For Fairline, it was a question of finding a solutions provider that offered a web-based solution with the right functionality and flexibility. "We surveyed a number of systems and the Infor solution appeared to be perfectly capable to meet our requirements," said Taylor. "It also had the advantage of coming from the same stable as our existing ERP solutions from the Infor Manufacturing Essentials Suite, Infor ERP SyteLine. We therefore had expectations of a high level of interest from Infor in terms of getting the interfaces to function very effectively and in providing reliable service and support. We also found the commercial terms to be favourable compared with some other prospective software suppliers."

Taylor elaborated on the essential benefits Fairline anticipates gaining from Infor SupplyWeb over the coming months: "The process of calculating what we want from our suppliers and then communicating this to them has been rather an admin-heavy process in terms of the way Fairline has traditionally worked. We were already in the process of re-configuring our Infor ERP solution to automate many of the calculations. Infor SupplyWeb will allow us to communicate the results of those deliberations to the suppliers electronically without an admin task. The architecture we have created for the entire supply chain project is one where, for example, we don't handle suppliers' paperwork. We can now send suppliers a document that they then return to us. This becomes the advice note and it is in our format with a barcode on it. This simplifies things enormously. So the system will increasingly become of major benefit for both our suppliers and us. Eventually it will help us to run with higher levels of availability and lower levels of inventory."

Keith Deane, Vice President from Infor EMEA, commented on the business win: "This is another example where Infor customers have benefited from the range of complementary solutions available to them, within the Infor product portfolio.  The way in which Fairline Boats will increasingly benefit from Infor SupplyWeb over the coming months is a perfect example of how the system can provide the means to exchange information with suppliers in a more speedy and seamless manner. And, in collaboration with the Infor ERP solution, Infor SupplyWEB will free up much of Fairline Boats' human resource, enabling them to concentrate on more important tasks such as decision making, rather than spending unnecessary amounts of time dealing with manual administration duties."