Blue Rock

Dave Baker & Terri Ruff of CJS with Glen Jewell of Blue Rock (right to left)

17 years ago we met Dave Baker at CJS for an initial demonstration of the software we supplied. His opening statement was “Right, what have you come to show me, because it can’t be better than the system I’ve already got!”

Well as it turned out, it was. And 17 years on and several software upgrades later CJS are still driving forward and wherever possible using software and technology to improve the efficiency of the business and improve customer service.

“Whenever we have come against an operational problem within the company I have always considered software and systems as part of the solution. Other firms may throw man power at the problem but we didn’t see the logic in that”, stated Dave.

“We were one of the first companies of our size to introduce scanned proof of deliveries, our system was one of the first to calculate buying quantities and purchase orders automatically, as far as I am aware ours was the first to automatically fax recommended sales orders to our client base”.

17 years on and CJS have just gone “live” on the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics – Nav but to be honest, the software is irrelevant to either Terri Ruff (MD) or Dave Baker (who is now Chairman).

“We bought into the people, not the software” continues Terri. “We have stayed with the same team that installed our original system despite the fact that they moved company and now they run their own, successful business. We are more confident than ever that we made the right decision back in 1990”.

“They know our business and that has meant that not only do they understand our requirements but also make suggestions and comments on how to improve our lives, we trust them”.

So has the latest upgrade been successful?

“It’s been hard work and yes there has been a little disruption, but this we expected. Now that we are live we have noticed immediate increases in speed but more importantly routine tasks are much easier. For instance updating our twenty five thousand lines of contract price agreements (which is an annual event) took us weeks last year, this year it took me, on my own, 20 minutes with no entry errors at all!

If we put that one feature into pounds and pence, it has helped us save approximately £1,500 in labour costs and generated £8,000 in increased profits because the contracts are updated so quickly.” Dave concluded, with a smile on his face.