Hill & Smith Ltd selects Maxima to implement next generation MAXcel Microsoft Dynamics AX-based ERP solution

Maxima, a leading IT business systems and managed services company, has won a contract from Hill & Smith Ltd to migrate its legacy business applications to a next generation MAXcel ERP solution based on the Microsoft Dynamics® AX platform. Hill & Smith is a major provider of safety barriers, workzone protection systems and steel structures, and its new Maxima MAXcel-based apps solution will provide the company with an end-to-end business management capability – supporting its specific construction supply chain and contract manufacturing requirements, as well as offering full support for the company’s plant hire and field service operations.

Hill & Smith selected Maxima – a long-standing Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a leader in the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX solutions – as its project partner after an in-depth market assessment and a close analysis of how Maxima’s MAXcel apps could generate a compelling Return on Investment (ROI) proposition for the business. Identified benefits include improved cash collection, reductions in procurement costs and greater control over maverick purchasing, more efficient management of finished goods stockholdings, and focusing on reducing additional costs such as customer penalties, returns and credit notes.

Collectively these benefits will ensure that the new Maxima solution quickly pays for itself, and continues to unlock value for Hill & Smith over the lifecycle of the project. The integrated MAXcel apps solution will also enable the creation of real-time reports, consolidated financial reporting across the company’s multiple divisions, as well as reducing the time and resource needed to generate reports. Based on the Microsoft Dynamics AX Enterprise Resource Planning business application, Maxima will manage the migration of Hill & Smith’s core business and operational data from its previous IBS system.

“Over the past few years Hill & Smith Ltd has grown through acquisition, and we’ve now got five divisions – Hill & Smith Barriers, TopDeck, Berry Systems, Varioguard and Multiplate – that make up our business. We knew we needed to evolve our business systems to a more future-proof platform, and with MAXcel and Microsoft Dynamics AX we’re convinced we now have an ERP solution that will help us to integrate our operations and enable Hill & Smith to leverage the performance of its different business units,” commented Robert Rabone, Finance Director at Hill & Smith Ltd. “Maxima’s deep expertise in both Microsoft Dynamics AX and our previous IBS software gave us confidence that the risks associated with a major migration project such as this were minimised. What sealed the deal for Hill & Smith was Maxima’s clearly structured implementation approach that was designed to fast track our time to benefit and project payback.”

Maxima’s Microsoft Dynamics AX-based apps solution will address a number of specific requirements for Hill & Smith, including improving user productivity, delivering increased insight for financial management, and helping to reduce costs in sales order management. Hill & Smith will also focus on speeding time to market with Dynamics AX’s Production element, as well as working to maximise rental assets at Varioguard using Maxima’s MAXcel Hire Services Module, and deploying the MAXcel contract sales module to help increase profitability at TopDeck Parking and Berry Systems.

“Working closely with Microsoft, we’ve been able to demonstrate how a major organisation such as Hill & Smith can unlock significant business benefits by migrating from their legacy system to a next generation solution based on Microsoft Dynamics AX,” added Paul Adams, General Manager, Microsoft Business Solutions, at Maxima. “We’ve also invested significantly in developing our MAXcel family of industry-leading apps for Microsoft Dynamics AX, and it’s great to see how the combination of Dynamics AX, our specialist applications and our proven service capability can create such a strong proposition for organisations such as Hill & Smith.”

MAXcel is Maxima’s suite of business management software that leverages the power of Microsoft Dynamics AX to support the needs of the construction, service management and manufacturing industries. MAXcel integrates the scalability and flexibility of the Microsoft Dynamics product line with Maxima’s proven industry expertise to provide organisations with a powerful suite of sector-specific business applications at a significantly lower cost of ownership than more generic enterprise alternatives. In addition to core Microsoft Dynamics AX functionality, MAXcel offers specific apps for contract sales, contract management, contract manufacturing, asset/plant hire, service and maintenance and subcontractor management.

Microsoft Dynamics AX is an integrated, adaptable business management solution that helps organisations make business decisions with greater confidence. Microsoft Dynamics AX works like – and with – familiar Microsoft software, automating and streamlining business processes and connecting organisations with their global customers, business partners and subsidiaries in ways that help drive business success. Microsoft Dynamics AX includes a broad range of functionality, including: manufacturing, distribution, supply chain management, project finance, financial management, CRM, human resource management, business analysis and a comprehensive enterprise portal with Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint® services integration.

About Hill & Smith Limited:
Hill & Smith Ltd provides highway and off-highway safety barriers, temporary highway and general workzone protection systems as well as corrugated steel structures. The company is part of the major international Hill & Smith Holdings PLC group that focuses on the design, manufacture and supply of infrastructure products. For more information, please visit: www.hill-smith.co.uk

For further details:
Victoria Franks, Maxima
Marketing Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 7590 098233
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Charles Crabtree,
Maxima PR Team
Tel: + 44 (0) 7814 027253
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