A year of accolades underpinned by ERP

As eighty per cent of businesses report measurable benefits from their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, one international consultancy company is highlighting how investment in technology has underpinned the success of its customers.

A wide number of UK businesses nominated for an industry award this year all have one thing in common: Microsoft Dynamics AX from Columbus – technology that revolutionises operations, helps improve efficiencies and reduces costs, freeing managers to focus on the strategic direction of the business and adding more value.

The company, which recently celebrated 25 years in business, is reporting that a large number of its customers have ended 2014 with prestigious award nominations. This supports recent findings from Panorama Consulting which revealed that 80% of businesses using ERP are experiencing significant and measurable benefits.

Furthermore, this success is being reported across a range of different sectors including food, manufacturing, direct commerce and technology. This year’s Meat Management Manufacturer of the Year award winner was AX user Dunbia, with Thwaites, another AX user, receiving nominations for two Food supply chain initiative awards. In the retail sector, Synseal picked up an award for best Multi Channel Business, with Eason & Son named a finalist for the Direct Commerce Awards. Wheelabrator and CPL Aromas ended the year with finalist nominations for the prestigious ‘ICT in Manufacturing’ Award, and Origin Enterprises was named a finalist for a Microsoft Customer Excellence Award. All these businesses are long time users of Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP.

Mary Hunter, Managing Director at Columbus, says it is no coincidence that some of the highest performing businesses in the UK are utilising Microsoft Dynamics AX to streamline their business processes.

“With Panorama reporting a high percentage of ERP users reporting measurable business benefits, these findings are backed up by the success of our own customers. Many of the businesses we work with are innovators and leaders in their respective fields. Dynamics AX plays a big part in this; bringing improvements and efficiencies to every area of a business,” she said.

Panorama’s end of year report also found that 70% of businesses are satisfied with their ERP software, with a further 72% of companies reporting that ERP as an investment has led to cost savings of up to 60%.

Mary Hunter concluded that the value of ERP is becoming clearer to businesses, as adoption rates accelerate.

“At Columbus, we are experiencing more and more success stories with our customers, who are increasingly reporting tangible business benefits from their ERP solution. As the digital enterprise continues to build and evolve, ERP remains an integral tool of engagement for businesses across sectors.

“We’d like to congratulate our clients on their successes this year and look forward to many more years of success, working together.”