Accurate and rapid information at every level

These days it isn’t enough to install a couple of cash registers in the FMCG sector: without connected background systems and the constantly updated information for members of the management no enterprise can be successful.

According to Dávid Szabó, CEO of Szintézis ZRt., the FMCG sector realised that complex solutions are needed. New partners know that Szintézis ZRt. isn’t a simple service provider for the retail sector any more, as its integrated business management, classic IT and complex services solutions satisfy all types of demand. Szintézis ZRt.’s retail division realised a record turnover of HUF 2.8 billion in 2013. Yes, the mandatory replacement of cash registers played a part in this, but the Szintézis Retail System (SZIKE) was also ordered by many FMCG companies. The system is modular and scalable, therefore it suits the needs of both small firms and multinational companies. Szintézis-Net Kft. specialises in mobile services, developing apps for Android, Windows and iOS phones. They primarily develop for the French and US markets. SZIKE Retail System’s basic version also supports mobile ERP connections. SAP specialist OnliveIT Kft.’s managing director Tamás Matolcsi called attention to two things in connection with their system. The appearance of the SAP HANA technology brings new opportunities primarily for large firms, while the cloud-based, subscription solution opens up new horizons for smaller businesses. SAP HANA combines the best characteristics of management and information systems with the highest speed possible, so even the most complex queries can bring result immediately. There is no need for further servers and there is no waiting period when reporting, information becomes accessible in real time. With the spreading of mobile devices not only members of the management get access to instant and accurate information. István Takáts, managing director of Update Consulting Kft. told our magazine that more and more Hungarian firms are contacting them because they wish to install integrated systems. The company installs the Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system, the latest version of which was launched last year. Mr Takáts’ view is that partners typically make two mistakes when adopting the system: one of them is that they want to put everything into it and the project becomes too big and unmanageable – he recommends step by step introduction; the other mistake is that partners would like to solve the problems of their old systems with the new one – they find it hard to think of the new system not in relation to the old one. János Svéd, MultiSoft Kft.’s sales and marketing director informed us that generally FMCG companies are looking for business management systems when they get in touch with them, but in many cases they want to solve peculiar problems, e.g. they need a system to manage products to which excise duty applies. The company’s MobileNAV is the only one of its kind in the world and sells well abroad too. MobileNAV gives employees remote access to the Microsoft Dynamics business management system via mobile and tablet running on Android, iOS-Apple or Windows. Imre Sasfi, chief architect of the XAPT Group spoke to Trade magazine about the logistics and warehouse management solution integrated into the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 that came out in May 2014. This is a standard solution that can be of great help in the everyday work of FMCG enterprises. At the end of the year the new functional pack will be launched, a collection of a large number of various apps that can be used on mobile devices too. Balázs Török, sales consultant with Grape Solutions Zrt. told us that a growing number of FMCG companies are switching to cloud-based solutions because this move makes it possible for them to use the resources formerly spent on operating IT for innovation purposes. The company offers business intelligence and reporting systems, but recently they introduced the Grape Business Planning System, which supports sales planning and controlling processes. It is already used by the Sanofi-Aventis group in three countries and by Imperial Tobacco in two countries. They also have a low-cost, cloud-based call centre solution called YourCall.