“Canias ERP addresses entire requirements of the industry”

Canias ERP solution from Germany-based IAS (Industrial Application Software) is one of the few ERP solutions with full functions available online. Canias ERP provides one of the most personalised ERP solutions for the textile industry. Canias ERP?s Country Head, R Pongirivasan, said, ?Our R&D team worked hard in understanding the need of the industry and the work processes. Our motive was to create a software that addresses all the requirements of the industry.?

In an interview with the Editor of ITJ, R Pongirivasan speaks on the company?s solutions for the textile industry. Excerpts.

How long has Canias ERP been in India? Give us some information since its inception and developments and also about the parent company?
Canias ERP was introduced in India on November 11, 2016. The new IAS office not only supports global customer?s development requirements but also introduces canias ERP in India, which brings additional international brand awareness. By completing recruitment, training process of new staff by beginning of 2016, IAS India has already begun to serve canias ERP users worldwide.

Founded in 1989 by Yasar Hakan Karabiber in Karlsruhe, Germany, IAS (Industrial Application Software) is a dynamic and innovative enterprise, specialised in enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. Since its foundation, it has expanded its operations into other European countries like France, Austria, England and Ireland in early 1990s. In 1994, IAS decided to invest more in research and development (R&D) not only to follow technology, but also to have its own technology. Our R&D department took up the challenge to develop a unique software development platform so that IAS has its own technology to compete at the higher level and TROIA was introduced in 1997 designed specifically for the business applications. Taking it further, canias ERP 6.01 was developed by TROIA in 2000 and it was one of the few ERP solutions with full functions available online.

You say your solutions are advanced, and tell us how advanced they are for the textile industry.
Canias ERP provides one of the most personalised ERP solutions for the textile industry. Our R&D team worked hard in understanding the need of the industry and the work processes. Our motive was to create a software that addresses all the requirements of the industry.

Our development team has done a great job and have added the much required features like pattern management, colour laboratory, code request management, quality management, traceability, managing batch operations (mix and match/lot making), production run/approval parameters, booking system, party traceability.

Along with these features, Canias ERP also provides a highly flexible and customisable solution, which enables companies to operate work processes seamlessly.

At a time when Industry 4.0 is knocking at doors of Indian textile industry, how relevant Canias ERP solutions are, especially for the SME sectors?
Over the time technology has evolved and so are our solutions, we recently participated and sponsored a conference on Textile Industry 4.0. We understand the evolution and are ready for it. With almost 30 years of experience in development and support of company software, we are experienced enough to greet Industry 4.0.
We have maneuvered our solution according to Industry 4.0 and to help SMEs to grow in fast moving market and tackle complex challenges in everyday business life to stay competitive. Canias ERP is an ideal partner for digital reproduction, support and optimisation of business processes pertaining to any
size company.

You call your solutions ?comprehensive, open source, fully flexible, scalable and industry independent ERP.? explain.
We have developed our system keeping in my mind all the features that industry require in the fast changing market. Our application is flexible and can be modified easily to respond to altered requirements. We also provide our customers the source code of the application so they can modify the system according to their need and desire. Integration of Canias ERP is also very easy as we have created a highly adaptable and flexible integration process. We also provide mobile access to our customers, which gives them limitless freedom to execute complex process on the go.

Also our software is platform independent and works with every platform with equal efficiency. Canias ERP is developed keeping in my mind all the industry and businesses. With its extensive module range Canias ERP can work effortlessly with every business irrelevant of its nature or industry.

What is the modus operandi of the implementation of the ERP system of yours?
Having accomplished more than 700 implementations worldwide successfully, we are much confident enough about the following implementation methodology which pass through five different stages:
Project preparation phase: Where the project goals and objectives are set along with a rough-cut plan, team identification and infrastructure preparation.

Analysis phase: Where a detailed system study conducted to bring out the process needs and pain areas of the customer. A mutually agreed document which will be used as the reference for the implementation be prepared. Implementation phase: It involves configuration, customisation if any, setting up of rights and authorisation, process testing, UAT and the end user training.

Go Live phase: Where a complete prelive scenario is introduced and tested. With the appropriate opening balance, the cutoff date would be identified and moved onto the Live.

Support phase: Where the post live issues are addressed on time and a smooth transition into the new infrastructure is ensured.

Which are the segments in textile industry that will have applications of your systems, and will find them more suitable and effective?
We are into home textiles, garment, spinning, weaving, composite and carpet.

Please tell us something about your parent company?s global presence and Indian set-up?
Our parent company, IAS, is one of the technological leaders among ERP producers for all-sized companies with its nine locations in four countries dedicated to customer-oriented software, efficient business processes and a collaborative partnership. The integrated development environment TROIA is open-source and platform independent, which offers exceptional flexibility to the companies with the modular system structure. As evidenced by representative market studies from Trovarit AG and GPS, its flexibility is the core strength of Canias ERP.

What is the export potential of the Indian outfit? Is there any expansion plans for the future?
IAS India office had been constructed and operated with a strategic business goal to support the global organisation in terms of core product development, R&D and global customer support in terms of live support, customisations and implementations. Also, looking at the possibility to expand into the Asian subcontinent.
Our parent company, IAS, is one of the technological leaders among ERP producers.?