In a R1.5 million deal, CS Systems Integration, a division of CS Holdings, is bringing communications and security technology supplier QD Electronics (QDE) into the 21st Century by replacing its outdated back office financial system with Dynamics, the latest enterprise accounting package from Great Plains.
Renowned importer and manufacturer of two-way radio equipment, electronic security product and cellular accessories, QDE is currently expanding its operations to include the distribution of these products to resellers in SA and neighbouring countries on a national basis.
"To operate successfully in the distribution space, we need a back-office system that meets the requirements of e-commerce," explains Johan Coetzee, logistics general manager at QDE.
"After extensive investigation of numerous products, we found Great Plains best satisfied our current and future requirements. We decided to use CS Systems Integration as our systems integrator owing to their well-established market presence. We were particularly impressed by the fact that CS Holdings continues to show remarkable growth, despite a general downswing in the IT sector."
"The manufacturing and financial software QDE had imported and installed about 10 years ago had become extremely outdated," relates CS Systems Integration`s Managing Director Dave Vink. "Not only was it DOS-based, but support had become virtually non-existent. Additionally, the two systems could not be integrated with each other, which severely compromised the reliability of QDE`s information. Consequently, they wanted new, integrated manufacturing and financial software that operated in the Windows environment, and provided intelligent and timeous management information.
"Being prepared to wait for the release of the manufacturing module of the Great Plains suite, QDE decided to go ahead with the implementation of the financial software without further delay," says Vink. "Although outdated, the manufacturing solution they were using was still capable of fulfilling their manufacturing management needs. We therefore decided to first install the financial module of Great Plains, and develop an integration interface to the manufacturing system to facilitate the transfer of information."
As its implementation partner, CS Systems Integration appointed Access Vision, a South African-based information technology consultancy that specialises in the implementation of Great Plains.
"We have worked with Access Vision on previous projects and were impressed with the personalised and comprehensive service they provide," says Vink. "The company effectively utilises their knowledge of what hardware and software solutions can offer to automate essential business functions and enhance the strategic value of financial and operational information."
"The design of Great Plains Dynamics made it easy to fit the solution to QDE`s needs," says Access Vision director Mauritz Preller. "Additionally, its customisation products enabled us to carry out all the necessary modifications and conversions to the software to help improve QDE`s productivity and increase their satisfaction."
The roll-out was completed within three months, and included the incorporation of QDE`s Cape Town and Durban offices into the system, to make it fully centralised. The company is now able to use its existing manufacturing system for material requirement planning and production control, while Great Plains is used to facilitate all the relevant transactions involved.
QDE began to reap the benefits of its investment as soon as the system went live. "The functionality of Great Plains is undoubtedly far richer than what we were using," reports Coetzee. "For example, the drill-down facility of the software enables us to find any information we need quickly and easily. Reports are also instantly obtainable and the information contained therein is extremely accurate. Consequently, our productivity levels have improved significantly."
QDE plans to replace its manufacturing module with that of Great Plains as soon the new solution is released. "We are also aligning ourselves to operate online, and aim to provide a 24-hour turnaround service from our Midrand warehouse," adds Coetzee. "To achieve this objective we have developed a sleek distribution model that relies on an e-business-enabled back office system. Great Plains provides the ideal solution for this requirement, and the implementation thereof will constitute the final phase of this project."
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CS Systems Integration, a division of JSE-listed CS Holdings, has five core business streams, providing applications requirements to achieve a truly integrated IT Solution architecture. These are:
* People Effectiveness Consulting
* Management Consulting and Strategies
* Industrial and Mining Systems
* Business Management Systems
* Public Sector Consulting
CS Systems Integration focuses on integrated applications and streamlined offerings to provide a complete solution across the full spectrum of the business and its supply chain. This division enables a customer to link IT strategy with business strategy. CS Systems Integration can manage the synthesis and integration from top floor to shop floor, front office to back office systems and across the supply chain spectrum, inclusive of human resources, logistical, operational, and financial requirements. It will also optimise and integrate its clients` business systems and assist in the drive towards e-business. www.cs.co.za
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