Custom Shirt Manufacturer’s Infrastructure Upgrade, Business Intelligence & eCommerce Solution Creates Productivity & Revenue Gains
“The improved network infrastructure and ERGOS LIVE Desk allow me to better utilize my time and focus on our product as opposed to office IT issues.”
– David Hamilton, President, Hamilton Custom Shirt Maker
Business Needs
The customer’s embroidery machine with all customer graphics was not on the network and not being backed up which posed a serious concern to management. The team of executives were remotely accessing data through VPN which was slow at times and cumbersome. They wanted to upgrade their network so that all data was being backed up and they could remotely access information fast without issue.
The fourth generation wanted to directly connect with new customers through the Internet, allowing new and existing customers to view the fabric catalog online and eventually place orders online.
Initially, the website was difficult to navigate and update, requiring experience with File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and did not contain a fabric catalog, the latest information on their press coverage or a complete list of their retailers. All sales orders were being taken manually and entered into duplicate spreadsheets and databases. Their was no central tracking of orders. Finding out the status of an order was cumbersome and, sometimes, inaccurate. The company’s attempt to hire outside consultants to devise an order entry tracking system had resulted in many months of planning with no end result in sight.
ERGOS Solution
A Dell PowerEdge 2800 was deployed over a weekend with Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 with Software Assurance and Symantec Backup Exec 10D software and tapes for a robust backup system. A SonicWALL TZ 170 Wireless and Trend Micro Server AntiVirus were installed as well to secure the network.
Utilizing .NET and SQL, ERGOS created one database to establish and simplify the foundation for the fabric catalog, list of retailers, press coverage, in store events, and order entry. The order tracking solution allows customers to email orders or place orders online. With one database, the foundation for all future objectives was laid including the administrative module for updating the site’s list of retailers, press coverage, fabrics, styles, measurements, and descriptions.
The Results
According to David Hamilton, President, “Cataloging all of the fabrics online has significantly increased both our sales and productivity. Customers and internal staff can easily reference fabrics and search by characteristics. The order entry program combines existing separate activities and eliminates redundant tasks. The end result is less time and less mistakes.”