Activant Launches Portal Designer

May 1, 2010
Activant, Yardley, Pa., knows that the data within wholesale distributors' Prophet 21 systems can tell distributors a lot about the health of their businesses.

Activant, Yardley, Pa., knows that the data within wholesale distributors' Prophet 21 systems can tell distributors a lot about the health of their businesses. For a long-term prognosis, in-depth reports can show where a business has been and trends for the future. But equally important to the health of any business are the quick check-ups that help to keep the business running smoothly. Activant has released a “Portal Designer” to give distributors customized real-time views of the data that drive their companies' performance indicators.

“Activant developed the Activant Portal Designer product to help distributors keep on top of the daily changes that can affect key performance indicators,” said Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of Activant's wholesale distribution business. “The Activant Portal Designer software gives Prophet 21 system users the extensibility to design the specific, real-time views of data that the user considers most relevant to his or her role within the business.”

The Portal Designer software also allows users to incorporate third-party applications, further expanding their portal views and system capability, added Roach. “All of this gives users actionable information, readily viewed on their computer screen for quicker business responses and more streamlined processes.”

Portals for access to business information can be assigned to users and inserted into the existing Prophet 21 infrastructure. For example, wholesale distributors can provide sales managers with insight into the sales opportunities set to close in the next 60 days, or purchasing agents with a view into all open purchase orders where they are the buyer. The options are as numerous as the data and tables within the Prophet 21 database.

In other Activant news, the company launched a blog for its wholesale distribution customers. The first entry, written by Kevin Roach, focuses on Lean for Wholesale Distribution.

“We will post entries approximately every other week, highlighting timely and thought-provoking topics for distributors,” Roach said.

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