Initial Packaging gets business improvements out of the box

That’s just 12 months after go-live and the company is so pleased that last month it went on to implement Syspro CRM (customer relationship management) and is now due to add the Advanced Quality Management (AQM) module as well. Lee Childs, financial controller at Initial, says that Syspro has transformed operations, right down to enabling the company to monitor and investigate scrap levels out at its printing contractors – all as a result of its accurate, real-time management information. He says there were problems with its earlier systems, which comprised a Sage Line 100 package and numerous non-integrated spreadsheets, but that now Syspro has optimised its processes right across the business. “The integrated Syspro Preactor system has streamlined our planning process. We no longer need to use spreadsheets, which were extremely cumbersome to manage and keep updated. We had to manually alter and update these constantly. “By entering a job into Syspro we automatically feed the information into APS to give us complete visibility of our workflow and, of course, there is no chance of human error due to mis-keyed data,” says Childs. “Syspro is a huge improvement on our old system as it allows us to manage our stock better. Everyone can access the system to see exactly what we hold on site and at our printers. It also allows us to highlight scrap levels and investigate what is causing it,” he adds. Commenting on Syspro CRM, he says: “It will help us to improve customer service in general, but it will also open up opportunities for marketing. The module will help us with targeted mailings and help us to manage our prospects better. We are also testing AQM so that we can be ready to implement this module. We anticipate that this will help us to improve our procedures going forward.”