INDUSTRY WATCH

The Zaker Trading is a one-stopshop for specialised products and accessories in welding, lifting, safety, power tools, abrasives, and other engineering-related products. Since its establishment in 1987, it has become a major contributor to the recent and ongoing developments in oil and gas and infrastructural set-up in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council( GCC) countries. By combining experience, knowledge of local industrial requirements, practices, and appreciation from its customer base, Zaker Trading believes it services their customers in the best possible way. Today, Zaker Trading and its associated companies deliver state-of-the-art products and consumables to various Middle East-based industrial customers through its network of offices, showrooms, and multiple warehouses in the UAE and across the GCC region.

Old system inhibits growth In business for over 25 years, Zaker Trading had what can best be described as an archaic accounting system. Firstly, the existing system did not provide visibility across functional areas, and as such, most departments functioned in silos with minimal integration and exchange of information. Secondly, the system was very basic and required a lot of manual steps, as evidenced in the quotation process. What should have taken just a few clicks was a cumbersome, manual, and time-consuming process for the sales engineers.

With the old system, the sales engineers first had to generate the quote, then take it over to their managers for approval before sending to the customer. As the company expanded its operations and grew exponentially, it became painfully obvious to the directors of the company, that the incumbent system

IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS, ZAKER TRADING HAD WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS AN ARCHAIC ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. FIRSTLY, THE EXISTING SYSTEM DID NOT PROVIDE VISIBILITY ACROSS FUNCTIONAL AREAS, AND AS SUCH, MOST DEPARTMENTS FUNCTIONED IN SILOS WITH MINIMAL INTEGRATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. SECONDLY, THE SYSTEM WAS VERY BASIC AND REQUIRED A LOT OF MANUAL STEPS, AS EVIDENCED IN THE QUOTATION PROCESS

would not afford them the flexibility or scalability that the business demanded. To this end, the directors initiated the process of changing to an effective ERP( enterprise resource planning) system.

As Charles Jesudason, group general manager explains,“ At Zaker Trading, we have a small team and a limited product offering, and so our success hinges on us efficiently managing our physical and human resources. Having integration and visibility across the various functional areas, offering exceptional customer service, smart inventory management and capacity planning, and ensuring short delivery times, are critical success www. intelligentcio. com INTELLIGENTCIO

69