K3 provides full network support for leading filing products manufacturer

K3 Business Technology Group customer Setten and Durward Limited is benefiting from total network support for its SYSPRO ERP system.

The leading independent UK manufacturer and supplier of filing products, Setten & Durward recently outsourced its complete IT management to K3 Business Technology Group (K3). This arrangement is already representing a significant saving for Setten & Durward by eradicating the need for in-house IT support and resulted in the smooth running of its integrated SYSPRO ERP 6.0 system, network and servers.

Commenting on the support service, Theresa Morris, Finance Manager, Setten and Durward, said: This is an extremely good service for us. The K3 team is very responsive and provides full support for our systems. They even manage our servers remotely, which enables us to run the business confident in the knowledge that our IT is in good hands.

Setten and Durward is taking a phased approach to implementing SYSPRO ERP, having chosen the K3 solution to replace its ageing Infoflow system. The company is using Finance and Advanced Warehouse Management modules to help provide a clear view of stock and transactions and is configuring the Manufacturing (MRP) module to provide control of the manufacturing process at its  factory in Llandrindod Wells in Wales.

SYSPRO ERP's financial capabilities streamline Setten and Durward's accounting and finance procedures. Transaction processing allows Setten and Durward to look at the current year and review performance against two earlier periods. By using the system's financial report writers the company can produce a wide range of report formats and analyses, which can be printed or viewed remotely via a Web browser.

Controlling Setten and Durward's huge stock volumes is simplified using SYSPRO ERP's Advanced Warehouse Management module. This not only provides highly accurate inventory control, it also expedites stock picking and putaway. Their SYSPRO ERP solution is dealing with two streams of product: UK manufactured and items manufactured and imported from suppliers in the Far East.

The warehouse system utilises barcode label printing and scanning. Labels are printed directly from SYSPRO ERP and warehouse personnel read these using handheld scanners. The use of the barcode label ensures that the right products are stored in the correct bins. When it comes to picking orders it means that the operator can work quickly and confidently knowing that the system will guide him or her to items that match the pick list.

Enabling efficient management of the warehouse is an important feature of the system for Setten and Durward. The company has a wide range of customers including major high street chains through to independent stockists. Therefore, orders must be picked accurately and despatched quickly to meet customer demands and maintain maximum customer satisfaction.

Howard Joseph, Managing Director K3 Business Technology Group: We have several stationery industry customers who have to deal with fast-moving product lines. We have a thorough understanding of the issues they face and we are able to share our knowledge and experience with them. At Setten and Durward we have a very interesting situation where we see our software supporting a major business that produces and supplies both UK and foreign manufactured products to a vast channel of stationery retailers. Coupled to this we are providing full network support not only for SYSPRO ERP, but also for the hardware and associated systems. This allows our customer to focus its attention on its business and not worry about IT..

We are very happy with the service provided by K3. The system supports what we do and we are looking forward to implementing the Manufacturing module, concluded Theresa Morris.

About K3 Business Technology Group

As of 6th August 2007, K3 Business Technology Group consolidated K3s existing SYSPRO operations (formerly K3 Information Engineering) and K3 McGuffie Brunton. K3 Business Technology Group employs 90 people at its Manchester head office and its branches throughout the UK and Ireland. The company offers solutions in enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management, advanced planning and scheduling, warehouse management, human resources and e-business. SYSPRO is used by some 12,000 sites across the world.

About K3 Business Technology PLC 

K3 is a global leader in providing next-generation enterprise software for businesses in the retail, manufacturing and distribution sectors. With more than 3,000 customer installations in over 30 countries, K3 is recognised as a safe, innovative and reliable provider of world-class solutions, backed by world-class service. K3 Manufacturing now comprises McGuffie Brunton, IEG and Kewill ERPs division (acquired in 2000), with sales of some 15m, and 1,000 customers in over 30 countries.