Press Metal heavily relied upon Excel spreadsheets and manual data entry and there was no way of linking the company’s disparate systems. Operating with no perpetual inventory or batch analysis caused Press Metal considerable problems. Without batch analysis Press Metal was unable to identify customers individual stock which is held in the UK warehouse. As the business grew, the inefficiency of data duplication and rekeying became even more apparent. Customer invoices were rarely paid on time and when queries were made Press Metal had no straightforward way of tracing the invoice in question.
Press Metal needed a solution to co-ordinate their whole business, from customer-facing systems, through to back-office processes and core activities such as manufacturing and engineering.
Sage 200 Professional was recommended as a suitable fit for the business by Press Metal’s Australian distribution centre. CPiO, a Sage reseller local to Press Metal UK, was found through a Google search. Impressed by the website Press Metal invited CPiO to tender for the deal.
Press Metal implemented Sage 200 Financials and Commercials together with a number of bespoke elements from CPiO including Back to Back Purchase Order Processing, Weight Reports and On the Water Receipts. The adaptability of Sage 200 and the ease of writing bespoke modules to it were key reasons for implementing the solution. CPiO’s approachable attitude and the skills demonstrated by all involved prompted Press Metal to partner with CPiO.
“CPiO met our time and budgetary expectations and the implementation was completed with minimum disruption to business”. Andrew Clarke, General Manager at Press Metal UK Limited, comments.
The new system offers greater traceability of orders
Time previously spent re-entering data is saved and accuracy is improved, while customer requirements can be identified and fulfilled quickly and profitably.
“Customers now receive accurate reports without delay and are more inclined to pay invoices on time and without making queries”. Batch numbers now represent customer codes enabling customers’ individual stock to be easily identified.
Press Metals stock control process is now much quicker and easier to complete
Since going live with the new Sage 200 solution Press Metal have achieved a 100% close-win rate on sales orders and attributes this to increased efficiency across the business. Andrew continues: “It didn’t take long for us to see the benefits of Sage 200 but even now, two years on, we are still finding new benefits. For example by utilising the bespoke element – On the Water Receipts – we can allocate stock that is in transit ’on the water’ from Malaysia before it physically arrives in the UK”.
Press Metal is seeing a 20% year on year growth and is confident that they have the right system in place to embrace such development for the foreseeable future. Find out more about Sage 200 Professional, or Contact CPiO for more information about how this ERP solution could benefit your business.
