The Intersection of Software, People, Process and Economics
"A legacy of competency"
About Us
We are led by Allen Furnas, who has consistently delivered business solutions across diverse sectors including retail, FMCG, ERP, SaaS, media, banking, and government.
Allen has held pivotal roles in globally recognised organisations such as Apple, BMG Music, Red Bull and Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as having been CIO for Australian retail icons Bras-n-Things, Sanity Music and Millers Retail (Katies, Crossroads, Millers).
- As Director of the Office of Information Service Delivery at Asian Development Bank, transformed the delivery process of the 300 member team, increasing team moral and more than tripling client satisfaction.
- As CIO, led transformative projects for BMG Australia and Australian retail icons Bras-n-Things, Sanity Music and Millers Retail
- Lead designer, developer and product manager for sellthru-analytics.com and dancecomps.com.au.
- While at JDEdwards, created the "Functional Servers" that are still in use (Oracle JDE) more than two decades later.
With his visionary leadership and comprehensive skill set, Allen has become a sought-after professional for a wide range of mission critical projects. Currently, he is the technical director of Nynox Solutions, delivering AI SmartSearch and supporting AS400 legacy systems. He is also co-founder and lead developer of DanceComps.com.au, the premier hub for dance competitions in Australia.
Services
We specialise in Business Applications and Processes
Web Application Development
Using the experience of developing global ERP systems, we know how to develop flexible applications that work.
Serverless/Cloud/Hybrid Infrastructure
Expertise in Infrastructure as Code and developing serverless applications, as well as hybid environments providing cost-effective best-of-both-worlds solutions.
AS400 / IBM I-Series
Allen started with the S/38 (as the AS400 was originally called) and was development expert at Apple Computer, JD Edwards and more. Allen is uniquely positioned to both maintain, enhance and modernise legacy AS400 applications.
System Implementation / Project Management
With experience implementing well over three dozen major ERP systems across the globe, we know how to navigate the intricacies and drama that come with a major system implementation.
Portfolio
A sampling of our work
- All
- Development
- Management
- Innovation
ERP Implementation
ERP Implementation
For RedBull, market growth in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa (my region) outpaced the rest of the world and brought urgency to the need to bring local companies onto the global SAP FI/CO platform. It also exacerbated the need to bring local operations in the region onto the global SAP BI platform.
As Regional Business Applications Manager, it fell on me to implement SAP FI/CO/SD and BI in over a dozen different countries, working closely with local management and consultants to ensure the implementation ran smoothly and delivered results for both Head Office and the local business.
Data Acquisition and Integration
Data Acquisition and Integration
From acquiring sales and inventory data from Apple retailers for rebate generation, to persuading RedBull distributors to provide sales and customer data for market optimisation, it is a road I have successfully traveled many times.
Technology like Paxata and AWS simplify the process, but it still requires a combination of experience, data knowledge and personal negotiations with the supply chain partners.
Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation
Moving from legacy systems to modern digital, cloud and mobile without endangering current operations is no small feat.
I have often taken on this challenge, first ensuring the technology goals align with business objectives, then creating a pattern of continuous improvements using a mix of agile and timebox methodologies that rely on incremental changes and avoid the stress of 'big bang' implementations.
By ensuring people and processes come first over the technological changes results in a more stable and successfull 'transformation' for all stakeholders.
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence
More than just reporting, these businesses needed to spot trends and be advisded on tangible actions to take.
For BMG, I implemented Oracle Sales Analyzer, one of the first 'data cube' BI systems. For Millers, Bras-n-Things and the Lubricants Industry, I have written custom BI tools that provide actions along with reporting.
For RedBull, it was SAP BI all-the-way, and required meeting face-to-face with distributors to build an application that met their needs as valued partners in the supply chain.
IT Management
IT Management
Getting the most from technical staff requires empowering team members, listening, and acting on suggestions.
No two situations are the same. For larger teams, I set the tone with public actions and words, while, with smaller teams it means meeting face-to-face as often as possible.
I know the importance of learning what best motivates each person on the team, and the confidence to put each team member in a position to be successfull and to grow their skills in a way that benefits them and the organisation.
Cloud Technology
Cloud Technology
Everyone says 'cloud' these days, but few have the track record of knowing how to use the cloud and delive secure, scalable applications.
At BMG, based on our early adoption of web technologies, we developed the first music subscription plan more than 20 years ago and ever since, I have been leveraging virtualisation and cloud services to build great solutions.
Today, it's about moving to serverless technologies, such as application I have built for Media and Supply Chain Analytics that use resources on demand and can scale seamlessly to meet unexpected demand.
Web/Application Development
Web/Application Development
As the JDEdwards application grew, it ended up relying on dozens of programs that duplicated business logic many times over. I created Functional Servers in the early 1990's that are still in use today. These combined all business logic into a single, callable function and removed hundreds of thousands of lines of duplicated code.
For InPlan and the Lubricants Industry, I created cloud based, serverless applications that provided for the ability to ingest data from hundreds of business partners and provide state of the art analytics.
Working with Legacy / AS400 / I-Series
Working with Legacy / AS400 / I-Series
Millers Retail installed their first ERP and POS system at 20 stores. When I arrived, they were attempting to use the same system to manage distribution for over 500 stores. It was not a fun time for either IT or the business, yet replacing the in-store POS portion of the application was not an option.
Taking a pragmatic approach, I developed middle-ware to interface the legacy system and moved all distribution functions to other applications that allowed the company to grow to over 700 stores, while streamlining operations and lowering costs. All while avoiding a huge investement in new systems.
Testimonials
What do other people say?
Shikha Khangarot
Agile Certified Project Management Professional
I have worked with Allen on a global project for which he was the Account Manager.
As the AM
his extensive knowledge and deep understanding of the product helped us take our project to the
next level. Allen was able to easily understand the complex and changing business requirements and
suggest solutions to deliver the same, he is extremely hands on and gets things done.
It was
a pleasure to work with him and he will be an asset to any organization.
Kurt Hines
Project Director (Partner) at MediaCom
I have worked with Allen both as my Account Manager on a global project, and as a colleague. As
an Account Manager, he was instrumental on getting our project on the right path. Always willing
to go the extra mile, he was an instrumental part of our team.
As a colleague, he was fantastic
to work with. Process oriented, with attention to detail, he was able to insightfully see what
needed to be done, and work to create the plan to get there.
I believe Allen would be a
valuable member of any team, and I highly recommend him.
Bobby Wilson
'IT Service Management & Service Delivery
I worked with Allen at Red Bull in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region. Allen was a
pleasure to work with, extremely knowledgable on all facets of enterprise IT, architecture and
strategy.
Allen was always willing to do whatever was required to bring projects in on-time.
Some of the projects I worked with Allen on were the regional SAP implementations, regional data
center, regional service desk and SAP BI reporting.
Ashish Goradia
Business Consultant
Allen is an excellent person both in professional and personal sense. He has deep business
acumen, leadership qualities and high professional ethics which make him a very successful
manager, an esteemed customer and a nice person to work with.
Even though he was my client, he
always acted like a guide for me. He has very high team spirits and is never shy of stretching
himself to make others around him feel comfortable. A very down to earth, sincere and an
understanding gentleman, all of these human friendly and professional qualities, which surely have
made him, deserve the position at which he is today.
I would very much like to work with Allen
in the future, but not as my client, but as my manager.
Chris Wenban
Head of Portfolio and Governance
Working with Allen at CES was a pleasure. He brings a wealth of executive level experience and a strategic mindset, whilst having the hands-on skills to be practical, tactical and provide guidance and support at the technical solutions level. He is collaborative, passionate about his role and team, and has a heavy focus on customer outcomes and experience.
Timothy Weaver
Director
As a former colleague of Allen, what was most striking was his ability to adopt the most current
technology trends. He has an acute ability to foresee which direction to take the organization,
with a focus on building a broader consensus on the direction so that the whole team became
invested.
Ultimately, Allen is a terrific fit for the organization that wants to adapt and become the
future.
Education
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
1985 - 1989Bachelor of Science
- Bsc. in Commerce (Economics)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
2007Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Credential ID 479906 (exp Jul 2010)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney, Australia
2003Corporate Performance
Contact
Address
Sydney, Australia
Email Us
allen@furnas.technology