COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT embark on strategic cooperation

Berlin/Ottobrunn, 11.06.2015. A close collaboration has begun between the specialist for automation solutions COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, the leading pan-European Microsoft Partner for the ERP solution Microsoft Dynamics. The goal of this partnership is to offer customers a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and thereby create a seamless information flow between the ERP level and the production environment.

In many industrial firms there is still a gap between the planning and administrative level and the production control level. Valuable information such as process and production data are often fragmented or only partially exchanged. Only a complete integration of the two worlds – ERP and process level – can offer a continuous and consistent information exchange between production, planning and control, thereby allowing for well-thought out planning and a sophisticated corporate structure.

With the zenon software it is now possible to achieve a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics. Information from production can be quickly processed at an administrative level, and the requirements of the ERP system are implemented directly at the process level.

The Microsoft Dynamics Connector sends data on relevant processes to the ERP level via a bidirectional interface and also receives control instructions from here. Companies can hereby directly connect their process level with the ERP level and receive a complete information overview. Production data and events are available in real time here and allow quick intervention. This enables optimal staff and material investment, because production data is immediately available. The Microsoft Dynamics Connector can be implemented as an independent tool or in interplay with zenon as an HMI/SCADA system for the visualization and control of industrial processes.

"We would like to achieve the highest level of integration of all business processes for our customers. In order to reach maximum transparency over all processes and corporate areas we need a smooth data exchange across all production and logistic zones – whether it is to identify an order in a production process or to examine current KPIs. With COPA-DATA we are able to offer this to our customers and interested parties", explains Gerrit Schiller, Executive Vice President of COSMO CONSULT AG.

The partnership of the two companies, COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, enables combined activity on the market, the ability to bundle competencies and benefit interested parties and customers with jointly applied projects.  

"We are very pleased about the collaboration with COSMO CONSULT. Together we can offer a wide range of customers and interested parties a professional end-to-end solution – from order processing, to production, right up to delivery – and thereby achieve real added value" adds Stefan Reuther, Head of Business Intelligence at COPA-DATA GmbH. "Thanks to the collaboration our customers can profit from seamless communication, a complete overview over all required information as well as a more efficient production."

On COPA-DATA

COPA-DATA is the technological leader for ergonomic and highly dynamic process solutions. The company, founded in 1987, develops the software zenon for HMI/SCADA, Dynamic Production Reporting and integrated PLC systems at its headquarters in Austria. zenon is sold through its own offices in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as partners and distributors throughout the world. Customers benefit from local contact persons and local support thanks to a decentralized corporate structure. As an independent company, COPA-DATA can act quickly and flexibly, continues to set new standards in functionality and ease of use and leads the market trends. Over 80,000 installed systems in more than 50 countries provide companies in the Food & Beverage, Energy & Infrastructure, Automotive and Pharmaceutical sectors with new scope for efficient automation.

On zenon

zenon is COPA-DATA`s highly versatile product family for industry-specific ergonomic process solutions: from sensors through to ERP. It consists of zenon Analyzer, zenon Supervisor, zenon Operator and zenon Logic. zenon Analyzer provides templates to create tailor-made reports (e.g. on consumption, downtimes, KPIs) based on data from IT and automation. zenon Supervisor, an independent SCADA system, allows comprehensive process monitoring and control of redundant systems, even in complex networks and with secure remote access. zenon Operator guarantees, as an HMI system, safe control of machines and simple, intuitive operation – including Multi-Touch. zenon Logic, which is an integrated IEC 61131-3-based PLC system, allows optimum process control and logical data processing. As a platform-independent portfolio for process solutions, the zenon Product Family integrates smoothly into existing automation and IT environments and provides set-up wizards and templates to enable easy configuration and simple migration from other systems. The principle of "setting parameters instead of programming" is a characteristic feature of the zenon Product Family.