The contract is to upgrade Astratas accounting software installation to the latest Accpac for Windows V5.2 Advantage Series, as well as to provide support services.

Established in 1986 as Optron, the company originally served SA markets.

Astrata today offers products and services in geomatics technologies, machine control and guidance technologies and telematics. It also has operations throughout the world, including the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and America.

Lorge account manager, André de Jager, says the new software supports Astratas expanding requirements for enterprise-wide consolidation of accounts at its Johannesburg office.

Operating on a terminal server basis, the Johannesburg office hosts the accounting software and applications for all of the company operations inside and outside SA.

Offices that are linked include Stellenbosch, Centurion, Malaysia and Singapore - others, located in Europe and America, will be linked in the near future.

The four Astrata divisions - survey & mapping technologies, business development and marketing, technical support services and telematics - also transfer accounting and financial data directly into the Johannesburg office system, as well as Astratas joint venture, Barloworld Optron Technologies.

One of the major benefits of the new system is improved stock control over specialised, expensive equipment, Lorge says.

Accpac Insight, a business intelligence module that provides an enterprise-wide reporting, budgeting, forecasting and consolidation solution is also being implemented, says De Jager. It has powerful features and integrates with Accpac business management applications to give fast, accurate managerial reporting and analyses upon which sound business decisions can be made.

Terry Mackey, director of finance and administration at Astrata, says the company is in a growth phase, and is expanding internationally.

We must have an accounting platform that interacts with state-of-the-art communications technology and systems, streamlines accounting processes, improves efficiency, and provides us with strategic financial and management information on demand, he adds.