E-Malt.com News article: Spain: Spanish Brewery taps Ross Systems' ERP applications to integrate back-office processes and support growth initiatives

Ross Systems, Inc. a global provider of enterprise software solutions and a division of CDC Software, the enterprise software company of CDC Corporation, announced on January 25 that Spanish brewer Hijos de Rivera, SA, best known for its Estrella de Galicia lager, will leverage its enterprise business applications to combine multiple business lines, optimize manufacturing operations and enhance customer service.

A family owned business for nearly 100 years, Hijos de Rivera has a proven business model and is widely recognized for its star lager, Estrella de Galicia. Looking to rapidly expand both its footprint of facilities and its production capabilities within each facility, Hijos de Rivera knew they needed an integrated operational system of record to automate its back-office processes.

"When we began to evaluate the solutions on the market, we quickly realized our need for a solution that offered the complete package - from manufacturing to distribution to financials," said Faustino Rodriguez, financial manager of Hijos de Rivera. "We sought a solution provider with a deep understanding of the beverage market and one that could offer the flexibility to grow and expand without experiencing technical roadblocks."

After reviewing multiple solutions on the market, Hijos de Rivera selected Ross' enterprise applications to integrate its manufacturing, sales, logistics and promotional processes onto one platform. Built specifically to meet the demands of the food and beverage industry, the Ross applications will enable Hijos de Rivera to achieve industry compliance by leveraging application components such as bi-directional lot tracing.

With planned implementation in early 2006, Hijos de Rivera anticipates increased visibility across its enterprise. Benefiting from total automation, the company looks to quickly view information from its multiple business lines and more accurately and efficiently serve the company's wide variety of customers, including wholesalers, retailers and restaurants. Further, Hijos de Rivera will better support new bottling lines and a plant expansion to focus on a new line of alcohol-free beer.

"Our industry focus enables us to offer proven and affordable solutions to process manufacturers throughout the world," said Scot McLeod, vice president of marketing for Ross Systems. "Hijos de Rivera will benefit from a targeted solution that fits the unique needs of food and beverage manufacturers, and from a strong technology backbone with which the company can continue to grow."

About Hijos de Rivera, SA

Founded in 1906 by Jose Maria Ribera Corral, Hijos de Rivera continues its long tradition of being independent and family owned with 100 percent Spanish capital investments. True to this tradition, the company has known how to remain competitive with other leading breweries while at the same time complying with the social commitment that its proximity to the Galician people demands. Best known for its Estrella de Galicia lager, the company also offers a range of other beers and non-alcoholic beers.

About Ross Systems

Ross Systems, Inc., a software unit of CDC Corporation (NASDAQ: CHINA - News), delivers innovative software solutions that help manufacturers worldwide fulfill their business growth objectives through increased operational efficiencies, improved profitability, strengthened customer relationships and streamlined regulatory compliance. Focused on the food and beverage, life sciences, chemicals, metals and natural products industries and implemented by more than 1,200 customer companies worldwide, the company's family of Internet-architected solutions is a comprehensive, modular suite that spans the enterprise, from manufacturing, financials and supply chain management to customer relationship management, performance management and regulatory compliance.


27 January, 2006