"The Legacy Trap"

Before the advent of the current world recession, big budget projects abounded – some major companies implemented completely new ERP systems whilst others added another layer of complexity to existing applications which offered limited capability. The inefficiencies of legacy systems were briefly masked by adding increased computing power, providing a modern look to tired and ageing user interfaces, (pig & lipstick springs to mind), “integrating” old code with newer modules or 3rd party applications using “specialist middleware” . Soon, they were staring at "The Legacy Trap”.

Increasing Maintenance Costs

The cost of maintaining what are often integrated but disparate applications begins to soar. Upgrades become a complex nightmare – whether it is the original application, the middleware or the “new bits”, the cost of managing these increasingly complex applications rises rapidly. Maintenance costs for the more established applications are generally compounded over a number of years, middleware vendors insist on regularly upgrading to later functionality and expensive in-house expertise is required to guarantee continued satisfactory operation. And then.... “We require a few small changes to our older applications...”

It is time to look at alternatives.  Is there a modern, agile, flexible and scalable solution available at a fraction of the cost?

Need for Agility & Flexibility

The majority of companies have implemented various cost-cutting measures, from wage cuts, to downsizing, to the centralization of distribution locations. However, whilst these cost-cutting measures may lead to some short-term advantages, long-term it is the inefficiencies and inflexibility of the legacy ERP systems that need to be dealt with. The current climate demands that companies be extremely agile and capable of adjusting to developments and changes in dynamic world markets.  In the future this requirement for flexibility will only become more prevalent.

Need for Strategic Change

With over 20 years experience in delivering leading ERP/SCM systems to wholesalers and distributors across Ireland and the United Kingdom John Brennan, Managing Director at Brentech Data Systems, has seen it all. Here John shares his opinions on the need for companies to recognize the requirement for strategic change to business processes, resulting in numerous advantages including lower costs and higher, more efficient business performance.

“Once the recession arrived the Finance Director screamed "Cut Costs!" forcing Operations, IT and other divisions to cut back on resource and expenditure. They now had to operate more efficiently to sustain their business, but were still constrained by the structure of the ERP systems they implemented in the boom years, only now with a reduced workforce. Changes to the system were costly and time consuming.

But recession also promotes creativity, inventiveness and change. It also provides the opportunity to cast off the shackles of existing systems and adopt a more suitable yet flexible solution – a solution not only suited to times of financial constraint, but also suited to more prosperous times when we need to adapt to changes in customer demand and delivery expectations.

That is exactly why we have developed AWARDS-BA³ - a completely new version of our Advanced Warehouse and Realtime Distribution System, built on the Microsoft® .NET Framework. With Office-based features, the user feels immediately comfortable with the structure of the screens and is productive on the system with little effort.

The new product has been designed and developed with direct input from existing customers - complex wholesale and distribution operations, such as Pharmaceutical and Chilled Food, where traceability is fundamental to customer service and where the business needs to know immediately when, where and why things aren't happening as they should be."

Available as a Cloud or On-Premise Solution, AWARDS-BA³ modules may be implemented from as little as €48.00 per user per month.

For more information or to find out more about the AWARDS-BA³ solution call us on +353 (0)1 827 0650 or email us at info@bds.ie.