Packaging

Packway, Your World in your Console

Monday 10. March 2008 - From January 2008 Paper and Cardboard Industry world can count on a new revolutionary organizing assistant on line. It’s Packway, the latest B+B Informatica’s erp system software, characterized by assisted dialog with the operator.

It’s a new software concept, which was born under the aegis of specialization of paper and cardboard industry field and of technological research, being with the leader filed companies throughout 15 years, first providing with Box 300, then with Pack, teaching always the continuity.

IS THIS A NEW PACK OR IS THIS SOMETHING ELSE?

Is this a goodbye to Pack for a completely new product? This was asked to Andrea Tizian – B+B Informatica Administrator, who guided the Staff for the development of the new software. “At this technological development level – Tizian says – it is really hard to talk about new product with reference to erp systems software.
In paper and cardboard industry ambit, even though with appropriate fine distinctions, by this time technologies and product functionality are quite aligned. “Technological motors”, contents and ERP extension are stabilized.
Not even these factors do not make any difference anymore, keeping in mind the possibility for improvements and customizations more or less pushed.
What can make the real difference in software is its relevant way of use, or how the software can be used by the client and so, is the service plan returned to the operator during use. From this point of view we can unmistakably assert that Packway really represents a new world, a new product concept and a new added value for the client.”

HOW EXPECTATIONS CHANGE?

“The last ten years have been characterized by deep changes in users’ expectations and in erp system mode of use – this had been recorded by B+B. The way of being changed as well as the way of facing our Workstation. As in a Division, we wish to have all our tool set ready, within reach, ready to use.We are not willing to waste time to look for what we need. We wish to quickly pass from one activity to another one, from a client to another one, from a process or a problem to another one, without losing the thread, without leaving the work we are doing, being able to pick it up right at that point, where it was left, without the harassing thought of having “lost” everything along the path.

To stay and work in front of the computer requires quickly passing to other environments, files, objects, integrating peripheral processes with basic processes. And searching, activating in parallel, new programs and new processes, sometimes, requires time and concentration, attentiveness, which often are lacking or we are not inclined to allow.
From the user’s side, the workstation is conceived and structured to be all the time more a dynamic environment and in the meanwhile recognizable, personally, confidential to the user, because it is realised on the own size.
Each single working desk become in this sense “my” workstation, that tool that easies and assists us in our work and in the meanwhile it must be that supportive place where we build and find our work routine.”

A CUSTOMIZED CONSOLE

“Packway, – points out Eric Vangeneberg – EUROPE PACKAGING Solutions Manager, Exclusive Distributor for French speaking countries – intend to answer exactly to that need of flexibility, personalisation, change, parallelism, integration, synchrony, that the most traditional concept systems do not consent or permit but only with big waste of time and energy.”
B+B Informatica’s new system, by capitalizing know how and experiences of Pack, the erp system software from which it comes, is born with the clear aim to serve the operator, to guide him, to let him to work better and according to his own style, his own way of working, his own procedures, putting everything that he needs in front of him, at instant disposal in the CONSOLE.
In Packway operator’s Console is set up as a technological interactive dialog window, client-sized and open to the operator’s way of working.
Practically it is an informatics dynamic area ready to introduce Task and directly integrate other paths, other software systems and solutions, and to transform operator’s workstation in customized control boards according to the programs in use and to functional competences. All this to work as we wish to and as the practice of our working plan requires.
In the Console the operator enables his Tasks to display processes and work flows. Packway standard basic processes are six but other processes can be easily added. Also, in the Console, the operator can insert his on line search areas.
By interacting with the user, Packway Console helps him to be selective, guides him in his tasks, and assists him in his searches.

PACKWAY, OPEN DOOR TO OUR OWN WORLD

In the Console, each operator can represent and organize his own world, tools and working method, and, in a certain way, can organize himself.
So, Packway is a real open door. Is the tool to active, search, manage, everything needed by who needs and when it is needed, to make an easy work.
According to this basis every paper and cardboard industry set can organize its own computerization according to the tempos that most fit to their aims, without those forcing and suffering that old and monolithic computer systems compel us to do. Moreover this could be done gradually and with selectivity, with different technologies, those that are considered the most suitable to the process that it manages and to the skills it has.

PACKWAY, TEACHING PROGRAM

“The idea of a program oriented to the user and able to guide him – points out Tizian – is not a new one in B+B. The first expression of that idea came out already in our Pack, with Wizards production, created and introduced for the first time in order to guide Estimation of costs. It is about proper mechanisms developed in order to make operator’s life simpler and to assist him during his work.
In the new Packway concept, the logic that has carried to wizards creation, is capitalized and improved, extended to the total software use, to all company working flows and then placed into the Console, at operator’s click reach.
This is a quantum leap in the relationship between software and operator. Packway is proposed to operator not as a learning program, but as a teaching program”.

QUICK SEARCH, FOR QUESTIONS, DOUBTS, NEUROSIS

Provided the exploitation of all specific functionalities for paper and cardboard industry field, improved in B+B throughout deep interaction with clients, Packway is a system created and focused on passwords as integration, dialog, data import and export, research, selection, their control, verification of process correctness.
The program, in this way, can bring to the operator the opportunity to have a directly and immediately access to own data base, i.e. consents to find, to import, to export the data base without problems assisted by QUICK SEARCH system, a quick research system.
It gives also the chance to add other solutions, when it is required and for that aim it is required. And also gives the chance to put at his own data base to other operator’s disposal, maybe via internet.

TASKS: A STEP AHEAD FOR PACKWAY

From the mode of use side, in Packway new technologies and philosophies meet, giving important competitive advantages to the user. Advantages can be translated in efficacy, potency, efficiency, opportunely and certainty.
The step ahead of Packway passes through the Console, which assists and guides the operator in the course of his activities.
For example, if he has to draw up or open a Technical Data Sheet, or an Offer, and these do not belong to his working routine, or he is doing that for the first time, he is not compelled to ask or to read the instruction manual to get acquainted with those procedures that are the passages to do and complete. He can directly speak with his console, where Packway supplied appropriate Tasks. They are aids, automatisms that, recalled by a simple click, display in graphical and intuitive terms the sequence of operations to do and allow the operator, step after step, to contextualise, monitor, execute and control his work, by showing the work done and the work to be done, completed operations and those he has still to do.
It is a real operational guide to writing out or to the job completion on the whole, an on line teacher, a real tutor supplying certainty and gathering of all operations. It is an assistant able to remember what has been done during the former step, and to recall it, immediately, in full autonomy, during the following step.
For this reason those tasks are also called “Saving Time Tasks” time savers. They have been created with the aim to allow faster work, without waste of time.

ERROR FINDER: PROTECTION FROM MISTAKES

During the carrying out of any activity, errors or oversights are likely to occur. This is in any case a synonymous of inefficiency. It is important then that each operator’s duty can be assisted by an efficient work control system all through the development of his duties.
In Packway this is guaranteed by appropriate ERROR FINDER, specific “reconnoitres” able to produce meant queries. By means of that function the operator can ask the program to control the developed work and to point out eventual imprecision so to take remedy in process.
From the Quality’s point of view, with Error Finder the operator is able to prevent errors and limit costs.
Error Finders are control modules that can be enabled from the Console and customized according to his own operational routines.

INTERNET, ONLINE ASSISTANCE AND UPDATES

In Packway Console the operator can insert internet site links of his interest, which he wishes to check with continuity during his work, without having always internet Explorer open.
A specific link is set for direct connection to B+B Informatica’s Information Service and Update, allowing in that way automatic communication and updates when the console of his working desk is open.
Another console area is special for online technical assistance service. From this link it is possible to ask B+B assistance Team’s direct intervention, and check times and ways of intervention. It is possible to verify which are the available technicians, to communicate via DIRECT CHAT with the selected person and give him at distance the control of the part of the system to be assisted.

WINDOWS VISTA NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Together with the service innovative mechanisms oriented to the best software use, in Packway operator finds all those new technologies that Microsoft provides and starting with new WINDOWS VISTA operational system.
In this way, on the one hand there is a custom-made product for the operator, intelligent Console, open to connection paths and services, which are time by time important for immediate fruition of communication and interchange of information via Web Services and JDF support. On the other hand there is a structure that integrates and gives more value to technological innovation, that one branded WINDOWS Vista.
Under Packway control, nothing is impossible and, above all, every feature and management process is able to change and evolve in continuity.

PACKWAY, NEW FORM OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The look of Packway is really trendy. It has been conceived for Windows Vista, but it is also compatible with Windows XP and Windows 2000 and can be provided in three different displaying styles.
The latest new born in B+B Informatica will progressively pension off his progenitor Pack, of which it has capitalized know how and experiences.
Naturally there is no problem for Pack’s users, who can simply pass quickly online to Packway, simple on line.

SPEAKING OF…. PACKWAY INTEGRATOR

One of Packway specificness is that of being able to open to other data proceedings or to be integrated, entirely or partly, to other software systems, independently from font or language.
This is a deeply rooted result in B+B Informatica’s strategic choice to give value to its own specific features and to become solutions integrator in order to allow the user to choose the best at every moment and to use with continuity top performance system softwares.
The new Packway development technology, by opening of Web services and adjustment to JDF standards, makes the program ready to the purpose.

PACKWAY NEW SERVICES

CONSOLE: CUSTOMIZED CONTROL BOARD
TASK: ON LINE ASSISTANT
ERROR FINDER: ERRORS CONTROL
QUICK SEARCH: FAST SEARCH

PACKWAY THE OPERATOR AT HOME

CUSTOMIZED CONSOLE: The console is set as a control board with assisted menu, sized on operator.

DISPLAYING: Packway “breathes” Windows Vista’s air and the user can choose three displaying modes:
– Windows Vista Blue, Windows Vista Silver, Windows XP.

FUNCTIONS: New functional services: Task, Error Finder, Quick Search
REPORTING: Reporting fits according to client’s needs, on Report Navigator basis
PRINT: Packway fits new evolved printing standards and generates them by means of Crystal Reports XI RZ
MENU, ICONS, IMAGES: Menu, icons and images fit to Microsoft standards, by making simpler the Program use.
COEXISTANCE: Packway coexists with former software versions, allowing the old program simultaneous use.