AVESTOR
AVESTOR implemented IFS Applications because it needed business software that would grow as the company changed and expanded. Fully integrated and easy to implement and manage, the component-based solution from IFS has given AVESTOR the depth of functionality and flexibility it needs to quickly respond to increasing demands from its customers.
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Existing Systems Could not Support Change
AVESTOR, set up in 2001, was planning to grow from being a research company to one that would manufacture and sell its leading lithium-metal-polymer batteries to a number of industries worldwide. And it needed IT support to facilitate this growth. The challenge was considerable. Jean-François Leduc, senior procurement and IT director at AVESTOR, explains, “We had some small accounting and homegrown purchasing systems in place. They were alright for a small R&D shop but completely inadequate for what we were planning. We were going into production and sales, so from an IT standpoint, we had to start from scratch.” AVESTOR wanted software that would grow as it grew and that was flexible enough to meet new demands as they arose.
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“I am still amazed by the quality of the software. We are discovering new depths to the functionality all the time.”
Jean-François Leduc, Senior Procurement and IT Director,
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Components Ensured Flexibility
AVESTOR documented more than 1,000 system requirements and sent an RFI to a number of vendors that had been identified with the help of consultants. ERP providers were included, but many offered too complex solutions that would have delayed production start-up while they were being implemented. IFS Applications was deemed the best solution. Leduc again, “IFS offered complete integration, so that eliminated the nightmare scenario of having to integrate best-of-breed software. And the functionality was important. We saw it could help us react quickly to customer demands.” The component architecture underlying IFS Applications also meant that AVESTOR only had to implement the software it needed to get started and could add on what it needed later.
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Software
IFS Manufacturing
IFS Distribution
IFS Financials
IFS Human Resources
IFS Sales & Marketing
IFS Document Management
IFS Project Management
IFS Business Performance
IFS Maintenance
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Partner Collaboration and Business Modeler Eased Implementation Process
Before implementing the software, AVESTOR mapped its business processes with the help of IFS’ Business Modeler. “I’d recommend Business Modeler to anyone implementing IFS Applications,” says Leduc. “Defining business processes is time-consuming, especially in a start-up like ours. The Business Modeler offered a set of standard processes up front so we simply chose the process that was most similar to what we would need. It saved us a lot of time and effort.” The Business Modeler allows AVESTOR to document all its processes—not just those supported by IFS—and make them available online. By clicking on a process, all the related information appears.
IFS provided a localized French-language version of the software, which was implemented by Conceptum, a local provider of IT consulting services. “This gave us the ideal, money-saving combination of local knowledge and support, and IFS know-how. IFS transferred knowledge to Conceptum and provided second-level support,” explains Leduc.
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Hardware
DB server & Print/Event Server: Dell PowerEdge 6400
Windows 2000 server
IFS used via Citrix servers: Dell PowerEdge 2550
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Integrated Software that Facilitates Growth
AVESTOR now has the business software it needs to accompany it as it grows and develops. Totally integrated, it makes it much easy to communicate across departments, thus reducing delays and minimizing errors.
The solution is rich in functionality and meets AVESTOR’s stringent requirements. For instance, inventory management is extremely important for AVESTOR, which has to keep track of all its prototypes, which contain thousands of items, such as chemicals and other components. Moreover, it is easy to maintain and operate. AVESTOR supports its installation with staff that are not computer specialists. And IFS Applications offers even more. As Jean-François Leduc adds, “I am still amazed by the quality of the software. It is a bug-free package. We are discovering new depths to the functionality all the time. For example, when we were ready to implement bar codes, we found it very easy. APIs in IFS Applications allowed us to implement cheaply because everything is integrated in the system. We did the whole thing ourselves with in-house resources.” Another example of the ease of use of IFS Applications is that migration to IFS Applications 2002 took only about 30 hours.
Further, it is easy to add right-mouse-button functionality that makes the software even easier to use—and it can be done without modifying the core.
Jean-François Leduc concludes, “Our original plan was to buy software that would follow our growth. With IFS Applications, we succeeded.” Benefits
- Integrated system
- Rapid deployment
- Better internal communication
- Tightly controlled implementation costs
- Low cost of ownership
- Easy to add new functionality
- Faster access to business information
- Grows to meet needs as company expands
Facts about Avestor
Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, AVESTOR is the world leader in lithium-metal-polymer battery technology. AVESTOR holds 400 patents or patents pending covering 78 inventions in the lithium-metal-polymer technology. The Company is now actively manufacturing and commercializing this advanced battery technology.
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