Astra Signs Deal to Automate Brightpoint North America’s Accounts Payable with FastAP for IFS

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 1, 2012 - Brightpoint North America is the first IFS customer to fully automate its accounts payable invoice data capture and its invoice-to- ERP data matching and workflow approval routing with Astra’s FastAP for IFS^tm.  Brightpoint is a global leader in providing supply chain management and distribution services to the wireless telecommunications and high tech industry.  

Astra and Brightpoint have worked together intensively since Brightpoint saw Astra’s FastAP for IFS^tm Webcast on September 21, 2011.  One of Brightpoint’s objectives was to be able to deploy its new AP automation solution in conjunction with its United States rollout of IFS 7.5 SP 5 in the First Half of 2012.    

FastAP for IFS^tm couples the advanced data capture of INVOICES by ReadSoft, a global leader in the AP space, with the automated invoice matching and workflow approval routing capabilities of the IFS Supplier Invoice Workflow module.  Astra’s APConnect^{for IFS} provides seamless data transfer between the ReadSoft and IFS solution components.  

“We entered into our Product Partner Agreement with Astra to create an effective, inexpensive AP automation solution that is fully integrated into IFS ERP, commented Bob Corrigan, Vice President of IFS North America. “We expect that many customers of IFS will follow Brightpoint and take advantage of the business process and financial gains that FastAP for IFS^tm makes available.”

“We make the decision to automate easy,” said Naren Velu, President & CEO of Astra.  "Our solution is an organic element of IFS ERP.  That means no duplicate investment, easy maintenance and no third party solution risk.  This makes the ROI extremely attractive.”  

About IFS
IFS is a public company (OMX STO: IFS) founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications™, a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology.  IFS focuses on industries where any of four core processes are strategic: service & asset management, manufacturing, supply chain and projects.  The company has 2,000 customers and is present in more than 50 countries with 2,700 employees in total.  For more information about IFS, please visit: http://www.IFSWORLD.com

About Astra
Astra, Inc. was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, with an offshore fulfillment center in Chennai, India. Astra specializes in enabling companies to leverage the power of their enterprise application investments.   It provides packaged and custom consulting services related to all aspects of implementing and getting the best use of enterprise systems throughout their life cycle.  For more information about Astra, please visit: http://www.astra-us.com

For More information, Please Contact:

Naren S. Velu, President & CEO
Tel: (M) 520-971-2714
Email: naren@astra-us.com

George Hardy, Vice President – Director Software Marketing & Sales
Tel: (L) 323-522-5519
Email: george@astra-us.com

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Astra specializes in business process automation solutions for enterprise customers. Astra also provides technical services and consulting to customers of IFS Applications. Astra is a partner of IFS Applications, ReadSoft, ImageTag and Medius.