‘We needed a system that could support a matrix set-up, our old IT system was product code based and we felt that in order for our systems to be integrated from buying to our customer service desks we needed a more sophisticated solution. The system managed our accounts, sales ordering, but all purchasing and off- shore stock movements were managed by spreadsheets with updates being posted to an intranet system for sales teams to view. This resulted in inaccurate and out-of-date informationbeing provided. We needed to move forward, we pride ourselves on being customer focused and in our brand business customer service is vital.’
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Gill Marine provides high performance sailing clothing for professional & leisure sailing. The company has over 25 years experience in designing technical and leisure clothing for people who require performance
Over 50 employees are based at Gill’s head office in Nottingham. This site is also the location for its Research & Development and Warehouse operations. Products are sold via an extensive worldwide network of distributors and agents.
The company borne through its founders enthusiasm for sailing has developed from a traditional UK manufacturer to a brand focused company who sources manufacturing from abroad. Garments for the European market are shipped to the UK warehouse for distribution whilst garments for other countries are shipped direct to numerous distributors around the world.
Solution benefits:
1
Streamlining of the demand / planning process
2
Integration of the business process from start to finish
3
Visibility of information across the sourcing process
John Deverill, Managing Director describes,
‘We design and develop products in the UK and source anywhere in the world where we can guarantee high quality products at competitive prices. We have supplier partnerships in the Far East, Turkey, Estonia, Japan etc. Our business has changed from being a manufacturing focused business to being a customer focused brand business. It was this change that was the turning point in our need for a new IT solution.’
When Gill approached Datel it was operating an out-of-date generic system that the company had purchased many years before. The system in use had reached the end of its support life from the existing supplier providing Gill the opportunity to review their business system requirements and search for a new solution. Gill knew of Datel in the market and approached Datel outlining their requirements, as the company needed a stable, secure and flexible solution that could evolve with the company providing functionality to fit and enhance its business processes. Along with these requirements the business system needed to be up and running in less than four months.
Datel implemented the Protex Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution covering raw material management, costing, source purchasing, distribution, inventory control, finished goods, critical path management and financials. The Protex ERP solusion is used across the company incorporating users from, sales, planning, warehouse, finance and senior management.