Geac Gets Its Commonsense Share Of Consolidation, With Revolving Door CEOs No Less
Part Three: Challenges and User Recommendations
P.J. Jakovljevic - August 14, 2003

Challenges

Although it is functionally strong, Geac System21 has until recently lacked some of the technology and buzzword ‘must haves’ such as a web-based, server-centric architecture, XML-based integration and sales force automation (SFA) that have been natively provided by many of its rivals such as SAP, Intentia, IFS and J.D. Edwards. In contrast, Geac products have mostly “talked” to the outside modern collaborative world through a plethora of open APIs (application programming interfaces) and the company has remained content (or forced) to settle for ‘best-of-breed’ connectivity. Additional functional suites like CRM, advanced web-based product configuration management, business intelligence (BI) and so on have been provided largely through partner alliances such as with Cognos, Information Builders, and Business Objects for business intelligence (BI), Applix for its iCRM and interactive planning solution, and with former Frontstep for its SyteLine APS and SyteCenter solutions...