Chloride Group Plc invests four million pounds in IT infrastructure

Chloride Group Plc, the international electronics group, is investing four million pounds in new IT systems over the next two years. It has purchased System 21 from JBA, following a review of its existing IT systems. Implementation has already begun in the UK and Italy and roll out in France, USA, Spain and Thailand will follow. The first two sites are due to go live in Q2 1999. Once implemented, JBA System 21 will enable the company to improve service levels to its customers through the monitoring of its global business performance and practices.

Chloride employs about 1300 people and has a turnover of approx. lb120 million. It primarily supplies Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and Safety Systems (emergency lighting, fire detection and security), and manufactures and services products for customers world-wide. The company has 14 manufacturing/sales and service locations in the UK, Europe, the Americas, Far East and Australia. Chloride`s review conducted in early 1997 found that their IT systems were out of date and fragmented, and additionally, few were Year 2000 or EMU compliant. Thus it was decided that an enhanced IT infrastructure was needed, and chose to invest in new systems rather than upgrading all of the existing systems. JBA System 21 manufacturing, customer service, service management, logistics and financials software was subsequently chosen.

Chloride`s business philosophy is encompassed by the "Chloride Experience." This is a commitment to total customer satisfaction through investing in quality people, products and processes. Having one consistent IT system world-wide will help achieve this philosophy, as well as Year 2000 and EMU needs. Reporting tools will give comprehensive access to all types of business information. The future growth of the group can also be accommodated as new users can be easily added to the system.

David Howson the special projects manager at Chloride commented: "We needed an IT system that was Year 2000/EMU compliant and flexible enough to cope with our requirements both now and into the future. We felt that JBA System 21 would allow us to achieve both of these objectives."

@EditorNote = JBA South Africa

JBA South Africa (Pty) Limited, is the South African subsidiary of JBA International Plc, which in turn owned by London Stock Exchange listed JBA Holdings, a leading world-wide provider of enterprise management software solutions, with local offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and with a strong presence throughout sub-Saharan Africa.