GSA Technology Council

Infor and Central Data Systems, a Michigan-based Infor channel partner providing software, service and support for wholesale distributors, today announced new industrial distribution customers using Infor ERP SX.enterprise. Central Data Systems will deploy the solution in the Great Lakes operations of Babson Fluid Power, FD Johnson Company, Scott Industrial Systems, and RM Wright, industrial distributors of fluid power products, like hydraulics and pneumatics, for the automotive industry. Infor ERP SX.enterprise provides robust, business-specific functionality for industrial distributors, such as order and inventory management, kit production and e-commerce, which help improve customer service, streamline operational processes and drive profitability.

“Industrial distributors often struggle to simplify the process of meeting the disparate, specialized needs of customers and face additional challenges such as long-term, multi-phase order management and purchasing. Overcoming these issues can mean the difference between surviving and thriving,” said Thad Zylka, vice president, Infor’s Distribution and Supply Chain Group. “With SX.enterprise, distributors can bring the entire organization onto an integrated system for greater operational visibility, enhanced collaboration, support of additional value-added services, and improved inventory management, priming these companies for future growth.”

Infor ERP SX.enterprise brings deep functionality to industrial distribution sales and service, supports complex logistics and high SKU and transaction volumes, and allows distributors to pursue strategies for cost reduction and revenue generation through value-added services, such as light manufacturing and after-market service.

“Fluid power distributors are incorporating value-added services into their operations and are looking for partners that can help them differentiate from the competition,” said Marguerite Davidson, president of Central Data Systems. “We have a long history in the distribution industry. This longevity, coupled with the business-specific functionality of Infor ERP SX.enterprise, presents a compelling solution for wholesale distributors to automate inventory management and financial and sales operations, resulting in improved customer service, productivity and profitability.”

via Infor

“Since its release, Windows Vista  has seen solid sales through the first year of availability, primarily through the sale of new PCs. Stand-alone retail sales, while not representing a large percentage of the business, represents an area of opportunity for additional growth the company sees based on the new editions introduced in 2007. To help reach that goal, Microsoft today announced price reductions on several consumer stand-alone editions.”

read more at Microsoft Press Pass

“The price of Fluor Corp. stock rose nearly eight percent Thursday after the engineering and construction company with 2,800 employees in Greenville reported its best year ever in 2007.

Fluor said it earned a record $259 million during the fourth quarter, more than triple the $81 million it earned during the same period last year. For all of 2007, Fluor said it earned $533 million, up 102 percent over 2006.”

read more at Greenvilleonline.com

Google today introduced Google Sitesâ„¢, an application that makes creating a team web site as easy as editing a document. With Google Sites, people can quickly gather a variety of information in one place – including videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and text – and easily share it for viewing or editing with a small group, their entire organization, or the world. “Creating a team web site has always been too complicated, requiring dedicated hardware and software as well as programming skills,” said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager of enterprise, Google. “Now with Google Sites, anyone can create an entirely customized site in minutes and invite others to contribute. We are literally adding an edit button to the web.”Creating and editing a set of pages in a Google Site requires no knowledge of HTML or web design skills. People can start a new page with one click. Adding content is as easy as clicking the edit button. Sharing is as simple as sending an invitation. All content is instantly searchable, and Google Sites is accessible through any web browser.

Anyone inside an organization can begin using Google Sites by signing up for Google Appsâ„¢ communication and collaboration services through Team Edition — without having to burden IT for support. After verifying their business or school email address, people can instantly invite others to join, or easily identify people within their organization already using Google Apps.

With Google Sites, people can create a wide variety of sites, such as:

• an intranet to centralize company information;
• a team site to manage a project;
• a profile site including an individual’s resume, areas of expertise, and goals for the quarter; and
• a virtual classroom to post homework assignments, class notes and other resources.

Google Sites is secure and scalable.  Users have full control over who can own, collaborate and view pages, and view version history for each site. Google Sites is built to scale to any sized organization — from a five person start-up to a 50,000 person enterprise or university — and requires no hardware or software to buy, install, or maintain.

Additional features include the ability to:

• Embed content from other Google products, including YouTubeâ„¢, Google Docsâ„¢, Google Calendarâ„¢, and Picasaâ„¢
• Upload files of any type
• Customize a site’s look and feel

Google Sites is based on JotSpotâ„¢ technology and available in the Team, Standard, Premier, and Education Editions of Google Apps. If your business or school doesn’t use Google Apps, please visit http://sites.google.com and sign up for Team Edition with your work or school email address. Existing Google Apps administrators can enable Google Sites immediately from the Google Apps control panel.

via Google Press Center

Duke Energy has received confirmation from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that its combined construction and operating license (COL) application for the proposed William States Lee III Nuclear Station has been approved and docketed for the next stage of review.”Our nuclear development project team spent more than 21 months working on this application to ensure quality information was provided for both the safety and environmental aspects of the project,” said Bryan Dolan, Duke Energy vice president of nuclear plant development. “The NRC’s acceptance of our license application confirms that, based on an initial review, it is technically sufficient for the NRC’s more comprehensive review,” Dolan added.

Duke Energy submitted the 8,000-page COL application for the Cherokee County, S.C., site in December 2007. It uses generic portions of TVA’s Bellefonte COL application, the Westinghouse AP1000 reference application, developed by TVA and NuStart Energy Development of which Duke Energy is a member.

The Lee Nuclear COL application will now enter the detailed NRC review process, which includes requests for additional information, visits to the proposed plant site and opportunities for public input as the NRC prepares an environmental impact statement and safety evaluation report. The NRC will publish its review schedule within 30 days.

In addition to its work on the proposed Lee Nuclear Station, Duke Energy is moving forward in North Carolina with construction of an advanced 800- megawatt coal unit at Cliffside Steam Station and licensing and permitting new gas-fired combined-cycle peaking units at its Buck and Dan River steam stations. Duke is also constructing an integrated combined cycle (IGCC) plant that transforms coal into a synthetic gas to produce electricity in Indiana. The utility continues to pursue additional energy efficiency and conservation measures and is evaluating renewable generation options to meet customers’ future electricity needs.

Duke Energy’s Carolinas’ operations include nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides nearly 21,000 megawatts of safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity to more than 2.3 million electric customers in a 24,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

via Duke Energy

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement regarding passage of H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008: “Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscally responsible and environmentally conscious energy bill that seeks to reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil and aid those Americans struggling to pay high gas costs. H.R. 5351 comprehensively invests resources into our wind, solar, and geothermal energy systems. Furthermore, this legislation extends tax credits to producers of cleaner burning bio-diesel and cellulosic alcohol based fuels.”

Columbia, SC — AT&T Inc. has announced a five-year $66 million contract with the state of South Carolina to provide state agencies, local and county governments, school districts and libraries with advanced communications services.
AT&T is already the primary provider of communications services to South Carolina. The new AT&T contract will provide voice services to more than 3,000 locations.

AT&T currently provides the state with advanced data network services and dedicated Internet access, which allow state agencies, K – 12 schools and libraries in South Carolina to leverage advanced data applications and greater bandwidth utilization for critical public needs. The new AT&T voice solution will extend both 24/7 customer care and the support of a dedicated team of managers across South Carolina so that all statewide government locations will benefit from the new communications contract.

“Our voice and data network service needs continue to grow with the state,” said Jim Bryant, chief information officer for the state of South Carolina. “AT&T has delivered a statewide solution to help us control costs and improve reliability so that our voice services really benefit government employees and citizens in South Carolina.”

see AT&T State and Local for more information.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel real estate investor and the nation’s largest independent operator of full- and select-service hotels, today announced that it has formed a 50-50 joint venture partnership with JHM Hotels to operate and selectively invest in hotels in
India.  JHM Hotels is one of the nation’s largest independent developers and owners of hotels.  The joint venture, named JHM Interstate Hotels India, will serve as Interstate’s platform for all hospitality-related activities in
India, primarily focused on securing management agreements on existing and to-be-built hotels.  The joint venture is establishing an office in
New Delhi, India.  

In addition to the management platform, both Interstate and JHM have committed to invest in Duet India Hotels Limited, a U.K.-based, real estate investment fund dedicated solely to the investment of hotels in
India.  The fund has raised approximately $175 million in equity with anticipated total equity contributions in excess of $200 million.  The fund’s mission is to develop approximately 25 hotels in
India in the three- and four-star categories, targeted at business travelers and located in secondary and tertiary cities, as well as satellite townships outside major urban centers.  The fund is expected to invest in up to $800 million of total project volume over the next five years.  Interstate and JHM will invest equal portions of a $12.5 million total investment to acquire an interest in Duet India Hotels Limited, as well as an interest in the fund’s asset manager, Duet India Hotels Asset Management Ltd.  The fund has committed to providing JHM Interstate Hotels India the first opportunity to manage the hotels in which the fund invests.  For further information about the fund, contact Dilip Puri at dilip.puri@duetindiahotels.com  

The joint venture also has established a strategic relationship with JNB Hotels and Resorts Private Limited, a subsidiary of JNB LLC, a real estate investment group based in
Artesia, California.  JNB has developed through its Indian experience and market knowledge, a strong pipeline of hotel management opportunities throughout the country on behalf of the joint venture. 

“The formation of this new management joint venture establishes a solid platform for our entry into
India’s fast-growing lodging market,” said Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate’s chief executive officer.  “By combining this platform with our investment in a hotel real estate investment fund we have a robust pipeline of management contracts and a strong foundation for future expansion.  In addition, the joint venture is actively sourcing other management opportunities throughout key markets in
India.

“Our joint venture partner, JHM Hotels, is a highly regarded, well-established hotel owner/operator in the United States with extensive market knowledge in
India,” he added.  “H. P. Rama, JHM’s founder, is a 30-year industry veteran whose family has one of the most well respected names in the industry.  JHM has received numerous industry awards for excellence, most recently from Marriott International, which presented the company with a record nine awards, including two Partnership Circle Awards, Marriott’s highest honor.  We look forward to building a long and mutually rewarding relationship together.

“With Interstate’s international experience, depth of resources and strong relationships with all the major hotel brands, we believe our combined strength, knowledge and expertise will give us a competitive advantage in arguably the most underserved hotel market in the world,” said H. P. Rama, founder and chief executive officer of JHM Hotels.  

Rama noted that
India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.  “
India is the world’s fifth largest economy, growing at a healthy 8.5 percent per annum.  As a result of this rapid growth, international development in the country is surging and has created a strong demand for hotel rooms.  It is estimated that
India will need another 200,000 western-style hotel rooms, approximately double the current inventory, by 2010 to meet the demand.”
 
Hewitt pointed out that the need for experienced hotel management in
India is significant.  “The current lodging environment in
India offers a limited selection of management and brand options.  Our focus there will be to manage and opportunistically invest in hotels, as well as to provide hotel owners with franchise opportunities from well-established hotel brands.”

“These transactions support Interstate’s mission of becoming the leading independent, multinational hotel operator,” said Leslie Ng, Interstate’s chief investment officer.  “Our partnership with JHM is a perfect match, with JHM providing lead generation, cultural expertise and depth of local contacts, and Interstate supplying the operating platform, systems and back-of-the-house operations.”

Fluor Corporation’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boeckmann, will give a presentation to investors at the Citigroup 21st Annual Global Industrial Manufacturing Conference in New York on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

A live webcast of this presentation will be available at http://investor.fluor.com. A replay of this presentation will be available shortly after the conclusion of the live presentation. If you have any questions regarding this webcast, please contact Fluor’s Investor Relations department at 469-398-7189 or investor.relations@fluor.com

via Fluor

Infor today announced healthcare-specific enhancements to Infor HCM Workforce Management (previously Workbrain) that enable healthcare companies to manage their limited personnel resources more efficiently by utilizing several new reporting tools and automating pay rules and conditions. Through the web-based solution’s dashboard and analytical tools, healthcare companies now have real-time visibility into the impact staffing-related decisions have on patient care and profitability.Enhancements to Infor HCM Workforce Management include Absence Management, a feature which automates the complete absence and leave process through a centralized system that provides insight on demand into the effects of absenteeism in the workplace. These capabilities enable healthcare companies to manage requests for time off and ensure the organization is free of absence abuse. Absence Management helps companies maintain proper patient service levels and comply with labor agreements and laws.

The healthcare industry faces a shortage of skilled labor, particularly in nursing, requiring organizations to manage staff as efficiently as possible. At the same time, employees are asking for more flexibility in scheduling, hours and pay. These requests exert great pressures on traditional workforce management systems, which in turn can lead to errors in data entry, staff over-scheduling, budget overruns, and a decrease in the quality of patient care.

“With fewer workers available to meet ever-increasing demands, healthcare companies must seek out ways to optimize workforce performance and maintain the highest level of quality patient care,” said Heidi Reis, industry and product marketing manager, Workforce Management, Infor. “Infor HCM Workforce Management automates key workforce processes, such as time and attendance and scheduling, and enables healthcare providers to align quality patient care and financial performance.”

Infor HCM Workforce Management provides a rules-based scheduling module called Real Time Self Scheduler, which allows healthcare personnel to create schedules on the web, while rules are automatically applied to ensure shift coverage and organizational scheduling policies are met. By empowering staff to manage their own schedules, healthcare organizations can experience an increase in employee job satisfaction, which can lead to improved patient care, and a reduction in call in and turnover rates.

New reporting functionality specifically for the healthcare industry is available in Infor HCM Workforce Management such as Healthcare Cost Summary Report, Detailed Productivity Cost Report, Hours per Patient Day, Team Productivity Hours, and Worked Hours per Patient Day Trend. These detailed reports provide real-time visibility into the allocation of hours and actual hours worked, and enable managers to identify issues and trends that impact staffing.

via Infor