.

Solution Implementation

A Prevail and/or Avail implementation is generally a five-stage process for each application and depending on the project scope, can take from 5 to 10 weeks or more. This process can sometimes be simplified by installing the systems in phases in which functionality is added over time. If several systems are to be used across an enterprise, they may be implemented across the manufacturing facilities first and then across the distribution centers.

Areté custom designs each implementation plan by considering:

• The scope of required changes from your existing procedures
• The sophistication of the user group
• The complexity of the API interface
• The availability of IT, Operations, and Areté resources for each individual client

A typical Areté implementation is conducted both on and off-site. Each phase of the implementation is designed to fulfill specific needs and cost considerations. Often, Areté consultants validate APIs, review data, answer questions, and explain processes through telephone conversations and/or a remote connection to your system, which keeps the costs down while simultaneously building the future support system. Our consultants are always available to assist you during the implementation process.

.

.

Business Process Consulting

Areté, Inc. has built its reputation on advanced, effective software design and implementation, as well as excellent product support. Our solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of consumer packaged goods industries.

Areté can provide the expertise you need to redefine your business processes. Each Areté consultant has direct industry experience coupled with the knowledge of how supply chain management software can best improve your business. Areté will assist you in planning, organizing and implementing your new demand and supply-side balanced organization.

In order to optimize core business processes like Demand Planning, Production, Deployment, Materials, and Inventory Planning and Scheduling, you must consider how the processes will be supported by technology. We can work with you to address the business issues and improve processes, organization, and functions, and then enable those improvements through the effective and efficient application of software solutions.

On the supply side, Areté's focus has been on optimizing Production, Deployment, Materials, and Inventory Planning and Scheduling. This focus has provided Areté with the utmost knowledge on what makes for a successful operation. Your organization will clearly see the benefits of re-design with Areté's efficient means of quantifying your potential savings.

A

.

Software Design & Engineering

Areté, Inc. has built its reputation on advanced, effective software design and implementation, as well as excellent product support. Areté solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the beverage and consumer packaged goods industries.

Since 1984, Areté has developed systems for inventory control, production planning and scheduling, deployment planning and scheduling, demand planning, standard costing, cash disbursements, and quality control. Our products are known for their adaptability and range of options, capable of growing and changing along with you business.

When you require specialized programming, Areté's developers have years of experience with the algorithms, user interfaces, and design requirements that can address the most complicated issues in the consumer packaged goods industry. Areté has developed interfaces to many types of ERP systems and have created 'sniffer' programs to automate the transfer of data between systems. If your organization is thinking of moving toward the Internet with your applications, Areté's programmers are experienced in working with a wide variety of interface formats to facilitate the efficient movement of data across the Internet.

Areté has enjoyed a productive relationship with many different consumer packaged goods companies and has created a host of widely used software tools and systems that address issues specific to the industry.

A

.

Training

Areté provides training in many formats. Initial user training during implementation is critical to the successful startup of our applications. To further maximize your utilization of our software or to gain a deeper understanding of the processes they support, Areté can deliver additional advanced training. Some of the training solutions we can provide include:

Training by Phone
Users can call our support center for direct one-on-one training for specific issues they may be having.

Scheduled Basic User Training Seminars
Call us to schedule a Basic Users Seminar to get everyone up to speed on using the software. These seminars can be held in any location, and are especially helpful if you have a lot of turnover in your user group.

Scheduled Advanced Training Seminars
Advanced Training Seminars can be held at our office or at your location. These seminars normally last from 1-3 days and are designed to give users more advanced knowledge of the software.

Process Consulting
Our experienced implementers are available to assist you in the re-design and implementation of new processes to support your Demand & Operations Planning functions. We can either facilitate your own project plans or lead the development of new plans for process re-design. Process consulting can be helpful to create the financial payback plan, assess the current processes, and determine the gap between current and planned processes to help facilitate the implementation of the new plan.

Supply Chain Seminars
Supply Chain Seminars are 3-day seminars in either D&OP or Warehousing/Inventory Management. They are designed to educate your entry- to mid-level managers on the key aspects of the processes supporting the supply chain. The final output of each seminar can be an outline of potential improvement projects or the kick-off of a major re-design.

A