Successful ERP Implementation Case Studies

Al Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading is a leading UAE Construction Company founded in 1970 by His Highness Sheikh Hasher Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum. Al Ahmadiah is part of the Al Fajer Group of companies consisting of 18 businesses active in several fields.

During 45 Years of its existence Al Ahmadiah has executed projects from simple to complex, small scale to megastructure, desert land to offshore, low cost to luxury, standard to LEED-certified.

Over the years, Al Ahmadiah has made considerable progress from a beginning that focused on the building very small villas to its current enviable position as a major construction company executing substantial and intricate projects such as multi-story complexes, shopping malls, leisure parks, entertainment and themed projects, hospitals, palaces, educational and sustainable projects.

The company continuously strives to improve quality, management, planning and teamwork.

In the year 2005, Al Ahmadiah was looking for an ERP solution that can contribute to their growth and success journey. They have gone through a lengthy process of evaluating and choosing the right ERP Partner and consultant cautiously. After several presentations, discussions, rigorous process of selection, Horizon-EBS, and Frontline were selected and then the rest is history.

Frontline has successfully implemented Horizon – EBS at Al Ahmadiah, which covers the whole life cycle of construction projects and helped them to manage and control all their costs, budgets, projects, inventory/material, accounts, assets, human resources, and finances.

The Horizon - EBS for Construction helps in managing and organizing contracts between subcontractors, partners, vendors, customers, and employees. Horizon – EBS for Construction is built-in with all the necessary features that are extremely helpful for construction companies. The goal of construction industries is to manage the business efficiently and increase profits and that too in a cost-effective manner. But to work on all verticals in a specific time and to manage all the contractors from different areas, inventory management, on-site engineers, labor attendance, add on charges, material charges etc. is a big task!

It is tailored to the need of the construction industry using the state of the art software technologies and provides alerts and real-time cash flow information. Our solution saves a construction company maximum operational costs and Return on Investment (ROI) is huge. Horizon - EBS for Construction, control projects, budget from the beginning to ensure profitability. Seamless Integration of all the modules ensures accurate snapshot of the project.

The following modules were implemented successfully

• Financial Accounting
• Procurement and Inventory Control
• Fixed Asset Management
• Human Resource Management System
• Project Accounting
• Job Facility Management
• Bank Facility Management 
• Plant, Machinery and Vehicle Management
• Dashboards

In the year 2018, the latest version of Horizon - EBS was implemented successfully. The comprehensive VAT Enabled Construction ERP Software Solution ensures high efficiency by monitoring & supporting projects for construction industries. Horizon – EBS for Construction provided the client with a modern, single, unified construction software solution.

 

Benefits Achieved by the clients

• Supported in management of construction accounting, financial management, payroll, projects, and service operations into one database.
• Helped in reducing delays due to a shortage of material and equipment by integrating core project management activities with material management, purchase, subcontracting, and transportation solutions.
• Given real-time visibility and control over costs with accurate Budgeting & Accounting which automatically Improves profitability.
• Helped in scheduling, deploying and ensuring higher utilization of manpower
• Provided complete visibility of project-based resources including assets, inventory, materials, and labor.
• Helped in unifying management of construction jobs, work orders, and maintenance contracts
• Provided multi-location, multi-company and inter-company accounting
• Supported and helped decision-makers by placing daily management information at their fingertips in an analytical, intuitive format
• Helped in entering original budgets and maintaining revisions in detail; using them as the basis for job costing, revenue, quantities, and cash
• Provided reports and business intelligence dashboards to focus on the information and key performance indicators that matter

Specon is one of the leading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) specialist construction companies in the region, with extensive experience in turn-key MEP projects. It was previously known as Habtoor Leighton Specon (HLS) and was a partnership between the Habtoor Leighton Group and Specon Ltd.

With more than four decades of experience in the regional MEP sector, Specon key personnel have delivered landmark projects including airports, hotels, hospitals, commercial and residential towers, universities, military developments, HV/MV substations, and overhead transmission lines. Specon’s experience spans all sectors of the construction industry and includes proven capability across the full spectrum of Engineering Services for buildings and infrastructure.

Specon employs more than 5,000 people across the region and has the capability to deliver complex projects using the industry’s best practices through the application of modern construction and project planning techniques.

It was the year 2013 when Specon was looking out to replace their existing ERP solution with the company that can provide them with local, better and timely support to their day to day ERP with new requirements. Frontline has been dealing and providing specialized customized solutions for the MEP industry with complete development, support and implementation based in UAE for the last 30 years. It is because of our support and services, we have retained 95% of clients to date.

The following modules were implemented successfully at Specon.

• Financial Accounting
• Procurement and Inventory Control
• Fixed Asset Management
• Human Resource Management System
• Project Accounting
• Bank Facility Management 
• Approval Management System
• Dashboards

Horizon has really helped and supported the client to migrate and replace their existing ERP solution successfully. Horizon has also provided many new modules and functionalities which the client always wanted to have in an ERP solution. Horizon with its modular system has helped its business, automated operations, provided management MIS Reports for critical analysis and allowed day-to-day management of the processes.

Moreover, the client is extremely happy with our post-implementation support and services with many minor and major changes, consultancy and customization provided with our experience in the industry through our ERP consultancy.

Horizon Enterprise Business Solution for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing- MEP Management, is an industry-specific ERP solution that covers end-to-end business processes starting from the contract creation to the completion of an MEP project. Industry-specific processes of the MEP industry are seamlessly integrated with inventory control, project management, asset schedule, resource allocation etc., giving complete visibility of processes that enhance operational efficiency.

The system offers excellent project management and works scheduling applications that enable you to maximize workforce productivity and to save time. Real-time information capability across our MEP Management system ensures data integrity and helps you to get updated with important data all the time.

 

Benefits Achieved by the clients

• Brought automation that reduced the data entry significantly
• Brought huge improvement in operational efficiency
• Helped in reducing delays due to shortage of material and equipment by integrating core project management activities with material management, purchase and subcontracting
• Given real-time visibility and control over costs with accurate Budgeting & Accounting which automatically Improves profitability.
• Provided better control of HR activities for timesheet, payroll and benefits management
• Enhanced profitability and real-time visibility to all the phases of MEP management.
• Provided complete visibility of project-based resources including assets, inventory, materials, and labor.
• Provided decision-makers with correct and up-to-date information at the click of a button

Emirates Specialities Company L.L.C. was founded in 1967 as Specialities Company, for the import and distribution of building materials as well as the application of various products. In 1983, the company was restructured as a Limited Liability Company and re-named as they are known today as Emirates Specialities Co. L.L.C.

They have been active in the fields of specialized building materials, architectural products, tools and equipment, racking & shelving and environmental materials for all types of development projects. The company has multiple divisions, location and branches across UAE.

Frontline Information Technology has been associated with Emirates Specialities Company L.L.C. since 1994 and is providing them with integrated ERP solutions and support services for the last 25+ years.  They are amongst the first few clients of Frontline which has put trust and faith in us and contributed a lot in our successful history.

The client’s requirement was to have a local, trusted, and reliable technology partner who can provide a long term solution and support. Frontline has provided Emirates Specialities with best in class solution – Horizon and periodically changed their version to keep them up-to-date with technology and trends. Frontline has been providing the best support with the local team available for the last 25+ years.

Time and again, Frontline has provided Emirates Specialities with the best solution to all their requirement of integrating various branches, inter-branch transactions, consolidated accounting, facilitating customized credit policies, managing and tracking the shipments etc. We did many minor and major customized solutions to clients to help them manage their business more efficiently and effectively by providing our experience and expertise in ERP Consultancy.

The following modules are successfully implemented with many specialized customizations

• Financial Accounting
• Procurement and Inventory Control
• Sales Management

We are very proud and obliged that the Client has chosen us as their trusted partner with many new requirements and modules. We have recently implemented a fully web-based Horizon CRM, a complete Customer Relationship Management solution by replacing the existing Tier I solution for the same. The complete solution was implemented in less than 3 months’ time and is completely integrated with Horizon – EBS.

The complete integrated solution helped the client immensely to bring innovation, automation and get much new business for their Sales Team.

Horizon - EBS for Trading Industry provides intuitive solutions for optimized inventory management and distribution process. It employs scientific methods of risk moderation and financial control and helps drive the profitability of the organization. It allows companies to manage every aspect of their business process. It is built for a multi-market environment, helps extend the organizational insight and improve the decision-making process at every stage of the business.

 

Benefits Achieved by the clients

• Automated business process, helps speedy completion and reduces unnecessary activities.
• Helped in giving complete visibility and easy access to all the inventory, sales, purchasing, and financial information across multiple locations.
• Provided accurate tracking of shipments, ensuring the quality of service in delivering.
• Helped in improved customer communications and enhanced customer service through quick response
• Helped in achieving increased sales volume and elevated revenue with our solutions with our credit management facilities for clients
• Provided the facility to track sales data at warehouse/ branch levels.
• Helped in adopting different sales discounts types, based on pricing rules for customers
• Facilitated with the stock locations item-wise and study inventory turnover
• Helped in adopting pricing rules based on items and customers.
• Provided analysis to study and identify high volume customers
• The solution to group items and customers for pricing.
• Many analysis and MIS reporting to analyze past sales and invoicing, identify delays, perform receivables ageing analysis through DSO (day sales outstanding) and identify defaulters and tighten credit limits.

 

Emirates Facilities is a leading UAE provider of facilities management services, operating facilities with a total value of over AED 1 Billion. Emirates Facilities Management was founded in 2012 and offered a wide range of new integrated facilities management services.

They have around 200+ employees and provide facilities management for scopes such as MEP, Civil, HVAC, Integrated FM, Cleaning, Consultation, Pest Control, Fire Protection, Waste Management, Security Management, Office Management, Landscaping, and Energy Management.

Emirates Facilities post its inception were looking for a technology and ERP/CAFM partner who can help, guide, and recommend them with the best practices in the FM industry. They were was looking for a solution partner who is reliable and cost-effective and can provide an integrated CAFM system with ERP.

Frontline has provided and implemented Horizon ERP integrated with the CAFM system for Emirates Facilities Management in 2013. A complete set of training and implementation was successfully done and a fully integrated system was live and running in less than 3 months' time. Frontline has provided the complete consultancy, guidance, and complete handholding until the system went live. 

The following modules were implemented successfully in the year 2013.

• Facility Management
• Procurement and Inventory Control
• Financial Accounting
• Human Resource Management System

Horizon with its modular facilities management system has helped its business, automated operations, provided management dashboard for critical analysis, and allowed day-to-day management of the processes. It enabled them to manage Employee details, Payroll, Planned Preventive Maintenance schedules, Breakdown Reporting, Account Payables, Account Receivables and MIS reports effectively and efficiently.

Emirates Facilities Management has grown successfully and achieved many milestones. Further, they decided to implement the latest version of Horizon – FMS with a complete mobile application for field staff and technicians to bring innovations and automation to their business. 

Horizon – FMS with the latest version of Horizon – EBS and along with the mobile application for field staff and technician was successfully launched and implemented in the year 2016-2017.

 

The complete integrated solution helped the client immensely to bring innovation, automation, and get much new business.

 

New modules implemented are:

• Facilities Management
• Asset Management
• Horizon FMS App for client & Staff
• Financial Accounting
• Procurement and Inventory Control
• Fixed Asset Management
• Human Resource Management System
• Dashboard Management
• Approval Management System

Benefits Achieved by the clients

• Got their people, processes and assets working in perfect harmony
• Ensured automatic integration between operations and back-office departments
• Achieved end to end integrated solution for operations, billing, and payroll
• Brought automation that reduced the data entry significantly
• Brought huge improvement in operational efficiency
• Helped in managing the full life cycle of the service calls efficiently with a panoptic of resources and customer issues, and share all call information through a centralized database
• Minimized callers’ waiting by keeping track of customer history, direct maintenance activities, warranties and service histories
• Flexible contract structure with multiple levels has helped to provide better analysis
• Multiple charging methods have helped in project costing
• Flexible billing and reporting and helped in issuing correct and timely bills and boosted profitability
• Provided complete visibility of costs and usage
• Provided decision-makers with correct and up-to-date information at the click of a button