Upgrading EMS for CARTERS
The Client
CARTERS is New Zealand's go-to choice for building supplies and services, known for delivering trade quality solutions that builders trust. They specialise in supporting commercial, residential, joinery, and rural projects with standout services like Frame & Truss Manufacturing, Estimating & Detailing, Joinery Supplies, and Account Management.
The Challenge
CARTERS hit a critical point with their tech:
- Their ERP system was nearing the end of its support life, posing a huge risk to business operations.
- Just one day offline could result in multimillion-dollar losses.
- A feature in their Estimate Management System (EMS) was underperforming during the transition to Dynamics FinOps, threatening to throw off the project timeline.
- Off-the-shelf solutions demanded workarounds, dragging out estimate preparation and potentially eroding their competitive edge in a fast-paced industry.
- They needed a user-focused, custom solution to enhance the EMS without derailing their ERP upgrade, crucial for maintaining their market leadership.
The Journey
We joined forces with CARTERS to fast-track the creation and integration of custom EMS, perfectly timed to meet their go-live deadline and surpassing the constraints of generic solutions. Here’s how we made it happen:
- We jumped right in, shadowing jobs and conducting user interviews to quickly grasp the intricacies of CARTERS' estimating workflow.
- By embracing agile methodologies, we adopted a just-in-time approach to requirements and delivery, staying nimble and efficient.
- Throughout the project, we focused on ensuring it was on track and responsive to user feedback, while boosting CARTERS' competitive edge.
The Solution
Enlighten Designs implemented a lean agile approach to deliver a comprehensive Application Modernisation solution in the cloud. This strategy not only addressed CARTERS' immediate needs but also positioned them for future scalability and technological advancement.
The solution featured:
- A cloud-based Application Modernisation approach, transforming the legacy EMS into a modern, scalable, and efficient system.
- Cutting-edge cloud technologies:
- Azure Function Apps for serverless compute
- Azure Cosmos DB for globally distributed, multi-model database services
- Azure Data Factory for fully managed, serverless data integration
- Adobe Document Generation APIs for dynamic document creation
- Azure Static Web Apps for globally distributed static web hosting
- React for building a dynamic user interface
- Custom-built features designed to streamline the estimation process, eliminating the need for time-consuming workarounds.
- Cloud-native architecture ensuring high availability, scalability, and disaster recovery capabilities, mitigating the risk of costly system downtime.
This cloud-based Application Modernisation approach allowed CARTERS to leverage the full potential of modern cloud services, ensuring their critical EMS was not only up to date but also future-proofed against evolving technological and business needs. The collaborative, multi-vendor approach ensured that the solution benefited from a wide range of expertise while remaining tightly aligned with CARTERS' specific requirements.
The Results
The upgraded EMS has been successfully delivered, meeting CARTERS' critical requirements. While specific metrics are confidential, the project's success is evident in:
- Significantly improved user experience, enabling CARTERS' team to work more efficiently without the need for time-consuming workarounds.
- Accelerated delivery of estimates, enhancing CARTERS' responsiveness to client needs and reinforcing their competitive advantage.
- Seamless integration with other systems, creating a cohesive technological ecosystem.
- Timely delivery, ensuring no disruption to CARTERS' broader ERP upgrade initiative.
- Client satisfaction with the sophisticated, user-friendly estimate management capabilities tailored to their specific needs.
