McMahon restarts IT roll-out despite recession

James McMahon's trade counter, where bisTrack has improved visibility of information Originally founded in the 1830s in Limerick, James McMahon had become the largest timber supplier in Ireland by the early part of the 20th Century.

Today the company is recognised as the largest and most successful independent builders' merchant across the island of lreland.

In 2006, the two drivers behind a change in computer system at McMahon's were a desire for improved functionality as the company went forward, and the need for a common platform after the acquisition programme meant a total of three platforms were now in use throughout the group.

"The decision to go with bisTrack was based on the relationship we were developing with the Progressive team, a confidence in deliverability and its aggressive approach to the overall cost of the new group platform."

An initial shortlist of five systems was eventually narrowed down to a choice between bisTrack and one other and, according to financial director, Stephen Mulhall, when it came to functionality, either system would have performed.

Mr Mulhall explains: "The decision to go with bisTrack was based on the relationship we were developing with the Progressive Solutions' team, a confidence in deliverability and its aggressive approach to the overall cost of the new group platform."

Specific requirements from the new system, according to Mr Mulhall, were good margin management and stricter controls over user access to information. bisTrack delivered on both of these and also impressed the McMahon team with its ease of use.

The rollout programme started during the summer of 2007 when all four Northern Irish branches went live on bisTrack at the same time.

But the implementation programme for the remaining branches south of the border was suspended when the economic climate changed.

However, during the second half of 2009, in spite of the continuing recession, Mr Mulhall decided to restart the rollout programme.

He said: "The group was still in an untenable position caused by the presence of three platforms, but we also believed the immediate benefits from using bisTrack, which we were seeing in our Northern branches, outweighed the savings we were making by not implementing the system in the remaining branch network.

"The most significant and immediate of these benefits was an improved visibility of information. In particular we were able to analyse and control sales margins more quickly and accurately and have a far greater control over user access throughout the system."

The implementation programme is now well under way in McMahon's Southern Irish branch network with Letterkenny and Dublin already live on bisTrack.

McMahon has benefited from the improved visibility of information that bisTrack offers.

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Testimonials

"Progressive's experience was important, as was the link with Microsoft. We think that's the way ahead for all merchant systems."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
"Our real differential is not in software features, it's in our relationships with customers. How we work with them and how we can make an effective difference. You need the staff and the expertise to be able to do that."

Arthur Duffy, managing director, Progressive Solutions
"To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal
"Inventory accuracy is higher because everyone is more focused and our staff can see the benefit of getting it right."

Ian Murchie, Operations Director, Howie Forest Products
"Once we started building up information we could trust, we started seeing real benefits. If stock accuracy was the main benefit, then quality of management information was next."

Peter Kerr, FD, Palmer Timber
"There’s no doubt that bisTrack is a good tool. We’ve a fantastic record for growth and we’re getting a lot out of bisTrack now, particularly over the control of our business."

Mike MacLellan, MD, GPH Builders Merchant
“Hargeaves are ideally placed to take advantage of the offer – whilst we plan to continue using e-Xact to update our product file we also want much better control over special product sales and purchases."

Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves MD
"To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal
"We looked at several systems, but most of them were using the same out-of-date technology as the system we were replacing!"

Rodney Scoles, Director, T Brewer & Co
“There are other systems of course, but none have had the development time that’s behind bisTrack. I can’t believe there’s a better system out there. I’m convinced there’s nothing that can deliver better what we need.”

Peter Buttle, md, Buttle plc
"bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)
"Our real differential is not in software features, it's in our relationships with customers. How we work with them and how we can make an effective difference. You need the staff and the expertise to be able to do that."

Arthur Duffy, managing director, Progressive Solutions
"I can drop-down and drill into any business information easily, which enables me to analyse a situation very quickly. It gives me complete control."

Mark Congdon, Financial Director, Noyeks Newmans
"I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

Brian King, Lumber USA
"We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products
"Our real differential is not in software features, it's in our relationships with customers. How we work with them and how we can make an effective difference. You need the staff and the expertise to be able to do that."

Arthur Duffy, managing director, Progressive Solutions
"We helped ourselves by getting bisTrack on board quickly and painlessly while business was slow, so we won't have disruption as we start to implement a very aggressive three year strategic plan."

Neil Fuller, Managing Director, Alsford Timber
“Hargeaves are ideally placed to take advantage of the offer – whilst we plan to continue using e-Xact to update our product file we also want much better control over special product sales and purchases."

Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves MD
"I'm convinced there's no other system that can deliver better what we need. Apart from its Windows architecture and its powerful functionality, it now has ten years of development behind it."

Peter Buttle, Buttle plc