As part of a continuing, year-long technology upgrade and software consolidation initiative, Admiral Beverage Corp. is now live with EZPayManager for Windows and EZeDocs for Windows.
In the early-2008 conversion process, the company replaced the IBM iSeries computer in its centralized IT department with an xSeries platform with Oracle-J.D. Edwards business software running under Windows 2003 server. It then commenced the consolidation of the functions of three separate software systems--a home-grown legacy system, accounting software from Para Research, and route accounting software from Global Beverage Group. The new ACOM software replaces ACOM software solutions previously in place that were designed and optimized for the iSeries.
"We had used ACOM's document and payment solutions for years in the iSeries environment, but we had to find a new solution to work in the Windows environment," said Jim Hill, Admiral Beverage IT director.
"We took the opportunity to review our choices, using our own resources and a consultant," said Hill. "We narrowed the selection down to ACOM and one other provider. We settled on the Windows versions of EZPayManager and EZeDocs solutions based on our longstanding satisfaction with the products' performance on the iSeries, where they ran transparently, and on the fact that the competing solution cost far more for similar features and performance," he said.
The ACOM solutions are applied broadly to optimize back office operations within the company. EZPayManager is used for accounts payable and payroll checks, supplemented by the CheckFraud Alert (Positive Pay) security option and for issuing printed direct deposit advices. Documents currently generated using EZeDocs include, among others, invoices, statements, bills of lading, and W2 statements, with more to be added as the conversion progresses.
Document volumes at the still-growing company are significant. The twice-monthly payroll is divided between checks and direct deposit, with EZPayManager generating laser printed checks using self-sealing check stock as well as the ACH advice of deposit notifications on conventional blank cut sheets. Accounts payable generates 6,000-7,000 checks per month, as many as 5,000 of them commission checks for stores hosting the company's vending machines. Admiral is also generating invoices, which will accrue to between 40,000 and 75,000 annually.
"ACOM's professional services group mapped our first templates/form overlays, and we now copy them and manipulate the elements for each of the subsidiary companies," Hill said, noting that his IT and operations staff is comprised of himself and seven others.
The company employs triple-redundant data communications with its geographically dispersed facilities as well as dial-up communications, even transmitting invoices directly to handheld-computer-equipped route personnel for issue at the point and time of delivery. "It looks like one big pipe," Hill said.
About Admiral Beverage Corporation
Starting in 1947 as a husband-wife team operating a small Pepsi-Cola bottling plant with two employees, the corporation now comprises nine subsidiary companies, three production facilities and a trucking company. Growing both organically and through acquisition, Admiral Beverage employs more than 1,200 people in 30 facilities. It operates in six Western states and as well as in Alaska, where it markets its Anchorage-produced Dr. Denali soft drink brand. In all, it produces about four dozen flavors and brands in bottles, cans and juice packs as well as distributes beer.
About ACOM Solutions, Inc.
Now in its 25th year of business, ACOM Solutions, Inc. develops modular software systems for document output, document management, secure corporate payments, and B2B EDI/XML e-commerce applications, marketing them domestically and through overseas partners. Corporate headquarters are in Long Beach, California; System i Software Division headquarters are in Duluth, Georgia; and regional offices are located in several major U.S. cities. For more information call 800-699-5758, email:
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