Press Release: Latest version of Sage ERP X3 benefits mining companies

Sage has added new features to its latest release of Sage ERP X3, version 6.2, which are particularly useful for the mining sector, mining companies attending a seminar held recently in Harare by Chips Computing Services were told.

Some of the features of the enterprise resource planning software are ideal for mining companies involved in exploration and development, as well as for managing mining equipment and operational data, Mr Keith Fenner, Sage ERP X3 sales director at Softline, the South African subsidiary of Sage Enterprise, told seminar participants.

The Sage Division of Chips Computing Services invited Mr Fenner to the seminar to share with participants some of the new features of Sage ERP X3 which are particularly useful for mining companies. A number of mining companies in South Africa use the programme.

In Zimbabwe the Sage Divisions of Chips Computing Services has installed Sage ERP X3 at a number of large companies. The programme is flexible, with optional modules that can be added onto the core programme designed for particular business sectors. There is a module, for instance designed specifically for municipal billing which is useful for local authorities.

Some of the new features of version 6.2 of SAGE ERP X3 relate to advanced budgeting, manufacturing project management, subcontracting and asset management and production, making it possible to have an analytical view of the business. Multi-legislation management has been extended in version 6.2.

One of the new features that Mr Fenner said would be particularly useful in mining is the search facility. Reporting and searching can be a problem for mining companies where there can be, Mr Fenner said, as many as 60 000 to 70 000 items in stores and 5 000 to 10 000 transactions  conducted every day, making finding anything under such circumstances difficult.

The latest Sage ERP X3 search function brings up all related searches, in the same way that Google does.

The software supports multi-country operations within one single ERP system, reducing the cost of multi-country deployment.

Sage ERP X3 comes with traceability and audit tools, multi-company and multi-legislation tools and the ability to streamline business operations locally and internationally.

Some of the other benefits are scalability and flexibility, which give it the capacity to grow and adapt to change. Easy to use, it facilitates collaboration inside and beyond the business and the streamlining of operations across all areas of business.

It makes informed decision making easier, reduces costs and provides a fast return on investment.

Sage has 6,3 million customers worldwide. It is the number three ERP vendor in the world. There are 250 mining companies in Africa using Sage ERP X3.

A good ERP system, Mr Fenner said, should perform well; be able to have 100 users today or 1 000 users tomorrow; not require the purchase of third party products to manage it; come at a low cost; be easy to use; be able to operate with other systems within or outside the company; be open and be capable of being integrated into both office and social networks.

Sage ERP X3 has all these qualities, Mr Fenner said. “It is user-centric. You can do what you want with it,” he said.

Sage has a coherent ERP portfolio that is focused on the mid-market. It provides flexibility, choice and a superior customer experience. It offers low cost solutions involving many users in an operation.

Chips Sage Division head Charles Kuyayama agreed with Mr Fenner’s assessment of the product and its usefulness to mining companies.

He said Sage ERP X3 increases business insight, optimises business processes, streamlines operations, controls financial risks, boosts sales, grows a business, enhances collaboration and reduces costs.

He said the Sage ERP X3 for Mining suite should assist any mining company to better manage its operations and position itself for growth, as the experience of mining companies in other countries that have installed it shows.

Designed for a network of up to 1 000 computers, it can be deployed rapidly. It is cost effective, easy to use and provides a complete end-to-end mining solution.

The Sage Division of Chips, which is one of only four Sage Premier Solution Providers in Africa, not only sells but installs and provides technical back-up for Sage ERP X3 and other Sage software products. The availability of technical back-up and expertise from Chips is one of the reasons Sage products have become so popular in Zimbabwe.

Chips recently received from Softline the Alchamex Best Performer of the Year 2010 – Sage ERP X3 Award and the Best Sage ERP X3 Performer Award.

It also received the Best Achiever Africa Award and the Best Line 500 Performer Award, beating hundreds of Sage dealers from throughout Africa, including many South African dealers.

Chips not only provides technical know-how but keeps its customers informed about the latest products and updates of products that are available by email and through workshops such as the recent workshop on Sage ERPX3 version 6.2 it held for mining companies.

As a product, Sage ERP X3 is driven by the focus on productivity, increasing need for visibility, flexibility and collaboration, and the increasing need for global management.

Chips press release

image credit: itweb.co.za