Summary
• Management functions are an important part of modern technology.
• Stock control software is growing in importance.
• Reliable and proven software is replacing cutting-edge developments.

The key message from software developers is that management and business-led technology is the driving force behind the market, with integration the current buzz word.

Modules and additional applications covering mobile working, document linking, electronic data interchange and the interrogation of data for reporting and monitoring are part of Wolf System Ltd’s Wolf Management Software (WMS), Progressive Solution’s bisTrack 2, P and Q International’s QTAR and ADP Commercial Systems’ K8 software.

The K8 software is a case in point, where it has been tailored to handle chain of custody information and documentation.

This, said ADP marketing and PR manager John McCann, demonstrates the growing importance of installing the correct software to the timber trade, as increased pressure to prove your environmental credentials means it is imperative for programs to be able to handle the related business data, such as document tracking, checking and approval.

Another talking point for the market is TTWWADI – “that’s the way we’ve always done it”. This is a key issue that software developers continue to have to overcome as they bring their latest technology to market, according to Progressive’s sales director Arthur Duffy.

Essential business tool

Speaking at the recent launch of the bisTrack 2 solution, Mr Duffy said there was a growing need for software to be able to fulfil a company’s day-to-day requirements and become an essential business tool to tackle market opportunities, and to help the timber trade see the intrinsic value of good software.

This includes improving data handling and stock control, and integrating a number of management operations through one system.

Ten-25 Software Ltd, Consultec UK and Wolf agree that the market for management-led software is blossoming, with Alan Ritchie, sales and marketing director at Wolf, saying that the company’s newest software solution is designed to offer a one-stop software shop for manufacturers.

WMS, which was unveiled at Interbuild last year, incorporates the company’s usual manufacturing and design solutions for roof truss and other engineered component manufacturers, but combines it with everyday reporting and monitoring functionality.

Currently undergoing testing in preparation for market, Mr Ritchie said WMS would enable manufacturers to keep tabs on everything from quotations and orders, planning of production, deliveries, allocating resources, reporting, analysis and cost monitoring.

“Although we’re core in the trussed rafter market, their business has grown to include other products,” said Mr Ritchie. “As such, we’ve grown with them to help support their business. WMS wraps it up nicely as it is a business management tool.”

Ian Oldrey, director at Ten-25, said the move towards management and business-oriented solutions was being driven by uncertainty in the financial and material markets that means customers are increasingly looking to install reliable and proven software, with stock control a key element.

Stock control

“A few years ago, everyone was looking for exciting and cutting-edge technology,” he said. “Now they want a reliable solution that they can use to accurately monitor their business.

“Stock control is becoming more important as material costs rise. Now people are penny pinching and keeping a precise eye on stock levels, accurate stock control systems have come to the fore again.”

Donald Gardiner, managing director at P and Q International, added that his firm was seeing business through its software’s integrated ability to cope with the movement of stock around timber yards, down to individual components and pieces.

“The tracking of small items in a timber yard is very important,” he said. “Packs get broken up and products get moved around and if you can’t find them that’s a problem.”

Another area of growth has been web shop applications. Mr Oldrey said the demand for online shops had taken off in recent times, with companies looking to provide their customers with a 24-hour shop window to buy products.

And although many companies may still find it easier to pick up the phone and deal with smaller orders in person, he said that the technology was moving on to meet the demands and win more people over, with the two-tier Web Track module of bisTrack 2 an example.

Installations

Recent installations by Arnold Laver, T Brewer & Co and Montague L Meyer (MLM) have shown the importance of business-led software to the timber market. Colin Dean, corporate systems director at Lavers, said that the implementation of bisTrack 2 had enabled the company to become 100% stock controlled – a feat he had been told was impossible for a timber firm.

T Brewer, which is also using the bisTrack software, said that the ability to offer a web portal through Web Track was an important development. “Many of our customers are involved in high specification housing developments in Fulham and Chelsea, young companies whose staff have grown up with the internet and take for granted the ability to place orders, check prices and their account information at any time of the day or night,” said director Nick Brewer.

Enterprise content management

And MLM has turned to The Content Group to supply it with an integrated enterprise content management (ECM) solution as it looks to modernise document and data handling.

Featuring document capture, digital output and sorting modules, the ECM will enable the firm to streamline its operations. “We needed our business process management system to be as efficient as possible to cope with the workload,” said Joe Yuen, information systems manager at MLM.

“Replacing our legacy system with state-of-the-art document management capabilities will enable us to automate some of the more time-consuming tasks.”

Across the board, software firms remain unequivocal that it has been a good year to-date, with both new and existing customers investing in equal measure.

“People are seeing this time of year as a good time to look at technology and investigate the opportunities,” said Mr Ritchie.

“On a macro-scale, talk of an economic downturn is not being seen by us,” said Mr Oldrey. “I see [a lot of timber firms] and the anecdotal impression is that everyone seems to be in quite a healthy position.

“That’s playing nicely into our hands, with the best opening quarter we’ve had in quite a few years.”