Global enterprise applications company IFS, which has a location in South Africa has unveiled some new solutions at the IFS World Conference in Atlanta.
IFS Applications 10 is the new version of IFS’ enterprise applications suite and is built to help customers capitalize on disruptive industry needs, such as automation, connected devices (IoT) and servitisation.
New to IFS Applications 10 are:
IFS Aurena: A state-of-the-art browser-based user experience that offer users an intuitive interface. employs a consumer-first design to drive employee engagement and productivity. Introduced first for business-to-business and casual users, IFS Aurena will continue to evolve at a high pace using IFS’s concept for evergreen enterprise applications.
AI/human-machine interaction: Drawing on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, IFS Applications 10 features the IFS Aurena Bot that empowers users to interact with the system via voice or textual input in an intuitive and efficient way. IFS Aurena Bot can be used by employees and managers to ask questions in natural language, as well as perform transactions such as registering absence or applying for leave. IFS Aurena Bot can be accessed from popular communications tools such as Skype, Skype for Business and Facebook Messenger, as well as from within the IFS Aurena user experience.
Service-centric capabilities: IFS Applications 10 includes major investments to support service-focused organisations, especially for manufacturers with service or aftermarket operations as well as service companies that need an integrated enterprise applications suite tailored to their business model. Among the major updates in this area are the ability to manage service work and contract quotations directly in the CRM module, enhanced support for multi-person and multi-occurrence work execution, continued investment in IFS Mobile Work Order, better management and visualisation of resource demand and utilisation, cost control and WIP accounting along with new capabilities to engage with customers across the service lifecycle and manage work outsourced to contractors.
Demand-driven MRP (DDMRP): DDMRP is an extension of traditional MRP that helps companies deal with today’s challenges caused by short product lifecycles, long lead times and high demand variability. By introducing strategic inventory buffers, companies can reduce lead times and become increasingly demand-driven instead of having to rely on uncertain forecasts. IFS’ embedded solution has been validated and approved by the Demand Driven Institute, which demonstrates IFS’ ability to offer cost-efficient implementations.
Manufacturing functionality: The new version boasts major enhancements to support process manufacturing, including new and extended capabilities for traceability, quality management, recipe and formula management, batch balancing, rework and trade management. The extended features empower manufacturers leverage digital transformation into increased efficiency.
Enhancements for global business: To offer extended support for globalised businesses, IFS Applications 10 features a completely rebuilt engine for global tax management and more multi-company capabilities, as well as robust support for parallel ledgers.
Modern and cloud-friendly APIs: Open micro-service organised APIs, built according to the latest RESTful principles and the OASIS oData standard, ensure easy integration of data and processes in IFS Applications with IoT and AI technologies, Microsoft Office365 and most other modern cloud technologies and SaaS solutions.
“We are thrilled to launch IFS Applications 10, which has been built to help customers capitalise on major trends such as automation, connected devices and servitisation,” said IFS CEO Darren Roos.
“The new core version has been developed in close collaboration with our customers and brings to market a vast amount of innovation that will ensure maximum business value from day one.”
IFS CTO Dan Matthews added, “The new version contains more than 500 new capabilities, including a completely reimagined user experience and powerful features for service-centric organisations, all designed to help users engage with the business and connect people and processes to a modern digital backbone. By combining the new features of IFS Applications 10 with recent innovations like IoT and layered application architecture, we are able to offer a truly unique business solution.”
IFS Applications 10 is available as a managed service in the cloud, as Software as a Service (SaaS) and on premise.
Meanwhile, the new IFS Maintenix solutions have been launched to simplify fleet and line maintenance planning, enabling commercial operators of all sizes to react quickly to unexpected schedule changes
The launch represents the first in a series of SaaS-based IFS Maintenix solutions geared specifically for the mission-critical maintenance and engineering needs of the global commercial aviation market.
Commercial aviation is witnessing an unprecedented growth in fleet sizes worldwide. Key to an operator’s success is delivering the best maintenance plans that align closely with operational performance objectives while adhering to critical safety requirements.
IFS Maintenix Fleet Planner is designed to help generate more effective long-range plans for heavy maintenance activities and reduce the manual effort of keeping them up-to-date. It quickly and automatically generates simple or complex fleet maintenance plans and gives users the ability to compare plans against key performance indicators, model ‘what if’ scenarios and publish to production. These efficiency gains ensure decision-makers have the time and insight to choose the best possible plan and quickly react to schedule changes.
The solution was designed with the input of experienced long-range planners from a cross-section of large and small aircraft fleet operators and the system has been subjected to real-world use and demonstrated an ability to enable improvements in aircraft availability, check yield and hangar utilisation.
IFS Maintenix Line Planner enables planners to efficiently create, maintain and communicate an executable line maintenance plan. The solution helps drive greater efficiencies by focusing attention on high priority items and identifying the cause of maintenance issues, such as lack of parts, labour or special tools. Through automated workflows, IFS Maintenix Line Planner empowers users to more readily react to last-minute schedule changes and maximise line operational capability, maintenance task yield and network resources.
Both IFS Maintenix solutions work seamlessly with any maintenance and engineering software system and are deployed in a SaaS environment, enabling organisations to quickly and cost-effectively capitalise on innovative solutions to meet the evolving business needs of their maintenance management operations, while easily scaling in lockstep with changes to organisational and aircraft fleet plans.
Scott Helmer, SVP, Aviation and Defence at IFS, said, “Growing fleets, more routes and new, complex aircraft have increased the pressure on airlines to reduce maintenance costs, maximise resource allocation and boost aircraft availability.
“The maintenance plan is the foundation for this, as all downstream success – faster aircraft turnaround times, maintaining fleet airworthiness and keeping maintenance and materials costs in check – is dependent on having solid but flexible plans in place. With IFS Maintenix Fleet Planner and IFS Maintenix Line Planner, customers can more cost-effectively meet these needs while being able to quickly scale as the market grows.”
