RE: SYS21 - Alliance comments & perpective

Thanks for the enlightening message!
The timing just wasn't right for me this year, but I just marked my calendar
for next May.  We are planning to implement Active Modeler in the next year,
so the Process.connect sessions would have been good background.  I knew
about Encompass and Aroura, but didn't know about the KPI initiative with
the TM1 Data Cube - where can I get more info on that?
Are the presentations from this years event posted on the web yet?
Thanks,
Darrell Watercott
Gold'n Plump

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky Willeman [mailto:bwilleman@gbmfg.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:55 AM
To: jbausers-l@midrange.com
Subject: SYS21 - Alliance comments & perpective


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I have had the honor and pleasure of representing System 21 on the planning
committee for Alliance 2002. For those of you who attended I hope you found
it of value and will plan on attending future Alliance conferences. For
those of you who were unable to attend, please let me know what would make
it important for you to attend next year. This conference, along with user
groups, are intended to give you the value you expect. The only way we can
be sure to deliver that value is to hear from you and incorporate your ideas
into the planning process. Planning for the next user group meeting and the
next Alliance will begin very soon.



 The next Great Lakes and Automotive user group meetings are scheduled for
August 26, 2002. The location to be announced.



 The next Alliance will be held in Orlando, Florida at Disney World again
and will be May 11 through May 14, 2003.



 We need as many System 21 customers, as possible, to identify and present
topics of interest. Please let me hear from you.



Alliance 2002, was an event full of enthusiasm from the key note speakers,
excitement in the announcements regarding System 21, education and
information in the sessions and fun in the after hours activities. I have
received primarily positive feedback from those I have spoken to who
attended. There is always much room for improvement and the suggestions and
comments given to me will be incorporated in the planning of the next
Alliance.



The announcements regarding System 21 global support, the next major
release, code named "Aurora", and how Geac will continue to support user
groups were news to the attendees.



In the solution center, many new products and enhancements were
demonstrated. Of particular interest were enCompass, the new System 21
interface for launching tasks from a web browser, and the KPI pack, the new
Business Intelligence initiative that consists of data extraction and TM1
data cube definitions across the System 21 database.



I feel confidant that System 21, or the next version of it, will continue to
evolve and become even more stable and effective in handling our businesses.
I have faith in the development team to continue to enhance the product
through the surveys and feedback from users. However, we all need to begin
planning now to migrate to this new release in the next couple of years.
Older versions will begin to not be supported until we are all eventually on
the newest release. I understand that there will soon be an opportunity to
see the functionality in "Aurora", possibly via webcasts.



 I do not doubt that support will continue to be effective using the
Answerlink tool. Geac has done a good job in improving support over the last
couple of years and I know that the user community will continue to expect
and get the support they deserve through the maintenance fees.



User groups will continue to meet and it is my hope that they will become
larger in numbers and stronger. The voice of the user community needs to be
clear, strong and focused on enhancements and communicating their needs to
Geac. Geac has committed to listening and helping make the Geac products we
use an effective tool with which we run our businesses and to realize a
respectable ROI.



  The user community will have the opportunity to sign on to webcasts for
education on product functionality, etc. Again, we must let Geac know what
we need to see. Aurora and the commerce.connect applications are some that
immediately come to mind. This venue should prove to be the most effective
use of time and money for Geac and the user community.



I hope to hear from you soon with your suggestions and comments. I will
continue to work with the user groups and Alliance planning committee to
help you receive the value you want and deserve.



Annette Y. Petree

Controller

GB Manufacturing Company

Facilitator

Great Lakes User Group

 419-822-5323  x124



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