Company

Bioshell is an SME located in the West of Ireland, since 2001. It is a contract manufacturer of tablet, capsule and powder food supplements. Bioshell employs 25 staff and have a worldwide supplier and customer base.

The Challenge

In the beginning, Bioshell used a combination of TAS Books, MS Access, MS Excel and MS Word to meet their needs. The result was the fragmentation of business data across a number of applications and a drain on resources in training staff to use these various applications. Data integration was the main driving force behind our decision to implement EFACS. EFACS enabled us to have all our information integrated on one database with tight security access controls.

Benefits

The other ERP solutions we examined at were very costly and offered complex functionality not relevant to an SME. EFACS offered the ‘best fit' for the level of functionality required by Bioshell and was within our budget constraints. As an importer and exporter, Bioshell needed a system that could automatically produce VAT, VIES and INTRASTAT Returns. The flexibility of EFACS was also a factor for Bioshell. Using the Language Module they could customise the standard EFACS screens to reflect the terminology used in their business. The Quotation Module on EFACS allowed Bioshell to produce and send quotes to customers and maintain electronic records of all quotes given.

Our relationship with the people in MXI Software is important. The implementation was very successful and they didn't try to sell us functionality we did not need.

We have stayed with MXI Software for the last seven years because of their support, experience and expertise.

Reiner Eschwey, Director Bioshell

Results

EFACS addressed Bioshell' need to have all our data integrated on one database. Bioshell now has a complete and real-time view of strategic and operational management information. They are able to seamlessly transfer data from EFACS to MS Excel for all of their management reporting and accounting needs.

Exact product specifications are critical to the success of Bioshell. The Change Control Module gave them very good control over the specifications for the ingredients that go into their customer's products. It gives them the flexibility to change these product specifications but with tight security and access controls.

As an SME located in a remote part of Ireland, it is vital that Bioshell attract and retain highly qualified staff. The flexibility of EFACS enables us to offer flexible working arrangements to employees.

The integration of data into one database was crucial for the survival and expansion of Bioshell. Data integration results in higher productivity and more efficient use of staff. If they had not implemented EFACS, they would have had to employ two extra people just to manage the inefficiencies inherent in a fragmented data environment.

In the last seven years our business has expanded. We have grown from employing 12 people to 25. There is absolutely no question but that without EFACS we could not continue to grow our business.

Reiner Eschwey, Director Bioshell