The Browser based version of MillMaster is at a Feed Mill near you now!

As we enter a new decade, MillMaster the most comprehensive mill management system, steps up a gear with the very latest technology complementing its already extensive functionality. MillMaster is the leading software solution designed specifically for the feed compounding industry. It’s used to help produce over 5 million tonnes of feed at over 70 manufacturing sites in the UK and Ireland.

As a fully integrated software solution, MillMaster facilitates the implementation of common business practices throughout your organisation. This enables businesses, however diverse, to make effective, company-wide management decisions based on consistent information. For example a large multi-million pound corporate BMS customer now uses MillMaster for feed, flour, fertiliser, fuels (oil, gas) together with the operation of a significant number of retail outlets. Accounting, management reporting and business information can be reported on a common base, meeting corporate reporting timescales.

Technology is at the forefront in 2010, significantly enhancing the benefits to our users. Our new browser user interface, the latest MySQL relational database and the Jasper user reporting tool are all being rolled out to a large number of key customers. This technology is constantly being developed, and with the latest range of high speed hardware, promises an exciting future for BMS customers.

The new browser interface provides a modern look and feel to MillMaster. One screen can now accommodate a multitude of options with a vastly superior layout using colours, icons and graphs, and the use of a mouse and shortcut keys aids easy navigation. New and existing users will find the software intuitive and easy to use, reducing training time significantly.

Customers Services staff using the new CRM software can now answer a vast range of customer questions (What did I have last time? When do my prescriptions expire? What are my contract prices for my Super Grower diets? Can you ask the sales person to call me? Can I have a copy invoice? etc), and view account activity easily … and more, without moving from the single screen.

Talking to just one Customer Service team member who can offer professional one-stop assistance, saves a significant amount of time. The team can focus on the job in hand, accurately recording customer requirements and providing a stress-free friendly service.

Our users are seeing significant benefit to their business, with the introduction of new functionality that enables office or remote based users to record customer communications quickly and easily. As well as the ability to capture notes of phone conversations, emails, visits etc, this information can be circulated by mail, with the ability to create reminder text, allowing the user the ability to be notified / reminded when an action is due.

Remote access to the system enables a sales person, who has been on-farm, to enter details of any issues raised, such as a product complaint or quotation made. This information is then instantly available to customer services staff, when they next access that customer’s record, such as placing an order. Poor communication is often blamed for many problems in the relationship between business and customer, but this new capability is making major inroads into improving communication.

The new Jaspersoft user reporting tool allows users to develop a vast range of reports for themselves, from a quick query (which customers live in Cheshire and have more than 100 dairy cows?) to a comprehensive report on customer profitability. Users can write reports that need to be scheduled to run every day, week or periodically, to create spreadsheets and pdf’s, etc.

Investment plans for 2010 and beyond

BMS is continuing to invest heavily in the new browser version of MillMaster, maximising benefits from new technology whilst developing new functionality.

There will be specific areas of development such as further integration with Microsoft Desktop products, document processing integration with scanning and indexing products and improved capability for mobile users. These mobile users, sales staff for example, could be either at home, on-farm or at any other location, using phones or hand-held devices such as Blackberry or iPhone.

There will be on-going general browser development, introduction of new screens and integration with the Jaspersoft reporting package, investigation into new technology, capability and incorporation into MillMaster.

So in summary, MillMaster:

·         Uses a browser interface.

·         Uses MySQL, one of the most popular relational databases in the world.

·         Has a major new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module.

·         Has put in place the latest technology foundations to ensure MillMaster will continue to lead the market, driving real business benefit into the bottom line.

To learn more or arrange a demonstration please contact Richard Ince or Steve Mitchell on +44 (0)1473 744 000 or email at info@b-m-s.co.uk

Cal’s commitment to agribusiness and its continued drive to keep the best agribusiness solutions ahead of the field has been core to recent and on going activity for the business. Cal has strengthened its market leading position, welcoming many new customers through the provision of the most advanced, modern products for agricultural supply.

The acquisition of the Kinross companies has in itself strengthened our already large agri customer base. This has provided us with leading edge Microsoft technology, extended our capacity to service customers and increased our specialist knowledge of the industry.

Cal’s own market leading Compac Gold product family has gone from strength to strength, with the addition of two major new modules; Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Retail. They have been brought to market through our close working relationship with customers and market demand.

The industry is experiencing ever tighter margins, increasing costs and traceability / compliance demands. Cal’s response, with the support of its customer base has been to provide solutions ensuring that our clients can retain and develop longstanding relationships with their customers.

We have continued to evolve Inteletrade for companies looking to use the Internet to support increasing levels of staff mobility whether via desktop, phone or PDA’s. Through the wider ability to access Inteletrade, you are now able to offer the highest levels customer service to maximise your business potential anytime, anywhere.

Cal and KSL are fortunate to have the largest deployment of customers from which to reference and provide the surety for those looking to invest in business solutions in a consolidating market. Our agribusiness knowledge, technical skills and wealth of proven market leading products, enable us to provide the best solutions at the lowest cost when considered over a systems lifetime.

DSL Systems (www.dsl-systems.com) believe AutoPilot4Feed is the most advanced and comprehensive control system in the world that is designed specifically for feed mills, pet food plants and similar factories. AutoPilot4Feed is fully configurable and has modules for controlling all areas of a typical mill. It may be used to control one area of a plant initially and then extended as circumstances permit. AutoPilot4Feed has many features built in to help optimise the process and allow unmanned operation where possible. AutoPilot4Feed runs on standard Windows PCs with built-in redundancy and 24 hour support.

AutoPilot4Feed can connect to most commonly found new and old IO systems, which allows your process control system to be upgraded with minimum disruption and wiring changes.

AutoPilot4Feed includes comprehensive logging information which is stored in an open Microsoft SQL Server database for up to 5 years. Data may be displayed and printed using the viewing tools and reports provided or custom reports may be produced by the user. Integration facilities can be provided to exchange this information with formulation and office systems.

Additional facilities may be added to the system including Masterweigh NT hand weighing, Power Monitoring, Asset Master NT maintenance system, Moisture measurement and control, Hand Held PDA, Full lot traceability, Bar-coding systems and the sophisticated Plan4Feed order scheduling system with Kanban option.

For further information, please contact:

Matthew Swallow, DSL Systems Ltd, Adbolton Hall, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5AS, England.

For further information, please e-mail: mikeb@sensegroup.co.uk, telephone 0115 964 6646 or visit www.feedax.com

Format’s new Data Management System software

The Data Management System™ is a new module which assists formulation managers handling data for multiple sites and time periods. It offers very user-friendly and efficient management of inputs such as ingredient analysis, costs, product specifications and sales forecast. Its dynamic data hierarchy allows standard data to be distributed across multiple locations and periods, whilst permitting local exceptions. Once data preparation is complete the DMS updates the live formulation system. It gives significant advantages in managing multiple plants, seasonal variation and in performing multiple period forward budgeting and evaluations.

Format International Ltd, Format House, Poole Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6TY, England

T: +44 1483 726081.      F: +44 1483 722827