There’s a set path with the opportunity to tailor the system extensively to the particular business and industry. So, this means a faster implementation while retaining the flexibility to customise the software as much as we like as the business evolves.
(PRWEB UK) 9 September 2013
T.I.Midwood & Co Limited (TIMco) imports over 4,000 product lines from across the world. Its customers include some of the country’s major builders’ merchants, fixing specialists and DIY stores. The move to a Sage ERP X3 Standard Edition solution will support the company’s rapid growth, currently running at around 10% a year.
Growth on this scale needs careful management. Managing Director Simon Midwood says, “We’re looking forward to having much improved reporting across the business, with everything on a single platform. The dashboards available on Sage ERP X3 will give departmental managers in our warehouse, finance, quality control, telesales and field sales an at-a-glance view of their key performance indicators and equip them to have greater accountability. Stock control will also be a priority for the new system. With thousands of product lines to manage, close end-to-end visibility of our stock is vital.”
Sage ERP X3 will help TIMco to track containers across the sea, bring them into the warehouse, track them through the warehouse, pick by barcode and pack orders, all with greater accuracy.
Logistics Manager Simon Kennedy outlines some of the support Sage ERP X3 will provide around stock: “The system should assist us in accurately forecasting future demand and improving our efficiency, giving us the edge over our competitors. Holding enough stock to satisfy demand without tying up capital unnecessarily is a fine balance. Good planning is key and Sage ERP X3 should give us substantial support in this area.”
A customisable system built on best practice
In the search for a more powerful system, TIMco considered key players in the enterprise resource planning market, such as Microsoft, SAP and Infor.
Explaining why the company chose Sage ERP X3 after this extensive review, Simon Midwood says, “We have a complicated four-tier accounts structure, which some systems couldn’t handle. Furthermore, we didn’t want to go down the time-consuming bespoke route. One vendor provided, in effect, a blank system and every stage of development would have to be analysed and negotiated. With our present rate of growth we just don’t have the time and resources to do this. The Standard Edition of Sage ERP X3 seemed perfectly positioned midway between off-the-shelf packages at one end of the spectrum and bespoke solutions at the other.”
Simon likes the way the Standard Edition is structured: “There’s a set path with the opportunity to tailor the system extensively to the particular business and industry. So, this means a faster implementation while retaining the flexibility to customise the software as much as we like as the business evolves.”
Buying with confidence
Explaining the choice of Datel to supply such critical business technology, Simon says TIMco was impressed by Datel’s consultative approach and compelling demonstration, “Datel took the time to understand our requirements. Whereas other providers in the running gave us a standard demonstration, Datel tailored theirs to our business. We felt that Datel really understood what we wanted to achieve and knew our business. It meant that we could buy with confidence.”
For Datel, sales and marketing director Jo Fulton, comments, “We are delighted that such a successful and ambitious company as T.I.Midwood & Co has chosen Datel to support its growth strategy. Workshops to define precise requirements have already taken place and the development is now going forward to equip the business with an integrated system that will provide a ‘single version of the truth’ across different departments. In addition, we will be working with future users of the Sage ERP X3 system to ensure that they can make a fast, effective start once it is up and running in early 2014.”
About T.I.Midwood & Co Limited
Founded in 1972 and originally based in Chester, T.I.Midwood & Co Limited (TIMco) initially concentrated on importing a small range of nylon lock nuts and self-tapping screws from the Far East. In more recent years, the company has increasingly focused on researching, developing and launching new product lines. In 2005 the company added to its traditional fixings and fasteners business by launching the Addax Power Tool Accessory range.
TIMco’s growing reputation and commercial success required an extension to its 4,000 square metre premises just outside Nantwich, with the opening of an additional 2,000 square metre logistical centre.
About Datel
Datel is the leading Sage Business Partner in the UK, providing Sage consultancy, implementation and support for Sage 200, Sage Line 500, Sage ERP 1000, Sage ERP X3, Sage SalesLogix, Sage CRM and Sage Tax. Datel also offers its own innovative FUSION range, a suite of products that enhances and extends core Sage functionality.
Headquartered in Warrington, Datel also has offices in Leeds and the Netherlands, employing a loyal team of over 150 highly skilled people who look after its growing base of more than 900 customers worldwide.
