JD Edwards' OneWorld enterprise software

ActivEra is a set of business tools that enables businesses to regain control of their application and technical infrastructure to adapt the ERP environment, even after implementation, to face the challenges and opportunities that arise throughout the lifetime of the business.

Says Neil Dibb, director, business development for JD Edwards in India, "OneWorld with ActivEra is our answer to companies which have asked for a flexible ERP system that allows them to change their business processes quickly on the fly to meet new customers, markets or financial demands. Over the years we have seen numerous organisations feeling frustrated because their enterprise software cannot change or adapt. Companies have oftern endured months or even years of prolonged, expensive implementation, only to be left with a system that is incapable of change."

The OneWorld technology, built on the CASE (computer aided software engineering) technology of the 80s, has a range of platform-independent and network-centric applications with an integrated toolset, using which organisations can configure their enterprise systems and applications according to their changed needs. It allows migration to different enterprise solution platforms and can co-exist with one or more of them. It consists of the business layer, the toolsets and the technical layer, each of which can be modified independently using JDE toolsets.

The ActivEra console guides the user through the necessary steps without having to go through tedious coding processes. It helps modify the system, whether it is a technological requirement or a business requirement. For example, the change could be in creating customised reports, invoices, order processing procedures, system management, maintenance, server administration or adding a new warehouse, all of which can be done independently of the company's IT department.

These tools help a company change its infrastructure even after going live, and even speeds up the time to delivery of a new process significantly -- as quick as five hours, compared to the 2-3 months time it took earlier.