End-To-End Supply Chain Integration for Pullmax

Microsoft Dynamics Customer Solution Case Study

End-to-end Supply Chain Integration for Pullmax

Overview “Microsoft Axapta is great and was the right choice Country or Region: Sweden for us, giving us limitless options to improve our Industry: Manufacturing business management and customer service.” Customer Profile Lee Murrell, IT & Systems Manager, Pullmax Pullmax, which is part of the Karolin Machine Tool Group, supplies and services metal forming machine tools. It also imports machine tools manufactured by parent group companies in Sweden and is an agent for a Pullmax decided to replace its ageing accounting system in Swiss company’s machines. Business Situation favour of a system that could handle its whole supply chain, Pullmax needed a replacement for the including automating ordering, delivery, and invoicing. Pullmax Microsoft® MS-DOS®—based Pegasus system it had been using previously, and decided upon Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta (now part of decided on a system that could handle its Microsoft Dynamics™), which provides a range of integrated whole supply chain, including automating ordering, delivery and invoicing. applications that offer Pullmax the e-business functionality it Solution requires. Reports are simpler and faster to make, with data Microsoft Business Solutions—Axapta® enterprise business solution with integrated easily transferable into Microsoft Excel. applications including Financials, Logistics, Master Planning, Document Management and Customer Self Service. Benefits  Response rates of Microsoft Axapta are virtually instant, no matter how many users are simultaneously accessing the system  Customer Self Service application allows customers to buy goods easily via the Internet with all purchases done directly online using up-to-the-minute data that is residing on the database  Reports are simpler and faster to make, with data easily transferable into Microsoft Excel Situation had everything Pegasus had plus a lot Established in Leeds in 1978, Pullmax more." supplies and services metal forming machine tools. The company is owned by Additionally, the architecture of Microsoft Pullmax Ursviken AB, whose parent Axapta would facilitate a link with Pinnacle company is Swedish stock exchange listed Service Director, which Pullmax purchased Karolin Machine Tool Group. Pullmax a year ago. This link is used to coordinate imports machine tools manufactured by its engineers and includes all the machine group companies in Sweden, and it is also history and field notes. an agent for a Swiss company's machines. With around 75 UK staff, including 40 In the autumn of 2000, Pullmax purchased engineers on the road, Pullmax's turnover the integrated applications of Microsoft last year was £21 million. It also has a Axapta including Financials, Logistics, Basingstoke office and is expanding into Master Planning, Document Management, Ireland with the imminent opening of a and Customer Self Service. The company showroom near Dublin. decided to go for the three-tier option of Microsoft Axapta, so that its office in Pullmax had been using Microsoft® MS- Basingstoke, as well as field based- DOS®—based Pegasus system for some engineers, could have remote access to 10 years, when Pegasus brought out a new the system. The three-tier approach 32-bit Windows®-based system. "We enables Pullmax staff to access the system purchased the first few modules to be from home using a Virtual Private Network released, but the rest never materialised, (VPN) running across the Internet. This as Pegasus was taken over by Systems VPN allowed Raven to provide immediate Union," says Lee Murrell, IT & Systems remote support in the event of queries or Manager at Pullmax. "We evaluated a Sun problems arising. Systems, but it was not really suitable for us." Pullmax had a fast implementation and went ‘live' on February 1, 2001. The Solution Pegasus ledgers and stock data were With a long established relationship with transferred to Microsoft Axapta, but solution provider, Raven Computers, Pullmax decided to input the transaction Murrel explained, "We wanted to stay with data manually, as it knew everything Raven and we asked them to look round balanced and it was also a tidy up process. the market for an alternative solution." Rather than having modifications carried out by Raven prior to implementation, "They suggested [Microsoft Business Pullmax decided to have the basic system Solutions—]Axapta, which we thought was installed, and then have the system fantastic. It had all the functionality we tweaked as it went along. wanted, was very user friendly, was easy to configure to our own particular needs, and Microsoft Axapta is running on a Microsoft it was also designed for e-business. Axapta Windows® 2000 Server—based server with an additional Windows 2000 Microsoft Axapta Object Server. "The Object Server helps Microsoft Axapta to run at any speed, Pullmax has had a simple online ordering so we didn't need to go round upgrading facility for machine spare parts on its Web client PCs, as one server does all the site for the past year, and Raven has processing," explains Murrell. "We have a completed the configuration to make this 20 user license, although currently only facility available through the Customer Self around 15 staff are using the system." Service application of Microsoft Axapta. This is a business Web shop that allows Benefits customers not only to buy goods easily via After a few initial teething problems and the the Internet, but also to make the fact that Pullmax users had to familiarise purchasing experience quick and complete. themselves with a Windows-based system, All purchases are done directly online using having previously only used a character- current, up-to-the-minute data that is based one, they are now confidently using residing on the database. Microsoft Axapta. "The"We areObject continually Server "Microsoft Axapta is great and was the right helpsfinding Microsoft hidden gems Axapta in "Microsoft Axapta is an extremely choice for us, giving us limitless options to sophisticated product, and the more people improve our business management and tothe run system. at any It speed, is also so use it, the more benefit they get," says customer service," enthuses Murrell. weextremely didn't need solid toand go Murrell. "We are continually finding hidden "We've had a 15 year relationship with gems in the system. It is also extremely Raven, so they know our business well. roundreliable upgrading compared client with solid and reliable compared with our old They have customised Axapta to our exact PCs,our old as system, one server which system, which kept crashing, and it gave us requirements, and we are delighted with problems every day. Microsoft Axapta their support and quick response to our doeskept crashing, all the and it handles our whole supply chain, including queries." processing,"gave us problems automating ordering, delivery, and invoicing to improve customer service. Leeevery Murrell, day.” IT & Systems Manager, LeePullmax Murrell, IT & Systems Manager, "Reports are produced in the same way as Pullmax before. Our Swedish parent company sends over their report formats in [Microsoft] Excel spreadsheets so we can input the UK figures. We consolidate our financial ledger at the end of the month and transfer it into Excel to quickly produce the reports."

He also points out that the response rates of Microsoft Axapta are virtually instant, no matter how many users are simultaneously accessing the system. "Our previous system was running on a network and response rates were very slow." For More Information Microsoft Dynamics For more information about Microsoft Microsoft Dynamics is a line of integrated, products and services, call the Microsoft adaptable business management solutions Sales Information Center at (800) 426- that enables you and your people to make 9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft business decisions with greater confidence. Canada Information Centre at (877) 568- Microsoft Dynamics works like familiar 2495. Customers who are deaf or hard- Microsoft software such as Microsoft of-hearing can reach Microsoft text Office, which means less of a learning telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) curve for your people, so they can get up 892-5234 in the United States or (905) and running quickly and focus on what’s 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 most important. And because it is from United States and Canada, please Microsoft, it easily works with the systems contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. your company already has implemented. To access information using the World By automating and streamlining financial, Wide Web, go to: www.microsoft.com customer relationship and supply chain processes, Microsoft For more information about Raven Dynamics brings together people, Computers Ltd. products and services, processes and technologies, increasing the visit the Web site at: productivity and effectiveness of your www.raven-computers.co.uk business, and helping you drive business success. For more information about Pullmax products and services, visit the Web site For more information about Microsoft at: Dynamics, go to: www.pullmax.com www.microsoft.com/dynamics

Software and Services © 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT  Microsoft Office 2003 Professional  Microsoft Dynamics MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Microsoft, Axapta, Microsoft Dynamics,  Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta Navision, BizTalk, and Windows Server System are either − registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation or Microsoft Business Solutions ApS in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft Business Solutions ApS is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Document published June 2005