A flawlessly functioning IT system is the backbone of any healthy and growing business. That is why the IT infrastructure has been a top priority ever since I became the manager.<\/p>\nMichel Verbrugge, Manager<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a good decision, judging by our growth figures. In 2003, we moved the company from Zillebeke to the Ypres industrial zone and expanded our facility from 1,600 to 6,900 square meters. Revenue rose from 1 million euros in 1999 to 6 million euros in 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to a reliable IT system, effective follow-up is also a crucial factor in securing the future of U-Parts. With the arrival of C\u00e9deric Windels in 2012, that piece of the puzzle has also fallen into place.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter completing my studies in Business Administration, a job at a metalworking company wasn\u2019t immediately an obvious choice,\u201d C\u00e9deric adds. \u201cBut with a self-employed welder as a father, I caught the metalworking bug early on. So I was eager to find a job in the world of building and construction. At U-Parts, it was a perfect fit right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The combination of Michel\u2019s experience and C\u00e9deric\u2019s youthful enthusiasm quickly proved to be a winning team. \u201cC\u00e9deric immediately found his footing as production manager and grew into a key figure at U-Parts. That\u2019s why I gave him the opportunity to become a shareholder in the company. C\u00e9deric accepted the challenge, and in doing so, I achieved a personal goal. Because at age 55, I succeeded in securing the future of my company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re now working together to further grow our business. C\u00e9deric is in charge of production, and I handle administration, sales, and accounting. Together with Alistar, we\u2019re working hard on the future of U-Parts. Our first joint achievement: a new server setup.\u201d \u201cAfter the hardware, we\u2019re now tackling our software,\u201d Michel continues. \u201cWe definitely want both hardware and software from the same IT partner. There\u2019s no better way to avoid compatibility issues. So our two separate software packages for production and accounting have been replaced by a single, centralized system: MetalManager, integrated into Microsoft Dynamics Business Central.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n C\u00e9deric: \u201cAs SME business owners, we\u2019re deeply rooted in the metal industry. As IT novices, we therefore place almost blind trust in our IT partner. Alistar quickly proved to be completely worthy of that trust. Over the course of nine months, we worked with Alistar\u2019s experts to implement MetalManager. It was an intensive period that required significant effort from both sides. That\u2019s where Alistar\u2019s greatest strength lies. Their staff takes the time to conduct a thorough analysis and is fully committed to a long-term strategy\u2014a vision we share with them. And that creates a strong bond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur ERP system is now live and is truly revolutionizing our business operations. Order information and production data are now stored in a single, centralized system. This makes it easy for us to track our orders from purchase to delivery. We also use MetalManager to access other data, such as material consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michel: \u201cAlistar develops specialized modules for the metal industry. This is no luxury when you consider that we produce about a thousand orders every month. From small metal parts to large welded assemblies\u2014so this is by no means standard production. And we do this for an extremely diverse customer base. Multinationals, machine manufacturers, or the local farmer who urgently needs replacement parts. They all have one thing in common: they demand fast and efficient delivery. The big challenge for Alistar? Understanding what we do, knowing how we work, and sensing what our customers want. Metal Manager\u2014the specialized module integrated into Microsoft Dynamics Business Central\u2014meets that requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michel: \u201cAlistar is an IT partner that grows alongside its clients. That\u2019s an ambition I really appreciate. That\u2019s why I recommend Alistar to others. The worst thing that can happen to a company? An IT partner that keeps treading water without a vision or drops out overnight and leaves you high and dry. Our negative experiences with our previous partner have made me realize more than ever just how important this partnership is.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe recently had to deal with a severe thunderstorm, which caused our IT system to crash. When I called Alistar\u2019s help desk early in the morning, I actually got the big boss himself on the line. He listened to my story and reassured me with the words \u2019consider it done.\u2018 In no time at all, we were up and running again. And that\u2019s how it should be. This is what we expect from a reliable IT partner.\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to improving efficiency, Business Central also saves us time. That's because its many automation features have eliminated a great deal of manual work. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n C\u00e9deric continues: \u201cSo our path forward is clear. Together with Alistar, we will roll out our ERP system even further and use it more extensively across the various departments. Currently, our accounting, order processing, and production are all running on the system.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dTomorrow, we also want to integrate purchasing, supply chain, and warehouse management. And that will only be possible if Alistar continues to expertly translate our industrial needs into strategic IT solutions\u2014a task it has so far accomplished with flying colors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alistar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Uparts_case_metalmanager-1024x576.webp\")
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Succession Guaranteed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MetalManager and Business Central: One Centralized System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSpecial add-on modules \u2013 fully customized<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From Industrial Requirements to IT Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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