Friday 5th January 2006, ADP Commercial Systems, Hungerford, UK
Lawsons (Whetstone) Ltd, one of the largest independent Builders’ Merchants in the UK, have signed a deal with ADP Commercial Systems to migrate their current IT solution to K8 – the leading trading and financial software package for the building supplies and distribution industry.
The Need For Change
Lawsons operate across 15 branches, spread throughout the south east of England, and are rated as the 17th largest Builders’ Merchants in the UK*. They have doubled in size in the last 3 years and aim to continue to grow into the future.
“We recognised that, as our company has grown significantly, in recent years, we have had to take a different approach as to how we conduct and manage the business,” explains Jeremy Norris, IT Director at Lawsons. “As we move forward, it is important that we are able to enjoy the same level of system resilience we have had in the past. However, we need to increase our levels of management control whilst at the same time capitalising on new innovations and technologies so that we can further increase our service levels and offerings to our customers.”
The Decision Making Process
Lawsons have been running KITE Revision 7 software, from ADP Commercial Systems*, for 7 years, but took the decision to review their IT based on their successful growth, their future plans and their need to have a modern software environment capable of dealing with the demands of the market place. “Rev 7 has served us well, providing us with the technology needed to get us to where we are today,” comments Jeremy. “However, we now have to think about the future and how our IT can influence our growth in the coming years.”
Over the last 12 months, Lawsons have been evaluating all of the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions in the market place: for suitability with the business, scalability, robustness, efficiency and future-proofing. After a thorough review process, Lawsons made the decision to continue its relationship with ADP Commercial Systems and migrate to K8.
“We have worked with ADP Commercial Systems (then Kerridge, before the ADP buy-out) for many years and have enjoyed a strong and beneficial working relationship with their team throughout,” explained Jeremy. “However, this, alone, was not enough to take such a big step. Our final decision literally came down to two things: 1) that the solution would be the ‘best-of-breed’ in terms of helping to drive our business forward; and 2) to ensure thatthe provider of the solution had a solid product roadmap and was financially stable and secure, in order to continue to support the product into the future. After all, an investment of this size is a huge commitment – you have to be 100% sure that you are making the right decision for your business, not just for today, but for tomorrow.”
Ian Bendelow, Business Development Director, ADP Commercial Systems, comments “we are delighted that Lawsons have selected K8 as their ‘platform of choice’. Together, the two companies have enjoyed a close working relationship for some time. ADP Commercial Systems looks forward to continuing to support Lawsons in pursuit of their current and aspirational business needs for many years to come.”
ADP Commercial Systems – Not Just Software
In addition to the migration to K8, Lawsons are also taking advantage of a number of additional services that ADP Commercial Systems offer.
Jeremy Norris comments, “ADP’s offering stretches beyond software. They have a comprehensive portfolio of services stretching from hardware (Desktops, Laptops, Servers, Printers etc.) and Managed Network Services e.g. WAN (Wide Area Network) through to Disaster Recovery and IP Telephony. As such, they clearly differentiate themselves from the rest of market, not simply with a best-of-breed software solution, that they undoubtedly have with K8, but also in their breadth of end-to-end services.”
* According to the results of the Professional Builders’ Merchant top 20 chart – January 2007.
** Formerly Kerridge Commercial Systems, until the buy-out by ADP in December 2005.
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ADP Commercial Systems
ADP Commercial Systems (formally Kerridge Commercial Systems, until the acquisition of Kerridge Computer Company, in December 2005, by ADP Dealer Services International) is a market leader in the development and provision of trading and financial software environments for specialist Distribution, Wholesale, Importing, Merchant and Retail industry sectors.
With 30 years experience, ADP Commercial Systems and its flagship product, K8, has the knowledge, expertise and proven track-record to fulfil customers' IT requirements, allowing them to focus on their core business issues.
From single- or multi-branch operations, through to 'point-of-sale' showrooms and warehouses; ADP Commercial Systems aims to provide a business solution geared, primarily, towards helping customers:
• increase profit potential;
• improve efficiency;
• reduce cost;
• provide superior customer service; and
• gain visibility and control across their organisation.
Ultimately, ADP Commercial Systems' K8 solution has been developed to assist customers 'Create Their Business Advantage'.
ADP Inc. is one of the largest providers of computerised transaction processing and information-based business solutions (including Web-based solutions) in the world. Currently positioned number 271 in the Fortune 500, with a turnover in excess of $8.4bn per annum, ADP Inc employs over 42,000 staff across the globe.
If you have any queries or would like any further information, please contact:
John McCann
Marketing and PR Manager
ADP Commercial Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1488 688800
Email: john_mccann@adp.com
NOTE: This press release was issued whilst the organisation was still trading as Kerridge Computer Company.
