additional details will be released during Working as One '99, July 12 -14, in Orlando, Florida.
Headquartered in Rockville, MD, Manugistics Group, Inc. is the leading provider of solutions for customer-centric supply chain optimization and has the largest global client base of any supply chain provider. The company's solutions are used by nearly 900 companies to improve the flow of product within and among companies from raw materials or parts through manufacturing to delivery of product to the end customer. Manugistics' solutions uniquely allow its clients to create and optimize their supply chains around their customers and are quick to implement, adapt easily to change, and deliver rapid results. Its clients include leading companies such as Campbells Soup, Compaq, DuPont, General Electric, Harley-Davidson, International Paper, Mobil Oil, Nestle, Timberland, United Distillers and Vintners, and Wal-Mart.
Manugistics, the Manugistics logo, and working as one and Open Application Integration (OAI) are registered trademarks while Supply Chain Compass, e- Compass and VSP are trademarks of Manugistics, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information about Manugistics can be found at the company's site on the World Wide Web, at manugistics.com.
SOURCE Manugistics Group, Inc.
CO: Manugistics Group, Inc.
ST: Maryland
IN: CPR MLM
SU: PDT
06/17/99 15:39 EDT prnewswire.com |
