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Answer Solutions: Fully integrated enterprise resource planning

Answer Solutions Limited (ASL), is a Cardiff-based software company specialising in enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. Previously a division within the Kalamazoo International group, the company opened its doors for trading in January 2000 after a management buy out.

Answer Enterprise When the company was formed, ASL acquired all staff and customers associated with the Answer product. Known as Answer Enterprise, the ERP solution comprises a series of fully integrated modules for manufacturing, distribution, financials, supply chain management, plant maintenance, warehouse management, data analytics, e-business, ePOS and rental & hire.

itwales.com speaks to managing director, Ian Cowley, who says " We supply a wide range of industry types from process and distribution to warehousing, discrete and hybrid; retail and supply chain specialists. Our experts provide the solution that can change and grow to meet the needs of modern business. To illustrate the versatility of Answer Enterprise, the implementation can take many forms, from client server to browser, on a range of platforms and operating systems to suit specific environments."


ITW: What's unique/outstanding about the products/services you provide?

IC: We are committed to creating and supplying the highest quality application and implementation solutions.

At Answer Solutions we realise that the needs of the process sector are often ignored or clumsily addressed by modifying traditional manufacturing systems. Process businesses need to define formulas and recipe based products and Answer Enterprise has these distinct needs at its heart, fully integrated with all core modules producing a flexible, controllable foundation for doing business.

This was designed from the outset and built from the ground up, not simply bolted on as an afterthought, so you can be sure of a reliable, useful solution.

Strong partnerships with leading technology suppliers play a key role in the overall solution for our customers. Our recent acquisition of Retail Management Systems now means that we are one of the few software suppliers that can offer a proven solution for the supply chain, from EPOS to warehouse, manufacturing and financial controls.

Answer Enterprise is supported directly by its authors; this extends to application consultancy, industry knowledge and both technical and database support of the system.

We listen to our customers and work hard to incorporate what we hear into new and enhanced versions of Answer Enterprise.


ITW: What one piece of technology has benefited your company the most?

IC: The Oracle database and development technologies have been very important in enabling ASL to deliver the Answer Enterprise application. It has enabled us to deliver a secure and varied deployment platform together with a rapid application development environment thus shortening our time to market for new and enhanced Answer Enterprise software.


ITW: What's been the key to your success?

IC: Our people, team all working together for the common goal of being successful in what we do.


ITW: What one piece of advice would you give to start up companies in your field?

IC: Focus, focus on your customers, on what you want to deliver and don't get deflected, which is so very easy to do when running a small business. Then stay focussed through all the ups and downs that will occur.


ITW: Where do you see your company going in the future?

IC: The ASL strategy is to continue to develop the Answer Enterprise product, complement Answer where necessary with third party products and to sell into new business opportunities as well as existing customers.

ASL also intends to expand via acquisitions into complementary market places for Answer, hence the recent acquisitions of the Rental and Hire application, and the purchase of RMS for their Retail ePOS and back office applications - both of which will help leverage more and diverse Answer Enterprise application sales.

We are committed to the long-term satisfaction of our customers, which is why we use our own specialist knowledge and feedback based on market and industrial trends to keep Answer Enterprise at the cutting edge.

We have not ignored the huge impact that e-business and other online strategies have had on the process industry and we have recently released a new approach to Answer with our e-Business Portals. We believe that the future success for many companies in the global economy will move away from stand-alone enterprise into a networked virtual integrated part of the extended supply chain; from procurement into manufacturing to supply, integrating with our clients' trading partners and building stronger relationships.

Contacts

Answer Solutions Ltd
The Innovation Centre
Festival Drive
Victoria Business Park
Ebbw Vale
NP23 8XA

Tel: 01495 356771
Fax: 01495 356774
E-mail: info@answersolutions.com
Web: www.answersolutions.com



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