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ERP Software

News: Industrial services leader C&D Group selects

IFS Applications

31 March 2011 – IFS, the global enterprise applications company, informed the Select newsroom, C&D Group, one of the UK’s leading industrial service providers, has chosen to deploy IFS Applications to streamline its business systems and provide a platform for future growth. C&D signed the contract late 2010.

C&D Group is part of the KAEFER Group and provides industrial services such as Access and Scaffolding, Insulation (Thermal , Cryogenic & Acoustic ), Industrial Painting, Asbestos Removal, HVAC Design, Fabrication, Installation and architectural fit-out, to name a few. C&D is a contract maintenance and project based business that manages a wide range of large scale industrial projects for customers operating in the Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Heavy Engineering, Pharmaceutical, Petrochemical, Nuclear,Marine and Offshore Construction sectors.

These services are provided either as part of an integrated package to clients or on an individual basis, requiring meticulous planning and management, therefore C&D relies heavily on fast access to business critical information to ensure the success of its projects, often in remote sites around the UK.

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Previously working with several disparate legacy systems, C&D recognised the efficiency savings and reporting benefits that would be brought about by applying a single, fully integrated, multi-site / multi-company system that would provide access to key employees whilst maintaining the highest levels of security and data protection. The old system was less efficient in the use of existing resources, because much of this data was being duplicated across the business. As a consequence a clear need for a new IT system emerged. A system that would help to improve internal processes, unify the business and in turn support C&D’s ambitious growth strategy. IFS was selected out of nine competitors including SAP - the incumbent supplier to the KAEFER Group - to be named the vendor of choice to implement an ERP system throughout some 20 sites around the UK. The new software is expected to enhance visibility and integration across the company, and will improve business performance by centralising critical information, which will enable more efficient and simpler project coordination.

Another key factor in the vendor selection process included IFS’ expertise in the relevant industrial sectors. “We often work in hostile environments, including asbestos sites and nuclear power plants, and being able to accurately monitor employees’ exposure to these environments is absolutely essential. We already hold a much coveted Bronze Status for Investors in People, and wanted to ensure we continue to build on this reputation by implementing the right monitoring tools to track our health and safety compliance. Over and above its competitors, IFS demonstrated an acute knowledge of our industry and its ability to support our very specific needs.” said Michael Brown, Transformation Project Manager of C&D. The company will also benefit from the new user interface available in IFS Applications 7.5, which will aid in the adoption and use of the system by employees. “Usability is a must, and the IFS Applications interface is simple, intuitive and user-friendly. We predict it will help us to significantly streamline activity and improve time management,” said Brown.

IFS’ Sales Contract, Purchasing, Project Management, Financial, Payroll, Stock Control and Document Management modules are currently being implemented at C&D. The software will be used by over 150 managerial and supervisory project staff. The rollout is scheduled for completion by summer 2011.

“This implementation showcases IFS’ ability to support a highly complex business and help with contemporary compliance issues. We are excited to be working with such an ambitious and multifaceted industrial services company; it stands as testament to our excellent working knowledge of the industrial sectors and their specific business requirements.” commented IFS’ UK managing director, Paul Massey. The construction, contracting and service management industry is one of IFS’ vertical target markets. C&D offers a complete and integrated business solution that manages the entire lifecycle of contracts, projects, machines and equipment. With IFS Applications, C&D can improve and support business processes by collaborating more closely with suppliers, subcontractors and customers. IFS Applications includes functionality for budgeting and forecasting, contract and project management, resource scheduling and optimization, risk management, installed base management, spare part management, call and case management (including SLA), mobile solutions for field work force, all integrated with financials, manufacturing, procurement and HR. In the Construction, Contracting and Service Management industry existing IFS customers include Debut Services, Hertel, Doosan Babcock, Babcock Rail, Heerema Fabrication Group, Grenland Group, Anticimex, Seadrill, Infratek, Eltel Networks, Tomra Systems and Gilbarco Autotank.

IFS

IFS is a public company founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology, named IFS Applications™. IFS focuses on agile businesses where any of four core processes are strategic: manufacturing, supply chain, service & asset management and projects. The company with 2,700 employees in total is present in more than 50 countries and has over 2,000 customers . Net revenue in 2010 was SKr 2.6 billion.

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