Mid-market supplier JD Edwards has released version 2.0 of its CRM
software, a package the company's CRM strategy head called "the
definitive CRM release for JD Edwards".
Among the 175 changes and extensions in the release are tighter
integration with other JD Edwards products, notably its
supply-chain management and ERP packages; a mobile module that
allows the software to be accessed when the user is offline and
customer service management capabilities.
JD Edwards entered the CRM market in mid-2001 through its
acquisition of CRM software maker YouCentric. This is the fourth
update of JD Edwards CRM suite, and this time the overhaul
completes the product's foundation, said Karl Johnson, JD Edwards'
vice-president of CRM strategy.
Equipment controls and instrumentation manufacturer FWMurphy has
been using JD Edwards' ERP software, and went live in September on
its CRM suite.
Mitch Myers, FWMurphy's vice-president of operations, said he will
implement 2.0's offline functionality. He is also looking forward
to using 2.0 in conjunction with JD Edwards' Demand Consensus
supply-chain forecasting software, which his company is now
deploying. Integration with Demand Consensus is a feature in
version 2.0.
"We see ERP as the foundation of our e-business strategy," he said.
"So the deeper the integration goes, the richer it gets, the
better."
Eventually, his goal is complete integration between FWMurphy's
CRM, ERP and supply-chain systems, he said, allowing customers to
place online orders and receive real-time ship date promises, based
on data logged elsewhere in the system about such variables as
delivery capacity and materials requirements.
JD Edwards has signed 108 new CRM deals. About half of those buyers
are existing customers using other JD Edwards software.
In September JD Edwards announced a deal with IBM to include IBM's
middleware, including its DB2 database and WebSphere application
server, as part of its own software products. JD Edwards CRM 2.0 is
part of that arrangement, and ships with IBM's middleware
included.
JD Edwards also partnered with mobile infrastructure software maker
Synchrologic, whose technology powers the "disconnected"
functionality allowing CRM 2.0 to be used offline and synchronised
with network data.
JD Edwards would not disclose pricing for CRM 2.0, which is sold on
a modular, per-user basis.