Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software, said it has been signed up by UAE-based alkhalij enterprises to deploy its Epicor ERP across the company’s 13 locations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

Alkhalij enterprises is a leading distributor of industrial spare parts and maintenance products.

Epicor ERP helps manufacturers harness data and automation to stay productive and profitable.

With its robust workflows, Epicor ERP said it has enabled alkhalij enterprises to automate business processes and implement industry best practices across departments, said a statement from the company.

These improvements have had a significant impact on the organisation, most notably in procurement and shipping.

Improved processes for ordering and receiving materials and managing expiry dates for several products like lubricants and welding equipment, which has reduced materials wastage and inventory costs, it said.

Implementing Epicor ERP has also enabled alkhalij enterprises to eradicate shipment errors and significantly improve on-time delivery and customer satisfaction. Finally, due in large part to Epicor ERP, the company has been able to apply for, and achieve, ISO 9001:2015 certification, it added.

Kapil Bhatia, director of operations and business development at alkhalij enterprises, said: “Epicor ERP met 75 per cent of our business needs right out of the box. This was a game changer, because our previous ‘closed-box’ environment meant we were reliant on the vendor for even the smallest customisations.”

“So, the fact that Epicor ERP allows us to easily customise the solution for last-mile functionality, was a key factor for us,” he said.

“A further major advantage of the solution is that it is very intuitive and easy to navigate, something that was important given that everyone in the company—from the warehouse to the back office—needed to be comfortable with using the solution. Finally, as with most IT investments, cost is a major factor and Epicor provided the best value for our business,” he added.

Hesham El Komy, VP for Middle East, Africa and India, Epicor, said: "Tight inventory control and dispatch are arguably the two biggest critical success factors for any distribution business."

"To stay relevant, in the face of competition from larger regional and international companies, local small-to-medium size business (SMB) distributors can no longer afford to rely on archaic, manual processes for these critical functions," he stated.

“Alkhalij enterprises is a great example of a forward-thinking local SMB that has recognised the importance of technology as a business enabler. Investing in a modern ERP platform will give the company the confidence to focus on business strategy, rather than business processes, to grow profitably,” added El Komy. – TradeArabia News Service