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Nashville Wire Products was using a highly customized version of ProfitKey, an ERP and manufacturing application. The system proved to be costly to maintain and support, and it was difficult to obtain data and operating metrics from it. The technology was old and cumbersome and not nimble enough to support their fast-paced operation. An internal project team analyzed available options, including Sage 500 ERP, Microsoft Dynamics AX, and Microsoft Dynamics NV. They selected Sage 500 ERP for many reasons, including the more intuitive interface and strong business partner support it offered.

RadComm Systems, a manufacturer and distributor of radiation detection systems, has been using Sage business management solutions since its inception. However, as the company grew, it found that relying on two separate software applications was leading to inefficiencies. Year-end reporting was time-consuming and difficult, and obtaining accurate work-in-progress (WIP) figures was nearly impossible. Often, the figures in the two systems were not in agreement, perhaps resulting from errors while rekeying the information. The company was seeking a more powerful, integrated ERP and manufacturing solution to streamline its operations.

SpecPrint, Inc. had been running its accounting on an AS/400-based package for years. However, the system had a major drawback as it couldn’t handle “coproduct” manufacturing—when two products are made from a single order. This was a significant issue for SpecPrint as many of their products, such as lawn mower hood decals, often consist of mirror-image versions for either side of the mower. These need to be tracked as separate part numbers yet manufactured from the same order. The weaknesses of the legacy system resulted in constant overages and duplicate shipping. The final straw came when the vendor stopped supporting the product. SpecPrint needed a replacement that was PC-based, integrated all manufacturing, inventory, and accounting functions, and most importantly, provided coproduct management.

T&J Furniture Manufacturing Ltd., a family-owned furniture manufacturing company based in Ontario, Canada, was facing challenges with its original UNIX-based accounting package. The company had outgrown this system, resulting in data integrity issues and difficulty in accessing information. The standalone systems used for manufacturing and distribution were not Windows®-based, making data integration difficult. Field representatives did not have easy access to order information, making it challenging to answer customer queries. The company decided it was time to update its business systems to match its high-tech manufacturing processes.

Childcare Network, a network of private schools, was experiencing rapid growth and expansion. By late 1998, the company had been adding new schools so quickly that it outgrew its accounting package, Sage 100 ERP. The company discovered it needed an expanded chart of accounts, plus the ability to import transactions from the front-office systems at its various locations. Payroll had become unwieldy, too, due to the influx of new employees. It was clearly time to migrate to a larger, more sophisticated business system, preferably one that leveraged the power of SQL database technology.

EmploymentGroup (EG) was struggling with its legacy software which had been heavily customized, making upgrades next to impossible. The system was becoming unstable and unreliable. Files could not be attached to documents, and financial statements could not be produced in a timely fashion. The final straw came when the manufacturer was sold to another larger firm and began charging exorbitant amounts for maintenance. The company needed a solution that could automate its general ledger, accounts payable, and cash management functions. It also needed a system that could manage transactions between EG and EmploymentGroup Holdings, its parent company, which is responsible for the firm’s administrative expenses.

S & S Hinge Company, a family-owned industrial hinge manufacturer, was seeking ways to boost efficiency, speed production, and lower costs to drive growth and profitability. The company was using three disconnected applications to manage its accounting, manufacturing, and quoting tasks. This disjointed system was inefficient and did not support the company's lean manufacturing initiative. The company needed a single, integrated solution that could handle all these tasks seamlessly. The challenge was to find a solution that could replace the three legacy systems, streamline operations, and support the company's lean manufacturing objectives.

Alloy Polymers, a market leader in the thermoplastics industry, required a process manufacturing solution that could accommodate its unique compounding operation. The company's production model differs from many process manufacturers as it does not manage the formulas or supply the raw ingredients; instead, its customers do. Many ERP applications do not offer the flexibility needed to manage this production model effectively and efficiently. The company also wanted a manufacturing and financial application that was customizable, quick to implement, scalable, and cost-effective to implement and maintain.

Tropical Sno, a division of Pioneer Potato Company, Inc., is a family business, with a family culture that’s inclusive of dealers, employees, and young-at-heart fans. A major priority is keeping satisfaction high among these diverse groups with consistent, top-quality products and efficient service to customers and distributors alike. Meeting service and internal management goals had become particularly difficult given Tropical Sno’s previous accounting package. The behemoth standalone product was based on DOS and was awkward, clumsy, and too difficult to use. In addition, it couldn’t support the company’s growing inventory management needs. As Debra Didier, Tropical Sno’s comptroller, puts it, “We definitely wanted a change.”

Satellite Industries, a global supplier of portable sanitation equipment, was struggling with financial reporting across its multiple locations, divisions, departments, and currencies. The process was time-consuming and laborious, often taking more than 15 days for month-end closing. Additionally, the company was seeking to reduce the days sales outstanding of its receivables. The large chart of accounts and the need for real-time, actionable data for decision-making added to the complexity of the situation.

Golden Artist Colors, Inc., a global brand that produces acrylic paint, was operating with several stand-alone packages. The company decided to invest in a true ERP solution to streamline the flow of information, improve inventory management, and enhance customer service levels. A committee of six key personnel was established to manage the selection process. They referenced the APICS buyer’s guide to select possible ERP vendors that appeared to be a good fit based on the industries served, functionality offered, and customer size. The committee came up with 12 candidates and narrowed the list to three–Sage, CSB-System and SSA (now Infor)–that would be more fully examined through formal product demonstrations and customer site visits.

Hoya Vision Care of the Americas was constrained by an aging legacy application written by its parent company in Japan. The system was no longer capable of supporting the company’s fast-growing transaction volumes. The team was limited to creating only 100 invoices per day and required a new system that could handle an unlimited number of transactions, customers, and pricing options. They were seeking a more user-friendly system that could automate processes that were controlled by Excel® spreadsheets. Additionally, they were seeking a warehousing application that would enable them to increase their capacity and speed, provide better physical procedure control, and be tweaked to fit their specific business needs.

Hoya Vision Care of the Americas was constrained by an aging legacy application that was no longer capable of supporting the company’s fast-growing transaction volumes. The system limited the team to creating only 100 invoices per day, and Hoya required a new system that could handle an unlimited number of transactions, customers, and pricing options. They wanted a more user-friendly system that could automate processes that were controlled by Excel® spreadsheets. Additionally, they were seeking a warehousing application that would enable them to increase their capacity and speed, provide better physical procedure control, and be tweaked to fit their specific business needs.

Heresite Protective Coatings, LLC, a company that formulates coating solutions for metal industrial equipment, was operating with an outdated version of Sage Pro ERP that hadn't been updated in years. The company's diverse business model, which includes a manufacturing operation and a job shop, made it difficult to find a suitable modern ERP software. They also lacked an inventory application in their previous software, making it challenging to manage items and bills of materials effectively.

Onsrud Cutter, a router bit manufacturer, was faced with a challenge when its application service provider (ASP) stopped supporting its manufacturing software. The company needed to find a new source for manufacturing software within a short period of time. To make the challenge even more daunting, Onsrud decided to replace its entire enterprise information system in that same time. The team wanted a system that would be quick to install yet have the scalability and flexibility to support company growth. The problem was that with most enterprise software, high flexibility and quick installation are mutually exclusive.

Amfit, a company that fabricates custom orthotic insoles and footwear and sells patented manufacturing equipment, was struggling with its business software. The company was using separate packages for basic accounting, inventory, and bill of materials, which resulted in a lot of manual work. General ledger entries had to be converted manually and the shipping process was slow and inefficient. The company was in desperate need of a fully automated and integrated system.

Sonnax Industries, a Vermont-based company that designs, produces, and supplies components to the automatic transmission aftermarket, was facing challenges with its nearly decade-old enterprise software. The software was struggling to keep up with the company's steady growth and meet the requirements for fast turnaround of more than 40,000 shipments a year. Sonnax knew that the system would not be able to handle the increased demand for aftermarket parts that it saw coming in the next decade or process orders quickly enough to keep its customers satisfied. Updating the system to the current version would require a major investment in hardware, software, and integration. Therefore, Sonnax decided to look for alternatives and replace the system with new technology.

Sonnax Industries, a Vermont-based company that designs, produces, and supplies components to the automatic transmission aftermarket, was facing challenges with its nearly decade-old enterprise software. The software was struggling to keep up with the company's steady growth and meet the requirements for fast turnaround of more than 40,000 shipments a year. Sonnax knew that the system would not be able to handle the increased demand for aftermarket parts that it saw coming in the next decade or process orders quickly enough to keep its customers satisfied. Updating the system to the current version would require a major investment in hardware, software, and integration. Therefore, Sonnax decided to look for alternatives and replace the system with new technology.

Bonnell Industries, a leading truck equipment distributor and manufacturer of snowplows and spreaders, was struggling with an avalanche of paperwork. The company had been using DOS-based software designed for the truck equipment industry but was still on manual systems for its manufacturing business. This made obtaining reliable financial data a nightmare. The company also faced challenges with inventory management, as it was difficult to stock the correct amount of inventory due to the long intervals between usage of certain items. Additionally, the company needed to ensure that they did not receive a truck body before the chassis or truck itself.

CRP Industries, an importer and high-volume distributor of automotive and industrial products, was facing challenges with its legacy software system. The system was not allowing the company to keep inventory and service rates in balance, particularly as part numbers and sales volumes increased over the years. The company decided to replace it with a packaged solution. The business drivers for change centered on the company’s desire to improve inventory fill rates while reducing inventory levels, ship orders faster and with greater accuracy, and reduce costs and streamline operations by automating more processes, particularly in the finished goods warehouses.

Power Distributing LLC, a distributor of a well-known brand of premium energy drink in northern Illinois and Indiana, has been using Sage ERP solutions for nearly a decade, migrating to more powerful solutions to meet its growing needs. The company's operation involves a fleet of 80 trucks visiting more than 1,000 convenience stores, warehouse clubs, big box retailers, and drug stores every day. As the business grew, the company needed a flexible platform to integrate with its new route management software. It sought a solution with open architecture and comprehensive development tools.

Consolidated Transmission Parts (CTP) experienced significant growth, expanding from 25 customers to over 1,500 in just nine years. This rapid expansion led to the company outgrowing its Sage 50—U.S. Edition accounting software. The company needed a more robust and scalable solution that could handle its increased customer base and provide more sophisticated business insights. The challenge was to find a replacement software that could ensure a smooth transition from the old system, maintain the integrity of the data, and provide the necessary business perspective that the company needed to manage its growth.The company also needed a system that could provide up-to-the-minute information on inventory to allow for a more strategic approach to management. The ability to know exactly how long a part has been in the warehouse and when to reorder was crucial. Additionally, the company needed a system that was easy to use and could be quickly learned by new salespeople.

Pumpaction, a leader in the pumping and liquids handling fields, was struggling to find business software that could support its complex business model, which includes distribution, service and repair, and rental divisions. The company was using older, proprietary accounting software that was not internationally capable, robust, or flexible. The company's operations were not integrated, leading to multiple systems, multiple touch points, and duplicate data entry. The company needed a solution that could integrate all its business operations and support its unique processes.

A change of management at Craftique in 1997 prompted a thorough operational audit. The existing business software was clearly inadequate, especially with major growth on the horizon. The firm’s CPAs recommended Sage 100 ERP, offered through an expert reseller. The reseller showed Craftique how it could start with basic accounting functions and then add on other financial and business modules as warranted in the future. It was a good thing that Craftique brought in Sage 100 ERP when it did. The company’s sales more than doubled in just three years, and having powerful business systems in place was crucial to success.

A.M. Leonard, a company with a multifaceted sales channel that includes a busy call center handling phone and mail orders, two websites, and channel sales through Amazon.com, Search.com, and Newegg.com, was seeking to replace its older, inflexible application with a customizable and scalable ERP solution. The company needed a system that could handle its complex pricing structure, streamline order entry, and improve inventory handling. The company also wanted to enhance its team’s ability to access information across the enterprise, which would lead to better decision making.

A.M. Leonard, a company delivering tools and supplies to professionals in the horticulture industry and home gardening enthusiasts, was seeking to replace its older, inflexible application with a customizable and scalable ERP solution. The company operates through a multifaceted sales channel that includes a busy call center handling phone and mail orders, two websites, and channel sales through Amazon.com, Search.com, and Newegg.com. The company's previous system was time-consuming and led to longer wait times for customers, especially when obtaining freight quotes for larger orders. Additionally, orders received from Amazon.com were printed and hand entered into the software, which was a slow and inefficient process.

Data Cable Corporation, a custom data and voice cable configuration firm, was facing an enormous volume of invoices and increasingly complicated inventory requirements as it grew. The company had been using Sage 50—U.S. Edition, an accounting package that was well-suited for the company’s early years. However, as the company expanded, it discovered that it had maxed out its accounting system. The company needed to upgrade to a fully automated, mature business solution that could handle exponential increases in volume and manage complex inventory demands.

Carson Home Accents, a leader in the wholesale manufacturing and distribution of gift, garden, and home décor products, was seeking a new ERP solution that offered the functionality, flexibility it required and could deliver a rapid return on investment. The company works with 20 overseas suppliers and the long lead times involved can complicate the company’s goal of optimizing its inventory levels while also ensuring it maintains an adequate supply to meet customer orders. The company was also noticing a significant upward trend in the number of customers using credit cards to pay their invoices, which required a streamlined and facilitated processing tasks.

Russell Sigler, Inc., a leading wholesaler of heating and air-conditioning products, was facing the challenge of managing its growing operations and increasing market presence. The company was undergoing a major expansion, more than doubling its revenues and employee count, and adding 25 additional locations. The company required a robust, scalable solution that could handle all aspects of its busy distribution operation, including supply chain management, forecasting tools, and point of sale functionality. The company's multi-site environment posed strategic challenges because all branches were closely intertwined from a supply and demand standpoint. The company continually transfers inventory between sites to help satisfy local customer needs, so it is common for a branch to pull inventory from another branch’s stock.

GoLite, an outdoor clothing and equipment manufacturer, was struggling with its existing business system, QuickBooks and Mail Order Manager. The system was unable to provide integrated time-phased availability information or size/color matrix for order management, and it did not adequately support dealer ordering. The company spent two years searching for a replacement system that could meet its specific needs.