BigMachines Launches Lean Front-End Standard Edition to Serve the Needs of Small to Medium-Size Enterprises--SMEs.Business Editors CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2003 Using a hosted, on-demand application delivery model, the LFE LFE Low Frequency Effects LFE Lean Front End (software) LFE Laminar Flow Element LFE Learning From Experience LFE Large Final Emitter (environment) LFE Leicester, Forest, East Standard Edition offers many of the features of BigMachines' LFE Enterprise, to provide SMEs with an affordable solution that drives front-end cost reductions and cycle time improvements. BigMachines, Inc., the premier provider of innovative solutions for manufacturers, today announced the roll-out of its Lean Front-End (LFE) Standard Edition. The next-generation solution is designed to meet the needs of small and midsize manufacturers, and can also serve as an entry point to lean front-end optimization for larger manufacturers. Like BigMachines' LFE Enterprise Edition for global manufacturers, the LFE Standard Edition is a powerful solution that applies lean principles and innovative technology tools to optimize front-end sales and customer service processes, eliminate waste and realign re·a·lign tr.v. re·a·ligned, re·a·lign·ing, re·a·ligns 1. To put back into proper order or alignment. 2. To make new groupings of or working arrangements between. value streams to reduce costs, improve speed and customer service. BigMachines developed its LFE Standard Edition in response to the SME (1) (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) See SMB. (2) (Subject Matter Expert) An individual who is well-versed in the policies and procedures of a particular department or division. market's urgent need for front-end automation. While many manufacturers have adopted a lean philosophy - for back-end manufacturing processes - a majority of SMEs still rely on manual processes, paper-based catalogs and price books and, sometimes, rudimentary technology designed in-house. The robust capabilities of the LFE Standard Edition include: product catalog and selection guide, product configuration, customized quote and proposal generation with automatic follow-up, order management, flexible sales, quote and order reporting and analytics - all accessible through an affordable, secure, customized Web portal See portal. . This translates to a digitized selling environment that makes your entire sales organization and channel as good as your best sales person with perfect information. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the company's CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and co-founder Godard Abel, "Smaller manufacturers have typically not been able to obtain these front-end sales automation Sales Automation - Sales Force Automation tools to streamline their processes and disseminate information quickly and easily to their domestic and global sales channels and customers. With the LFE Standard Edition's Web-based platform and economical pricing structure, these companies can now implement an automated, deeply functional solution that will enable them to extend their capabilities to serve worldwide markets and compete with larger players in their marketplace." Fast, Convenient Web Access With No Set-Up Charges Because the LFE Standard Edition is a fully hosted application suite, implementation is fast and easy - typically less than one month with BigMachines' LFE quick-start service package. The software offers built-in core processes and a menu of templates and process options to provide users with "out-of-the-box" implementation and speed to value and ROI (Return On Investment) The monetary benefits derived from having spent money on developing or revising a system. In the IT world, there are more ways to compute ROI than Carter has liver pills (and for those of you who never heard of that expression, it means a lot). . In the set-up phase, a batch file (1) A file containing data that is processed or transmitted from beginning to end. (2) A file containing instructions that are executed one after the other from beginning to end. See BAT file and shell script. integration process is installed to extract from back-end data systems the customer and parts information that will be required by front-end sales and engineering processes. Ed Wylonis, BigMachines' VP/Products, explains: "Since most smaller manufacturers' legacy systems do not support easy XML-based integration, we developed a batch file integration process whereby we send a document that captures order data in XML XML in full Extensible Markup Language. Markup language developed to be a simplified and more structural version of SGML. It incorporates features of HTML (e.g., hypertext linking), but is designed to overcome some of HTML's limitations. , text and/or EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) The electronic communication of business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations. Third parties provide EDI services that enable organizations with different equipment to connect. formats. These files can then be loaded into the manufacturer's order entry system. This approach enables users to gain the value of integration and near real-time information flow without having to upgrade their back-end systems or make a huge investment in integration technology." In fact, a standard Internet browser See Web browser. is the only requirement for manufacturers and their channel partners to use BigMachines' powerful LFE Standard Edition. There are no set-up costs; simply a monthly subscription fee based on the number of internal and external users. The LFE Standard Edition is also available in a modified format designed for parts sales only - this version enables smaller businesses to automate spare parts Spare parts, also referred to as Service Parts is a term used to indicate extra parts available and in proximity to the mechanical item, such as a automobile, boat, engine, for which they might be used. Spare parts are also called “spares. sales and support sales channels and customers via a Web-based platform. At any time, LFE Standard Edition users may choose to upgrade to the LFE Enterprise Edition, assisted by BigMachines' seamless migration path and professional services. About BigMachines, Inc. and BigMachines AG BigMachines (www.bigmachines.com) enables manufacturers of complex products to quickly transform their front-end sales, channel and customer service processes by delivering the Lean Front-End. The Lean Front-End leverages both lean principles and software technology to quickly optimize value streams. A Lean Front-End creates a global platform that integrates all of a manufacturer's knowledge, information, and tools. This eliminates waste, mistake-proofs the processes, and establishes rapid information flow, all of which results in lower costs and better, faster customer service. BigMachines' customer base includes business units of Crane Co., SPX Corporation, US Filter, Conair Group and other leading manufacturers. BigMachines, the BigMachines logo, and the Lean Front-End Solution are trademarks of BigMachines, Inc. |
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