Pågen wanted a user-friendly and flexible ERP system customized to the challenges of the food industry. The result was a specially configured installation of Microsoft Dynamics AX, which will keep costly and inflexible modifications to a minimum, and introduce a new and better way to work.
Pågen AB is the leading bakery in Sweden with a market share of 35 per cent for bread. They have a strong growth in Sweden and other Nordic countries as well as an extensive export to mainly France. The business system they used before 2003 was an in-house developed solution supplemented with other systems, including accounting. When the company was looking for something more user-friendly the decision came to Microsoft Axapta. The idea of use and flexibility has followed the implementation of today's Microsoft Dynamics AX.
– We wanted a user-friendly and evolutionary system that works well for us in the food industry. Moreover, it was important to have a long life cycle to know that the system would work in the long term. We are a small company but with a large number of transactions, Christina Bengtsson, IT Manager at Pågen AB, explains. Pågen chose to gradually add modules in the system, something that simplified and streamlined the project.
– We started with the accounting system and have added purchasing and inventory management, which is also used in our subsidiaries in Scandinavia.
“Columbus has questioned all of our modifications”
Following Columbus’s advice, Pågen group focused on optimizing the existing Microsoft Dynamics AX to create a solution that will suit the daily operations instead of making adaptations and modifications.
– It is easy to forget the very important “butter and bread routines”, so therefore we have prioritized them this time. Columbus has questioned all our adjustments, and we have increasingly adapted our way of working after the system rather than the other way around, says Christina Bengtsson as she encourages that inquisitive attitude from more consultants.
– Columbus has helped us to use the system in the best way and I would like to see that kind of questioning from all partners. But in order to be able to do that, you must have adequate knowledge. Columbus certainly had the right knowledge when it came to the solution, the business and the ability to translate ideas into practice. They have been a very important partner for us and great for bouncing ideas.
Food Intelligence increases efficiency
The Pågen group are using the system Food Intelligence, a system that have been developed by Columbus and optimized for the Food and Beverage Industry. It is a complete system that is both flexible and user friendly.
- We can recognize ourselves from Microsoft Office because we have a Microsoft environment with Dynamics AX, Office and SharePoint as the framework. Everything is connected - both for the business and for the user of the system. But the most important thing is that we have a system that is easy to understand, flexible and transparent and that works with our new sales channels and constantly provide new efficiencies, Christina Bengtsson summarizes.
Christina Bengtsson is the IT Manager at Pågen AB.