ERP Modular Software

2nd generation
All rights reserved – Centro Software - This publication is to be considered a functional description for information purposes only and the producer reserves the right to make any changes to the products without notice.
Customers are required to view the product previously to determine whether the services are appropriate for their needs. Customers are also responsible for the selection, use and results obtained from the products themselves.
 To fasten and control production process and
goods handling, to optimize stock, to increase
sales, to interact in real time with outsiders
(customers, suppliers, agents and technicians),
to simplify administration and control, these are
only some of the advantages of SAM ERP2 2nd
generation ERP, designed and developed by Centro
Software.

LET’S MOVE FOR A BETTER BUSINESS

INNOVATION FOR GROWTH

a company life-cycle

PRODUCTION
SUPPLIERS products
and services
raw materials,
PURCHASE SALES CUSTOMERS
power, work

EMPLOYEES capital outflows/debts earnings/credits

FINANCE

PARTNERS AND BANKS

Advanced company management
SAM ERP2 is an innovative ERP application for comprehensive management of all internal and external business processes, according to
Industry 4.0 objectives. It is a technologically empowering system that makes intelligent use of the web to enhance efficiency, productivity
and competitiveness. It can be configured and scaled up in step with the growth and development of the company, and it is open to interactive
dialog with the outside world, while at the same time being equipped with the necessary tools to ensure security and full compliance with
privacy requirements and GDPR.

2nd generation ERP Technology and productivity

SAM ERP2 is more than just a basic Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) application. It is a latest-generation MULTI-LANGUAGE ERP
package that manages all internal processes automatically and
interacts directly with production systems (Industry 4.0), as well as
communicating and interacting in real time with the production and
sales chain in any part of the world.
SAM ERP2 therefore outperforms solutions based on departmental
programs developed by different companies, because it is a
genuinely integrated system deriving from a single, constantly
updated design, that incorporates the best Italian industrial
experience and the most advanced technologies within a process-
based structure.
SAM ERP2 provides organizational models that enhance business
efficiency by completely eliminating waste and reducing costs, in
line with the principles of “LEAN Organization”.
SAM ERP2 is a unique system, not only because it is provided with
technologically advanced and complete functions, but also because
it simplifies proceedings, reduces costs and boosts efficiency.
For instance, SAM ERP2 customizes each single workstation
according to the specific operator’s needs (personal dashboard) and
displays instant updated graphics and data from both the internal
(*) and the external (**) system.
(*) For example, turnover per product or agent, profit per product line,
break-even point, warehouse value, rolling forecast, ABC suppliers, etc.
(**) For example, anything you can receive from Feed RSS: news, stock
exchange prices, raw materials prices, etc.
THE STRENGTHS OF A SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION
01 Control and simplify proceedings
Business efficiency can be improved by the use of control and development tools. For instance, WORK FLOW Design & Control secures
information flow and controls business activities improving as a consequence products and services quality; ADK (Application Designer
Kit) enables each user to develop new functions autonomously in order to increase productivity.

02 Use new “sales channels”

B2B and B2C INTERNET portals integrated with ERP enable to launch products in the market more quickly and to execute sales strategies
more rapidly. Operators communicate in real time with the sales force and customers, and convey their “strengths” which are usually
represented not only by product’s price, but more importantly by service and the related information (quality certificates, technical data,
manuals, best practices, etc.).

03 Increase sales
TECHNICAL/SALES CONFIGURATION fastens projecting phase. A guide to the compilation of technical data simplifies the drafting of offers,
even the most complex ones. Moreover, ERP integration and “GEOMARKETING” enables to find and display on the map the position of
prospects clients and customers, and to make the best decision as far as logistics, offers and/or budget are concerned.

04 Fasten supply chain

In modern hectic times a supplier portal is necessary to reduce both overall lead time and defect of purchased materials and services. The
“PULL” system (I purchase because I sold) reduces the financial fixed assets for stock in excess and stock obsolescence risk. Thanks to the
supplier portal, the purchase office is virtually open 24 hours-a-day and, therefore, available for operators in the Far East and not only…

05 Optimize logistics and goods handling

The organization and management of both internal logistics and goods handling through radio frequency identification with Bar-Code
(BWS) has a double advantage: to reduce notably the commercial lead time of products and services, and to remove non-conformity
when receiving or sending goods. Extra-costs for transport can also be reduced: the performance of “each km” is increased, the carrier is
selected according to the product features, the customer’s needs are fulfilled and the shortest ways are calculated with navigation tools.

06 Limit financial fixed assets of the production process

Manufacturing enterprises suffering from credit crunch feel the urge to limit financial fixed assets of the production process. Therefore, a
“closed loop” MRP FCS plays a key role. The purchase of materials only when they are actually required in the production process implies
financial and logistics savings that were mistakenly undervalued or ignored in the past. Further analysis on profit carried out with the
support of the functions “management monitoring” and “cost accounting” contribute to the never-ending search for higher profitability.
07 Improve services and corporate image
An immediate SERVICE improvement is achieved by integrating VOIP DESK into ERP system: immediate display of data and information
concerning the caller, monitoring of the customer’s needs, reduction of waiting times in the search for the most suitable interlocutor, increased
availability of telephone lines. A proper use of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) makes customer profiling and telephone and e-mail
communications easier thanks to an innovative parsing technology and an automatic recording of sent and received e-mails.

08 Develop after-sale business

After-sale efficiency reduces management costs and, at the same time, improves service quality level. A proper management of service “Ticket”,
integrated with traceability, status report and graphic timetable organization (for the planning of activities) simplifies the organization of
assistance interventions and of the required spare parts. External technicians have access to the “service portal” from all over the world, which
allows them to see and share all necessary actions to take in order to solve a problem, the required spare parts and the status of the “installed
group”. Furthermore, external technicians can enter their travel expenses, thus making management monitoring and invoicing easier.

09 Analyze data and share them with the users

SAM ERP2 makes significant data – out of which strategic information can be drawn - straightforwardly available. With DATA MINING, based on
Analysis Services of SQL 2008 and integrated with Business Intelligence modules, it is possible not only to process synthesis data, dashboard
and statistics, but also to convey them rapidly and automatically, irrespective of the geographic position of the roles.

10 Interact with the world

Nowadays a worldwide business interaction is essential. Enterprises which own foreign branches or wish to communicate with foreign operators
in their local language feel the urge to share a single data structure and management system. SAM ERP2 can be used in various languages at the
same time (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German); besides, it is customizable according to the specific requirements of each enterprise.

Industry 4.0
The 10 strengths are now complemented by Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, which enables the ERP application to interconnect
and communicate in real time with production systems using low-cost wireless connections, digital technologies and sensors. Using second-
generation ERP software (ERP2), all management processes, including administrative, logistical and commercial processes, are now therefore
connected in real time to the entire production and distribution chain, the market, the network of agents, external technicians and the whole
supply chain.

TECHNICIANS
WORK SITES

SELLERS

SUPPLIERS ENTERPRISE
CUSTOMERS

BANKS AGENTS

BRANCHES
THE STRUCTURE OF ERP SOLUTION
 C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING

SALES QUALITY

ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFLOW, BPM

and FINANCIAL and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT SECURITY and INTERCOMPANY and

CONTROL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS

Centro Software’s high-efficiency,

high-technology IT solutions
are on hand to help any business
that wants to improve its processes
Index of areas and modules
01 Area Work Flow and Common Data
q WORK FLOW DESIG N & CONTROL (WFD)
q AUDIT TRAIL (AT)
q ADK (APPLICATION DESIGNER KIT)
q PERSONAL DASHBOARD
q AUTOMATIC ARTICLE CODING
q TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL CLASSIFIERS
q SIZES AND COLOURS
q ARTICLES, COUNTER-PARTIES, TABLES (MODULE BASIS)
q INTEGRATION WITH DOCUMENTS ARCHIVING SYSTEM
02 Area C.R.M. (Marketing and Services)
q CRM1 - MARKETING (pre-sale and after-sale)
q CRM2 - SERVICE and ASSISTANCE (after-sale)
q Integration with GEO-MARKETING
q WEB MARKETING PORTAL (CRM1)
q WEB SERVICE PORTAL (CRM2)
q VENDING (Sale Attempt)
q SFA (Sales Force Automation)
03 Area SALES
q Sales CONFIGURATION
q SALES (Pricelists, Offers, Customer Orders)
q Sales PLANNING (M.P.S.)
q AGENTS and COMMISSIONS
q MAIL Push (automatic e-mail sending)
q SALES STATISTICS and SALES BUDGET
q POINT OF SALE (Front-End Customers and Cash Register)
q WEB CUSTOMERS PORTALS (BtB e BtC)
04 Area PURCHASE,
WAREHOUSE and LOGISTICS
q PURCHASE
q WEB SUPPLIER PORTAL
q WAREHOUSE e STOCK
q TRACEABILITY (LOTS and SERIAL Numbers)
q BWS LOGISTICS (Wireless Handling with BAR-CODE)
q PURCHASE STATISTICS and Supplier Evaluation
q TRANSPORT SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
q Warehouse CROSS-ANALYSIS and ABC classification
05 Area PRODUCTION 08 Area MANAGEMENT MONITORING
q PRODUCT LIFE-CYCLE MANAGEMENT (PLM) DESIGN and integration q BUDGET and Balance Sheet ANALYSIS
q MRP-I PLANNING q ANALYTICAL ACCOUNTS and COST ACCOUNTING
q MRP-II INFINITE-capacity SCHEDULING (CRP) q CALCULATION OF PROFIT MARGIN (orders)
q MRP-II FINITE-capacity SCHEDULING (FCS)
q ANALYSIS OF CONTRACTS AND WORK ORDERS
q OPERATIONAL PRODUCTION
q MULTI-DIVISIONAL ACCOUNTING
q production SITES
q CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
q ORDER PROGRESS MONITORING (MES)
q IAS/IFRS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
q INDUSTRY 4.0, MONITORING
q Advanced Statistics
q CMMS MAINTENANCE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
q BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE and DATA MINING

06 Area QUALITY
q QUALITY CONTROL 09 Area INTERCOMPANY,
q TEST CYCLES
FOREIGN BRANCHES,
COMMUNICATIONS
q EQUIPMENT and MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
q MULTI-LANGUAGE
q “NON-CONFORMITY” management
q VOIP Desk (IP Telephony)
q RESOURCES and COMPETENCE
q E-MAIL Interface

07 Area ADMINISTRATIVE and q MAIL Collector

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT q Production and Sales Chain (EDI-XML)

q FREIGHT and INVOICING

q ELECTRONIC INVOICING 10 Area SECURITY and
q GENERAL ACCOUNTING Development Tools
q CASH MANAGEMENT q Authorization and Privacy Monitoring
q FINANCIAL management q SECURITY SYSTEM
q ASSETS q RGT (Report Generator Tool)
q Other TAX compliance (VAT, 770, F24, Withholding Tax, Conai, WEEE, …) q SDK (Software Development Kit)
q Foreign accounting localization
01
area
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING

SALES QUALITY

WORK FLOW and ADMINISTRATIVE

and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA

COMMON DATA MANAGEMENT

CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS

Enterprises which constantly develop and
improve their production process always
achieve important results: a relevant
increase of information flow results in a
better individual productivity, internal
communication, services as well as working
conditions and atmosphere, and reduces
working times and operating costs.
WORK FLOW Design & Control
All business processes are defined as a set of rules: documents,
information and tasks (“TO DO LIST”) are automatically transmitted from
one role to the other and are validated step by step by the “Rules Virtual
Machine”.
BPM (Business Process Modeler)
A framework of tools for the rapid design and development of application
rules, layouts and programs. For each user, role or context, the company
manager can set up the optimum procedure usage flow to increase
individual productivity and process safety.

All this for the customers benefit.

AUDIT TRAIL & Tracking
Inspired by the rule FDA CFR Part 11 (B/11.10), it secures backwards
traceability up to the original data of all the processes carried out in the
computer system. It is necessary for the enterprise in order to have their
business processes certified. It controls the registration of e-signatures
and the correct compilation of data, generating status or warning
messages and sending them to default e-mail addresses.

ADK (Application Designer Kit)

It is a set of tools directed to rapidly develop rules, layout and programs
application. The best procedure flow can be designed specifically for
each user, role or context, in order to increase single productivity and
process security.

Personal DASHBOARD
SAM ERP2 desktop turns into a personal desktop: graphics and synthesis
data, both internal and external, can be added to keep our daily activity
updated.
Automatic Article CODING 2. external “counter-parties”: Customers, Suppliers, Banks, Agents,
Employees, Carriers – each of them set up with addresses, names,
It defines the items coding rules. It controls code generation process. delivery terms and conditions, payment terms, banks, accounting
Article searching is carried out through “talking code”. counterparts, datasheet, etc.
3. general tables: Reasons for Goods Handling, Delivery Terms and
CLASSIFIERS (technical and commercial) Conditions, Warehouse Allocations, Geographic Areas, Employees
and Collaborators, Departments and Cost Centers, Product Lines,
Alongside standard classifiers, it generates further special fields. Their
Bank Conditions, etc.
application depends on the specific requirements of the various business
areas.
DOCUMENTS archiving system
SIZES and COLOURS All paper documents are integrated into the archiving system: all issued
and received documents are automatically archived and linked to the
It includes and controls all product versions, in order to classify all
related objects in the company database which allows a complementary
articles belonging to the same code and model, but having different size
archive in accordance to the law regulations. Upon authorization, web
and/ or color: sizes, colors, type of article, metric scale per country, range
interface allows to have access to all documents anytime and anywhere.
of seasonal colors, etc. determine the specific finishes that characterise
Preliminary stages, CRM projects as well as the collection of technical/
each single product in sale and production processes.
sale documents of competitors and service assistance, etc. are made
easier by this documents archiving system.
ARTICLES, Counter-parties, Tables
(Module BASIS)
It controls all information and data used and shared by the modules of
ERP system:
1. products and articles: components, semifinished products and
end products may be classified under various units of measure (per
purchase, warehouse, handling, production,
sale); may belong to families, groups,
homogeneous categories, discount classes,
ranges of commission; may have preferential
warehouse positions (allocations), various
types of stock management, purchase and sale
conditions (minimum order quantity, warranty,
etc.) and a datasheet in which all sort of
information (features, instructions for use, rules
or peculiar warnings, etc.) can be recorded in
various languages;
02
area
C.R.M.
(Marketing and Services)
Customers and market oriented activities,
such as pre-sale (marketing) and after-sale
(services), have always been the driving force
for business development.
Hectic and dynamic markets can only be
dominated if CRM (Customer Relationship
Management) and all technical and sale
information about existing and potential
customers are accurately managed.
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING
SALES QUALITY
ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS
CRM 1 - MARKETING
(pre-sale and after-sale)
Planning of sale actions, including graphic timetable management of
the different operators’ marketing activities. Collection, archiving and
management of pre-sale and after-sale marketing information: the
former used for existing customers and the latter including customer
recall, evaluation questionnaires, suggestions for new products, etc.
CRM 2 - SERVICE and ASSISTANCE
(after-sale)
Planning and graphic timetable management of all technical activities
in support of sales force (pre-sale and demonstrations) and after-sale
service: installation, maintenance and technical assistance (in warranty,
by contract, on an actual cost basis).
Management and control of the “installed group”, products and
related versions. Management of maintenance reports which record
maintenance times, spare parts (with automatic stock unload), travel
costs, reimbursement of expenses (km), comments. Data management
for the automatic invoicing of spare parts, activities and contracts.
Integration with GEO-MARKETING
Digital mapping is essential to display the geographic position of several
business information and the multiple relations between data and
territory.
It is a perfect tool to provide a great mapping of Targets and Customers ,
in order to plan and perform marketing activities on the interested area,
as well as to find out territory coverage and consequently plan agents
network, points of sale, technical assistance and logistics platform. All
this according to turnover range and distances.
WEB MARKETING portal (CRM1)
An easy and immediate web interface which can be configured according
to each person’s role and responsibility in the company and can involve
the sales force, branches, distributors (those abroad too) as well as end
customers in the business processes.
This web environment becomes easily the primary source for all “active
users” to detect relevant information such as opportunities, offers, order
tracking, structured and de-structured customer datasheets, callings
reports (integration with Voip), e-mails, visits, interviews.
WEB SERVICE portal (CRM2)
It has been specifically developed for the staff operating from outside
the company: technicians, management consultants, technical and
engineering departments, staff working for projects or preliminary phases
of projects, work sites, etc. Through this portal they check workflow,
requests for activities or assistance and the applicant’s accounting
status; they confirm appointments on the shared timetable, enter the
activities related to orders, contracts, warranty, non in warranty, and
print the related modules, where configured.
In addition it is possible to save all the additional costs (hotels, flights,
trains, km, road tolls, restaurants, etc.) reducing all related administrative
costs as well as time and invoicing and/or final balance mistakes.
The function “Ticket” is incredibly useful for those companies which
offer Help Desk services. The customer can directly activate the function
via telephone or web, and check the progress report of the assistance
requested.
SFA - Sales Force Automation
Through this function, Smartphone, Laptop and Netbook can be used to:
• enter new orders, check related delivery and invoicing status (tracking);
• organize visits to the customers with the support of a timetable and
“pocket Outlook”;
• check information about the products in real time: catalogue, price list,
stock, technical datasheet, pictures and images;
• check and update information about the customers in real time:
personal data, applied conditions, carried out and planned services,
dispatched and confirmed orders, special quotations, sale statistics,
deliveries and invoices, accounting statement (outstanding payments,
cash receipts, total credit, residual line of credit, risk level).
VENDING (Sale Attempt)
Specific kits (a “suitcase” with a hand-held terminal, a barcode scanner
and a thermal printer) allow to issue orders, bills of lading and invoices,
enter payments, unload goods and update “on-the-move stock” (car or
van).
03
area
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING

SALES QUALITY

ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA

SALES MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS

Sale activities play a double role: on the one SALES CONFIGURATION

hand, they reflect the corporate image when
approaching the customers for thefirst time;
on the other hand, they represent the starting
point for the success of all the following steps
Flexible and customizable tool, even laymen can easily insert a new
product and fill in an offer or an order, simply following a series of queries
and fields ruled by technical/sales guidelines. The variety of product
becomes then an opportunity rather than an obstacle. According to the
Customer’s needs, the system automatically generates a “sale” variant of
the bill of materials, which can be immediately submitted to MRP.

(service and production activities).

Configurations and web portals are the most
immediate tools through which customer
satisfaction is perceived. Yet, MPS planning,
organization of price lists and offers as well
as a correct study of statistics determine a
smooth and efficient performances in the
SALES (Pricelists, Offers, Customer Orders)
Management of Prices and sales conditions (connected to each item and
customer), offers and customer orders. Display of suppliers’ conditions,
stock management and availability (so that products can be selected
from stock also according to serial number or expiry date) too.
When the value of the order is higher than the customer’s residual credit,
a warning message appears. Order confirmation determines about order
commitment and order confirmation via fax, xml, mail or print. Orders
with descriptions in foreign language, currency value, pro-forma invoice
and packing list can be generated too.

further steps of order confirmation.

M.P.S. PLANNING
(Master Production Schedule)
A “sales forecast plan” help organize supplies (purchase or production
of end or semifinished products) in connection with customer portfolio
or not, with or without actual orders. Supply programs and open orders
for automotive, food sectors and distribution industry can also be
configured.
AGENTS and COMMISSIONS
Calculation, maturation and payment of commissions according to the
different types of hierarchical structure and organization of the agents,
who may have various types of relations (between customers, items
and agents), geographical areas of activity and calculation methods
(according to profit, taxable income, amount, etc.).
MAIL PUSH (automatic e-mail sending)
Automatic e-mails are periodically sent to each agent. Information about
the credit situation of one’s own customers (for example, schedule book)
is conveyed.
Sales STATISTICS and
Sales BUDGET
Data are extracted out of the various data sources and converted
into files, which are already configured for statistics on what was sold
or invoiced. Data can then be compared to forecast data previously
entered according to item, product line, customer, area, etc. or organized
for “rolling forecast”.
POINTS OF SALE
q FRONT-END CUSTOMERS - Sales documents are quickly and
automatically filled in simply by reading item bar code or through a
batch number connected to a fiscal printer.
q CASH REGISTERS - interface helping direct communication between
central system and cash registers. With synchronicity, SAM ERP2
sends the cash register the data related to items and customers, and
automatically receives accounting data (petty cash movements) and
stock handling (goods handling).
WEB Customers Portals (BtB and BtC)
The new web portals include both B2C (Business to Consumer, that is from
the company towards the outside world) and B2B (Business to Business,
that is from company to company). Web portals perfectly comply with
the central system. Both displayed information and graphical interface
can be administered directly from the management information system
without having the bare technical web knowledge. In particular, there
are:
q WEB CATALOGUE à it is a virtual window, where a selection of the
items taken from the management information system is displayed.
The user may create specific hierarchies and categories, look at
availability, price, price reduction, technical datasheet, pictures and
images of the selected item.
q ON-LINE ORDERS à orders can be entered online by means of a
shopping basket. After order confirmation, the order is entered into
the management information system as “web order”; the customer
may then see its status report in real time (tracking).
04
area
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING

PURCHASES, SALES QUALITY

WAREHOUSES ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA

and LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT

CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS

To simplify relations with the suppliers, fasten PURCHASE

goods handling, avoid the related mistakes,
optimize stock management are the first steps
to take to reduce costs and improve company
overall performance.
Management and control of purchase conditions (main, secondary or
occasional suppliers), related price lists (price reduction, delivery terms
and multiple units of measure included), purchase orders (foreign
currency, scheduled deliveries, per e-mail or fax), reminders (listed
according to production or sale priority), goods and invoice receipt,
framework agreements and “calling orders”.

Traceability and optimization of freight WEB SUPPLIER Portal

activities are further steps to take to secure
goods transfer and face the obstacles of
nowadays markets.
Through this portal users communicate with the company suppliers about
requests for quotation, order confirmation, delivery date, update, the
creation of labels for batches or single products with barcode (which
can be printed out by the suppliers themselves in order to immediately
identify the items). This reduces times and costs when conveying
information and, especially if associated with BWS “Logistics” module,
when moving goods within the production process.

WAREHOUSE and STOCK

Management and control of all locations (warehouse, production area,
consignment stock c/o customers or suppliers, etc.); automatic goods
handling, distinguishing between booked, ordered or available quantity;
calculation of minimum stock, asset turnover and terms of insurance
for each item; lists of items below minimum or at maximum stock level;
stock management of consignment stock, goods supplied under approval
or in contract work; inventory in rotation; supplementary records for
stock accounting with related VAT book and editors register.
TRACEABILITY (LOTS, SERIAL Numbers
and FOOD traceability)
Materials handling is monitored (through serial or batch number),
in order to know exactly which component was used for which end
product (for example, for warranty) or where the components of a
specific product are from (Supply Chain Management); monitoring of
the location of each item; F.I.F.O. stock (entry and expiry date included);
link between incoming and outgoing delivery notes (stock-account of the
goods) for those companies doing contract work; monitoring of batches;
adequate food traceability system for each substance and product
(processed, semi processed or non-processed products), in compliance
with Food Law CE 178/2002.
BAR-CODE LOGISTICS
(WMS – Barcode Wireless Store)
Recognition and handling of goods by reading barcodes using wireless
terminals connected in real time to the central system: inputs, shipments,
withdrawals, transfers, replenishments, reductions, etc., not to mention
inventories, checks and management of storage bays (Aisles/Levels/
Columns) and “load units”, including on a custom basis for individual
customers; optimization of space and routes, dynamic mapping of
physical and logical warehouses, etc.
Also equipped with DRP-I (Distribution Requirements Planning) a
monitoring tool for identifying when, within a given time-frame, the
various types of warehouses (e.g. picking, stocking, overstock locations,
etc.), will run short of stock, and proposing to replenish them in good
time by re-balancing stocks, so as to synchronize their redistribution and
ensure availability in the appropriate locations
on the basis of the planned handling operations
and shipments.
PURCHASE STATISTICS and
Supplier Evaluation
Data and graphics on purchase and on cheapness and convenience of the
various items. Overall supplier evaluation in relation to the necessary
requirements for company certification .
TRANSPORT SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
Deliveries are organized according to the features of the means of
transport (capacity, type of side rail, refrigeration, etc.) per product and
customer, and to the prices (per carrier, pallet, weight, volume, etc.). Out
of the function “delivery check” users can get a range of carriers who,
as far as “default routes”, unloading and covered areas are considered,
can deliver the goods. Furthermore, simulations can be carried out in
order to eventually organize collection of goods from the suppliers on the
way back. The layout of the carrier’s invoice is automatically generated,
fastening thus their check, their transfer to the accounts and the precise
determination of freight costs.
Warehouse Cross-Analysis and
ABC classifications
The results of ABC-logic are applied to and matched with stock and use
values: in this way, a matrix is obtained, which shows which items have
more or less stock than required (obsolescence or stock out risk).
05
area
PRODUCTION
and PLANNING
Planning and control of production processes
through a highly developed ERP, as well
as monitoring of all internal and external
production phases are the key strategies in the
reduction of overall response times, financial
and logistics costs. Also the stock optimization
and reduction depends on the attention paid
to the organization and planning of production
processes.
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING
SALES QUALITY
ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS
PLANNING and PLM
(Product Lifecycle Management)
Production phases, processes and bills of materials are defined by
means of technical drawings, images, documents, editions per date,
etc. Bills of materials can be generated with CAD technology; they can
include different variants so that different production methods can
be applied and they can improve the production of “similar” items.
Production and cost quotation can be calculated for each end or semi-
finished product; items subjected to wear and tear are highlighted, so
that price lists for spare parts can be easily generated; editions of bills of
materials and the related validity dates are monitored according to stock
availability. The planning stage can be better performed thanks to an
automatic acquisition of the technical-sale catalogue from the company’s
component suppliers (ex. Medel format).
MRP-I PLANNING
The amount of goods to be purchased and produced determines a
significant stock optimization and reduction of storage costs. The related
delivery date, warehouse stock as well as “dynamic availability” (booked
or shortfall amount, demands related to sale or production orders
already confirmed and purchase or production orders already issued,
and sale forecast - MPS) are considered too; supply programs, open sale
orders, framework agreements and “calling orders” are monitored too.
According to the required delivery date, the system suggests the orders
(purchase, production orders or contract work) to the most appropriate
suppliers highlighting all the possible critical points.
MRP-II SCHEDULING
at UNLIMITED capacity (CRP)
Division of work to human resources and business plants (first stage
machining) according to the sequence of orders and the relations
between production stages and production cells. Through workload
analysis, possible critical situations are spotted and the resources
required to satisfy the market’s needs are identified. Daily workload can
be displayed for each division (highlighting orders and customers) and
Gantt diagram for each production order.
FINITE-CAPACITY (FCS)
MRP II SCHEDULING
Allocation of jobs to company resources, with a forecast of dates of
delivery and availability of products, not only on the basis of order
planning (MRP-I), but also on the basis of the company’s actual production
capacity, in other words taking account of machines, systems, calendars,
priorities and relationships between processing phases, production cells
and departments or cost centers. To enable immediate checking and a
comprehensive response, the application offers “dispatch lists” (work
sequences on each production resource), “queue” analysis and Gantt
charts for each Production Order, on which it is possible to take action
via a graphic interface to change the scheduling, with the option of
processing and storing various scheduling plans.
The full configuration of the “heuristics” offers the best planning of the
use of systems and resources, by balancing - for example - setup times in
relation to expected delivery dates, thanks to the possibility of quickly
accessing various scenarios before “freezing” the plan to be “dispatched”,
either manually or automatically, to the MES and monitoring stations.
OPERATIONAL PRODUCTION
Overall executive production management and monitoring, both
within the company and by external suppliers: production orders,
bills of materials, production sheets, “collection” check (for batches
of production orders or orders), work in progress, timing analysis,
contract work and outsourcing, immediate check and valorisation
of accomplished production stages, work in progress, and materials
availability.
Production SITES
Management and monitoring of public and industrial production sites:
quotations and prices for works, management and location of means
and tools, material handling, daily reports, cost check (labour, materials,
tools, general costs, amortization), profit, work in progress, final balance
(cost/benefit) and statistics.
Production PROGRESS monitoring (MES)
Real-time monitoring of the status and use of resources (machines,
systems, personnel) by means of a synoptic panel; reading of production
times, including by means of barcodes; self-learning of work cycles, time
and attendance of personnel for the balancing of hours, graphs for
conducting instant checks on the output of each resource, maintenance of
systems and machinery, line-side qualitative measurement of processes;
these measurements (characteristic, conformity, measurement, visual
inspection, etc.) can be performed at specified time intervals or when
a given quantitative threshold has been reached. In particular, the OEE
panel (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), which can also be used in web-
based mode, measures the total effectiveness of each system in real
time and highlights the 3 key factors for manufacturing: availability,
productivity (i.e. efficiency) and quality.
CMMS
The CMMS module (Computerized Maintenance Management System)
manages the maintenance of company systems and equipment, and
suggests three possible courses of action - “check”, “replace” or
“repair” - before any malfunctions occur. This makes it possible to plan
maintenance downtimes in advance and schedule them at the most
appropriate moments, thus optimizing plant usage.
Full integration with the MES, WMS and the entire ERP system therefore
makes it possible to plan purchases, parts stocks and the recording of
actual costs per plant, department and machine, as well as complete
management of maintenance orders (MOs) and Emergency Work Orders
(EWOs) The following are some of the most effective KPIs available:
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures for critical machines or in general),
MTTR (Mean Time To Repair), MRT (Mean Repair Time).
06
area
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING

SALES QUALITY

ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS

To win over competitors, two features are of QUALITY CONTROL

paramount importance: creativity and quality.
Imagination, which feeds creativity, must
equate with rigorous effort to achieve quality.
Quality control over products and materials is
guaranteed by rigid goods receipt procedures,
Management of articles that need to undergo acceptance testing
following purchase (goods check-in phases) or, including by means of
MES terminals, in the production processes (internal and external, both
“in-process” and “post-process”) and assignment of the respective
test cycles. These controls enable production orders to progress
simultaneously with the quality “monitoring” operations (process
measurement and statistical control) associated with the processing
cycles and specific work phases of the production order.

well defined test cycles, precise and regular

supplier evaluation and accurate registration of
both resources and tasks.
TEST CYCLES
All steps and operations required to ensure that the product and the
production stages comply with the required quality parameters are
managed and monitored. Test cycles are carried out both on every piece
or on random samples.

EQUIPMENT and
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Maintenance procedures and rules, distribution lists of documents and
operating procedures (quality manual) as well as automatic bill book (for
the equipment “state”) are available for the equipment used in quality
control.

Management of “NON-CONFORMITY”
Detection and formalization of internal and external non-conformities
attributable to non-fulfillment of requirements relating to products
or services, with recommendations for possible corrective actions
and complaints to suppliers, automatically distributed and shared by
various means including the supplier portal.
RESOURCES and COMPETENCE
The “intangible value” of both internal and external human resources,
included in the Vision 2000 – ISO 9004, is managed and monitored:
organizational processes and procedures, infrastructures, courses, job
descriptions, skills, training programs, past experiences and ambitions.
A business dashboard is available and used to identify all resources
(employees, collaborators, suppliers, contacts), to monitor their
improvement and suggestions (related to processes, product lines,
products or structures) and to motivate them with incentives and
rewards. The goals are: to boost proactive behaviour and creativity, to
check the effectiveness of what is being taught and to increase one’s own
self-consciousness about their role in the achievement of the company
quality goals.
07
area
ADMINISTRATIVE and
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
To manage a business and be untroubled
means to wholly trust its administrative and
financial functions.
A developed administrative management
must be based on prompt and precise of the
company’s accounting processes, secure tax
compliance, regular check of cash management
and financial flows, forecast of future balance
for each bank account and customer exposure
to risk.
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING
SALES QUALITY
ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS
FREIGHT and INVOICING
Bills of lading, receipts, direct or delayed invoices, credit notes, packing
lists, automatic generation of stock rotation and memorandum book,
sharing of additional costs, automatic sending of documents (per
e-mail, XML or Fax – no letter post!), automatic data processing for
Intrastat listing, and individual overall or periodic invoices to which all
data related to items and customers are linked.
ELECTRONIC INVOICING
The Electronic Invoicing procedures available within the ERP application
consist of a software module and an associated Cloud service.
The software module performs the following operations: Generates
XML files of sales invoices + native PDF (at user’s choice), reads XML files
relating to Purchase Invoices (Suppliers), records Supplier Invoices in the
Purchasing module and in Petty Cash Records for General Accounting.
The Cloud Service automates the entire process of transmission/
reception and fulfills the relevant legislative obligations:
1. digitally signs the XML files of the documents issued (customer
invoices);
2. interconnects with the revenue service exchange system to forward
the XML files of customer invoices (generated by the module),
checks the outcomes (on the revenue service exchange system) and
manages the respective receipts;
3. proceeds with Substitute Storage of the issued documents in
accordance with the law;
4. interconnects with the revenue service exchange system to
automatically download the XML files of the supplier invoices
(documents which the module will then record in Purchasing and
General Accounting)
GENERAL ACCOUNTING
Registration of all accounting processes to complete and secure tax
and “civil” compliance. The functions linked to memorandum book are
fully automatic and VAT-compliant. Among those there are: automatic
management of compensations, protocols, different registers, “multi-
currency”, “temporary” or “ex-budget” movements, payments on
open batches, trial balances, statements of accounts and reminders,
prepayments and accrued income, withholding tax and welfare
deduction (paying-in slips are printed out and payments to recipients
are certified), enasarco, export plafond, data conversion for customers-
suppliers lists, etc.
CASH MANAGEMENT
Monitoring of bill books and operations linked to cash movements:
advice of payment to suppliers, notice of expiry, reminder letters to
customers, cash order or collection order, unpaid products or services,
calculation of default interest, bill of exchange, automatic reconciliation
of bank movements through CBI, etc.
FINANCIAL management
The company’s cash flow is regularly checked and monitored in order to
manage cash management in the best possible way. In particular, if costs
and benefits “before-accounts” (purchase or sale orders, transportation
documents, etc.) and temporary memorandum book (scheduled loans,
leasing, insurance, wages, tax, etc.) are used, cash flow can be simulated
for cash and for each bank account (ordinary current account, credit line
under reserve, etc.).Net availability (credit-balance) can be highlighted
and monitored as well as risk exposure for the single customer.
Other tax compliance
All tax compliance procedures are carried out: WEEE (Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment), CONAI (National Packaging Consortium), Black
List – customers/suppliers list; integrated management of withholding
tax; connection to tax proceedings of Il Sole 24 Ore Adempimenti 24: VAT
return (annual VAT return, VAT return, received declarations of intent),
Form 770, Tax Return Form 24, Certifications for Compensations (for
Form 770), European Budget, On-line PAYROLL processing of Il Sole 24
Ore, etc.
Foreign accounting localization
SAM ERP2 is equipped with accounting localization and related fiscal
adaptations for the world’s main business areas: ASIA (China, India,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, etc.) MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA (Egypt,
Israel, Kuwait, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, etc.), EUROPE (Germany,
France, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom, etc.) AMERICA
(Canada, Mexico, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia etc.).
Consult www.centrosoftware.com for an updated list of supported tax
systems.

ASSETS
Monitoring and management of all depreciable goods and assets
(material and immaterial), and a particular focus on their location and
lifecycle (purchase, increase, revaluation,
total or partial alienation, etc.).
Amortization can be simulated, fiscal
and “civil” book value can be calculated
as well as maintenance costs and assets
too, etc.
08
area
MANAGEMENT
MONITORING
Nowadays companies face markets and
economic contingencies which change very
rapidly and continuously. In order to take the
right steps in such a dynamic environment,
companies must master advanced control
instruments: not only analytical accounts
which calculate in real time profit margin for
products, orders, divisions, etc. but also
Business Intelligence, Advanced Statistics and
Data Mining which allow the managerial
and administrative staff to take the best
decisions for the company.
C.R.M. PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION
MARKETING and SERVICES and LOGISTICS and PLANNING
SALES QUALITY
ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS
BUDGET and BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS
Comparison between Forecast budget data and final balance data
(general accounting); budget reclassification, budget management for
orders, cost centers or business areas, and following comparison with
the final data highlighted in analytical accounts.
ANALYTICAL ACCOUNTS and
COST ACCOUNTING
Detailed allocation of costs and revenues according to destination and
pursuing 2 main goals: bookkeeping per order (which arises analytical
budgets for areas, agents, items, etc., and profit margin is calculated)
and bookkeeping per cost centre (out of which arise the costs for each
division and the costs for each work are calculated – gross cost per hour
of both staff and plants). Bookkeeping per business area (or division)
budgets are generated per branch, production line, business areas etc.
can be generated while “full-cost” analysis derives from sharing direct
and indirect costs by means of customizable “analytical drivers”.
CALCULATION OF PROFIT MARGIN (orders)
Simplified and easy-to-understand functions help to calculate profit
margin for each single order, invoice or customer.
ANALYSIS OF CONTRACTS
and WORK ORDERS
Companies that work on a “Make-to-Order” basis with multi-year work
orders can manage Budgets, Actual Values and Forecasts for the various
specification items regarding individual systems/machines/projects or
entire lines, and calculate the percentage of progress necessary to fulfill
the obligations laid down by accounting principles covering work to
order in progress (SIC 23). This tool is also crucial for preparing annual
financial statements and consistent interim statements, defining costs
and revenues to be suspended, calculating total margins or margins on
individual items of specifications, and generally monitoring the economic
progress of entries.
MULTI-DIVISIONAL Accounting
Automatic allocation of costs and revenues for the various divisions
and “business lines” also defined as “budget centre”. Each of them is
associated with one or more “cost centres” and “revenue centres”
such as branches, product lines, market areas, geographic areas, etc.
All query functions have appropriate filters, the use of which allows to
extract and work only on some specific elements: bills, invoices, book-
keeping cards, bills of exchange, cash, payments, trial balance, etc. The
same connections and functions are valid in the elaboration of analytical
budgets and cost accounting.
CONSOLIDATED Financial Statements
It is the ideal tool for corporate groups, with companies operating in
Italy or abroad, and plays a key role in providing comprehensive, all-
round vision of the company’s economic, financial and equity situation,
in accordance with the principles laid down in Italian Legislative Decree
No. 127/1991 and in the applicable accounting principles (SIC 17 and
11). The procedure guides every step, starting by creating intra-group
relations and defining the scope of consolidation, and makes the
necessary adjustments to intra-group transactions, up to determining
the final statement drawn up according to the full consolidation method,
proportional method and equity method.
reclassified by drawing a distinction between current and non-current
assets, and diversifying the economic components by nature and
destination.
Advanced Statistics
Information is automatically extracted and elaborated to monitor
and lead the company; break-even-point, diagrams and graphics are
generated and help the analysis and interpretation of this important
information. Out of the results of these elaborations the managerial and
administrative staff can take the best decisions for the various company’s
areas.
Business Intelligence and Data Mining
SAM ERP2’s integrated business intelligence tools transform data into
information, thus eliminating guesswork.
The monitoring of key metrics provides valuable information on customer
behavior, suppliers, logistical and production processes and product life-
cycles, as well as identifying the analytical criteria that link
commercial dynamics with financial and manufacturing dynamics. The
technology also provides access to information in push mode, in the
cloud and on the go, while at the same time ensuring GDPR compliance.

IAS/IFRS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The continuing internationalization of markets
necessitates the alignment of accounting principles.
At EU level, Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002 of 19 July
2002 introduces the International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) for the preparation of this statement
containing the statement of stockholders’ equity
and cash flows and the statement of comprehensive
income of IAS annual financial statements. In order to
provide more relevant and reliable information about
a company’s liquidity, IAS financial statements are
09
area
INTERCOMPANY,
Foreign Branches,
Communications
A quick and appropriate communication, both
within the production sale/chain and the
outside world, has become an essential asset
for companies. The company computer system
must also be accessible to people operating
in foreign countries with different foreign
languages.
These goals can be reached thanks to the
integration of all brand new technologies
(VOI P, Mail, EDI, XML) into the ERP system.
All business processes are in fact available to
all external operators: branches, distributors,
sellers, technicians, consultants, customers and
suppliers.
C.R.M.
MARKETING and SERVICES
PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES
and LOGISTICS
PRODUCTION
and PLANNING
SALES QUALITY
ADMINISTRATIVE
and FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
WORKFLOW, BPM
and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS
MULTI-LANGUAGE
All companies which own foreign branches or wish to communicate with
foreign operators in their local language can use a unique data structure
and a unique business management system. Menus, descriptions,
messages, comments and on-line help of all functions are automatically
displayed in the language of the operator who enters the system (Italian,
English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese etc.)
(see www.centrosofware.com for full list)
Intercompany
The “Intercompany” functions facilitate organized management of
processes relating to commercial transactions between companies
belonging to the same group, regardless of their geographical location.
SAM ERP2 enables users to align data relating to customer/supplier
databases, articles, article groups, bills of materials, payment methods,
currencies, units of measurement, etc.
A single workflow can be defined for the whole group by means of BPM,
which uses to-do lists or email to involve the parties to whom events
relate, so that the necessary action can be taken or permission given.
The system Set up enables users to define the relationships between
documents of the companies concerned: the issuance of a document in
one company, for example, can automatically generate the corresponding
document in another company, thus increasing the certainty that
information will be exchanged correctly, reducing errors and optimizing
processes, which translates into higher productivity for everybody.
It is therefore possible to define the availability of the articles for the
whole group, by company; check the quantities of these that are already
committed or ordered, and manage overall customer/supplier credit
exposures.
E-MAIL Interface
Print previews of all documents are displayed. Documents can be sent via
.PDF format, e-mail, fax (automatic connection to fax machine) or XML
(see) at the same time.
Mail Collector
The flow of incoming e-mails is collected within the “value stream”. ERP
system, and in particular the CRM functions, is integrated with the mail
server (Outlook or Notes) by means of a “parsing” that makes use of
“interpretative heuristics” of texts in relation to data pertaining customers,
names, prospects, branches, offers, orders, etc. This integration allows
to register each message received from whatever customer account to
whatever internal account, and vice versa. Registration and classification
of e-mails allows to generate an information database which has become
essential within all business processes: requests for business and
technical information, requests for sales and technical modifications,
new delivery dates, amount, etc. happen to be sent more often than ever
per e-mail.
This technology is fully compliant with GDPR requirements and
successfully resolves the problem of shared company email addresses.
Production and Sales Chain (XML)
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) automatic transmission and receipt,
with “XML” technology, of all types of documents within the production
and sales chain: orders, bills, invoices, accounting processes, customers,
suppliers, carriers, banks, alternative addresses, etc.
XML Import data are imported from other computer systems and
directly loaded in SAM
XML Generator data are transmitted from SAM to other computer
systems
VOIP Desk (IP Telephony)
In addition to the functions of a highly developed branch exchange,
integration with VOIP software allows to reduce telephony costs,
because it exploits the Internet to make phone calls and connects all
branches as if they were direct inward dials. Furthermore, this system
automatically generates statistics on the company’s telephone traffic and
reduces maintenance costs, since internal telephone network is not used
anymore.
Integration with the management information system allows to
 immediately display data and information concerning the caller;
q
perform better as far as service quality is concerned, since waiting
times are reduced and the search for the most suitable interlocutor
is automatic;
 display different information about the caller depending on who is
q
receiving the call (for example, the administrative area is interested
at statement of account and bill book, the after sale at the products
in maintenance, agents and sale managers at orders and offers, the
purchase office at suppliers’ deliveries, etc.);
 open marketing or maintenance activities on the ERP system, which
q
may depend on who is calling, traceability of the callings and “to do
list” for each user.
10
area
C.R.M.
MARKETING and SERVICES
PURCHASES, WAREHOUSES
and LOGISTICS
PRODUCTION
and PLANNING

SECURITY and SALES QUALITY

Development Tools
ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFLOW, BPM
and FINANCIAL and COMMON DATA
MANAGEMENT

Area MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
SECURITY and
DEVELOPMENT
INTERCOMPANY and
COMMUNICATIONS

The computer system represents brain and Authorization and Privacy Monitoring
heart of all business activities and processes. The system administrator can define single users or groups of users and
decide which ones have access to which functions, either choosing “full-
As consequence any improper use has to control” or “read-only” access.

discouraged through the use of tools and This system respects Privacy law in its integrity.

function which guarantee a complete control

and a safe access to operations.
Personalized functions can be developed,
improving thus process efficiency and
performance, allowing the system to adapt
Security System
It allows the system administrator to define the restrictions for each user
or group of users even on the single fields of each display or tool bar:
each field can be “modified”, “read-only”, “compulsorily filled in” or with
“access denied” (the display of some information can thus be inhibited).
To act on the tool bar of each window, for example, denies the chance to
launch some given print or search activities.

to future changes and preserve the related
investment.
Furthermore, this module allows to manage documents approval on
several levels.
RGT (Report Generator Tool)
The system is provided with more than 900 standard prints (documents,
printouts, reports) but each company may have its own specific and
personal needs.
Report Generation Tool (RGT), exploiting a graphic environment,
allows to modify the existing formats and to generate new reports or
documents’ layouts.
SDK (Software Development Kit)
Programs and vertical applications can be developed and be perfectly
integrated with the existing database structures, exploiting their
“business logic” and keeping data coherence and integrity.
SDK can be used to export or include the several functions of the
system (articles, sales documents, bills of lading, invoices, etc.) into
external applications, to use these functions from whatever program or
environment supporting DLL callings without taking care of the internal
programming procedures.
Benefit: only the part of the code concerning the customization shall
be written, without taking care of the update of the standard functions,
which automatically takes place in the event of a new product release.

Web Services
SAM ERP2 is equipped with REST-based WEB services, which enable
customers and partners to develop web applications independently to
meet specific needs relating to their business. This technology not only
ensures secure separation of client and server, but also ensures the
visibility, reliability and scalability of the services.
The REST API also ensures independence from specific languages
and technologies, because it is independent of the type of platform
and therefore allows considerable freedom of choice of language or
framework for the implementation of each component.
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution,
an epochal change based on the technological
innovation involving the production systems
and the dialog between companies, chains and
the market.
All production processes are interconnected
and controlled, including by means the
company ERP software, thanks to the use of
new low-cost wireless connections, digital
technologies and sensors that interface with
them in real time.
The IT backbone
For years now, Centro Software has been committed to providing its
customers with an ERP application that is the backbone of the company
in terms of IT, and is capable of managing and controlling all company
processes.
In full harmony with the principles of LEAN Manufacturing, which
envisage the maximum integration of processes and the gradual
elimination of all activities that cause waste and delays, Centro Software
has gradually equipped its SAM ERP2 system with all the functions
traditionally managed by departmental software, spreadsheets or even
in paper format, and which cause interruptions to flows and gaps in
information sharing.
This philosophy has enabled Centro Software to keep one step ahead of
the progressive digitalization of processes and show that Industry 4.0 can
be achieved easily and gradually, simply by applying new technologies to
an existing environment.
In fact, Centro Software was one of the first players to equip its ERP
software with a number of integrated technological functions and
devices that enable direct dialog with production systems.
A fully integrated second-generation ERP software package, ready
for connection to the production systems, is not only an essential IT
backbone for business digitalization purposes, but also instantly improves
efficiency and productivity, by enhancing the control and speeding up the
performance of all company functions.
Continuous flow of materials and
information
In Centro Software’s ERP application, flows of materials and information
remain entirely uninterrupted, all processes are perfectly integrated
because the system was developed on the basis of a single design, with
a single optimized database structure and one functional engine already
compatible with continuous technological evolutions.
S-C4 software and connection types
The SAM ERP2 software layer dedicated to interconnection with the production systems (called "S-C4") interacts flexibly according to the type of machine
to be monitored: for "Industry 4.0 Oriented" production lines and systems, dialog normally takes place via the OPC-UA communication standard. More
specifically, it is always possible to encode at least the following actions: Start-End Run, Start-End Processing, Start-End Alarm, Quantity Obtained, Quantity
Rejected, Quality Control.
For production lines and systems that are not latest-generation but are equipped with at least one PLC, the publication of data or information is not
generally available, so it is necessary to interface directly with the PLC by means of specific additional software drivers or by installing the Black Box C4 card.
For old-generation production lines and systems not equipped with a PLC, dialog normally takes place by installing the BB-C4 card or, in extreme cases, by
using third-party hardware capable of retrieving the data from a serial port and by acting as an OPC-Server to make the data available to the ERP via OPC-UA.

The Black Box C4 card

The Black-Box C4 card, designed and developed by Centro Software, is one of the tools that enable industrial production systems and the SAM ERP2 business
management software to communicate with each other in real time. The device can be programmed by means of software and connected directly to the
MES module (Manufacturing Execution System) for real-time control of production. It monitors and manages the electrical signals originating from the
various industrial systems: piece-counters, measuring devices, sensors, etc.. Using the same card, the SAM ERP2 system can interact with the information
arriving directly from the systems, perform pre-set functions accordingly, and activate other devices, by means of the same card.
Using the card, for example, the system can switch on the lights on a machine-mounted light tower that
uses color to identify the status of the machine/cell (alarm, processing, pause, maintenance, testing,
etc.), or can simply control a lamp activated by the Quality module sampling plan to notify the operator
when he/she needs to take the necessary measurements.
The BB-C4 card receives and collects the data directly from the sensors, and is therefore capable of
interfacing the machines regardless of the model of PLC controlling them and its protocols. This makes
it possible to interconnect all the machines in the factory, including machines that are not latest-
generation, which still account for almost 9O% of installed machinery.

Big Data and Real Time

The S-C4 software and BB-C4 card also make it
possible to collect a vast amount of information
with the ERP software in real time. This data not only
facilitates the control and operational management
of production, but with “big data” development
methods, it also provides the analytical criteria for
integrating predictive maintenance techniques and
further optimizing processes.
Centro Software now develops innovative second-generation ERP
systems that already incorporate the best organizational experience
of Italian businesses to help others take on the international
competition with success.

SAM ERP2 contributes to the success of thousands of companies

operating in Italy and worldwide in the main industrial and market
sectors:
Food industry, Mechanical Engineering, Chemicals/Cosmetics/
Pharmaceuticals, Systems Engineering and Robotics, Electrical/
Electronics, Medical Devices, Automation, Automated Machinery,
Automotive, Aeronautical, Rubber and Plastics, Commerce,
Services.
Many of these world-class companies are a beacon of efficiency
for others operating in the same sectors, both in terms of the
comprehensive nature of the software solutions applied and the
levels of innovation and competitiveness achieved.
Centro Software provides constant support for its customers with its high-quality
services:

• remote support (online, by phone or by video-conference)

• continuously updated e-learning videos integrated into the ERP software
• webinars aimed at encouraging the adoption of best business practices
• continuous updates and constant maintenance
• direct training and tuition for personnel
• development of special software
• design of technological systems (hardware, software, network infrastructure, etc.)
• installations and conversions from previous systems
• check-ups, scheduled checks and continuous monitoring of systems.
LET’S MOVE FOR A BETTER BUSINESS

All around the world, thousands of companies fail

to achieve their objectives due to a lack of all-round vision
and empowering tools.

For over 30 years, Centro Software’s ERP applications

have been helping businesses innovate
their processes and expand their business.

Tel +39 051 813324 - info@centrosoftware.com - www.centrosoftware.com