Leach Lewis uses MAXcel to manage complexity

Leach Lewis Group is a major independent supplier of heavy plant and industrial compressed air systems. Motivair, the Compressed Air Division, has grown rapidly by acquisition. Supplying efficient service to their customers is a key objective of the businesses.

Leach Lewis Group operates from a datacentre in Waltham Cross with depots throughout England. Microsoft Terminal Services are used to control local users’ PC options and also to facilitate faster response.

The main challenge for Leach Lewis was managing a complex business which includes sale of major plant and spares, installation and service of equipment requires a heavy reliance on an efficient IT system. In 1998 the Group invested in a single integrated package to meet these requirements but heavy customisation meant that the system was restricting the growth and development of the business.

Group Financial Director, Mick Brown, said, “We want to be the largest independent supplier of product and service in our market and we believe MAXcel will help us achieve that aim.”

The development of the service function had been identified as a key business area in order to provide a high level of customer satisfaction and to maintain a strong revenue stream for the Group. Therefore any new IT system needed to have a strong and fully integrated service dimension. Several acquisitions in the Motivair Division meant that customers and offices were widely spread and in order to reduce cost and improve efficiency there was a need to centralise the service function and operate using mobile PDA communications for the field engineers.

A further key business requirement was to integrate CRM with the main system so that the customer became the single point of entry whether for sales of equipment, spares or service.

Maxima is working with Leach Lewis’ Project Manager and team to implement MAXcel. Features of the project are:

• Extensive Data Migration
• Development of new features to MAXcel service in line with Leach Lewis’s requirements
• Integration of Service with CRM
• Joint Management of Project
• Planning for Document Management and HR as part of Phase 2 of Project

 

The technologies provided are 150 user licenses for MAXcel software powered by Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 including:

• Maxima’s own integrated Service and Maintenance module
• Integrated PDA devices for filed engineers
• Servers and System Software required to operate MAXcel
• Data Conversion
• Project Management and Implementation Resources

Deploying MAXcel throughout the Leach Lewis Group has meant growth and development of the company is no longer hindered by an inflexible IT system. The key objective of improving customer service has been achieved by using MAXcel Service and PDAs. By utilising the strong CRM functions in MAXcel this important business function now becomes integral to the system rather than being an adjunct.

Mr. Brown added, “We looked at many packages before selecting MAXcel. MAXcel provided the only fully integrated Service solution that met our requirements”.