NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 IT IN FOCUS
ELG Carbon Fibre selected Exel’s
EFACS E/8 from a shortlist of 30
other ERP software solutions
system that was multicurrency,
multi-company,
from the UK.
eventually winnowed down to a shortlist
of four, and then reduced once more to a
‘bake o ’ between two systems.
The eventual selection was Exel Computer
Systems’ EFACS E/8 ERP system.
Why Exel?
“The fi nal four were all strong o erings,
with compelling points in their favour,”
explains Bott. “The fi nal choice was between
Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Exel’s EFACS
E/8 – but while Microsoft Dynamics NAV
might have had an arguably larger feature set,
it was also a lot more costly, and we doubted
that we’d really need, or use, any of those
additional features. And why pay for features
you won’t use?”
The licensing model was also a critical
factor. Acquiring Microsoft Dynamics NAV
meant nominating ‘named users’, whereas
Exel’s EFACS E/8 licensing model simply
required specifying a maximum number
of concurrent users. For a three-shift 24x5
operation – which at times of high demand –
can switch for 24/7 operation, the di erence
in cost was signifi cant.
“We liked the Exel people we met, the system was UKdeveloped
and UK-supported, and the cost and licensing
model suited us,” sums up Bott. “In the end, the decision more
or less made itself.”
Implementation
The contract was duly signed in July 2017, and the new
system went live in the autumn of 2018. Fully hosted,
and browser-based, the system was built as
planned around the core functions of sales
order processing, purchasing, stock control
and accounting.
Almost immediately, relates Bott,
improvements were seen in stock accuracy,
works order management and productivity,
with paper and spreadsheet-based manual
systems being replaced by a single integrated
set of centralised data and fully integrated ERP
modules.
Moreover, he adds, it soon became clear that
adding additional functionality would, as anticipated,
deliver even more benefi ts – factory fl oor productivity, for
instance, could be improved by using barcode scanning.
“We added manufacturing functionality, but not MRP, as
Business Benefi ts
It’s fair to say that the implementation
delivered on its primary objectives, says Bott.
Fragmented and disparate systems – both
was in place before,” he sums up.
That said, the implementation wasn’t without some niggles,
he adds. Right from the very beginning, an important objective
had been to impose structure and discipline, with everyone in
the business working from the same consistent set of data.
So suddenly, users were fi nding – for instance – that it
was not possible to commence manufacturing against a
pro-forma invoice, until that invoice had been paid. Yet once
people realised that the new system did – as promised – fi nally
give them the information that they needed to do their jobs,
the tide turned.
“Having one version of the truth is actually a very powerful
selling point for users – and the easier it is to get access to that
data, the more powerful it becomes,” concludes Bott. “EFACS E/8
gave us that one version of the truth – along with the structure,
controls and functionality that the business needed.”
SOFTWARE
EXCELLENCE
SINCE 1985
www.exel.co.uk
scalable, Cloud-based, widely
used, report-rich and supported
Some 30 di erent ERP systems were
our process yields can vary signifi cantly, making MRP
di cult. But CRM is being implemented, and the
plan is to add shopfl oor data collection later this
year, too. And we’re actively considering other
modules as well.”
manual and spreadsheet-based – have been
replaced by a fully integrated, hosted, browserbased
ERP system.
“The sales order processing and fi nance
functionality is notably better and smoother than what
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