Boston, Indy, Then ????

Spent the past few days in Boston visiting with our business partner Progress Software (www.progress.com). Progress provides the Interface, Database and Programming Language that powers Odyssey. It was a great visit. Met with numerous VPs and Departments heads to ensure B&L and Progress are on the same page. We came away from the meeting more confident then ever with our relationship with Progress. In fact, thanks to our tremendous growth pattern and embracing new technologies, we will be featured in several of their marketing campaigns!

Next week I will attend the ICI show in Indy. Should be fun. It has been awhile since I have attend a show. When I met with the Progress Corporation, I was asked about what is new in Odyssey. I started off telling them other software firms are touting "Shop Floor Data Collection." Everyone of them had the same response.....Don't all ERP firms have Shop Floor Data Collection??? We have had our Shop Floor Data Collection since 2003. It has been further enhanced (thanks to our customers) over the past six years. Yeah, it is a powerful tool. stop by if you want to see it. But seriously, every ERP system worth its salt should have had this years ago.

We have focused much of our programming resources in extending the reach of metal casters. Many metal casters are doing business with other foundries, whether they are in the states or overseas. One continuing challenge they face is the management of inventory. Well, we now have a Purchased Castings which will help you keep track purchased castings, whether from across the street or across the ocean(s).

Client Services has been very busy. Our implementations are better then ever. File conversions time, the one phase that historically takes the longest, has been reduce greatly. We have several people responsible to work with you and convert the data from your old system into Odyssey. Our average implementation is running 6-8 weeks. This is for file conversion, training, support, reporting writing (if needed) and go live. And by the way, this is not just accounting!!!!!

Sales has been very busy. We have welcomed many new customers this year and we expect more before the end of the year. Some of the customers are well know metal casters. I look forward to posting their names as they close!

That's it for now. If you are attending the ICI show, stop by the booth for more information about how B&L can help you make better decisions, faster.