Challenge
The problem? Orbital Fabrications is not a large business. Family-owned, it had at that point just 45 employees, with sales revenues of just under £6 million. What was required, the company soon realised, was an affordable system that offered the capabilities that it needed, without imposing a significant implementation and administration burden on the business.
“As we began our search, it was something of a shock to discover the number of providers in the marketplace – and the cost, and complexity, of the systems that were on offer,” says Graham. “We wanted to do the job properly, and soon realised that it was going to take a long time to investigate every option.”
In fact, he relates, it was to be over a year before a shortlist of three providers emerged, one of which was Exel Computer Systems, with its EFACS E/8 ERP system. Beginning in September 2017, detailed discussions began with each provider, with demonstrations arranged so that Orbital’s management could see each system in operation.
“All the systems were very similar in terms of pricing and support contracts and so on,” says Graham. “But there was one clear winner – Exel Computer Systems, with EFACS E/8. And so, in August 2018, we signed the contract.”