Solution benefits

• More-efficient business operations, faster process turnaround times 
• Smoother production management; transparency and information flow in various process phases
• Cost savings
• Growing customer satisfaction; improved delivery reliability, and broader updates for customers on the delivery process
• Easier, reliable corporate IT management, owing to uniform system architecture
  
  

ERP system for smoother information flow

A system project became topical when Kalevala Jewelry’s ERP software began nearing the end of its service life. The famous Finnish brand wanted an easily tailored system, suitable for a multi-company environment.

A more efficient order-delivery process and easier production planning were the main objectives. This would be achieved through greater transparency, flexibility and cost-efficiency, and shorter turnaround times. If necessary, the system’s ERP capabilities had to cover foreign locations.

Kalevala Jewelry chose Digia as a partner. Digia provided a turnkey delivery: the ERP system, the required interfaces and a warehouse handheld terminal solution.

To enable a smooth, simple delivery with quick benefits, Kalevala Jewelry wanted the most standardised but versatile system possible. That is precisely what it got. Minimum tailoring was needed for the Dynamics AX system, whose processes already provided good support for Kalevala Jewelry’s operating models.

Transparency makes the production planning easier

A more efficient and transparent order-supply chain resulted. Up-to-date sales data and forecasts make production planning easier. Customer briefings are more detailed at various process stages; this is expected to increase customer satisfaction and trust between players. Information transfer between various companies is now easy within the multi-company environment. If necessary, businesses operating abroad can be brought into the system.

“The ERP solution is our group’s key operational system; practically everything, from financial administration to production, sales and purchasing, is now based on AX. The system is already used by around 30% of our staff,” states IT Manager Tuula Aitta-aho.

Handheld terminals for easier warehouse inventories

The integration architecture was completely overhauled. Interface management is based on a model in which all messages are routed through the integration system. Message monitoring is concentrated in one device. In the future, individual systems will be modified through a change at just one interface end.

The same integration technology is used for information transfer via the warehouse handheld solution. Warehouse inventories are carried out with mobile devices, from which balance data is automatically updated in the ERP system.

Applied technology

• Microsoft Dynamics AX -ERP
• Microsoft BizTalk -integration system
• Digia @Hand -handheld terminal system
• Digia’s Dynamics AX -components: Electronic invoices, print package