Needed ERP Support for Global Needs
In connection with securing funding to help accelerate global expansion, AlanDick realized the need to invest in a universal financial accounting system to begin with. Mark Walder, Implementation Manager for IFS Applications at AlanDick, explains, “We had one system in the U.K.and a variety of systems at our other sites based on spreadsheets and other solutions. We needed uniformity in our reporting.” AlanDick was also looking for better means of managing other aspects of its business, such as inventory, projects, and purchasing.
Component-Based Solution from IFS Offered Best Fit
Prior to selecting IFS Applications as its business software of choice, AlanDick had looked at the solutions offered by several different vendors. Mark Walder comments, “IFS offered us the best fit for our needs. We have operations on five continents, and IFS could offer us local support.” IFS made it possible for AlanDick to minimize the number of databases it operated, which made it easier to store and retrieve data.
Phased Implementation
The first AlanDick site to go live was its facility in Thailand. Mark Walder again, “This is a major subsidiary with a large turnover. It had no IT support for financials and other business processes, so we were keen to get started here.” After go live in Thailand, the solution was rolled out to a number of sites worldwide, including facilities in the U.K, the U.S.A., the Middle East, and Africa. Within a year, engineer-to-order and customer relationship management components from the IFS Applications suite had been rolled out to sites on four continents.
Greater Visibility and More Efficient Project Management
Among the main benefits achieved were uniform reporting and better sight of what was happening at various levels of the business. Mark Walder comments, “With IFS Applications, it’s easier for us to keep an eye on our inventory and see what we’ve got in stock. With sites all over world, it’s essential to see how and when stock is moving. Without this insight, we could be buying material at one site that we have in stock in another. “ The greater visibility gives AlanDick better cash flow in that it can more easily forecast when to buy-and sell-raw material and other inventory when the price and time are right. Greater insight into what is happening in the company also means that problems are spotted more swiftly and can be tackled at an early stage, saving time and money as a result. IFS Applications has also given AlanDick greater control of its projects, which range in time span from 4–6 weeks for minor orders to more than a year for major program orders. The project management software from IFS allows AlanDick to see what gets done, and when. This makes it easier to see the cost of projects because the various stages of the project are recognized as income as they are completed. Greater control of costs means a more accurate indication of whether the different parts of a project are correctly priced-critical information for the commercial success of future projects. Mark Walder again, “IFS Applications has made it easier for us to see what margins we’re making, and where.” Another benefit is the capability to identify key customers. AlanDick can evaluate who they are, their value to the company, and dedicate resources to improving and developing its relationship with these customers. Mark Walder concludes, “IFS Applications has satisfied our main requirements-we have a multi-site, international engineer-to-order solution that makes it easier for us to deliver on time and improve our cost control.”
Benefits
· More uniform reporting
· Greater visibility of inventory and drawings
· Better control of projects
· More accurate pricing
Software
IFS Financials™
IFS Distribution™
IFS Engineering™
IFS Manufacturing™
IFS CRM™
IFS Human Resources™
IFS Business Performance™
About Alan Dick & Company
Based in Cheltenham, U.K., Alan Dick & Company provides services, products, and solutions on a global basis to satisfy the communication network infrastructure needs of cellular, broadcast, radar/surveillance & enterprise markets. AlanDick, with annual revenue in excess of US $300m, has over 2,000 employees in 41 offices located in 33 countries worldwide. A total of 600 named users at AlanDick are using IFS Applications.
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