Views > software review
Function
Junction
The direct
n my last review (July issue), I covered
a system based on Dynamics/AX
from Microsoft. Here’s another AX
commerce
I
solution.
First, though, a background
refresher. Dynamics/AX is a
comprehensive business suite that includes
suite from
modules for financial management, customer
relationship management (CRM), supply chain
management, human resources management,
Junction
project management, and analytics. With
support for multilingual, multicurrency
implementations, it is used by thousands of
Solutions
companies and is supported by a growing list of
business partners all over the world.
Few companies use Dynamics/AX by itself. It
covers all
is purchased from developers or their reseller
partners who have added a “layer” of code to
the Microsoft Dynamics core to meet the needs
channels
of a specialised market, with the developer or
the reseller often adding a final layer of code to
configure the system for each individual user’s
requirements and specifications. This final layer
and all
By Ernie Schell
is accessible to the user’s IT department or
contracted programmers; the other two layers
are also accessible, but changes there could management and all customer interactions.
bases
interfere with seamless upgrades. MCR has built-in real-time or asynchronous
One such developer is Junction Solutions electronic point-of-sale (EPoS) integration
(JS), which is headquartered in the US but with the Dynamics POS 2009 solution (an
represented in the UK by two experienced additional module, with an extra cost,
executives and a team of 20 people from the developed and supported by Microsoft) or
retail and distribution software sector. The most other third-party EPoS applications.
US division spent six years and several million You get full store definition and transaction
pounds to develop its solution, which has capability to manage multistore retail chains.
been certified for Dynamics/AX by Microsoft The system supports store allocations and has
for quality and performance. JS offers two integrated merchandise planning, including
applications in its direct commerce suite, sales budgeting, forecasting and demand
JunctionMCR (MultiChannel Retailer) and management, assortment planning, open-
JunctionEOD (Ecommerce on Demand), both to-buy reporting, stock optimisation, and
of which are rich in functionality and, taken replenishment planning.
together, support customers in the call centre, JunctionMCR lets you manage the full
in retail locations, and on the web. lifecycle of an item, with support for style,
size, and colour dimensions of an SKU, static
Cross-channel retail management and variable kit definitions, and product
JunctionMCR provides centralised item configuration for complex, rule-based item
definition across all channels but with the definition. You can specify item substitution
option for selective channel publishing for choices and track lost demand through
store, catalogue, and ecommerce channels. cancelled item processing.
There is also centralised supply chain
management across vendors, distribution Promotions management
centres, fulfilment centres, and stores, JunctionMCR provides users with the ability to
and a centralised repository for customer define promotional offers and the customer
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Catalogue e-business www.catalog-biz.com
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