International Business Systems (IBS) (XSSE IBS B) is a Sweden-based global provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM) industry-specific software solutions and other accompanying services for companies embracing IBM-based technologies. Since the early 1990s, IBS has achieved some success in transitioning from mainly being a Scandinavia-based solutions provider to a player in the broader European, Asia-Pacific, and North American markets. It now has an international network in over twenty countries.
IBS remains primarily a services company driven by the sales of its expanding enterprise software application portfolio. IBS has long focused on selling strong wholesale distribution functionality supplemented by financials and manufacturing functionality, including focus on logistics, sales order processing (SOP) and warehousing. It also provides general financial management, accounting, and some light manufacturing functionality. Its market is comprised of technologically conservative, mid-size companies that are looking for turnkey "one-stop-shop" solutions from a single supplier. This market segment is currently without an apparent leader, and one of the reasons only a few vendors have chosen to address this lower-end of the distribution market is likely because it has proven to be a less profitable (less margin-friendly) market segment.
Nowadays, IBS provides three main types of services: software, professional services, and hardware. The company's software products cover the fields of collaborative sales and procurement, customer service, order management, demand-driven manufacturing, inventory management, business performance measurement (BOM), and financial control. It has also provided software solutions for specific distribution-intensive markets, including the automotive and motor vehicle parts distributors, consumer durables, electrical products, electronic components, food, industrial supplies, industrial machinery and equipment, medical equipment and supplies, paper and packaging material, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, independent wholesalers, and business-to-business (B2B) distributors. This vertical strategy has been sales- and marketing-related, and has manifested itself in IBS' product development agenda.
IBS' professional services consist of analyses of business processes and improvement potential, customer support, development of complementary tailor-made systems, follow-ups of projects and results achieved, implementation, information technology (IT) strategy and system design, modification and development, operation and maintenance, project management, and training. Its hardware products are based on the IBM iSeries (formerly AS/400) hardware and include computers and network equipment that contribute towards SCM solutions such as the IBS Pharma Adaptive Supply Chain solution for pharmaceutical distribution.
Recently, IBS has refined its overall strategic direction which long focused business operations on medium and large companies, and the subsidiaries of major groups. The strategy is based on the following cornerstones:
* A focus on key market areas in which IBS can maintain a leading position, provide customers with high value, and in this way achieve a sound level of profitability;
* an emphasis on sector industry solutions that include pharmaceutical distribution, electronic components, industrial supplies, food, publishing and consumer durables;
* a stronger market position through acquisition of companies with complementary customer bases and competence;
* a global market presence in order to be able to serve international groups, such as the 2004 decision to open offices in Tokyo and Shanghai;
* offering comprehensive solutions based on professional services (with experienced consultants with knowledge of pertinent industries), servers and network solutions as well as financing, all to vouch for long-term relationships with customers (of at least ten years); and
* cost effectiveness in product development, marketing and sales, implementation and support, to offer integrated solutions at a competitive price.
IBS believes the value for its customers should come from its ability to
* provide vertical solutions and multi-level processes for collaborative organisations;
* implement customer projects with mainly own resources;
* work primarily with its own software, in combination with some customised software solutions;
* espouse specific focus on distribution, manufacturing, and service companies; and
* achieve a market-leading position by focusing its efforts, passion and expertise on the aforementioned companies and industries.
IBS remains primarily a services company driven by the sales of its expanding enterprise software application portfolio. IBS has long focused on selling strong wholesale distribution functionality supplemented by financials and manufacturing functionality, including focus on logistics, sales order processing (SOP) and warehousing. It also provides general financial management, accounting, and some light manufacturing functionality. Its market is comprised of technologically conservative, mid-size companies that are looking for turnkey "one-stop-shop" solutions from a single supplier. This market segment is currently without an apparent leader, and one of the reasons only a few vendors have chosen to address this lower-end of the distribution market is likely because it has proven to be a less profitable (less margin-friendly) market segment.
Nowadays, IBS provides three main types of services: software, professional services, and hardware. The company's software products cover the fields of collaborative sales and procurement, customer service, order management, demand-driven manufacturing, inventory management, business performance measurement (BOM), and financial control. It has also provided software solutions for specific distribution-intensive markets, including the automotive and motor vehicle parts distributors, consumer durables, electrical products, electronic components, food, industrial supplies, industrial machinery and equipment, medical equipment and supplies, paper and packaging material, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, independent wholesalers, and business-to-business (B2B) distributors. This vertical strategy has been sales- and marketing-related, and has manifested itself in IBS' product development agenda.
IBS' professional services consist of analyses of business processes and improvement potential, customer support, development of complementary tailor-made systems, follow-ups of projects and results achieved, implementation, information technology (IT) strategy and system design, modification and development, operation and maintenance, project management, and training. Its hardware products are based on the IBM iSeries (formerly AS/400) hardware and include computers and network equipment that contribute towards SCM solutions such as the IBS Pharma Adaptive Supply Chain solution for pharmaceutical distribution.
Recently, IBS has refined its overall strategic direction which long focused business operations on medium and large companies, and the subsidiaries of major groups. The strategy is based on the following cornerstones:
* A focus on key market areas in which IBS can maintain a leading position, provide customers with high value, and in this way achieve a sound level of profitability;
* an emphasis on sector industry solutions that include pharmaceutical distribution, electronic components, industrial supplies, food, publishing and consumer durables;
* a stronger market position through acquisition of companies with complementary customer bases and competence;
* a global market presence in order to be able to serve international groups, such as the 2004 decision to open offices in Tokyo and Shanghai;
* offering comprehensive solutions based on professional services (with experienced consultants with knowledge of pertinent industries), servers and network solutions as well as financing, all to vouch for long-term relationships with customers (of at least ten years); and
* cost effectiveness in product development, marketing and sales, implementation and support, to offer integrated solutions at a competitive price.
IBS believes the value for its customers should come from its ability to
* provide vertical solutions and multi-level processes for collaborative organisations;
* implement customer projects with mainly own resources;
* work primarily with its own software, in combination with some customised software solutions;
* espouse specific focus on distribution, manufacturing, and service companies; and
* achieve a market-leading position by focusing its efforts, passion and expertise on the aforementioned companies and industries.
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