SPONSORED BY 123 INSIGHT
THE TASTE
OF VICTORY
Software vendor, 123 Insight, has won almost 40 industry
awards in just over a decade. So what is the secret to its success?
CONTRIBUTOR 123 INSIGHT
Emma Thompson keeps her Oscars in the downstairs
bathroom; Cuba Gooding Jr keeps his in a wine cooler.
Somewhat more o -the-wall, Russell Crowe’s is in a
chicken coop on his ranch, apparently to “help the hens
lay bigger eggs”.
On this evidence, every cupboard, visitor’s toilet and
henhouse at the Southampton o ces of 123 Insight must be fi t
to burst. In just 12 years, the MRP software supplier has scooped
38 manufacturing industry awards, highly commendeds and
shortlistings for their work in the sector.
The 123 Insight story is a tale of ‘poachers turned
gamekeepers’, worthy of an award in itself. In 2000, the
company’s founders came from the traditional route of
selling a standard system, which was based on
an initial large payment with ongoing
costs for the customer, covering
support, consultancy and version
upgrades. They saw an opportunity
to create an MRP system that o ered
full fl exibility to its customers, while
removing the massive initial capital outlay
and overall risk usually associated with
MRP implementation.
The company fi rst tasted success in
awards in 2007, winning both Best in
Category and overall Winner at the Best of
British Manufacturing Awards for its work with Delta
Design. This was only the start. The company experienced
success fi ve times in 2008, including being shortlisted three
times for the prestigious MITCON Awards. A key project for
123 Insight in this time was with I M Kelly Rail Ltd, a Towcesterbased
supplier of rail carriage interiors. 123 Insight’s work with I
M Kelly saw the fi rm reduce its stock by 40%, with the 123insight
software installed in just four weeks. As Keith Gri ths, I M Kelly’s
director, said at the time: “The stock reduction was a huge
benefi t to us as it also helped with the accuracy as well. For
many customers we have to operate a ‘just in time’ delivery. We
kit parts to meet train-build requirements – if we don’t deliver,
that stops the train being fi nished. 123insight helps us to meet
these demands.”
2010 saw 123 Insight win three awards, starting with two for
the Green IT Awards, showcasing technology and organisations
that have made a signifi cant contribution to
the green credentials of the IT industry. One of
the projects that secured 123 Insight the prize,
along with a ‘Highly Commended’ in another
manufacturing award, was with Derbyshirebased
electronic wound component
manufacturer, AGW Electronics. The
company’s director, Nigel Godwin, selected
123 Insight over competitors costing as much
as £100,000. The benefi ts for AGW were
immediate – instead of having to separately
produce works orders, purchase
orders and invoices on expensive,
custom-designed triplicate
paper, 123insight allowed the
company to simply email orders.
Likewise, custom reports can
be generated in-house rather
than relying on – expensive –
external consultancy.
First the UK, and then
the world – 2015 saw 123
Insight recognised at the
prestigious IT Europa Awards,
which highlight IT success on a European
stage. 123 Insight was praised for its work
with Vortok International, manufacturers of
railway infrastructure maintenance and safety
products. Prior to implementing 123insight,
Vortok’s order tracking was rudimentary, to say
the least. “Works orders were often verbal in
the past,” explained Austen Thomas, Vortok’s
production manager. “We’d want so many of a
component and just ask production to make it.”
Senior management quickly realised this
was an unsustainable approach, and that a new
ERP system was the answer. The trouble was,
who to go for? Vortok assessed 18 systems,
gradually removing vendors that didn’t fi t the
bill. Eventually, they decided on 123 Insight, and
Vortok hasn’t looked back since. Within two
months of the go-live date in October 2013,
38 www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk