Kongskilde Industries A/S takes an important step to optimise internal processes and increase efficiency: Successfully completes IFS upgrade with support from Curit
Kongskilde Industries A/S (hereafter Kongskilde), a global player in technology and equipment for industry and agriculture, has just completed a successful upgrade of their ERP system. With support from Curit, Kongskilde upgraded their 15-year-old IFS 7.5, giving them a modern and more up-to-date system that supports the company's growth and international ambitions.
Although Kongskilde has been running IFS for many years, they felt that the leap to a new version was so big that they might as well find out if there were even better alternatives out there.
”We wanted an up-to-date ERP, we were coming from IFS 7.5, and that version started to limit the development we wanted. We started gathering knowledge and had conversations with other providers to identify which ERP system could provide us with a long-term solution,” explains Michael Olsen, IT Application Manager at Kongskilde.
The analysis confirmed that IFS is the right match for Kongskilde, and the upgrade has given Kongskilde a robust ERP system, but has also paved the way for a future-proof setup that will support the company's further development.
Go live and running with positive feedback
Go live for Kongskilde's upgrade took place in November 2024, and the feedback from users has been very positive. ”Go live took place in November, just three months ago. The initial feedback from users has been positive, especially with praise for the ease of use compared to version 7.5,” says Michael Olsen.
The upgrade has been an important milestone for Kongskilde, which is looking forward to implementing additional features that will optimise internal processes and support growth. Michael Olsen continues: ”Going forward, we expect major improvements as we have purchased several additional modules to be implemented over the next few years.”.
A solid partnership with Curit
With many years of experience and specialisation in IFS, Curit helps companies like Kongskilde ensure a smooth and efficient upgrade. The thorough expert knowledge and advice has been crucial throughout the process. ”The collaboration with Curit has been professional throughout the entire process,” says Michael Olsen from Kongskilde, emphasising how Curit's insight has helped them choose the right solution and safely complete the upgrade.
The importance of timely upgrades
Kongskilde's upgrade is a good example of how organisations should ensure they are not left with outdated systems. Upgrades, while they may seem challenging in the short term, are necessary to stay competitive and ensure all processes run efficiently.
Recognising that time had passed and the step up to the latest version had become very high, Kongskilde wanted to split the upgrade into two steps with a stopover on IFS 10 before the final step up to IFS Cloud. Fortunately, Kongskilde managed to reach an agreement with IFS at the last minute, before the 10 was discontinued.
Michael Olsen warns others that the longer the time between upgrades, the more complex and confusing it becomes, and explains that it has been crucial for Kongskilde to split the process into two steps.
More reasons to upgrade
Many companies are wary of upgrading their ERP system for fear of high costs and a complex process. But holding on to outdated technology can be a risky strategy in itself. Without upgrades, the system can become a barrier to growth and efficiency, resulting in everything from security gaps, limited functionality and poor usability. The result? Inefficient processes, lost business opportunities and risks to business growth.
One concern that often arises is the handling of historical data and ongoing orders. Many fear that an upgrade will result in the loss of important information or require risky and time-consuming data migration. With IFS, however, you can upgrade even old installations and retain historical data and open orders - without spending precious time and energy or risking data migration issues.
Acting in time not only means a better system, but also a stronger and more competitive business. The question is not whether you can afford to upgrade - but whether you can afford not to.
