Eaton Electric ApS (hereinafter Eaton) upgraded IFS Applications from 7.5 to the latest update of IFS Applications 10 in early summer last year. Curit was responsible for the upgrade, which, in addition to an upgrade of the ERP system itself, also meant an upgrade of Eaton's scanner solution, which was a few years old. "Eaton has developed a lot in the many years since they last upgraded IFS Applications, so it was only natural to upgrade to a level where they could utilise all the new features.
In addition to the new functionalities, the upgrade also resulted in a new and more intuitive user interface in IFS Applications 10, where searching and navigating the system has become more dynamic, which is one of the first things Plant Manager in Vejle, Peter Hyldgaard, mentions when we talk to him: ”In general, I think the user interface has become much better. It's easier to get around the system and more intuitive.”
For Eaton, the leap between versions of IFS has been a big one, and therefore there has been a lot that almost felt new to users, even though it is actually the same ERP system, just in new and improved colours. It was difficult to determine in advance how big the change would actually be and therefore how much time should be allocated to testing. However, Peter Hyldgaard believes that, in retrospect, it would have been beneficial to spend more time on test scenarios, as this would have resulted in fewer frustrations after go-live, but also mentions that, despite a few bumps in the road, they have not had any problems that have prevented them from running their business. ”I think we could have had a smoother transition if we had gone through several different test scenarios, but I still think the balance between the test phase and go-live can be incredibly difficult to get just right, so it's hard to say what would have been perfect.”
And it is precisely change that is in focus when Peter Hyldgaard is asked what advice he can give to others who are thinking about upgrading. ”Make sure you also focus on the change that a new ERP system or a radical upgrade can bring. Even though we've stayed with IFS and ’only’ upgraded, there have been many changes over the years, especially in the user experience, which means it takes time for users to get used to the system.”
Eaton has also upgraded their scanner solution to be compatible with the new version of IFS. The scanner solution is used at Eaton especially in shipping, where there is a lot of picking of many small component parts, which is why they historically had a scanner solution that was customised for Eaton and the ERP system at the time. Since then, however, Curit has developed a new version of the scanner solution: Curit Warehouse Solution. In connection with the upgrade, this has been fine-tuned to Eaton's needs, so they now have a new scanner solution that has been streamlined based on the input from the warehouse staff who use the tool on a daily basis.
Going forward, Curit and Eaton will continue to work closely together through operational support and further development so that the solution evolves in line with Eaton's business needs.
Eaton Electric ApS was established back in 1976 and develops and manufactures low and medium voltage electrical products. The company produces switchboard systems, transformers, circuit breakers and switchgear for the industrial, utility and residential sectors.