Innovative software for small businesses
Business flexibility, or agility, has to do with the ability of a company to adapt to changing circumstances and remain a profitable enterprise. A business that is able to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and alter production to meet those new expectations has a much better possibility of continuing over the long term. Adding and retaining customers is the key to survival for European businesses in the current economy. For this reason, the project 'Reinforcing flexibility of SMEs by dynamic business process management' (REFLEX) developed a tool called ReFLEX Software Solution. An affordable alternative for SMEs, the researchers analysed, studied and developed this software based on the needs of SMEs to remain agile and technically nimble. The resulting packageis made of multiple parts. There are components for electronic document management, customer relationship management, planning tools, a warehouse management system, a geographic information system, complex event processing and others. Project members tested the software in two businesses. The contribution to real-time responsiveness of the test food business and the test beverage distribution business was shown to improve operational capacities. Customer relations and customer service satisfaction levels also improved in two test groups. Additional benefits were realised in energy-saving opportunities identified by the software in the transportation processes. Commercial sales are on the horizon.
Keywords
Small business, customer service, business flexibility, business process management, software, food, beverage distribution
