Success Stories

Activant Prophet 21 Helps Fuse Three Companies into One

In 2001, Lee Mathews Equipment, a Kansas City, MO-based pump distributor and equipment rental company, purchased two other distribution companies with the intent of turning them into branch locations. To simplify the transformation of three businesses into one, the management at Lee Mathews invested in Activant Prophet 21. "The strong accounting functionality is really going to be the tie for the three locations," charges Ben Clayton, IT manager for Lee Mathews. "Once everyone is live on Prophet 21, we will be able to bill, ship, transfer items, and track inventory between the sites."

When Lee Mathews purchased the two companies as branch locations, all three businesses, with a total of about 100 employees, were on three different systems. "It is very difficult to manage as one company if your locations aren't using the same software solution," says Clayton. Two of the locations, in Kansas City and in Wichita, KS, were integrated onto Prophet 21 by mid-2002. The third branch, located in St. Louis, MO, is scheduled to be on the solution by the end of 2002.

"We're looking forward to seeing information flow between the sites and having the ability to assess the locations as a single unit instead of three companies. It ties our companies together. We're now becoming one because of Prophet 21."

Investing in the Future

Clayton admits that Lee Mathews' management researched several different software solution packages before deciding to invest in Prophet 21. Ultimately, Activant's commitment to development won them over. "So far, we've been proven right," Clayton says. "We're seeing things in development for Prophet 21 - like a module for entering service orders - that will help us run our business even better in the future."

A Shortened Learning Curve

Clayton contends that the Windows-based Prophet 21 is easier to learn and teach. "Before moving to Prophet 21, Lee Mathews was on a system that didn't quite fit our business," recalls Clayton. "It was a package whose time had passed. For me, it's easier to teach in a Windows-type environment. Windows-based applications are more intuitive, which shortens the learning curve. Clicking between windows instead of hitting hot keys is just easier for my employees," Clayton says.

Employees who are learning the solution are already excited about what they see. "They have access to information about the inventory we stock at their fingertips," says Clayton. "It is already easier for them to transfer items and share information between branches."

SQL Advantages

Clayton also appreciates how the SQL Server database streamlines the access of data. "Prophet 21 gives us more flexibility in how we look at our information," he reveals. "We have more access to data, and can pull it into spreadsheets very easily."

The company is further taking advantage of the capabilities of SQL with their investment in Activant Knowledge Management Center. "Knowledge Management Center will give us a clearer snapshot of what's going on in our business, so we can make better management decisions," says Clayton. "We got a good look at what the Knowledge Management Center had to offer at Summit 2002 in Orlando in the Technology Center."

Clayton concludes by saying that he and other member of Lee Mathews management are looking forward to a prosperous future and a long partnership with their enterprise software solution provider. "We'll grow with Activant," he says.

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