KR Saws cuts through competition with OGL Software’s ERP solution

Coventry-based saw blade specialist, KR Saws, has experienced rapid growth thanks to a combination of new machinery, product overhaul, and a switch to advanced software in the form of an ERP system from Stourport-on-Severn’s OGL Software.

KR Saws was established in 2004 as a joint venture between Dutch and German saw blade manufacturers and has built a strong customer base across a range of industries, including oil and gas, aerospace and metal fabrication.

Key to the company’s success has been a significant investment in an Ideal bandsaw precision welding machine, which has dramatically reduced production times. In addition, a comprehensive product overhaul and rebranding have helped further strengthen the KR Saws brand.

However, it was the decision to replace its outdated Sage accounting software with OGL Software’s Profit4 ERP solution which has truly transformed the business. The new system has streamlined operations, reduced overheads and accelerated delivery times.

Paul Ison, Managing Director, KR Saws, explained: “For 18 years, we relied on Sage, and its numerous add-ons to manage different parts of our business. We ended up with a clunky system that just gave everyone a headache. KR Saws is not just a supplier of metal cutting saw blades, we are also part manufacturer, importing goods to create finished products for clients, so we needed additional features to manage that stock. And Sage just wasn’t cutting it any longer.”

The new ERP system from OGL Software has enabled KR Saws to optimise stock management, improve order processing and enhance customer service. Integration with MaxOptra has also led to significant reductions in delivery times.

Louis Coleman, Project Coordinator, added: Louis said: “By integrating our Profit4 solution with a carrier service, delivery costs are reduced while we still meet and exceed customer expectations on delivery times. This is important for every business that provides goods, as customers sometimes demand quicker delivery for certain projects, but this is something we do well. The ease of using the Profit4 solution is another benefit as we have five application engineers who work remotely or travel to customer sites to sharpen blades. Now, no matter where they are on any day, they can use the system to see all the transactions for each customer, so they can access required history, including orders and date details, when needed.”

Profit4’s user-friendly interface has been praised by employees, with the system’s ability to support remote working proving invaluable for the company’s application engineers. With a strong foundation in place, KR Saws is now well-positioned for continued growth and success.

Paul Ison concluded: “My advice to any other business looking to move to a new software system, would be to do it as it’s going to reduce the headaches of non-integrated software solutions. You need to understand the problems you’re trying to solve, then you go for the one that works best at resolving them. It’s just one step at a time and we’ve already done a lot in a short period of time, with carrier and transport integration key to our growth, but there are still lots of possibilities to explore, like banking and credit controls.”

Andrew Davies, Head of Product Engineering, OGL Software, said: “Our software is designed for companies that want to simplify and improve business processes for growth and success. Profit4 streamlines time-consuming tasks and collates important customer information, to have it ready, at a glance, as soon as it’s needed, wherever the system is accessed. As the software is cloud-based, it can grow and be updated to facilitate different business needs and requirements to support future plans.”