Working closely with South African budgeting and forecasting software developer IDU Software, Synergy Computing has provided a solution to tools and hardware warehousing and distribution organisation Matus.
A division of Brandcorp, Matus is a wholesaler and distributor of hand tools, power tools, garden tools, compressors, generators, air tools, welders and welding accessories. Brands distributed include Gedore, Mobi Jack automotive products, Raco hand and garden tools, Hitachi power tools, MTS hand tools, Sykes-Pickavant automotive products, Groz engineering products and Dari compressors.
According to Matus financial director Lorna Hutley, the company had previously been using Excel for its budgeting and forecasting requirements. However, as a company with a turnover of R463 million per annum, with up to 22 000 line items, Excel had reached its limitations.
"With Excel, the problem is that we have varying spreads for various products and with so many different formulas, it becomes easy to make a mistake. This resulted in management spending hours and hours trying to correct problems. That situation led to the financial department seeking a more viable alternative," says Hutley.
Engaging with Synergy Computing to find an appropriate solution, the company was introduced to IDU Software's product range, including the idu-Concept core module, idu-Budget and idu-MIS. These tools are designed to streamline the budget and forecast capture and reporting process, reducing the cycle from months to weeks. The system accommodates multiple companies, currencies and hierarchies as well as both budget and forecast fiscal sets, which, although residing within the same system, exist completely independent of each other.
Comments Bruce Harris, business development manager at Synergy Computing: "idu-Concept was particularly attractive to Matus as it is a locally developed, rand-priced solution. It's also easy to use, which was important to the company - not all its branch managers are advanced computer users," he says.
With a desire to extend responsibility for budgeting and forecasting further into the organisation, the Web-based architecture of idu-Concept made it the ideal solution.
Says Hutley: "We want to empower end-users at the branch level to be responsible for their own regions, yet have an integrated data store at the head office which can be used for reporting purposes. Idu-Concept offered just the solution - it has been easy to roll-out, and offers highly segmented budgeting and forecasting. Additionally, we can very easily compare sales against budgets and targets to rapidly identify trends, successes and problem areas," she explains.
Using the IDU tools, Hutley says it is now easier for the company to monitor month to date sales performance because there is a facility to input remarks explaining why certain targets aren't being achieved or are better than target. "With the information updated live on the Web site, management can immediately observe performance and take the necessary steps where appropriate," she explains.
Continuing, Hutley says the company was particularly pleased to find a solution that is designed and built in SA. "This has been particularly beneficial to us; we have found the IDU help-desk to be very efficient and willing to assist rapidly to sort out any hassles. And because it is a local business, the product has been designed with the South African way of doing business in mind; as such, it offers functionality that is not available in other packages."
The developers are even willing to include further functionality in the product. "I requested additional features, and IDU said they would include these in a future release; or if I needed it urgently, they would programme it an extra charge. I was impressed with the ease with which I could speak directly to the software maker, and their willingness to assist," states Hutley.
IDU Software MD Kevin Phillips says development of its products is an evolutionary process. "We welcome the input of our customers for the direction of the product. In most cases, additional functionality adds to the appeal of the products, especially where the changes are generic."
Using the software package has given Matus the ability to manage its business better, with more detailed financial information immediately available. "Expenses will be much easier to monitor in future since we are now using one tool to see was has happened over the financial period and year to date, rather than having to pull up prior reports to see why there are variances.
"This product can go very far in our business, and we expect it will turn out to be a lot more than just a budgeting tool when the implementation is finished," she concludes.
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