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February 2008 |
MECOMS Newsletter |
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MECOMS, the Reference ERP CRM Solution to Empower Energy, Water and Utility Companies
It is an exciting time for the MECOMS product - new project wins, new implementations going live, new implementation partners for the MECOMS Partner Program and some interesting new product functionality.
MECOMS based on the Microsoft Dynamics AX Platform builds on the "People Ready Business" Concept to offer a flexible, user friendly solution to meet customer care, meter data management and billing needs.
2007 has been a year of exceptional growth. We are planning for an even better 2008. The focus for 2008 is on extending the partner base and on continuous extending product functionality.
Changing legislations impact companies, process and IT systems - Exciting times lie ahead – We strongly believe in the value the MECOMS solution can bring to customers and partner!
Looking forward to work with you.
Patrick Van Damme
Business Development Manager
Contact us at info@mecoms.biz
Visit us http://www.mecoms.biz |
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XAPT Hungary Signs Partner Agreement to Sell, Implement and Support MECOMS in the Hungarian Energy, Utilities and Water Markets |
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 (Budapest, Hungary & Antwerp, Belgium – February 2008) – Ferranti Computer Systems, a system integrator supplying specialized IT Services for the energy, water and utilities market, and XAPT Hungary, the leading Microsoft Dynamics™ AX ERP solution provider in Central and Eastern Europe, today announced that XAPT Hungary has enrolled in the MECOMS Partner Program
XAPT Hungary is the leading Microsoft Dynamics™ AX ERP solution provider in Central and Eastern Europe, and one of the largest ones worldwide. XAPT has been developing industry specific vertical and horizontal solutions for the Dynamics™ AX base platform for the heavy equipment dealership managements, car/tire distributors and property/contract management systems and provides solutions for business process management, business intelligence and mobile ERP application. Its customers benefit from unmatched experience throughout 15 countries in CEE. XAPT has offices in Budapest in Hungary, Bucharest in Romania and Toronto in Canada.
The agreement comprehends that XAPT will sell, implement and support MECOMS, Ferranti’s Dynamics™ AX vertical for the Energy, Utilities and Water markets. XAPT will position MECOMS as the solution for the Hungarian Electricity, Gas, Water and district heating market parties. This alignment will allow XAPT to provide solutions and services to those market based on this market leader Vertical.
XAPT has been recognized by Microsoft for its outstanding overall performance with Microsoft Dynamics AX Excellence Partner of the Year 2006 Award, and the Inner Circle membership in 2007. As a Microsoft Business Solutions partner XAPT understands the products and services that are required to service customers. XAPT has strategically aligned itself with partners that believe in the same principles as it does.
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MECOMS for Microsoft Dynamics™ AX at SPE to Support the Grid Fee Invoicing Settlement Process |
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 SPE is the second largest player in the Belgian energy market, with a turnover of approximately 2 billion euros, and is in the Top 30 of the largest Belgian companies. SPE produces electricity at 19 power plants in Flanders and Wallonia. SPE-Luminus has more than 1.5 million customer accounts, both householders and companies and approximately 1000 employees. SPE supplies householders and companies with gas and electricity under the brand name Luminus.
The Grid Fee is a fee which in the Belgian liberalized energy market model is billed by the DGO (Distribution Grid Operator) to the Supplier(s) for the usage of the distribution grid. It is based on consumption data. The process of reconciling these invoices with the validated consumption data is often not supported by the Backoffice systems in place. Suboptimal systems and workarounds take a lot of time and often lead to errors and related rectification processes. This is why SPE has chosen for MECOMS for DynamicsTM AX to support this process.
MECOMS “Read-Process” stores all invoice-, consumption- and master data (including tariffs) using its market-compliant messaging system. The “Treat-Process” then starts validating and checking on correctness and completeness of these data and will start the reconciliation. Also, for B2B customers where more complex algorithms apply, MECOMS validates the full cycle before passing this information to the billing system. This validation takes place before billing of the customer takes place.
In the end, the reconciliation and settlement process is performed in a much shorter cycle with fewer errors. Also, MECOMS’ built-in flexibility will allow SPE to faster respond to changing market conditions due to regulation or other related to grid fee.
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Customer Care, Billing and Meter Asset / Data Management for the Amsterdam Water Company Waternet |
MECOMS now also widely applicable to water companies through cooperation with Waternet
 Antwerp/Amsterdam, February 2008 - System integrator Ferranti has assisted Waternet with the implementation of a new integrated customer information and billing system based on MECOMS for Microsoft Dynamics AX. The close collaboration between both companies has ensured that the existing MECOMS solution can be applied to water companies alongside its traditional of electricity and gas.
Waternet is the first Dutch water cycle company to manage drinking water, waste water and bore and surface water in an integral, integrated and socially responsible manner. Waternet’s processing and management area comprises the city of and a large part of the provinces of and North-Holland.
Ferranti implemented a customer information and invoicing system for Waternet based on MECOMS for Microsoft Dynamics™ AX. This software was specifically developed by Ferranti as a standardised solution for the utility and energy sector. However, thanks to the collaboration with Waternet, the package has been extended to form a unique system which can be used by water companies as well. The system covers all steps in the chain for drinking water ranging from recording meter readings up to and including invoicing.
The system went live on 24 December 2007 and offers users a user-friendly and complete overview of all customer information and a simple solution for the registration of all customer contacts. In addition, it also comprises a useful module for payment matching of drinking water billing. In total, this customer information system manages around 410 000 connections for around 270 000 customers including a large number of multi-site customers such as rental companies and estate agents.
In total around 80 to 100 Waternet employees use the new customer information system. In the meantime, the first invoicing rounds have been completed, good for around 100 000 bills.
As part of the project, Ferranti was also responsible for the supply and installation of the ICT infrastructure necessary for the management and hosting of the MECOMS technology. The management and online monitoring are also carried out by Ferranti.
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New MECOMS Forecasting Module |
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Ferranti recently finished the new MECOMS Forecasting module which has been completely integrated into the MECOMS for Microsoft Dynamics AX product suite.
This module supports the forecasting of energy consumption and production based on a variety of information such as historical data, parameters, correction factors, … In addition the Forecast module supports the administration and management of purchase and sale or import and export of energy. These data are available through the Forecasting Module which facilitates the user to manage its position anytime. MECOMS Forecasting can for example be used for the role of a balance responsible. The messages that are related to this role are also available within MECOMS.
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French Localization of MECOMS |
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As from now, MECOMS is also available in French. Further localization of MECOMS will follow.
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Call for Partners |
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MECOMS is the reference ERP CRM solution to empower energy, water and utilities companies. Ferranti has been selling and implementing its MECOMS software suite into the Benelux market for many years. In an international context, MECOMS is available through a Partner Channel Organisation.
We are still looking for new partners in Europe to enroll in the MECOMS Partner Program.
Interested? Do not hesitate to contact us!
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