August 17, 2004

FINE Hygienic Paper FZE, the leading manufacturer of hygienic paper tissue, personal and health care products in the region, has announced that it has implemented an integrated inventory control system at its UAE branch, developed by its in-house IT team. The system is expected to streamline the company's supply chain management by sychronising front-end sales operations and back-end IT systems to speed processes and enhance customer service.

Under the project, Ghassan Nuqul, Vice-Chairman of Nuqul Group, FINE's parent company, recently launched the usage of the iMATE Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) System among FINE's field sales force. Each member of the sales force will be equipped with an iMATE, which is connected to the company's back-end ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system on a real-time basis. FINE's in-house IT Department took two months to develop the solution.

"As an FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods), inventory control is at the core of our operations to ensure we maintain adequate product visibility among our customers. Any lapse in information in the supply chain can result in delays and loss of sales and credibility. We have decided to migrate from paper-based systems to a single unified IT-led infrastructure to ensure that errors are reduced and the entire inventory process from order placement to delivery is smooth and quick, leading to customer delight," said General Manager of FINE Hygienic Paper FZE, Peter Janho.

Speaking about the solution, FINE's IT Manager, Qusai Azzawi commented, "The PDA online sales solution was developed to help our sales executives improve performance and serve customers better, leading to increased market visibility and sales. As a progressive organization, it is important that we take advantage of the benefits of technology to work more efficiently. The new system will reduce the administrative load on sales executives, decrease order process time as well as eliminate error by reducing paperwork. Thus, each executive is better equipped to dedicate quality time to customer service and be more productive."

"We chose to use the iMATE due to its easy inter-operability with Microsoft Windows programmes and GPRS functionality. It is a cost-effective, yet hi-tech solution that will showcase FINE's commitment to adopting cutting-edge IT technology, to our customers," added Azzawi.

-Ends-

About FINE
Editor's Note
FINE is the brand name of a wide variety of products produced by the Nuqul Group's FINE Hygienic Paper Companies, spread across the Middle East, with its headquarters in Jordan. A market leader in the hygienic paper industry in the Middle East, FINE today is synonymous with 'paper tissue'. The company is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality in all aspects of production. This commitment to excellence is manifested in its factories, which are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, highly qualified and experienced staff, and the determination to continually improve on and upgrade production facilities.

Other brands that the company markets include Finies (baby diapers), Cinderella (feminine sanitary napkins) and Smile & Lido (facial tissue & toilet rolls). Products under the Fine name include kitchen towels, jumbo rolls, adult briefs, and wet wipes.

About Nuqul Group
The Jordan-based Nuqul Group is one of the region's leading industrial conglomerates. It brings together 27 regional and global companies, 5,000 employees, and exports its products to over 45 exports markets worldwide.

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© Press Release 2004