Exel Computer Systems Celebrates 25 Years
1985 was a great year for technology. The first mobile phone call was made in the UK, the first .com website name was registered, Microsoft launched a new program called Windows Version 1.0, CDs were launched to the public and Exel Computer Systems launched their first version of EFACS.
Sir Clive Sinclair launched the Sinclair C5, but letʼs not dwell on that for too long.
Exel Computer Systems was formed in 1985 by Dr John Ellis, who is still Chairman of the company today. John recognised a distinct market need for capacity planning systems whilst working on research projects at PERA. This led to the development of the first version of EFACS, a Unix and Informix based software solution for capacity planning and manufacturing.
During the early 1990s Exel moved to their current head office at Bothe Hall, Long Eaton, Nottingham, where they have continued to develop, support and grow the EFACS product in line with industry and client needs within the manufacturing sector.
The EFACS solution started to make significant moves in the market and really hit the headlines for manufacturing companies when, in 1997, they moved EFACS onto a Windows platform, and by 2003 Exel were utilising the latest technological advances by launching a browser-based, platform independent version of EFACS.
During the past 25 years Exel have supplied some of the best known manufacturing companies worldwide such as Royal Crown Derby, Naim Audio, TT Group, Selex Communications, SCA Packaging, Laura Ashley and Magellan Aerospace. These companies span many diverse industries and operate around the world.
Over the years EFACS has grown from a capacity planning and production solution into a fully integrated, browser-based and wideranging business system, incorporating full ERP, Financials, CRM, Document Management, Business Intelligence, Workflow and Mobile Applications.
Exel are continually developing and expanding the range of functionality within their solutions and 2009 saw the launch of Eagle Field Service, aimed at companies with a remote user or field engineer requirement. This has been followed by the launch of EFACS Enterprise which runs on an Oracle platform offering integration between EFACS and the powerful suite of Oracle applications.
As testimony to Exelʼs success, many of their earliest, Unix-based customers have upgraded to the new browser-based version in order to benefit from Exelʼs investment in technology and the new features available. One such customer is Renold Gears who have been running the Unix version since 1991 and are in the process of implementing the latest version incorporating capacity planning, MRP, product configurator, document management and workflow modules.
Today Exel have sold in excess of 650 systems around the world, but the secret to their great success lies wholly with being a technology led Software Author…which is as true today as it was 25 years ago.
What our Customers say…
“The added value that EFACS has brought matches the development aspirations of the company. I couldnʼt imagine going back to what we had before.”
Stainless Steel Fasteners
“We couldnʼt do what we do now without EFACS.” Magellan Aerospace
“As a system, thereʼs nothing weʼve asked of it that itʼs said no to.”
Bankside Patterson
“From accounts through stock control, from traceability through to real time production control, it was immediately apparent that EFACS was the system that stood out as meeting all of our needs.” Martin Aerospace
“The EFACS system has helped transform Royal Crown Derby into a company providing one of the best service levels in the industry and enjoying good retail growth. Itʼs given us great competitive edge, because none of our competitors has a system anything like it.” Royal Crown Derby
“In short, we couldnʼt have got to where we are today without EFACS.” Naim
