Case Study: Maes Mattress Ticking
Case Study: Maes Mattress TickingThe importance of a future-oriented approach
Maes Mattress Ticking sought a modern ERP solution to replace their outdated system. They chose Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations within the 9altitudes cloud, seamlessly integrated with an MES package and custom-built on-premise software.
"We began searching for a new ERP system because our previous one was outdated and no longer supported by Microsoft," explains Jürgen Van Damme, CFO at Maes Mattress Ticking. "Our primary goal during this process was to avoid the challenges we faced with the old system," adds Wouter Debonnet, IT Manager at Maes Mattress Ticking.
"One major issue was the lack of automatic updates, which made upgrading to newer versions impossible as the system aged. Extensive customizations further complicated matters, embedding production processes so deeply within the ERP that adapting to new operational requirements became a significant challenge."
The challenges for Maes Mattress Ticking
Outdated ERP solution
Maes Mattress Tickings' old ERP solution was no longer supported by Microsoft.
Restrictive framework
It was difficult to meet the new requirements that needed to be added to the system.
Invoices that lack customization options
Invoices used to be rigid documents that couldn't be modified.
Lack of insights
To gain insights, adjustments had to be made in Excel.
"9altitudes suggested that we shouldn't include everything in the ERP package"
Wouter Debonnet - IT Manager, Maes Mattress Ticking
A combination of the cloud and on-premise
"9altitudes advised us against including everything in the ERP system," Wouter explains. "They recommended continuing to use our existing MES package for weaving and knitting, as it was specifically tailored to our industry. Incorporating it unnecessarily into the ERP system would have been redundant. Instead, they proposed integrating the two systems, allowing them to work seamlessly together."
"In addition to the ERP solution from 9altitudes, we utilize a MES system from BMSVision," Wouter continues. "This system was specifically designed for the unique needs of the weaving and knitting sector, ensuring all aspects of our production are fully supported. At Maes Mattress Ticking, this solution operates on-premise, meaning all data is stored securely on our local servers. Furthermore, we’ve also developed custom software tailored specifically to the weaving and knitting industry, which is also hosted on-premise."
Outgoing document flow and reporting
Maes Mattress Ticking has enhanced its operations by implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, along with 9A Raptor Document Warehouse and Power BI, all provided by 9altitudes. “Before partnering with 9altitudes, we hadn’t considered revamping our document workflow,” explains Wouter. “Our previous ERP system allowed us to generate invoices, but they were inflexible and couldn’t be customized. With the 9A Raptor Document Warehouse, embedding procedures into the system is straightforward. For instance, we can now easily add specific text to invoices for U.S. customers without applying it to all others. This level of flexibility allows us to adapt to individual customers, markets, and even specific time periods.”
The company has also turned its attention to streamlining reporting with Power BI. “Since Power BI is directly integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365, we can seamlessly leverage our data,” Wouter notes. “This integration extends to other connected systems, such as MES and our proprietary software.” Jürgen adds, “Reporting is a critical area for us. In our previous system, we often had to tweak reports manually in Excel. With the new solution, our goal is to generate all reports—whether financial or performance-related—directly from the ERP system using Power BI. This eliminates inefficiencies and ensures greater accuracy.”
With these advancements, Maes Mattress Ticking is building a robust, flexible, and data-driven foundation for its operations.
The results for Maes Mattress Ticking
Automated tasks
The new setup automates more tasks than was possible with the old ERP solution.
A cloud-based ERP solution
Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is regularly updated, ensuring the system stays up to date.
Preserve other systems
By connecting the new ERP to the existing MES, Maes Mattress Ticking got the best of both worlds.
An accessible system
While working from home, employees can easily log in to the new ERP solution.
A more flexible system
With 9A Raptor Document Warehouse, Maes Mattress Ticking can easily input procedures into the system themselves.
Services and solutions used
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance
Increase the efficiency of your financial processes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, the leading financial management platform.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management offers a powerful suite of tools that help companies optimize the complete management of their supply chain.
Power BI
Visualize, analyze, and share data from multple sources through interactive reports and dashboards.
About Maes Mattress Ticking
Maes Mattress Ticking is a family business that was founded in 1926 and specializes in weaving and knitting high-quality mattress ticking. Their production is entirely local in Belgium, specifically on the site in Zwevegem, and their products are distributed all over the world1. Maes guarantees 100% Belgian top quality and they are currently the market leader in their sector.
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