About VT Industries
Established in 1956, VT Industries is an American manufacturer specialized in the production of architectural wood doors, countertops, and laminate panels. Over the decades, the company has grown into a trusted name in manufacturing, known for its commitment to quality, durability, and sustainability.
Challenges Faced
VT Industries faced a significant challenge with the lengthy lead times required for customisations from IFS. Although the company aspired to support the ERP system internally, it lacked the requisite expertise to do so effectively.
Additionally, VT Industries had embarked on numerous projects that exceeded its in-house capacity, placing further strain on available resources.
To overcome these obstacles, the organisation adopted an extended team model. This enabled them to bring in expert IFS technical consultants support project planning and execution, which proved essential in managing their ambitious 2 to 3 year roadmap.
The collaboration
The initial partnership between VT Industries and Creative Software was established with a clear objective: to “upgrade everything from IFS App10 to IFS Cloud.” This comprehensive scope included customisations, configurations, event actions, reporting, and permissions.
The project commenced with a single team member and gradually evolved into a dedicated team of experienced IFS Technical Consultants. These experts brought specialised knowledge and demonstrated remarkable adaptability to take on evolving roles and responsibilities, which proved instrumental to the project’s success.
The collaboration approach:
Creative Software’s team of IFS Technical Consultants worked in close partnership with VT Industries, complementing internal teams and enabling knowledge transfer.
- Proactive Delivery: The team ensured on-time project milestones and introduced innovative solutions that improved workflows and system performance.
- Seamless Integration: By working collaboratively with VT Industries, the team integrated into the company culture, fostering alignment and trust throughout the project.
Technical expertise and solutions:
Creative Software’s in-depth IFS knowledge assists VT Industries with the following services:
- IFS Cloud Upgrade: Enhancing custom code and configurations to align with IFS Cloud standards, while uplifting reports to ensure functionality and compatibility within the upgraded system.
- IFS Developments & Integrations: Customising IFS Objects, implementing IFS Customisations, and developing IFS Reports using Report Designer and Crystal Reports. Additionally, integrating IFS with external applications via IFS Connect or REST connections, in line with the latest IFS architecture.
- IFS Customisations & Reports: Designing and modifying custom objects and functionalities to meet specific business needs, as well as developing detailed, customised reports using IFS Report Designer and Crystal Reports.
- Performance Management: Regular monitoring and optimisation of system performance to ensure reliability and operational efficiency.
- Problem Management: Proactively identifying and addressing potential issues to minimise disruptions.
- Incident Management: Swiftly resolving incidents to maintain business continuity.
- Security Management: Implementing robust security measures and best practices to safeguard system data and control access.
Collaboration Highlights
- Ongoing upgrade from IFS Applications 10 to IFS Cloud that is approaching its final stages.
- Seamless updates and improved performance through alignment of custom code with IFS standards and report updates.
- Streamlined workflows and enhanced data flow via custom solutions and external integrations.
- Increased productivity and detailed insights through tailored objects and reports.
- Improved system reliability, minimised disruptions, and enhanced data protection through proactive monitoring, incident response, and security management.