Steady Growth with abas ERP

Karlsruhe, January 29, 2008 - Gebr. HELD of Tuttlingen, Germany first implemented abas Business Software in 1999. The company has expanded significantly in that time period and today operates seven locations in the German province of Baden-Wuerttemberg, as well as maintains a dealer network throughout Europe. abas ERP has been supporting this growth, particularly in the areas of purchasing and controlling. “The amount of data in our central purchasing department in huge,” explains Jürgen Zahn, Sales Director at Gebr. HELD GmbH. “Using abas Business Software we have realized a warehouse grouping concept which spans several locations. Our local warehouses are consolidated into one warehouse using locations in the ERP system. Each location schedules its own goods, but purchasing is handled by our corporate headquarters. This allows us to negotiate better terms and conditions with our suppliers. Our purchasing department has to manage large data quantities since we have blanket orders spanning over several years---this could not have been realized without abas ERP.” In controlling, Zahn notes that transparency within the company has increased considerably. “The system offers many evaluations, especially for management, that can be generated with the press of a button. Using the integrated accounting, abas ERP has become an indispensable instrument in controlling and management. Furthermore, abas Business Software is easy to operate, structured logically and is self-explanatory in many areas.” Gebr. HELD has conducted several upgrades since the initial implementation in 1999. “I am always amazed by the new options offered with abas Business Software thanks to its specific software architecture. We get new functionalities with each upgrade that are integrated into the standard software; however, the customization remains unaffected,” explains Zahn. In addition to the technical factors, such as system functionality, the so-called “soft factors” are equally important for Gebr. HELD when operating its ERP system: “We are a mid-sized company, so flexibility, service and especially quality are important for us. We have both serial production and also customized manufacturing. Therefore, we require a flexible software that supports both production methods, as well as ensures our high quality standards.” “An economically stable and reliable software provider is also important for us.” Zahn maintains, “We want a partner who accompanies us for the long haul, and who treats us with the same degree of importance as we treat our provider. We have found this with abas Business Software and continue to experience a cooperation that is open, direct and uncomplicated.”