It comes as no surprise to learn that The Access Group is listed as one of the top five, fastest-growing UK software developers by the Sunday Times. With more than 10,000 UK organisations using their solutions, they provide an integrated platform that spans everything from finance to ERP, HR, payroll, business intelligence, professional service automation, manufacturing and warehousing. Of course, even the most comprehensive platforms need to include best-of-breed specialist solutions for highly complex functions, such as advanced planning and scheduling. That’s why Access has teamed with Production Modelling to incorporate their Orchestrate suite of planning and scheduling solutions within Access SupplyChain.
“We have always provided advanced planning and scheduling within our supply chain offering,” explains Neil Rushby, Supply Chain Divisional Manager at Access Group, “and because of the very specialised nature of the planning process we have been using one of the best known proprietary solutions in the market. Nevertheless, we were always looking to see if we could improve our offering, particularly in terms of the ease and speed with which planning and scheduling can be tailored to each client’s specific needs and mode of operation. “So, when we learned of Production Modelling’s Orchestrate - and its many blue chip users - from a newly recruited Account Manager, we decided to evaluate the product.”
The Access team admits to being bowled over at the first meeting and demonstration, particularly by the product’s tailor-ability and ease of use. So much so that they asked one of their own experts to spend a day with the Production Modelling team to tease out any hidden complications. “There weren’t any,” says Neil, “so we decided to test it in a customised demonstration to a food manufacturing prospect. They signed up after that single demonstration. It really does have rich functionality.”
“Orchestrate has been written for ease of integration as well as ease of use. Our initial cut at database-level integration took just one day, then just a couple of days to enhance.”
“After that first day, though, the level of integration was more extensive than with our former solution. With core integration complete, we are now able to get Orchestrate up and running with a client within an hour. Another real strength of Orchestrate is the way it allows users to determine how they wish to input information, which gives them so much more confidence. Previously that would have required programmer intervention. Unlike our previous solution, which was sold through resellers, we can now work directly with the developers at Production Modelling, who have extensive experience in planning and scheduling. They are always very willing to solve non-standard requirements, extending functionality to allow complex or unique scenarios to be delivered.”
Access has implemented the solution within two clients already, a food company and an engineering company with a number of prospects in the pipeline. Although Orchestrate is initially being focused within Access’s Supply Chain market, the company has a strategy to roll the solution out to other customers who are using their finance product. Orchestrate can offer these customers all the power and benefits of advanced planning and scheduling, and material management, even in the absence of a full ERP system.
Last word goes to Mike Straiton, Director at Production Modelling: “We've always known that Orchestrate is a very functionally rich and flexible product but it’s heartening to have it endorsed by Access Group, who have many years' experience and deep expertise in planning and scheduling. Our combined knowledge will help us to forge even stronger solutions for customers.”
