Showerlux UK, a brand leader in shower doors and enclosures, has gone live with System 21 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software from JBA, the global business software supplier. The investment worth lb650,000 includes sales order processing (SOP), financials, MRP (Materials Requirement Planning), warehousing and automated data capture modules, all running from an IBM AS/400 server. Showerlux chose JBA above SAP and NCR, because it offered an integrated, flexible IT system that could be implemented within six months.
Showerlux is a wholly owned subsidiary of a Swiss group, Dusholux. Dusholux chose SAP as its IT system, however, Showerlux felt that it would benefit from using a local software company. Showerlux was reassured by JBA`s 4,000 user base and the reputation of the software and IBM platform. Showerlux`s previous NCR system was 20 years old and because it was heavily bespoked could not be easily upgraded as Showerlux grew.
Bob Bowler, Managing Director at Showerlux, explains his decision to choose JBA: "SAP has a very good, comprehensive software solution, but I felt that it was too big and structured to be implemented in our UK operation. JBA offered Showerlux a solution that met our requirements without any bespoke development. JBA has proven cutting edge technology, which is enhanced by the development of its @ctive(tm) enterprise suite. I wanted to be able to solve today`s problems with tomorrow`s technology and JBA has given us that facility."
The JBA System 21 software is year 2000 and Euro compliant and has already shown benefits. Since the first modules, sales order processing and financials, went live on 1st January 1999, Showerlux has seen a reduction in administration errors and has been able to shorten lead times from time of order to delivery. Some customers and suppliers are now linked into SOP via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and this has meant a significant improvement in customer service.
"We have over 3,000 active accounts within our dealer network, which means that we have to manage a lot of information. With the new integrated system we are able to process an order, check customer status and product inventory far quicker than before. As a company we are a lot stronger, because of improvements within our cashflow and our customers receive a better service,." said Bowler.
"The next step is to implement the complete warehousing module and barcoding function. We have three distribution centres in the UK and I feel sure that the JBA software will enable these operations to become more efficient, as well as allow greater visibility from our head office in Coventry," he added.
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