Managing Automation - March 2009 - (Page 10)

news managingautomation.com maonline Go online for daily news updates in perspective Alliances, Executive Appointments, Mergers & Acquisitions, Products Quote of the MONTH “The [virtualization] technology is here. Innovate out of the downturn.” — Andy Chatha, president of ARC Advisory Group, told attendees at ARC’s 13th annual conference in Orlando For the Continued from page 8 Record FINANCIAL Schaeffler Group, an automotive, industrial, and aerospace supplier, chose PTC’s Windchill as its global engineering platform for content and process management. Spijkstaal Elektro BV, a maker of electric vehicles, picked Siemens PLM Software’s Solid Edge and Teamcenter Express software for 3D digital design and product data management, respectively. results and cash position will make the company a more attractive takeover target. Despite the ongoing recession, i2 reported a 1% increase in revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, a significant rise in earnings, and $238 million in cash on hand at the end of the year, up by $117 million compared with a year ago. Ironically, i2’s stronger results and balance sheet were aided by a $20 million acquisition termination fee paid by JDA. “To some degree, these things make us more secure and stable, but they also make us a bit more vulnerable,” said Wilson, who took over for Pallab K. Chatterjee after having been a member of i2’s board of directors since 2005. But Wilson isn’t just waiting around for the next buyout offer. The former CEO of Accenture’s business process outsourcing division has plans for i2 that include getting more serious about services, realigning research and development, and focusing more on offering its software on a subscription basis. But first, Wilson said, i2 needs to rationalize its business and decide where its primary focus should be. Noting that the company’s business model includes perpetual and subscription software licenses, maintenance, consulting, implementation services, Web hosting, and a growing number of managed services, Wilson said, “We are a $250 million company. Can we do all of these things exceedingly well?” While Wilson wasn’t ready to announce plans to de-emphasize any of those businesses, he said i2 needs to tighten up its services business model, particularly basics such as time reporting and putting in place a customer profitability model. At the same time, Wilson said, i2’s research and development organization needs to be better aligned with the key vertical industries — such as retail — that the company targets. And, longer term, Wilson predicted that i2 will reorient its software business toward a subscription model and away from a perpetual license model. That’s because, particularly in the current recession, many manufacturers are not willing to make big up-front software expenditures in the hope of receiving benefits later. Ariba posted non-GAAP revenue of $86.4 million and net income of $3.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2009. RFID vendor Omni-ID landed $15 million in Series C funding from Cody Gate Ventures. UPCOMING Supply-Chain World North America 2009 March 16-19, 2009 Westin Galleria, Houston www.supply-chain.org SAS Global Forum 2009 March 22-25, 2009 Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor Washington, D.C. http://support.sas.com ABB Automation & Power World March 24-26, 2009 Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando www.abb.com/a&pworld 2009 Ivara Reliability Leadership Summit April 21-23, 2009 Hyatt Regency St. Louis, MO http://summit.ivara.com/ Hannover Messe 2009/Manufacturing Executive Leadership Forum April 20-24, 2009 Hannover, Germany www.hannovermesse.de JDA’s Annual Focus 2009 Global Conference April 26-29, 2009 Gaylord national Resort & Convention Center Washington, DC www.jda.com/focus EVENTS M&AS DemandTec. Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire Connect3 Systems, Inc. for an undisclosed amount of cash. GSI Commerce Inc. and Innotrac Corp. agreed to terminate their merger pact, without cost to either party. Oracle entered a pact to purchase mValent, a provider of application configuration management solutions. RFID Journal Live! 2009 April 27-29, 2009 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel Orlando, FL www.rfidjournalevents.com/live/ The Logistics & Supply Chain Forum April 27-30, 2009 The Norwegian Dawn Sailing from New York City www.logisticsforum.com Industrial Defender Cyber Security Users Group May 3-6, 2009 Marriott Long Wharf Boston www.industrialdefender.com/users_group_ 2009.php RedShift:2009, Engineered Evolution May 11-14, 2009 Marriott Rivercenter San Antonio, TX www.redprairie.com/redshift MA’s Progressive Manufacturing Summit 2009: Redefining the Business of Manufacturing June 9-11, 2009 The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, FL www.managingautomation.com/summit PA R T N E R S H I P S Dolphin Corp. will resell Brainware, Inc.’s Distiller data capture and extraction product and provide implementation and support services to SAP customers. Rockwell Automation and Endress+ Hauser teamed up to offer tools to allow faster system engineering, reduced risks, and protection of plant assets. Yokagawa Corp. chose Kepware Technologies to provide connectivity for its controllers and recorders. ma 10 2009 March http://www.managingautomation.com http://www.supply-chain.org http://www.rfidjournalevents.com/live/ http://support.sas.com http://www.logisticsforum.com http://www.abb.com/a&pworld http://www.industrialdefender.com/users_group_2009.php http://summit.ivara.com/ http://www.redprairie.com/redshift http://www.hannovermesse.de http://www.managingautomation.com/summit http://www.jda.com/focus

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - March 2009

Managing Automation - March 2009 Contents Take 1 Sober Outlook, Cost-Cutting Techniques Dominate at Automation Conference Sale Canceled, i2 Searches for Its Focus Accenture Unveils a Service for the Factory Floor Solar Is Bright Spot for MES Player Eyelit Other Industries Outspent Auto on Robots in 2008 Integrators to Play a Bigger Role at ILS Technology Notes Deep Dive Supply Chains Reader Poll Technology Directions Expert Q&A User Resources Special Report Transformation Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - March 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.