Macro extends service portfolio

Macro 2000 is keeping up with the times and continuously developing its software to meet industry needs. Having recently teamed up with IBM and Microsoft, the company now boasts a system that can service more industries while increasing functionality for its established customer base. “We have become increasingly concerned with moving goods right from the time an international or domestic purchasing order is effected. With the development of our software we can now tell customers precisely what the order consists of, track where it is and where it has to go,” says marketing executive Anthea van Breemen. Launched in Cape Town in 1978, Macro 2000 initially only offered software packages for the clothing and textile industry, but by 1994 it had moved into the warehousing industry when the country, following its first national democratic elections, resumed large-scale imports and exports. It has since also moved to accommodate the shipping sector. “Macro was the only South African company to have the necessary software at the time so if you were intent on buying South African, as were many at the time, you bought Macro. Many of our customers have been using our warehouse management software since then, and now have to move from the old style systems to the new Windows version. “The old and new systems are functionally very similar, but the added benefits are huge,” says Van Breemen. “There is still the usual receipting, picking, issuing and sophisticated invoicing there was before, but with the implementation of Windows each document can be automatically e-mailed at the same time it is printed. Added to this, the documents reflect the company logo and details and are designed specifically for each Macro customer.” The system can also be set up to automatically send any number of reports, like a stock balance, or movement reports on a daily basis. Hand-held personal data devices and cellular phones enable Macro to load software, provided they come with a Windows ‘Mobile’ feature for remote log in and data capture, said Van Breemen.