– Many factors influenced the decision to purchase and implement a modern management support system. The company’s dynamic growth meant that the IT solutions used until then proved insufficient. The non-integrated systems functioning in the company required employees to repeat the same tasks multiple times, and when preparing consolidated reports, it involved tedious searching for and correcting errors made during multiple data entries. Reporting was therefore a laborious and time-consuming task – says Witold Waśko, Vice President of the Management Board of Śnieżka SA.
In this situation, the Management Board of Śnieżka decided to purchase an integrated ERP-class management support system that would help organize problematic issues. The choice was made after a detailed analysis of the market offer. IFS Applications was the only system among those offered that enabled solving the problems of planning all company resources, and its flexibility guaranteed efficient support for Śnieżka’s operations in the future as well.
The first stage of the implementation consisted of identifying the areas of the company requiring changes, followed by training for the Project Team from Śnieżka, who then passed on the knowledge related to system operation to other users. The implementation of the finance, manufacturing, and distribution modules was carried out simultaneously and proceeded according to the adopted schedule. In subsequent years, further functionalities were implemented: advanced production planning, a new organization of warehouse operations, and a customer relationship management system.
Currently, the following IFS Applications modules are in operation at the company: IFS Finance, IFS Manufacturing, IFS Distribution, IFS Sales and Marketing (CRM), as well as 26 barcode scanning terminals that communicate with IFS Applications via radio. The implementation of the ERP system along with the barcode terminals constitutes a complete solution that fully satisfies Śnieżka. It enables both effective production planning and fast warehouse service, which allows for reduced lead times and improved customer service quality. 320 users use the system simultaneously.
The use of the IFS Applications system has increased the responsibility of individual employees for their work. The introduction of new IT tools went most smoothly in departments that had been the least computerized, such as the warehouse. The implementation also introduced a number of beneficial changes and improvements in the finance and accounting area, with particular emphasis on management information. IFS Applications allowed for the detailing of accounting and management information regarding production processes, including the recording and settlement of production costs for products. Furthermore, fixed asset management processes were streamlined, automation was increased, and the settlement management process was accelerated.
– The greatest benefits resulting from the implementation of the IFS system are the ability to enter data into the system only once, streamlining order intake, a threefold reduction in their fulfillment time, minimization of warehouse stocks, and gaining full control over products. The previous system was unable to provide this – emphasized Michał Suszka, IT Department Manager at Śnieżka SA.