Fearing International
Industry :
Distribution – agricultural products
Scenarios : Fearing International had to
upgrade its computer system to avoid being struck by the millennium bug. It
took the opportunity to implement a computer system that streamlined its
business.
Company Description
Fearing International is a 25-year old supplier of
agricultural supplies to livestock farmers. It employs 12 people and turns
over £1.5m in the sale of a range of goods, from teat plugs and milking
aprons to disinfectant and inspection gloves. It also supplies livestock ear
tags, which it marks itself with government approved IDs using a laser
machine.
History
Fearing International got into a spot of bother when in
1999 it decided to upgrade its computer system to fix the millennium bug.
The £40,000 Microsoft Navision system it bought was nearly never completed
with the result that for a few short weeks the company was left critically
vulnerable. Fortunately, Fearing emerged from the crisis in better shape
than it had been before. The computer system has helped the agricultural
products distributor reduce operating costs, while increasing the amount of
business it does. Greater operating efficiencies have translated into higher
profits.
Moving Forward
Fearing's experiences provide an important lesson for
other businesses buying computer systems: choosing the right supplier is as
important as choosing the right product. Fearing decided early on that
Microsoft Navision was the product that best suited its needs. It wanted a
system that would be flexible, could be altered in step with its changing
business needs, and could be used to overcome some unique challenges. But
its initial supplier delivered a poor implementation and subsequently went
out of business, leaving Fearing's in-house IT manager to pick up the
pieces. In the meantime Fearing searched for a reliable, reputable supplier
that could implement its Microsoft Navision system properly. That was where
Microsoft Business Solutions’ partner Anglia Business Solutions stepped in
to clear up the mess. The benefits Fearing has gained from its Microsoft
Navision system since it employed Anglia demonstrate how important the
rights accreditations are when choosing a supplier. Anglia is a Microsoft
Certified Business Solutions Partner; a recognition of its track record in
specifying, delivering and supporting complex business systems.
“Make sure you’ve got a reliable and well-proven supplier in the first
instance and make sure they get to know your business before putting the
system in,” is the advice Andrew Cowan, general manager of Fearing, gives to
other SMEs.
This was the approach Anglia took and its Navision expertise is still being
employed today to help Fearing get the most from the system. The difference
between Anglia and its initial supplier is like chalk and cheese, says
Cowan:
“Anglia seem to spend money on investment and training. They know what to do
and they have plenty of people who can give you the help you need”. Had
Fearing chosen a supplier like Anglia in the first place it could have
avoided a lot of hassle because the system it wanted had some complex
elements that needed an expert to make them run smoothly.
As well as standard agricultural products, Fearing supplies ear tags for
livestock. These have to be marked by Fearing, using a laser, with a unique
identification number that is checked with the government Department of
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Fearing's Microsoft Navision
system automates the whole process, from the moment the order is taken,
through to the tags being shipped to the customer. This has all the usual
functions you would expect of a good order processing system that talks to
stock and finance systems. But it also collates tag IDs to be checked with
Defra, sends them for authorisation, and ensures that only authorized tags
are finally lasered and shipped to the customer.
The Microsoft Navision system even directs the laser machine, removing a
point where human error could have previously resulted in waste and
unnecessary cost. The resulting efficiencies have allowed Fearing to operate
with 20 per cent fewer staff, reduce operating costs by a similar amount and
reduce the time it takes to process orders by about 50 per cent, while its
revenues since installing the system have increased 10-15 per cent. The
Microsoft Navision system also runs on a sophisticated database that helps
Fearing better target its marketing. Cowan says he is still working with
Anglia to squeeze as many improvements as he can out of the current system
before upgrading to the next version of Microsoft Navision. That illustrates
another way in which a reputable supplier can help you use computers to keep
costs down – whether you are in the agricultural sector or not, they can
avoid making a pig's ear of the whole system, and they will refrain from
plying you with bull to make you upgrade before you need to.
Benefits
Microsoft Business Solutions – Navision modules:
General Ledger
Sales & Receivables
Purchase & Payables
Inventory
Cash Management
Contact Management