Powerful workflow integration between K2, Sage ERP Accpac provided by Synergy Group

Customer: JKM Industrial Supplies
Industry: Industrial Suppliers
System: K2 (customisation and integration with Sage ERP Accpac from Synergy Group)
Location: Gauteng, Johannesburg
Business partner: Synergy Group

22 May 2012 - Established in 1980 to supply the manufacturing, building, electrical and plumbing industries with all the necessary bits and pieces (nuts and bolts) to get the job done, this family-owned and run business has extended to the general handyman and out into Africa.

Originally supplying only fasteners and basic tools to the emerging market in Randburg, JKM now has over 19 000 line items in stock (and a declaration to source what isn't) - that are available nationwide and in parts of Africa.

With a physical shop as well as an online store, controlling stock and managing orders are a vital (if not the foundation) part of the business, and therefore JKM needed enhanced order fulfilment and online order processes.

Synergy Group and JKM have been business partners for a long time; JKM has come to rely on Synergy to fix what's broken, prevent other things from breaking, provide advice and support, and enhance the things that simplify their business processes.

With the exceptional K2 framework, Synergy proved why JKM trusts the company with its business and stepped in to provide a specific process to meet a very specific need.

Mike Gorrie, Director of JKM, notes: “Service is the key to the success of any business. In order to ensure improved service JKM Industrial Supplies saw the need to implement a virtual management system to manage key workflow tasks and report on un-actioned workflows. We called on Synergy to identify a suitable workflow tool and jointly developed a number of key workflows using K2.”

K2 is a workflow and business process management engine that is synonymous with value. For simple solutions and enterprise efficiency, the sophisticated K2 system is all about streamlining and productivity.

The Synergy development team customised the K2 framework at JKM to integrate with Sage ERP Accpac and augment the stock and order processes.

The stock fulfilment process came down to needing improved control over stock and turnaround time. By implementing a K2 business process solution that checks stock requirements of sales orders (captured in the Sage ERP Accpac Order Entry module) against Sage ERP Accpac Inventory Control, purchasing efficiencies and stock control are improved.

This workflow process checks that stock quantities are sufficient to fill orders. If not, a task is assigned for a manual stock check to compare system quantities and actual quantities. Should there be insufficient stock to complete an order, an automated notification is sent to the purchasing department with a recommendation for stock quantities, based on sales patterns and stock movements over a specific period.

Online purchasing capabilities were implemented as well. Web customers are able to track their orders on the JKM Web site and are informed of order completion and delivery or collection dates. All Web site orders are checked through Sage ERP Accpac, and the two K2-based workflow processes feed off of each other - creating a seamless, automated process that keeps clients happy and stock under control.

Duncan Campbell, Technical Director of Synergy Group, mentioned: “The growth possibilities of this integration are endless. JKM will be reaping the rewards of this integration for years to come.”

Mike Gorrie concludes: “The K2 Workflow Management Tool has changed the way we do business. We continue to develop new workflows in order to further streamline processes, as well as manage resources, stock, and systems. K2 is a valuable business tool, and with a wealth of knowledge in providing workflow solutions for all business needs, Synergy Group is a valuable business partner.”