In the Press

MAKE CHANGE WORK FOR YOUR BUSINESS

We have government regulations enforcing the sustainability of our forests, a subdued economy forcing us to examine our potential for profit and the sustained pace of innovation and development in technology trying to make every part of operations more efficient.

To stay competitive, businesses need to embrace change and John Menagh from Disprax remarked to us, “I’ve been watching a recent series on Charles Darwin and he really highlighted how important responsiveness to change is and Disprax must remain adaptive and responsive to changes in the timber industry”

“Change can be intimidating and it’s tempting to make small changes to fix the problem you have right now. But without sounding like a self-help book, it can also be an opportunity to take a step back and see what other, perhaps greater, changes could be made to bring about even more benefit.”

John told us of a quote he knows, from a General in the US Army who said “If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less” and he felt that really summed up the consequences we all face by being stagnant and waiting “for things to settle.”

Some points about how to make sure you’re not left behind include:

“At Disprax we want to be a positive influence on changes to timber businesses. Chain of Custody is on everyone’s lips at the moment and is just one area that TIMMS is changing with everyone.”

John added, “We are looking at 2010 and beyond with a lot of optimism, especially in terms of further development of TIMMS, in line with industry developments, to maintain our customers competitive advantage”.

John gave us an overview of some of things that are on Disprax’s plan

John was very enthusiastic about the years ahead in both technology and timber and he recognised that “we’re looking at changes to the way people do business but we think they will help our customers achieve their long term business objectives.”

Cloud Computing and TIMMS On-Demand

Disprax were featured in the TimberTrader News publication talking about simplifying the way businesses invest in IT.

Paul Gallo explained, "Many businesses are interested in having premium software for their business; but with only a few people that would be using the system, they can’t justify the upfront outlay of the IT hardware and the resources to manage it. We feel there is a widening gap between the tools available to businesses with larger IT budgets and smaller businesses are forced to compromise."

Cloud computing or software as a service can offer the best of both worlds; access to state-of-the-art technology without the upfront investment or the resources required for ongoing maintenance. This ‘hosted’ service provides remote access to software and IT hardware, and tasks such data security and backups are managed for you. With minimum outlay, you can use a single system for your businesses accounting and inventory management without having to become an IT expert.

"This naturally frees up significant resources allowing a business to focus on core activities and achieving strategic goals."

Disprax have created a version of the TIMMS software suite, available remotely and managed by Disprax. John Menagh (CEO) explained, "TIMMS On-Demand offers a consolidated version of the TIMMS suite of modules designed just for smaller businesses. The software along with the IT equipment it exists on is maintained off-site by Disprax." He said, "Your data is always secure and backed-up and you simply log in to access the most up-to-date software version and hardware."

TIMMS On-Demand offers you:
• More time and budget to spend on core business activities
• Hassle free access to leading business technology
• Automatic maintenance and availability of upgrades
• Predictable ongoing costs
• Guaranteed data security and regular data backups

John added, "We know that integrating software into the day-to-day running of a business is a big task and offer solutions span all levels and growth phases. Technology can transform the way we do business and businesses don’t have to compromise when it comes to accessing the right tools." Find out how your business can free up time and resources to do what it does best by calling Disprax on (03) 9682 3700.

March 2009 Timbertrader News - Disprax were on the front cover talking about how to "Let your business shine this year"

Disprax has been working closely with the Timber industry for nearly three decades since establishment, Disprax's primary objective has been to develop business management tools that address the specialities of running timber businesses. This is true today and Disprax has developed into one of the largest suppliers of business software and professional services to the Australian Timber industry.

TIMMS is used across timber wholesalers, retailers, importers, manufacturers, sawmills and frame and truss plants and Paul Gallo, Managing Director for Disprax since the company’s inception, explained “the TIMMS software suite was first created in 1982 and has undergone innovation and continuous improvement. When first developed, TIMMS consisted of modules for Financials, Order Entry and Inventory Management but today it has 25 integrated areas of functionality covering a broader range of business activities. In fact, TIMMS is currently undergoing the biggest stages in its evolution with more capacity than ever before to help timber businesses succeed.”

Paul is conscious of the challenges faced by businesses at the moment but is still optimistic about the year ahead. “Disprax is launching three major developments to start 2009, extending the TIMMS suite with functionality that is designed to help businesses work smarter and not harder. While it’s a saying that’s often heard, in the year ahead it will be more important than ever for businesses of any size.”

“We recognise the importance of business management tools for our customer’s livelihood and so TIMMS is under constant review and improvement with a lot of input from our customers, directing the updates made in each release. This means that the software is not only getting better all the time but with features that our users actually need.”

You can read the full article in TimberTrader News March edition but if you want to learn more about TIMMS, just call us on (03) 9682 3700 or email sales@disprax.com.au.