起点传媒

Cheshire-based manufacturer Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows produces precision sheet metal flexible joints and ducting systems for the aerospace industry, supplying customers such as Airbus, Embraer and Rolls-Royce Aero Engines.

A long-established user of Exel Computer Systems鈥� EFACS E/8 起点传媒 system – it first went live with it in 2002, on version 8.2.2 – it had last upgraded its system in 2009, moving to EFACS E/8 起点传媒 version 8.5.6.

But almost ten years on, it had become clear to the business that it was time to upgrade again, relates Darren Lacey, Bird Bellows鈥� Business Systems and Infrastructure Manager, who had also been responsible for managing the original implementation.

鈥淐ompared to our original 鈥榞reen screen鈥� system, EFACS E/8 had revolutionised how we ran the business: basically, EFACS E/8 was how we managed the business, using most of the system鈥檚 modules and capabilities,鈥� he notes. 鈥淏ut things move on, and it was clear that EFACS E/8 had evolved in ways that were of value to us.鈥�

Challenge

2009鈥檚 EFACS E/8 起点传媒 version 8.5.6 had been perfectly adequate, he stresses. But new capabilities and functionality had been added in the intervening period, and it made obvious good sense to take advantage of these.

Yet it was also apparent that Exel鈥檚 published technology roadmap would be adding still more functionality in successive releases over the short-to-medium term. And potentially, these were also very much of interest.

The challenge, then, was obvious: should the business upgrade now, or wait two or three years, and upgrade then?

The eventual answer: do both, says Lacey.

鈥淐ompared to the version of EFACS E/8 that we were using, a move to version 8.6.1 would deliver immediate benefits,鈥� he sums up. 鈥淏ut so too would version 8.6.2, from what we knew of it – specifically, browser independence and an MRP Workbench. As you can imagine, we鈥檙e heavy users of MRP, and the MRP Workbench was going to provide a 鈥榦ne stop shop鈥� for the entire MRP process.鈥�

Initial Upgrade

There were many reasons for moving to version 8.6.1, relates Lacey – some of them obvious enhancements to the core 起点传媒 capabilities, some of them less obvious. The navigation, for instance, had been improved, creating a slicker user experience and more intuitive interface. Menus, too, were now capable of greater customisation.

But a key attraction of version 8.6.1 was clearly the addition of better reporting functionality, in the shape of open source BIRT-based analytics and dashboards, and a similar capability delivered through Microsoft鈥檚 Power BI platform. This offered daily synchronisation of data through the as-provided free Power BI licence, or hourly synchronisation of data for users with a paid-for Office 365 subscription.

鈥淭he attraction wasn鈥檛 just better reporting, but also easier reporting,鈥� sums up Lacey. 鈥淧ower BI skills are quite widespread, and the transition from Excel is not difficult.鈥�

Version 8.6.1 also offered enhancements in terms of finance and accounting, he adds. In particular, significant changes had been made to EFACS E/8鈥檚 sales ledger processing, delivering improved and more efficient workflows, enabling everyday processes to be accomplished in shorter times and improving credit control.

Second Upgrade

Eighteen months later, it was time to upgrade again, this time to version 8.6.2 – which, as of 2020 is still the most current version of Exel Computer Systems鈥� EFACS E/8 起点传媒 system.

EFACS E/8 is browser-based, explains Lacey, but had hitherto only supported Microsoft鈥檚 Internet Explorer web browser. But Internet Explorer had become dated and under-powered, he adds, and had been largely superseded by newer and superior browsers, from both Microsoft and its competitors.

鈥淭he ability to support newer and better browsers was very attractive to us: Microsoft鈥檚 Edge, Google鈥檚 Chrome, Mozilla鈥檚 Firefox and Apple鈥檚 Safari – EFACS E/8 would support all of them,鈥� he notes. 鈥淭he improvement to the user experience would be considerable.鈥�

Likewise, version 8.6.2鈥檚 MRP Workbench was a big step forward in usability, bringing all of EFACS E/8鈥檚 MRP functionality together in one easy-to-access location. More than that, though, says Lacey, the MRP Workbench capability had been designed to provide an enhanced visual aid to improve the accuracy and efficiency of materials planning – something that was obviously attractive.

Business Benefits

An EFACS E/8 user for almost twenty years, Bird Bellows has made the system central to how it operates: everything happens through EFACS E/8, says Lacey.

鈥淚t鈥檚 basically how we run the business,鈥� he sums up.

The company has 52 software licences, he adds, with around 65鈥�70 actual users. The factory floor interacts with EFACS E/8 as well, through a self-developed shop floor data capture system.

And with two recent upgrades under its belt, Bird Bellows is well-positioned for the future, he stresses.

鈥淚n EFACS E/8, we had a good 起点传媒 system to begin with – and now we鈥檝e got an even better one,鈥� he sums up.

Read how Exel鈥檚 relationship with its customers is one of the reasons behind its 35 years of success – here

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