 Early
TROPOS Go-live Unleashes Fox’s Benefits ~ 15/12/2004
Accelerated deployment of a TROPOS ERP system
from SSI enabled Fox’s Confectionery to beat a key deadline
and enjoy additional benefits earlier than expected.
Go-Live in Record Time
 The
Leicester-based manufacturer of Glacier Mints and other popular
sweets had an end-August target for shutting down its earlier system,
provided by its former parent company. SSI had the new 25-user system
ready for go-live in record time, facilitating a switch-over three
months inside the deadline.
The solution includes a TROPOS browser, White Paper
Printing, Application Designer, Active Workflow and Business Information
Templates. Also in the contract were CODA Financials, Cognos, Crystal
Reports and two servers. The system is managed remotely by SSI’s
Managed Services Division.
Organic Development and Acquisitions
Fox’s Confectionery finance director Peter
Roberts was very conscious of the amount of work involved in replacing
a full ERP system in such a short timescale. “Staff from both
Fox’s Confectionery and SSI on the project team were committed
and highly motivated to meet the deadlines. They achieved it, having
put in a great deal of time and effort to ensure everything went
smoothly. Live running on the new system did identify some areas
for further review but overall, it was very successful.
“Big Bear Ltd. is the company formed by the
management buy-in that acquired Fox’s Confectionery. We plan
to grow through both organic development and a series of further
acquisitions, which we will now be able to bring on board and integrate
more easily within our new business processes”.
Integrated Interface
SSI managing director Trevor Lewis says the Fox’s
deployment went particularly well. “They were already experienced
ERP users, so for us it was a case of replacing the existing legacy
system and providing a modern system to meet the increasing challenges
as the business grows.”
TROPOS gives Fox’s Confectionery an integrated
interface with its external sales agency, SHS. This provides faster,
more accurate input for production planning and profit forecasts.
Reports that used to be prepared manually each month are now updated
daily.
Lewis says: “TROPOS is designed around the
individual’s role in a food manufacturer, and fully integrated
with desktop applications. This means users manage the information
in the way they want to use it - TROPOS does the rest.”
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