Download PDF

Sage > Case Studies > Sonnax Industries Modernizes and Enhances Customer Service With Sage ERP X3

Sonnax Industries Modernizes and Enhances Customer Service With Sage ERP X3

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Applicable Functions

Discrete Manufacturing
Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Demand Planning & Forecasting
Supply Chain Visibility

Services

System Integration

The Challenge

Sonnax Industries, a Vermont-based company that designs, produces, and supplies components to the automatic transmission aftermarket, was facing challenges with its nearly decade-old enterprise software. The software was struggling to keep up with the company's steady growth and meet the requirements for fast turnaround of more than 40,000 shipments a year. Sonnax knew that the system would not be able to handle the increased demand for aftermarket parts that it saw coming in the next decade or process orders quickly enough to keep its customers satisfied. Updating the system to the current version would require a major investment in hardware, software, and integration. Therefore, Sonnax decided to look for alternatives and replace the system with new technology.

About The Customer

Sonnax Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of components to the automatic transmission aftermarket. The company is based in Bellows Falls, Vermont, and employs around 200 people. Sonnax utilizes a unique collaborative professional network of design engineers, technical experts, and shop technicians to analyze mechanical problems in existing units and respond to them with innovative, durable, cost-effective replacement parts. The company has built its reputation on quality and customer service. Its 800 customers nationwide depend on fast delivery of replacement parts to get their customers’ cars out of the shop and back on the road as quickly as possible.

The Solution

Sonnax contracted a consultant from the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to determine the best enterprise solution for its business. VMEC recommended using an enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business software planning site that helps businesses select the right system and provides up-to-date, objective software data for businesses. Sage ERP X3 was identified as the solution that met Sonnax’s requirements for tight integration, ease of configuration, and advanced functionality. Unlike many enterprise software packages that consist of separate products bolted together from different sources, Sage ERP X3 offers tightly integrated applications that provide a quick turnaround for customer inquiries and ensure that an order is ready to ship within no more than six hours after receipt.

Operational Impact

Sage ERP X3 gives Sonnax a competitive edge with its advanced pricing functionality. For example, the Sage ERP X3 product contains robust pricing functionality that calculates prices and discounts at multiple levels.
With Sage ERP X3, Sonnax’ business processes are now streamlined and automated, enabling its staff to process order entry inquiries in real time; check product availability, determining available-to-promise dates; and customer credit status while speaking with the customer on the phone.
These tools are decreasing the order cycle time while providing their customers the same quality service to which they are accustomed.