SME manufacturers’ software solutions need not be packaged

SME manufacturers can now get software solutions that better match their business requirements – and at a better price – by not going to the packaged ERP vendors. So says Adrian McNay, managing director of £17.4 million Touchstone, which provides a portfolio of systems to suit a fairly wide range of requirements. “There are companies that can get a 99% fit with some customisation from an ‘out of the box’ solution, but most can’t,” he says. “There’s always a delta to be filled, and most manufacturers now know that no-one packaged software vendor can provide a full solution from one suite.” He insists that technology is enabling easy integration of best of breed solutions that, hitherto, was simply cost prohibitive. “We bring those together by putting an integration wrapper around them,” he explains, “and it means users get a better fit.” “So our approach is to talk about the business and issues, look at working practices and workflows and adopt some best practices – with consulting at day rates geared to the SME market. Then, and only then, do we dip into our product portfolio.” As for that portfolio, Touchstone’s core ERP system is Microsoft Dynamic GP (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains), while CRM (customer relationship management) is Microsoft CRM 3, Pivotal or SalesLogix. Meanwhile, financial management is Microsoft Dynamics GP or Systems Union Sun Systems. Then procurement is Proactis or iPOS from Professional Associates in Australia; document management is the Wisdom suite; and business intelligence is Microsoft Business Scorecard and MIS from Systems Union. Touchstone is now aiming its services at light manufacturing organisations with subassembly, subcontract work, packaging and distribution operations.