Taneya of Japan sweetens business results with AS/400 server
Taneya is a well-known Japanese confectionary maker and retailer in Japan,
with headquarters in Omi-Hachiman and 25 shops throughout the country. Sound
business practices and a legendary attention to detail and quality have assured
the company's success. Today, with more than 640 dedicated employees, Taneya
generates revenues of approximately $90 million (U.S.) each year.
The Challenge
Technology Challenge
Taneya Company Ltd. of Omi-Hachiman, Japan, needed to revamp its entire
ordering and accounting systems, as well as position itself for future
eBusiness.
Its new systems would have to:
- Streamline accounting and ordering
- Deliver improved performance and reliability
- Support an Internet-based ordering system
With eBusiness capabilities opening up worldwide opportunities, Taneya Company Ltd. knows that leveraging Web- based technology offers the potential to reach new markets and reap tremendous business benefits. But, as a wise philosopher once said: "Every journey begins with a single step." Taneya took that important first step recently with AS/400 server.
"Before you can successfully launch any business initiative, you must have the proper technology tools in place to allow you to reach your customers and service them when they respond," says Tokuji Yamamoto, President of Taneya. "AS/400 server gives Taneya those tools. The company now runs all its mission-critical business applications on AS/400. It provides an excellent technology foundation on which to build our future business, including eBusiness."
The Solution
Technology solution
With the help of an IBM® Business Partner (NS & I System Service
Corporation) and Ark Rise Corporation, Taneya chose IBM® AS/400® server
running LANSA's e-PACK, an integrated eBusiness and application development
package.
Benefits experienced include:
- Greater efficiencies through automated ordering and accounting
- Impressive performance gains
- Support for an Internet ordering system
A powerful solution boosts productivity
Through its new AS/400 solution, Taneya is experiencing performance gains in areas such as running accounting or sales order reports and processing special inquiries.
"By automating our ordering and sales management functions, we have been able to redirect our people into core competencies and revenue-generating activities," says Yamamoto. "We estimate we have increased our revenues by almost $360,000 (U.S.) per month."
For instance, it used to take Taneya one hour to formulate and complete a customer inquiry. Now it takes a mere 90 seconds.
Likewise, when a customer calls to place telephone orders, Taneya salespeople are able to review the account online and efficiently service repeat orders. Or, they can suggest new Taneya products the customer might like to try.
The AS/400 solution is also making it easier for managers to access the
information they need to support strategic decision-making. Managers can
forecast confectionary needs based on customer ordering patterns. And, they can
measure and track customer satisfaction results.
"Our financial package, which includes general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, budgets and forecasting tools, allows us to collect, store and access information on AS/400 to improve the quality of our business decisions," says Yamamoto. "In this way we become more efficient and more competitive."
A solid, reliable platform ensures high performance
Compared to PC server options, AS/400 also offers Taneya numerous technical advantages, including:
- Reduced systems management complexity
- Increased security for hardware and data
- Optimized use of server capacity
- Improved server reliability and availability
According to Yamamoto, a key advantage of AS/400 servers over PC servers is that the AS/400 operating system, OS/400, allows companies such as Taneya to run multiple applications on a single server -- while achieving high availability for users. PC servers are typically installed as special-purpose servers, resulting in a more complex, higher- cost environment to manage multiple applications. AS/400 reliability has earned it a stellar reputation in Taneya.
"Since we installed AS/400, we have not had one second of unplanned down time," he says.
The Future
A Web-enabled solution supports future eBusiness
For the future, Taneya plans to capitalize on the integrated Web capabilities of AS/400 server in order to build an automated Internet ordering system. Developers will create e- business modules to run within e-PACK client/server software from IBM® Business Partner LANSA. e-PACK is a general business package for distributors, manufacturers and other companies in the small and medium business sector. Its capabilities include accounting, payroll, personnel, customer order and distribution, manufacturing and more.
"Our AS/400 eBusiness solution will extend our range from 25 shops in a single country to virtually the whole world," says Yamamoto. "At the same time we will gather valuable information such as customer size, product needs, buying habits and expansion plans. And, we will make this process interactive by soliciting ideas for new confectionary products from customers and working with them to perfect new products."
This case study courtesy of IBM®.
Company and System Information
- Working with IBM® Business Partner Ark Rise Corporation of Omi-Hachiman, Japan, Taneya recently installed two AS/400 servers. One server runs sales management, accounting and human resources applications; the second is used for application development, mail order, telephone ordering, log management, data backup and Internet servicing.
- For more information about Taneya visit www.taneya.co.jp