Wolcott Group
Leading Edge ERP Solution for the Steel Industry

Due to the rise in infrastructure development projects, there is an increased demand for steel. It’s more important than ever that the steel manufacturing process gains efficiency to stay competitive and meet demand. These increased demands forced industry operators to identify solutions to streamline their complex processes while managing costs. Not surprisingly, one of the most important trends in the industry has been to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to improve scheduling and optimize manufacturing. RealSTEEL offers a unique multi-faceted ERP solution and is one of the most sought after ERP programs in the steel and metals industry today.

One of the most interesting things about The Wolcott Group's story is that they responded to a very real need in an underserved market. Like most Microsoft VARs, they built their business by serving a broad range of clients. About six years ago, they recognized that they could have more of an impact by going deep into one industry. Working with steel service centers, metal fabricators, and building material manufacturers, they came to appreciate how difficult it was for them to achieve real-time visibility into their operations. It is a complicated business, with an enormous number of variables associated with both materials and production processes. There were no feasible options for an ERP system that could handle the unique requirements of these businesses, so RealSTEEL was specifically developed on Microsoft Dynamics NAV to fill that need.

Wolcott’s software solution solves some of the most challenging issues the steel industry operators face on a daily basis. RealSTEEL helps clients track inventory using multiple attributes, offers visibility into the yield and gross margin calculations, and simplifies materials pricing in the sales process. It also allows customers to meticulously allocate materials at order entry and the production planning stage.

RealSTEEL from Wolcott Group is one of the most sought after ERP solutions used in the steel industry

In a business that requires flexibility to manage multiple product lines, outsourcing, and toll processing, clients need business systems that automate cost allocation and production scheduling. RealSTEEL’s clients are able to optimize scheduling to improve productivity and reduce non-billable time. Allocation of materials at order entry or production planning helps them reduce the cost of inventory. With support for multi-company, multicurrency, multilingual and multi-warehouse requirements, their clients can be confident the systems will support ambitious growth plans.

Leveraging the connected data and processes of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, RealSTEEL allows clients to accurately track the four pillars of cost—materials, labor, overhead, and outside processing. By capturing and providing visibility to that cost information at every step in the order and production process, managers make smarter decisions to control costs and meet customer expectations. With a clear understanding of costs, our clients can price with confidence and determine which lines of business are the most profitable for them to pursue. Profit insight also helps evaluate new lines of business which would help them expand and diversify.

By building RealSTEEL on Microsoft Dynamics NAV, they can bring all the benefits of enterprise-level business intelligence and operations excellence to small and mid-market clients. The value of putting the full power of their data into the hands of their clients can’t be overstated. Kevin Ameche, Vice- President of Wolcott adds, “Visibility into the data that underpins every aspect of our client’s business, from inventory to customer specifications to production to financial metrics, gives our customers insights they have never been able to achieve—sounds simple, but it’s a huge step forward in this industry.”

In addition, the connections between Microsoft Office 365 and RealSTEEL simplify the details for employees. The familiar interface of the Microsoft solutions makes it as easy to send a quote or proposal as it is to send an email. The productivity improvements are immense when employees don’t have to keep switching systems.

The Wolcott team has tried to share their success in addressing the unique needs of their market to help other technology service providers build confidence in taking the leap. At last year’s Microsoft NAV Directions conference, they spoke to partners about how building their industry knowledge and experience has transformed Wolcott Group into a true competitor in the metals software space. The Wolcott Group was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Medina, Ohio. They are a Certified Microsoft Dynamics NAV partner.

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