Capabilities of SIMATIC IT Preactor APS and Comparison with Competitors

Running head: INFORMATION SYSTEM
INFORMATION SYSTEM
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1ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEM
Explain in your own words the capabilities of the software. Have there been any success
stories of companies using it? Are there similar products from competitors and how do
these compare as far as capabilities are concerned?
The software named SIMATIC IT Preactor APS consists of a range of solutions for
scheduling products (softwares) and planning production which helps in coordinating the
manufacturing processes. This gives the client better control and visibility for increasing
utilization and efficiently delivering products in time by reducing inventory wastes. The
software is capable of scheduling package and planning capacities.
The software helps in providing a better production visibility. It helps in improving
efficiency and utilization. It helps in reducing work in progress and inventory costs. The
software is capable of analysing impacts and changing management. It also helps the
company to provide better customer service. The new version of the software has some
improved capabilities. Improved capabilities such as Encryption, OData sources, improved
calendar handling and storage, integration of Microsoft Report Viewer 2015, Configuration
enhancements and data highlighting and filtering has been added to SIMATIC IT Preactor
APS. The new version of SIMATIC IT Preactor APS enables the organization to tightly
integrate with the Unified architecture of SIMATIC IT (“Production Planning and Scheduling
Software” 2018). It also has the capability to integrate efficiently with third party products. It
also provides feature rich dashboards and reports for easy understanding of the complex data.
SIMATIC IT Preactor APS is capable of providing better scheduling benefit such as
better utilization of resources, reducing the setup changes and changeovers and providing a
detailed analysis of the production load. The organization that utilises the software gets the
added advantage of getting a faster modelling of what-if scenarios and improved
manufacturing delivery timings.

2ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEM
The software also has PIO and PESP distribution tools. It helps in the distribution of
Workflow scripts and Import\Export (PIO). This feature allows the saving of the required
scripts in the hard disk of the specific system which helps the user to send the data to the
customer or is distributed in the company. After receiving the script, the receiver can easily
download the data into the database. In case the script is an update, the software has the
capability to overwrite the previous version and add the new version with a new name. In
short, the software tool has the capability to implement a new system even when similar
multiple scripts are required.
The data editor that is present in the software has the capability to rearrange, remove
or add displayed fields giving the user the power to display the data in whatever way he or
she wants. Grouping, filtering and sorting features are present for enhancing the data usage
capability.
Several companies have benefited from using this software. Organizations like
Cosworth Racing, Wall Colmonoy and Yorkshire Fresh Salads have already tasted success
after incorporating SIMATIC IT Preactor APS in their business functions. One success story
is given in the following section.
Cosworth Racing is an organization that provides design solutions and engine
technologies to motorbike racing, World Rally Car, CART and Formula 1. Before
implementing Preactor, the company relied on Infinite Capacity System that dated back to
1971. Later, the company split its core manufacturing teams by assigning different lead times
to each team. The company used Microsoft Project and Excel sheets to schedule it personnel
but the process was time consuming and manually not feasible. With the integration of
Preactor, the team found its first benefits during group meetings when the software took all
the what-if scenarios and submitted it to the group in a hard copy (“Products - Preactor

3ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEM
International Limited” 2018). The company could now focus on all the definites instead of
estimating all the scenario risks. Due to the software, the scenarios can be effectively
evaluated on a daily basis and accurate information can be interpreted giving the company a
new determination to move its business in a certain direction.
There are similar products from other competitors such as SAP ERP, Microsoft
Dynamics GP, xTuple, Oracle E-Business Suite and NetSuite ERP. Two competitors are
taken as example and their functions are compared in brief.
SAP ERP is used for business planning and is suitable for all kinds of businesses.
Unlike the Preactor, This software has human resources and customer management module
built into the software.
Microsoft Dynamics GP is a business tool that can be used for small as well as large
businesses. It is business management software and has several functions that has similarities
with Preactor software such as billing and invoicing, forecasting and budgeting, core
accounting and financial reporting.
Give an overview of E-commerce, M-commerce and E-business. Discuss how companies
that work using the E-business model can obtain a competitive advantage in relation to
traditional businesses. Explain how traditional companies can implement the E-business
model while keeping their traditional status. Also discuss how a traditional business can
fully convert to an E-Business (dropping its traditional status). Analyse the benefits of
Ecommerce for the customers of such business.
E-commerce involves transaction (commercial) which involves information transfer
through the internet. It involves a wide number of businesses such as corporation services,
exchange of goods, auction sites and retail sites that are consumer based. The technology