Case Studies
Standby RSG manufactures vehicle lighting products and emergency warning solutions. The company has used Maximity Ltd for IT consultancy and training for almost 18 years. Initially, Managing Director of Maximity, Tracy Pound has helped Standby RSG with IT training in how to use its Sage Accounting & Sage Manufacturing packages. The Maximity team has also helped with data analysis, data cleansing and financial report writing, including training the team how to extract information from the accounts system using Excel reporting.
The Challenge
Formerly RSG Engineering Ltd, the company was acquired by Argynnis Group AB in September 2020 when it then became part of the Standby Group. The Standby Group wanted to centralise the systems across all their companies globally, so needed Standby RSG to move from Sage to Business Central.
During the same period that Standby RSG was looking to move systems, Maximity was also in the early stages of transitioning its business from Sage to Business Central as part of its key strategic development. When Managing Director at Standby RSG, Robert Blakemore realised Maximity had experience of Business Central, he talked to Tracy and asked her to tender for the project, due to the strong existing relationship between Maximity and the team at Standby RSG.
Marion Benjamin, Finance Director at Standby RSG explains: “Tracy and the team at Maximity have worked with us for many years. We know how good they are at understanding technology and making it work for businesses, as well as translating that information into everyday language for less technical businesspeople. We had complete faith that Maximity was the right team to help move from Sage to Business Central.”
During the same period that Standby RSG was looking to move systems, Maximity was also in the early stages of transitioning its business from Sage to Business Central as part of its key strategic development. When Managing Director at Standby RSG, Robert Blakemore realised Maximity had experience of Business Central, he talked to Tracy and asked her to tender for the project, due to the strong existing relationship between Maximity and the team at Standby RSG.
Marion Benjamin, Finance Director at Standby RSG explains: “Tracy and the team at Maximity have worked with us for many years. We know how good they are at understanding technology and making it work for businesses, as well as translating that information into everyday language for less technical businesspeople. We had complete faith that Maximity was the right team to help move from Sage to Business Central.”
Business Central Sage Accounting Sage Manufacturing Excel Reporting IT Training Data Analysis Data Cleansing Financial Report Writing
The Solution
Maximity was delighted to accept the project, and a go live date was discussed in order to put a strategy and timeline together. Project management teams were set-up, and the Maximity team was on-site at Standby RSG at least one day every week to help move the Business Central project forward and provide training.
Marion says: “It’s been a huge learning curve, but Tracy and the Maximity team have helped us through it. It’s difficult when you have to change to a different system because it’s part of the parent company’s strategy, rather than because the original system is no longer fit for purpose, as there’s that extra bit of resistance due to knowing what hard work moving IT systems can be, even when everything goes smoothly! When we first started, the go-live date seemed so far away, but it soon crept up on us!”
Marion says: “It’s been a huge learning curve, but Tracy and the Maximity team have helped us through it. It’s difficult when you have to change to a different system because it’s part of the parent company’s strategy, rather than because the original system is no longer fit for purpose, as there’s that extra bit of resistance due to knowing what hard work moving IT systems can be, even when everything goes smoothly! When we first started, the go-live date seemed so far away, but it soon crept up on us!”
Business Benefits
Having made the move across to Business Central, the team at Standby RSG is very impressed with what it can do. The staff are learning how streamlined it can make the organisation, by having all the important data elements of the business, such as production, finance, CRM and sales accessible in one place. The team also likes how it links in with all the Microsoft apps, and that it’s possible to tailor the system for each business, adding extra elements of personalisation.
Marion continues: “The Standby Group promotes the motto ‘Think Global, Act Local’, and Maximity has the same culture. Whilst some of Maximity’s work helping us implement Business Central might have been done remotely, we have really benefited from Maximity’s hands-on, personal approach – and it’s been great having them in the office with us.
There’s still more development yet to do, so we’re happy that the Maximity team is still around to help us through the next stages, and assist with any other queries that come up from what’s been implemented so far. We’re delighted that we partnered with Maximity, as we’ve benefited hugely from the fact that Tracy already knew so much about our business, so was able to contribute when solutions were being discussed.”
Tracy Pound says: “Every implementation is different, because every company is different – which is why we invest the time to be on-site regularly, to get to know the staff, the roles and the minute details about how the business runs. In these kinds of projects, our job is as much about helping people through change as it is implementing the system. Part of our role is to help everyone be comfortable using it. People worry about change because it’s hard – so we work with the teams to help them process and embrace new ways of working. We’re really pleased with how the team at Standby RSG has been using Business Central. We look forward to working with them further, helping them with more advanced automation techniques like workflows and approval processes, in order to help Standby RSG continue to work more efficiently using digital methods.”
Marion continues: “The Standby Group promotes the motto ‘Think Global, Act Local’, and Maximity has the same culture. Whilst some of Maximity’s work helping us implement Business Central might have been done remotely, we have really benefited from Maximity’s hands-on, personal approach – and it’s been great having them in the office with us.
There’s still more development yet to do, so we’re happy that the Maximity team is still around to help us through the next stages, and assist with any other queries that come up from what’s been implemented so far. We’re delighted that we partnered with Maximity, as we’ve benefited hugely from the fact that Tracy already knew so much about our business, so was able to contribute when solutions were being discussed.”
Tracy Pound says: “Every implementation is different, because every company is different – which is why we invest the time to be on-site regularly, to get to know the staff, the roles and the minute details about how the business runs. In these kinds of projects, our job is as much about helping people through change as it is implementing the system. Part of our role is to help everyone be comfortable using it. People worry about change because it’s hard – so we work with the teams to help them process and embrace new ways of working. We’re really pleased with how the team at Standby RSG has been using Business Central. We look forward to working with them further, helping them with more advanced automation techniques like workflows and approval processes, in order to help Standby RSG continue to work more efficiently using digital methods.”
