Visitors to Cooper Software’s exhibition stand got more than they bargained for at the IFS User Group Annual Conference which ran from 15th to 17th November in Stratford Upon Avon. With an Intermec CK3 mobile computer running ACQUIRE^TM, Cooper Software’s barcode application for IFS Applications^TM, visitors were asked to move parts to store locations in a simulation of a real IFS transaction, Change Inventory Part Location.

Using LEGO^TM bricks in Cooper Software orange, white and black, the participants were asked to move them to wooden crates. The bricks and crates were all identified using data matrix codes which could be read by the handset. Each crate was designated as the correct location for a different coloured brick… but this information was kept from the players! An element of luck was therefore required to move the parts to their correct homes in the shortest possible time, and using the fewest possible moves.

Players from dozens of different user companies joined in the fun, with daily prizes on offer for the fastest time. It was great fun to see competitive spirit in some players as they checked their position on the leader board throughout the day. A bottle of malt whisky was on offer for each day’s winner, see below for details:

Day One, Tuesday 15th November
Hazel Aitken, Hama UK – winning time of 38 seconds

Day Two, Wednesday 16th November
Richard Johnson, Bristan Group and Michael Dixon, Imerys Minerals tied for 1st place with a time of 24 seconds.

Day Three, Thursday 17th November
Paul Marsh, Integra Products won on the last day with a time of 34 seconds.

Alistair Pryde, operations director Cooper Software, said “Although this game was just a bit of fun for our customers and colleagues to enjoy, it was powered by ACQUIRE^TM, our barcode application for IFS. Everyone who played was amazed to learn that we had installed an RF network at the exhibition. We also set-up a real IFS account for users for the duration of the event and logged them in by reading barcodes on their name badges. After they had played the game, we emailed a report of their transactions overnight so they could see the moves they made, which were actually changes to inventory parts on IFS. This is only a small part of what Cooper Software can do to extend the capability of IFS Applications^TM and I am delighted that everyone had a good time. I would also like thank to the organisers of the event for helping us make it possible and to all the IFS users who came to say hello!”

The User Event was another triumph this year and Cooper Software is proud to be associated with the event as one of the sponsors. The Cooper Software exhibition stand in the ‘Marketplace’ was visited by dozens of IFS users. During the event, Frank Cooper also presented a detailed description of Cooper Software’s pioneering applications for IFS, together with some real world case studies. This year’s annual conference was attended by customers and key personnel within IFS UK and Sweden to form a comprehensive three-day agenda.

However, players who didn’t manage to win on the day still have a chance to collect a prize! Each participant in the game over the three days has been entered into a prize draw for a fantastic Nintendo 3DS video game console or a round of golf for two at the famous Archerfield Golf Course, complete with breakfast beforehand and lunch afterward in the clubhouse.

The draw will be made on Friday 25th November at 3pm and winners will be notified by phone or email.

To find out more about the transactions Cooper Software’s barcode application, AQUIRE^TM, offers for IFS users, please contact ross.hall@coopersoftware.co.uk

Cooper Software is proud to announce that we will be providing sponsorship of this event for the third year running. As a selected vendor, Cooper Software will have a stand in the dedicated ‘Marketplace’ and will also be presenting a detailed description of our pioneering development methodology together with some real world case studies.

This year’s annual conference combines presentations from customers and key personnel within IFS UK and Sweden to form a comprehensive three-day agenda. There will be keynote sessions around the IFS applications suite and break-out sessions that provide a strong focus on the practical issues, customer case studies and business insight sessions.

The IFS Customer Summit & User Group Conference is available to all IFS customers and offers direct access to IFS development and support staff from the UK and Sweden while providing an ideal forum for direct user-to-user networking.

Cooper Software is looking forward to welcoming everyone to the event and having a chance to interact with the IFS community.

Please register for the event by visiting the IFS User Group website or by contacting Cooper Software directly.

If you’d like to someone at Cooper Software to contact you about any of our IFS Extensions^TM or our involvement in the annual conference then please contact ross.hall@coopersoftware.co.uk

The next warehouse demonstration of our barcode application is with an existing Cooper Software client,
Integra Products. The demonstration will take place at Clipper Logisitics, Integra’s distribution facility in Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday 11th October. The demonstration will be hosted by Paul Marsh, Integra’s Supply Chain Controller. Paul will share his experience of working with Cooper Software before guests are given a tour of the warehouse and shown the barcode application working in practice. After the tour, Cooper Software will make a short presentation and show the latest version of the software. There will be an opportunity for questions and a buffet lunch will be served before you leave.

Agenda

10.30
Arrivals & Coffee

10.45
Paul Marsh, Supply Chain Controller, Integra Products
SSCC & ASN for B&Q

11.30
Warehouse Demo

12.15
Alistair Pryde, Operations Director, Cooper Software
Gary Clark, Chief Technical Officer, Cooper Software
Barcode Application Demo

13.00
Questions & Buffet Lunch

This is an excellent opportunity to see our barcode application working in the real world and places are limited owing to the type of venue we are using. Please note that places are allocated on a first come, first served basis and registration beforehand is essential.

If you would like to attend, please register by contacting Alistair Pryde: alistair.pryde@coopersoftware.co.uk

We are currently recruiting for a Sales Executive (to £20k basic, £25k OTE).

Reporting directly to the Commercial Operations Director, responsibilities will be:

• Running sales campaigns
• Maintaining customer data
• Researching new clients and markets to support campaigns and sales development
• Direct calling potential clients and supporting the account management process
• Working closely with the Commercial Operations Director to win business

Successful applicants shall have experience of technical sales and a confident telephone manner.

Please send your CV to Enquiries@coopersoftware.co.uk.

Cooper Software’s leading edge barcode application for IFS has received critical acclaim since launching last year.  The application has an expanding feature set which already includes 40 standard IFS transactions covering goods-in receiving, shop order processing, inventory management, equipment tracking and time booking. The application also includes multi language capabilities including Swedish, French and Spanish and is compliant with all existing mobile and RF platforms.

Cooper Software is looking for expert IFS professionals who can provide the following levels of support on a regional basis:

-          initial support to understand what hardware and transactions are used by clients and what needs to be replaced

-          process mapping and system configuration – aligning IFS and local business processes with standard application transactions and work flow

-          support physical installations (managing local hardware vendors) and engineering additional requirements (report writing, 3^rd party integration, label design, EDI, etc…)

-          working with the customer to introduce the application during delivery and go-live, providing training and support as required

-          post implementation support for clients (working with the Cooper Software helpdesk)

To support this process we have created a seamless upgrade programme which enables any existing IFS RF user, regardless of version and modifications, to be transferred from the existing solution to the Cooper Software barcode application.  In addition, Cooper Software also has a number of other exciting IFS Extensions^TM, developed for IFS users which include data migration apps, reporting and maintenance tools, EDI, document management and more.

Cooper Software is based in the UK and Sweden and is an official IFS business partner.  The company has grown rapidly to become the largest independent IFS systems integration company in Europe with solutions and services based on unique software which enables the seamless and secure integration of 3^rd party systems with IFS

Please email us with an up-to-date CV if this is something that interests you.

The event will start with breakfast in the Clubhouse at 9am. There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with colleagues from the IFS community before and during your round. Once the golf is complete, a late lunch will be served; and guests can depart late afternoon. The event will be courtesy of Cooper Software, and will be an excellent networking opportunity for all involved.

There are a limited number of spaces, which will be allocated strictly on a first-come-first-served basis, so please respond as soon as possible, notifying how many spaces you will require along with handicaps. As we will have guests attending from all over the UK, we will arrange transport to\from main transport hubs in Edinburgh City to the Golf Course – please let us know if you need any assistance with this.

For further details please contact:

Chris Macari
Sales & Marketing Support
Cooper Software
+44 1383 840700
chris.macari@coopersoftware.co.uk

The partnership enables IFS to include Cooper Software proprietary products like the CS Barcode Application in its suite of products. This application is popular with IFS users with a need to automate warehouse, store room and shop floor transactions using handheld devices as it works alongside any version of IFS Applications^TM. The CS Barcode application will provide an innovative data capture solution for users of IFS Applications^TM to automate transactions and prevent data entry errors, utilising the latest mobile, RF and barcode technologies and in many cases reuses existing IT infrastructure and peripherals.

Additionally, Cooper Software also offers specialised IFS development and support augmentation services. These services are coupled with other assets including unique integration software for IFS and remote service desk, providing a value add technical consultancy service to IFS Applications^TM users. The partnership will also ensure that Cooper Software and IFS provide these services collaboratively to support and add additional resource depth to assist IFS implementations, upgrades and general day to day system support.

About Cooper Software:

Cooper Software is a systems integration specialist. Founded in 2005, Cooper Software is the largest independent provider of technical services for IFS Applications^TM in Europe, used by blue chip organisations such as BSkyB, Bristow Group Inc and Babcock International Group. With offices in Scotland and Sweden, Cooper Software has a network of associates that have delivered over 100 solutions for clients worldwide.

About IFS UK:

IFS is a public company founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications^TM, a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology. IFS focuses on agile businesses where any of four core processes are strategic: Service & asset management, manufacturing, supply chain and projects. The company has 2,000 customers and is present in more than 50 countries with 2,700 employees in total.

For further details please contact:

Alistair Pryde
Operations Director
Cooper Software
+44 1383 840700
alistair.pryde@coopersoftware.co.uk

Simon Ball
Consulting Services Director, Europe West
IFS
+44 1494 428900
simon.ball@ifsworld.com

TUESDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2011

I am pleased to invite you and your company’s “Super Users” to the IFS User Group Focus Day which is being held at IFS, High Wycombe.

Focus Group meetings are designed to allow us to drill into the detail of specific areas of the system and understand if the system meets our current and future needs.

We have been extremely fortunate to secure Shaun Conner, IFS’ Technical Guru, who will start the day with a overview of the current functionality and also provide an insight into IFS’ vision for the future of the application. This will be followed by a supplier presentation on new technology options and two customer case studies, explaining how they utilise bar coding in real life scenarios. The event will conclude with open group discussions where everyone will have the opportunity to discuss their issues and preferences for future development of the Bar Coding Integration.

The benefits of this kind of event are the sharing of our ideas and successes. There is also a very real advantage in understanding our common requirements, as this will enable the User Group to interact with IFS Development to secure some of these requirements on the IFS product development roadmap.

Please contact paul.marsh@integra-products.co.uk to reserve your place or to request further information on event, location, travel and accommodation options.

Venue
IFS UK Limited, Artisan, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 4HJ

Agenda
09:30 Welcome and Coffee
10:00 IFS UK Background on past and future direction ( S Conner)
10.30 Hardware and customized solutions – Cedar Bar
11:30 Coffee
11:45 User Case Study – Integra (Paul Marsh/Cooper Software)
12:30 Lunch
13:30 User Case Study – Kimal upgrade from IFS 2001-1 with Auto RF to IFS 7.5 SP6 Client created (D Widdowson)
14:15 Coffee
14:30 Group Discussions – Barcoding (S Conner)
15:15 Summarise discussions
15:45 Close

As a User Group member there is no charge for this event, but due to the limited spaces available, it may be necessary to restrict the number of people attending from each company.

Richard Cherry
IFS User Group Chairman