QBCon signs biggest Agricultural Co-Op in Africa
Quality Business Consultants were contracted to supply AFGRI Producer Services’ with an ERP solution. The brief was to integrate the newly acquired business (Natal Cooperative limited and Lowveld Cooperative) with the current business, traditionally known as OTK. One of the main objectives was to ensure that total integration was done, and to ensure that the system could provide solutions from purchasing and inventory management, to retail solutions that include barter deals. The brief also involved having to replace outdated mainframe system and cut IT costs significantly.
Enterprise resource planning systems (ERP’s) have become essential to business success, and no company is more aware of the impact an effective, integrated system can have on a business. QBCon, who for the last 14 years, have been honing its skills as an expert in this field.
QBCon was given a tight time-frame in which to implement the system, and delivered on due date. “Implementing an entirely new system without losing any of the history and allowing the customer to continue his normal business without a single day’s loss of trading, was probably the greatest achievement. What makes it more remarkable is that many of the business processes had to be changed to ensure that all the business units operated in the same manner. This required some major customisation to the original system with the result that AFGRI now has a system uniquely attuned to their business model,” says Gustav Piater, marketing director, QBCon.
"Because we are a development house that has extensive knowledge in the agricultural environment, we were able to provide AFGRI with a system that is customised according to their specific needs," continues Piater. "Our aim is always to add value to our clients’ existing offerings and Progress is the ideal platform from which to do so."
According to Rick Parry, managing director, Progress Software SA “The growing popularity of on-demand applications has been driven by the flexibility these products provide to budget- and resource-constrained IT departments, allowing them to use technologies their organisations need, but could not afford to deploy in the past.” “One of the most extenuating arguments for this technology is that it is very robust, very easy to use and results in a low cost of ownership for the agricultural and retail market, which is essentially very cost conscious.”
Parry continues, “As a result of this transaction, AFGRI has become our single largest customer. It makes the company very important to Progress, and, it puts QBCon in poll position in the agricultural Software market.”
“QBCon’s knowledge and experience of the agricultural world made the whole process smooth and hassle free.” Francois Steyl, Project Manager, AFGRI.
Steyl attributes the success of the project to the relationship between AFGRI, QBCon and Progress, and points out that it was the way in which the various teams worked together with transparent communication channels that streamlined the process. “Partnerships and communication is very important,” he says, “and QBCon and Progress were at all times willing to go the extra mile.” He goes on to say, “Above and beyond all of this, the entire process from conception to roll-out was successfully executed within a year – this to me is the greatest success of all.” The entire project was initiated and completed within 12 months.
QBCon signs biggest Agricultural Co-Op in Africa
Quality Business Consultants were contracted to supply AFGRI Producer Services’ with an ERP solution. The brief was to integrate the newly acquired business (Natal Cooperative limited and Lowveld Cooperative) with the current business, traditionally known as OTK. One of the main objectives was to ensure that total integration was done, and to ensure that the system could provide solutions from purchasing and inventory management, to retail solutions that include barter deals. The brief also involved having to replace outdated mainframe system and cut IT costs significantly.
Enterprise resource planning systems (ERP’s) have become essential to business success, and no company is more aware of the impact an effective, integrated system can have on a business. QBCon, who for the last 14 years, have been honing its skills as an expert in this field.
QBCon was given a tight time-frame in which to implement the system, and delivered on due date. “Implementing an entirely new system without losing any of the history and allowing the customer to continue his normal business without a single day’s loss of trading, was probably the greatest achievement. What makes it more remarkable is that many of the business processes had to be changed to ensure that all the business units operated in the same manner. This required some major customisation to the original system with the result that AFGRI now has a system uniquely attuned to their business model,” says Gustav Piater, marketing director, QBCon.
"Because we are a development house that has extensive knowledge in the agricultural environment, we were able to provide AFGRI with a system that is customised according to their specific needs," continues Piater. "Our aim is always to add value to our clients’ existing offerings and Progress is the ideal platform from which to do so."
According to Rick Parry, managing director, Progress Software SA “The growing popularity of on-demand applications has been driven by the flexibility these products provide to budget- and resource-constrained IT departments, allowing them to use technologies their organisations need, but could not afford to deploy in the past.” “One of the most extenuating arguments for this technology is that it is very robust, very easy to use and results in a low cost of ownership for the agricultural and retail market, which is essentially very cost conscious.”
Parry continues, “As a result of this transaction, AFGRI has become our single largest customer. It makes the company very important to Progress, and, it puts QBCon in poll position in the agricultural Software market.”
“QBCon’s knowledge and experience of the agricultural world made the whole process smooth and hassle free.” Francois Steyl, Project Manager, AFGRI.
Steyl attributes the success of the project to the relationship between AFGRI, QBCon and Progress, and points out that it was the way in which the various teams worked together with transparent communication channels that streamlined the process. “Partnerships and communication is very important,” he says, “and QBCon and Progress were at all times willing to go the extra mile.” He goes on to say, “Above and beyond all of this, the entire process from conception to roll-out was successfully executed within a year – this to me is the greatest success of all.” The entire project was initiated and completed within 12 months.