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Haws Corporation Jumpstarts Its Data Discovery with Microsoft Dynamics AX and QlikView
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Applicable Functions
- Discrete Manufacturing
- Sales & Marketing
Use Cases
- Manufacturing System Automation
- Inventory Management
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
In 2008, Haws Corporation was facing significant business concerns that led to the need for a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The company moved to a Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system in 2009, but found that the system did not deliver the Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities it needed. With data visibility challenges into sales orders, profit margins and inventory costs, and backlogs not being measured efficiently, Haws needed a better BI solution. Further, sales and finance departments solely depended on individuals like Jim Martin, Database Administrator, to build the reports they needed within their departments. As a result, Martin spent the majority of his time creating reports, which required significant time and resource investment. To keep up with competitors and the commoditization of the drinking fountain industry, Haws needed to continue its overall company growth by maintaining a high quality water product and simultaneously meeting the market demand for pricing. In order to achieve this goal, Haws recognized that it was critical for the company to analyze and interact with its data more efficiently and comprehensively.
About The Customer
Haws Corporation is a manufacturing company known for its cutting-edge technology, thought leadership, and superior product components. The company has been committed to bringing the highest quality water delivery and emergency equipment products to a wide variety of markets for over 103 years. The company was founded by Luther Haws, whose innovative style still drives this third and fourth-generation family-owned company. In 2008, Haws was facing significant business concerns that led to the need for a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The company moved to a Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system in 2009, but found that the system did not deliver the Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities it needed. With data visibility challenges into sales orders, profit margins and inventory costs, and backlogs not being measured efficiently, Haws needed a better BI solution.
The Solution
Haws Corporation reached out to Armanino Consulting, the largest California-based CPA and consulting firm, who was currently working with Haws’ finance department. After analyzing Haws’ data visibility challenges, Armanino Consulting, a certified implementation partner of QlikView and one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics partners for AX, GP and CRM, turned to its Dynamics AX Sales Team to work with Haws to implement a solution that would lay on top of its current AX ERP system. Armanino Consulting paired Dynamics AX with QlikView, an industry leading Business Discovery – user-driven BI – platform. QlikView’s ability to work with existing data resources while infusing a broad set of new capabilities and a new level of analysis, insight, and value into BI, made it an ideal solution for Haws to adopt and implement. QlikView complements Dynamics AX by allowing users to interact with the data collected by the Dynamics AX solution in an easy to use dashboard, and in real time. QlikView’s dashboards empower users to make more informed business decisions, something Dynamics AX doesn’t incorporate on its own. By integrating QlikView with Dynamics AX, Armanino Consulting gave Haws’ users the proficiencies and data visibilities they needed to make discoveries within their data, which helped lead to better overall decision-making.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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