To better serve customers in the process industry, Logres has been a partner of CompuTec for many years. This Polish software company developed the important SAP Business One add-on ProcessForce. We spoke with Adam Lebkowski, sales channel manager at CompuTec.

CompuTec was once an ERP vendor exactly like Logres is, Adam explains. The company had several manufacturers as customers and discovered that the capabilities for manufacturers in SAP Business One were limited and that other ERP packages didn't have them either.

So in 2004, CompuTec decided to build an integrated add-on for SAP Business One, with some additional functionality for manufacturers. This add-on was called ProcessForce and met a huge need. Since then, the company has grown like crazy. Anno 2021, ProcessForce is used in 80 countries on all continents. More than 500 manufacturing companies use the software.

Anno 2021, ProcessForce is used by more than 5,000 users in 80 countries.

Logical and accessible

The secret of ProcessForce, according to Adam, is that the software is made in close cooperation with the manufacturers who use it.

'We didn't want to be one of those software builders who comes up with a solution from a distance that turns out not to work in practice. The functionalities we built in were therefore coordinated with manufacturers from various industries and sectors and have also proven themselves in practice.'

An important requirement for CompuTec was to build ProcessForce in such a way that the user does not notice the transition from SAP Business One to ProcessForce, says Adam. 'Some buttons have been added that lead to overviews that you didn't have before. But in terms of the interface, everything looks exactly the same and is completely integrated into SAP Business One. If you can work with SAP Business One, you won't experience any problems working in ProcessForce.'

Especially for the process industry

ProcessForce is intended primarily for "advanced manufacturers," Adam explains. Manufacturers who make turnkey products using assembly have enough with SAP Business One in many cases.

However: process manufacturing involves products that are assembled using (chemical) ingredients, such as in the chemical, pharmaceutical or food industries. ProcessForce makes it easier for these manufacturers to get a digital handle on these processes.

Adam: "In the process industry, quality control and traceability are a lot more complicated than in discrete manufacturing. In addition, governments are drawing up increasingly stringent regulations that manufacturers must comply with. Many European manufacturers have to deal with ISO certifications to which annual audits are linked. The manufacturer must be able to demonstrate in black and white that he stays within certain margins. ProcessForce helps him do that.'

ProcessForce makes it easy for manufacturers to meet the stringent requirements of ISO certification.

Additional modules

ProcessForce was soon accompanied by new additional add-ons for logistics and warehousing: CompuTec PDC, CompuTec WMS and CompuTec Labels were born. Programs that can be used together with ProcessForce, but also add stand-alone value to SAP Business One.

CompuTec is also working on an (updated) module for Material Requirements Planning: MRP 2.5. Adam: This module is even better than its predecessor in being able to perfect planning down to the finest details. This can prevent waste, which is good news both for the manufacturer's wallet and for the environment. 'Sustainable manufacturing is becoming increasingly important worldwide. MRP 2.5 gives manufacturers the tool to take a new step in this.'

Coming full circle

Innovation is part of the process industry, Adam believes. And that also applies to CompuTec. 'Not for nothing is our subtitle: inside SAP, outside the box. We like to be at the forefront and respond in a timely manner to developments that are important to the industry. That's why we have a special innovation lab in which our IT specialists invent functionalities that can help the manufacturer of the future.

In the innovation lab, CompuTec IT specialists work every day on tomorrow's functionalities.

'For example, we are working on a mobile functionality that can use augmented reality to project relevant figures and overviews on a Microsoft HoloLens (a VR glasses) when you scan certain machines and production facilities. In doing so, we basically bring the manager from behind his desk back to the shop floor with the right information at the right time in the right place. So the circle is complete again.

Tip: Like to see what CompuTec is working on? Follow developments on their public Trello board.

+ www.processforce.world