Ferranti - NCS partners smart grid leader Ferranti to exploit opportunities in deregulated Asia-Pacific energy markets
NCS Pte Ltd and Ferranti Computer Systems N.V. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in the marketing, promotion and utilisation of Ferranti’s MECOMS™ technology in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and China (including Hong Kong SAR).
Ferranti Computer Systems, founded in 1976, is a member of the Nijkerk Group. A leading systems integrator in the Benelux, the company’s key customers are companies in the transport, energy and utility industries. Its flagship product MECOMS™ is distributed worldwide through its partners.
MECOMS™ is Ferranti‘s end-to-end solution for energy utility markets. The state-of-the-art technology handles all major elements of utility distribution, including billing and customer care. Defining features of MECOMS™ include full integration, short implementation time, and a user-friendly interface. Based on the Microsoft Dynamics AX solution, MECOMS™ is highly customisable and well-suited for deployment in rapidly growing and fast-changing environments.
Rapid economic development over the last decade in the Asia-Pacific has injected dynamism into the region’s energy markets, but it has also created new challenges for the utilities industry. Deregulation is forcing gas and water companies to find new ways to manage resources and control their facilities. The collaboration between Ferranti and NCS will lead to the development of new and differentiated products that meets the new technology needs of the region’s energy and utilities suppliers.
The collaboration will boost NCS’ capabilities and expand its range of solutions for the utility industry. Mr Chia Wee Boon, CEO of NCS Group, said, "Not only is Ferranti a technology leader in energy and utilities, its revolutionary, customer-oriented approach to the business of energy distribution is strongly aligned with NCS’ focus on bringing great value to customers. NCS is pleased to be the preferred partner of Ferranti for its MECOMS™ solution."
Said Mr Alfred Nijkerk, Founding Chairman of Nijkerk Group, "We look forward to the further market acceptance of MECOMS™ in creating the Smart Utility of the future. Our collaboration with NCS is supported by the strategic relationship that both NCS and Ferranti have with Microsoft; whose focus on the utility industry is translated into the SERA architecture. MECOMS™, as a state of the art business application for the Smart Utility, complies with that architecture."
"We are very excited about the expertise that NCS and Ferranti is bringing to energy and utility customers in Asia," added Adrian Johnston, General Manager Microsoft Dynamics Asia. "Microsoft Dynamics is a robust, flexible and scalable platform that enables utility companies to improve their competitive advantage by reducing cost-to-serve and improving agility. Today’s announcement underscores the ability of Microsoft Dynamics to provide relevant functionality across industries."