Early TROPOS go-live unleashes Fox’s benefits

Accelerated deployment of a TROPOS ERP system from SSI enabled Fox’s Confectionery to beat a key deadline and enjoy additional benefits earlier than expected.

The Leicester-based manufacturer of Glacier Mints and other popular sweets had an end-August target for shutting down its earlier system, provided by its former parent company. SSI had the new 25-user system ready for go-live in record time, facilitating a switch-over three months inside the deadline.

The solution includes a TROPOS browser, White Paper Printing, Application Designer, Active Workflow, and Business Information Templates. Also in the contract were CODA Financials, Cognos, Crystal Reports and two servers. The system is managed remotely by SSI’s Managed Services Division.

Fox’s Confectionery finance director Peter Roberts was very conscious of the amount of work involved in replacing a full ERP system in such a short timescale. “Staff from both Fox’s Confectionery and SSI on the project team were committed and highly motivated to meet the deadlines. They achieved it, having put in a great deal of time and effort to ensure everything went smoothly. Live running on the new system did identify some areas for further review but overall, it was very successful.

“Big Bear Ltd. is the company formed by the management buy-in that acquired Fox’s Confectionery. We plan to grow through both organic development and a series of further acquisitions, which we will now be able to bring on board and integrate more easily within our new business processes”.
 
SSI managing director Trevor Lewis says the Fox’s deployment went particularly well. “They were already experienced ERP users, so for us it was a case of replacing the existing legacy system and providing a modern system to meet the increasing challenges as the business grows.”

TROPOS gives Fox’s Confectionery an integrated interface with its external sales agency, Food Brokers. This provides faster, more accurate input for production planning and profit forecasts. Reports that used to be prepared manually each month are now updated daily.

Lewis says: “TROPOS is designed around the individual’s role in a food manufacturer, and fully integrated with desktop applications. This means users manage the information in the way they want to use it - TROPOS does the rest.”

FOX’S CONFECTIONERY IMAGES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM lynne.hughes@ssi-world.com
 
NOTES FOR EDITORS

SSI
SSI specialises in the implementation and lifecycle support of web-optimised manufacturing and supply chain solutions for process manufacturers.

SSI is the developer of the class-leading TROPOS ERP solution, selected by many companies in the food and drink, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and mill based manufacturing sectors. ‘Lean’ discrete manufacturers also benefit from reduced lead times by using the TROPOS demand-pull model.

SSI offers end-to-end supply chain solutions including inventory optimisation, advanced planning, data collection systems and business intelligence solutions.

To complement its application solutions, SSI provides all the services required for lifecycle support with a single point of responsibility: project management, application implementation support, hosted application services, hosted web collaboration, remote managed services, bespoke systems development, systems integration, web development and technical consultancy.

Since 1982, SSI has been providing competitive advantage to a client base operating in the mid market, from independent companies to subsidiaries of multinational, including: Adams Pork Products, Gala Coffee & Tea, G&J Greenall, Burn Stewart Distillers, Morrison Bowmore,  Saxbys,  St Ivel, Sundora, Cauldron Foods,  Giles Foods, James T Blakeman, Ian Macleod & Co and Kettle Produce.

SSI came to market in 2000 via a reverse takeover of the AIM-quoted Chelford Group.

Contact: Neville Merritt, Sales and Marketing Director, 01256 685296 neville.merritt@ssi-world.com

www.ssi-world.com

TROPOS™ is a registered trademark of Strategic Systems International Ltd. SSI believes that the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date; such information is subject to change without notice. SSI is not responsible for any inadvertent errors      
Copyright 2004 Strategic Systems International Ltd