VACS — Timber Management Software for Wood Purchasing

VACS FAQs

• What is VACS?

  VACS is timber management and wood purchasing software that covers the complete wood supply chain, from contracts and pricing through to invoicing, self-billing, accounting, and inventory. It is built specifically for forest-industry businesses that buy, move, and settle payment for round wood and energy assortments, replacing manual data collection and complex invoicing with a single system.

• Is VACS an ERP system?

  VACS is a specialised forestry ERP, purpose-built for the wood supply chain rather than adapted from generic business software. It handles standard ERP functions like contracts, pricing, invoicing, and accounting, but adds forestry-specific capabilities — such as vendor and entrepreneur self-billing, condition-based price calculations, and standing-forest inventory — that traditional ERP systems do not provide.

• What does VACS cover in the wood supply chain?

  VACS provides full coverage of the wood supply chain, including contracts, price calculations, invoicing and self-billing, accounting, and inventory management. It manages master data, stakeholders, and contracts; handles manual measurements and transport receipts; oversees standing forest, production, and roadside inventory; and supports work-order and delivery planning.

• Does VACS handle invoicing and self-billing?

  Yes — VACS manages both invoicing and self-billing for vendors, entrepreneurs, logistics companies, and customers. Documents can be distributed by print, email, or e-invoice (EDI), invoice content is configurable to meet different stakeholder requirements, and retro price calculations let users issue credit invoices when pricing changes after billing.

• What systems does VACS integrate with?

  VACS supports bi-directional integrations with third-party systems across the business chain, including the papiNet standard, ERP systems for accounting and cost data, and field apps for creating contracts directly in the field. It can also connect to a VAN operator for external invoice distribution, so data flows between platforms without manual re-entry.

• How is VACS different from a traditional ERP?

  VACS is built specifically for forestry, with functions a general-purpose ERP does not offer out of the box. These include complex, condition-based pricing with allowances and charges, self-billing for multiple stakeholder types, forestry-specific accounting rules, and inventory tracking for standing forest and roadside stock — all designed around how the forest industry actually operates.

• Who uses VACS?

  VACS is used by forest-purchasing organisations and wood-trading businesses that manage raw material from purchase through to settlement. It suits operations that handle round wood and energy assortments and need to coordinate contracts, pricing, logistics, and payments across many vendors, entrepreneurs, and customers.