Crystal Window & Door Systems has implemented a new multi-million dollar enterprise-wide computer system.
The next-generation platform manages the company’s quoting, sales, production, delivery and other vital operations.
In use at Crystal’s headquarters and main production plant in New York, the system is being phased in at Crystal’s other production facilities and sales offices around the country.
Crystal initiated the development of a new computer system to integrate quotations and order placement, inventory, production, shipping and accounting processes.
“Our prior system was state-of-the-art when it was first installed, and it has served us well for over a decade,” said COO Steve
Chen. “However, Crystal has grown so much in its 25 years of operation that we knew the current system would not be able to keep up. With technology evolving to allow more rapid, real-time information for the fenestration industry, we wanted to be able to offer this enhanced capability to our customers. Crystal decided to make the significant investment in a new system that would be able to grow with the company, remaining viable for many years to come.”
The new system offers many features that improve order efficiency, accuracy, turnaround and flexibility.
Clear, plain language quotation and order documentation includes digital product illustrations for every line item and corresponding accessories listed by opening. When required, shop drawings are automatically generated. Production scheduling and delivery or pick-up confirmation are determined.
The system will also allow trained trade customers to develop quotations and enter orders directly through the online EZ-Crystal portal.
“We are already working with several dealers training their staffs on our system, so they can log in and enter their orders right from their offices,” said Chen. “This interactive feature will greatly enhance the success of our dealers’ businesses.”
Crystal engaged the Soft Tech Group to develop the system needed to integrate all of its operations. A 20-person team of Soft Tech programmers and dedicated Crystal programmers and IT specialists worked for two years to bring the new system to fruition.
“The front end of the system, what our customers see, covers product information, specifications, estimating, quotations, configurations and engineering,” said Mason Wang, Crystal’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Manager.
“The back end of the system covers the business operations from sale to final delivery and billing.”
Soft Tech’s V6 software, the estimating and engineering software for the fenestration industry, was customized for Crystal and integrated with its partnering software ContractERP by Access IT, specifically designed for the fenestration industry.
New HP servers and networking hardware supplements the company’s existing computer operations. The resulting system forms the most powerful platform yet for Crystal.
