Under the contract granted via an electronic auction, the ISU Joint Venture will design, develop and implement the ERP system, covering 11 modules. The modules are financial management, human-resources management, purchasing and inventory management, production planning, project management, plant maintenance, sales and distribution, executive information, supplier-relationship management, strategic-enterprise management and an enterprise portal.

Siemens will be responsible for the design and implementation of the ERP software and system integration, while International Research Corp Plc (IRCP) will install the hardware and related infrastructure. The project implementation period is 27 months.

The joint venture consists of Siemens Ltd (Thailand), Siemens Information System Ltd (India) and IRCP.

Bus-ticket sales

Thailand Post Co Ltd last week joined with Transport Co Ltd and Thai Ticketmaster to sell bus-ticket books at its counters.

The first phase of the service will be launched on December 1 and is expected to reduce long queues at bus terminals during long weekends and festival periods, Thailand Post said in a press release.

Consumers will be able to purchase bus tickets at 50 Thailand Post offices in Bangkok. The tickets cover 16 routes to various parts of the country. If the first phase is successful, the company will expand it to cover all bus routes by next February 1.

Rice-pledging

The Commerce Ministry plans to purchase 9 million tonnes of rice under the government's rice-pledging programme for next year's crop after a new president has been appointed to the Rice Policy Committee.

Permanent secretary Karun Kittisataporn yesterday said next year's pledging programme would start after the new Cabinet gives its approval.