Choosing the right ERP system is essential to business success, and if you are currently in the market for one, you know that it can be a tricky decision to make. There is a lot to consider.
- Will it have the features that your business requires?
- Is it flexible enough to make changes and customization?
- Ten years from now, will this system still provide what you need?
This is the story of one company in the building supply distribution industry that recently went through this process.
The Challenge
Frederick Block, Brick & Stone (FBBS) is a leading distributor of masonry and hardscape products for residential and commercial markets in Virginia. They previously were using an ERP system from the ‘90s, but it wasn’t delivering what they needed. Important features such as remote access, integration with Microsoft Office, and reporting options, were very limited. In addition, managing inventory for multiple locations was increasingly challenging. They decided it was time to upgrade.
The Solution
FBBS went to work, investigating numerous potential ERP systems. Based on online research, they identified about 40 potential ERP systems then after calling specific ERP partners, five systems made the shortlist. After the demo phase, the choice was between Epicor and Acumatica. They decided that Acumatica would be the best fit for their company. Steve Slaughter, President/CEO of FBBS, explains why:
“When it came down to the final two choices, Epicor was customized to our industry, and Acumatica was not. If this was something we were choosing for the short term, it may have made more sense to go with the industry-specific solution. But we wanted a system that we felt could grow with us, so we would not have to go this process again for another 20 years. Acumatica, by far, seemed a better choice in that regard. It was a better long-term play.
Not every system had every single thing that was on our wish list, but Acumatica certainly checked all the boxes we needed it to. We felt Acumatica could be made to do all the things we needed for our industry, but it also had the flexibility to go above and beyond.”
The Benefits
FBBS reports multiple benefits since implementing Acumatica. Three that stand out are the unlimited licensing model, ease of access and the ability for customization to target specific business needs.
“A big deciding factor was Acumatica’s unlimited user pricing model. Most companies make you pay per user, but Acumatica does not. We wanted to have a lot of people touch the system, but most of them are not heavy users, such as drivers or warehouse staff. We knew we could grow with Acumatica, and bring everyone into the system, without any additional costs.”
“Acumatica allows anyone to access it, wherever they are. If someone needs to work from home and be productive, they can do that…The benefit that definitely affects me, and others, on a daily basis, is the ability to see information quickly.”
“Thinking ahead to where our business may be five years from now, we have a system that we can easily add to and grow with over time.”
FBBS is happy to be using a modern ERP system that fully delivers on their needs and can grow with them on into the future. To read their full success story, as well as why they chose to work with CAL Business Solutions to help them implement their new system, go to www.calszone.com/frederick.
If you are interested in learning more about how Acumatica can benefit your company, let’s start the conversation. Contact CAL Business Solutions at 860-485-0910×4 or sales@calszone.com
By CAL Business Solutions, Acumatica, and Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner, www.calszone.com
