Equipter is a manufacturing company in Pennsylvania that designs, builds and services specialized construction equipment for roofing contractors. In the past few years, as the firm expanded its factory space and product offerings, they were still using disconnected systems to run their business. They had no automated inventory and shop floor processes, used customized accounting software for their financials and, while they used Salesforce CRM for their customer data, they couldn’t integrate all of that data into a single system.
Expanding Beyond the Capabilities of their Software
After running a roofing replacement business, Equipter founder and CEO Aaron Beiler and his family began designing and manufacturing innovative debris management equipment for roofing contractors. The company’s RB4000 roofing trailer proved to be a great success, helping roofing companies and other construction firms lower their labor costs and complete jobs faster.
Says Vice-President Raymond Beiler, “The RB4000 is a portable dumpster that can drive itself around residential roofing job sites. It has a lift and a dump and is towable on the road. So, it’s a pretty compact trailer/lift/dumpster.”
In the 15 years since the company first started manufacturing its flagship product, they’ve expanded considerably. In 2016, they outgrew their original 6,000 square foot manufacturing facility and moved into their current 25,000 square foot facility. Meanwhile, they added several more products and accessories. During the process, they outgrew their old software.
They had been manually entering and duplicating data from their Salesforce CRM into their old accounting system and had little or no automation in their manufacturing and service operations.
“From where we started, we used a small legacy type of accounting system that a local company designed,” describes Beiler. “We got to a place where we wanted to prepare for growth and expansion, so we started looking around at some other options.”
At this point, Equipter identified two primary objectives for any future software purchase. “We had been using CRM for a number of years, and we wanted to go from manually entering or duplicating data from our CRM to streamlining that information,” says Beiler. “Second, we wanted to prepare for growth in our inventory management and planning and shop processes. We were very limited with the old system that we had.”
Rootstock has a lot of experience in manufacturing and the potential to adapt and work with our processes as a smaller company looking at growth and expansion.
– RAYMOND BEILER, VICE PRESIDENT, EQUIPTER
Choosing and Implementing Rootstock Cloud ERP
Equipter had already invested in Salesforce CRM and clearly saw the integration possibilities with the Salesforce Cloud Platform. They wanted a system with the flexibility to support expansion, and cloud-based ERP for industrial equipment was the logical choice for the company.
When it came time to evaluate software vendors, they looked at Rootstock and liked what they saw, especially in the area of manufacturing expertise. “Rootstock had a lot of experience in manufacturing,” says Beiler, “and had the potential to adapt with our processes as a younger, smaller company looking at growth and expansion.”
Implementation
It took about six months for Equipter to implement their new Rootstock solution, going live in January 2017.
The biggest challenge for Equipter was learning how to run a more complex system than their previous software. “We went from a basic accounting system to Rootstock, which was a lot more advanced than anything any of us here at the time had been used to,” recalls Beiler.
Beiler also praised Rootstock’s support during the implementation process. “The support was, and is, great. They walked us through each step, and as we became more and more familiar with the system, it went well.”
Other cloud software vendors that Equipter evaluated couldn’t match Rootstock’s level of detail and the thoroughness of Rootstock’s manufacturing functions.
The support was, and is, great. They walked us through each step, and as we became more and more familiar with the system, it went well.
– RAYMOND BEILER, VICE PRESIDENT, EQUIPTER
Integrating Separate Systems
Choosing Rootstock Cloud ERP on the Salesforce Platform has solved Equipter’s integration problem of separate systems. The company now enjoys seamless integration between CRM and Rootstock Cloud ERP, allowing them to connect the sales side of the business to manufacturing and service and, more importantly, to have a 360-degree view of all of their data.
“It’s been nice to be able to work with both ends and connect to ERP and the data that’s there and have all this information in one place,” says Beiler.
On the sales side, Equipter uses several third-party software packages which, while not connected directly to Rootstock, connect to different parts of sales and order fulfillment processes, such as DocuSign and Geoforce. The company sees and uses all of the different software components as a single system.
Streamlining Manufacturing Processes
Equipter is using most of Rootstock’s ERP modules, including sales orders, purchasing, inventory, engineering, shop floor management, project control and MRP. They’ve been especially pleased with Rootstock’s streamlined inventory and MRP functions. Being able to forecast accurately has helped the company on the supply side.
“I talked with our inventory guys recently and they never want to go back,” says Beiler. “That’s probably by far the main benefit that we’ve had, the additional inventory management and control along with MRP.”
Equipter also started using Rootstock Mobile about a year ago. Rootstock Mobile is Rootstock Software’s mobile app for managing inventory, production, shipping, fulfillment and labor transactions. Equipter has been using Rootstock Mobile for its shop floor transactions, and it has helped the company define some of their processes around shop floor transactions.
When Equipter first implemented Rootstock, they printed work order travelers and then manually wrote on those pieces of paper. When they started using Rootstock Mobile, they were able to do all of that electronically.
“We have an iPad for each shop employee, and they have their device out on the shop floor,” explains Beiler. “They’re able to book their own time and quantity on their work orders. There’s a lot less data entry when that comes back to the office, and then we review all those transactions and close the work order.”
Increasing Inventory Efficiency
Thanks to Rootstock, Equipter has become more efficient and more productive. According to Beiler, the company had one full-time inventory manager prior to implementing Rootstock, but even with the company growing, they do more with just about the same number of people.
“This comes in light of our growth. If I’d ask that guy to manage our inventory today using our old system, he would need more people to help,” says Beiler. “Even with the growth that we’ve had in the last few years and with Rootstock, we have just one full-time and one part-time employee involved in inventory management today. Going from being a smaller company and having about 200% growth over the last five years, we haven’t had to add a lot of resources to inventory management.”
Planning Future Growth
As Equipter continues to grow, they are already looking at ways to expand their use of Rootstock Cloud ERP.
The company is interested in implementing serial numbers to be able to connect serialized items to work orders and provide that information to their support reps. “We have the work orders and components, and our bills of material are multilevel building materials,” says Beiler. “It’d be awesome for a customer support person to get into a serialized item and see a multilevel BOM.”
Beiler says another area of possible expansion is engineering revision management. “I’m sure revisions could help us out; keeping a clear record on the engineering BOM and using that as a reference point versus using the as-built work orders as a reference point. For simplicity or a quick customer reference, that would be really nice.”
Equipter is currently using QuickBooks for their accounting, but Beiler admits that the company would enjoy having their financials connected to the cloud and the customer record in Salesforce. “It’s kind of down the path that we’d look at that. Do we bring that QuickBooks data back into Salesforce or do we look at Rootstock financials?”
Summary
Equipter is a company on the rise. They’ve experienced nearly 200% growth over the last five years and expect to grow more. Thanks to Rootstock Cloud ERP on the Salesforce Platform, Equipter has been able to integrate disparate systems into a single system that connects sales, manufacturing and service, and they’ve been able to increase efficiency by automating processes that used to be completed manually.
Equipter VP Raymond Beiler sums up why the company is pleased with Rootstock: “I come back to Rootstock’s experience in manufacturing and just the way that they handle transactions. That’s kind of shaped a lot of our processes here internally as well.”
Download the Case Study
Click here to download the Rootstock Software Case Study “Rootstock Helps Equipter Streamline Manufacturing and Expand.”
About Equipter
Equipter/New Heights LLC (Paradise, PA) is an American-owned, family-run business that designs and manufactures state of the art equipment to help businesses in construction, general contracting, residential roofing, commercial roofing and more improve debris removal and in turn improve efficiency. Their flagship product is the Equipter RB4000 (The Roof Buggy), a drive-able, raise-able, tow-able and dump-able construction and roofing vehicle that can fit into tight areas, streamlines the removal of roofing debris and makes jobsite cleanup faster and easier.
To learn more about the Equipter, please visit equipter.com.
Architectural Fabrication: The Power of Real-Time ERP Reporting & Data Visibility
Architectural Fabrication is an established shade solutions company located in Fort Worth, Texas. It has been around for more than two decades, providing custom solutions for canopies, sunshades, walkways, and several other architectural elements that enhance the look of buildings. The company has made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies for three years running. It partners with general contractors, architects, and engineers to provide manufacturing, design and installation services. In fact, it works with some of the largest architectural firms, general contractors, and retailers in the U.S. If a customer can conceive it, Architectural Fabrication can deliver it, turning a drawing or idea into a custom solution.
BACA Systems, Inc.: Rootstock Cloud ERP is the De Facto Choice for Long Term Success on Salesforce
BACA Systems Inc., based in Orion Township, Michigan, is known for Innovative Fabrication Solutions for Industrial Stone Automation. BACA’s dedicated team of experts provide industrial-sized solutions in Robotic Automation, System Integration, WaterJet Technology and Countertop Fabrication. BACA Systems, an industry front runner, gives seminars in how to set up a shop with the right templating, sawing, edge finishing and water treatment equipment to increase profits and to reduce labor costs.
Boston Dynamics Achieves Fundamental Business Transformations with Rootstock Cloud ERP & Salesforce
Boston Dynamics is an American engineering and robotics design company founded in 1992 out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology.) Once owned by Google, they are still located in Massachusetts. Boston Dynamics offers a highly advanced robotic line; their engineers design robotics nimble enough to climb stairs, master a multitude of warehouse tasks, and traverse remote areas and terrain using a 360-degree view.
Rootstock Helps Equipter Streamline Manufacturing and Expand
Equipter/New Heights LLC (Paradise, PA) is an American-owned, family-run business that designs and manufactures state of the art equipment to help businesses in construction, general contracting, residential roofing, commercial roofing and more improve debris removal and in turn improve efficiency. Their flagship product is the Equipter RB4000 (The Roof Buggy), a drive-able, raise-able, tow-able and dump-able construction and roofing vehicle that can fit into tight areas, streamlines the removal of roofing debris and makes jobsite cleanup faster and easier.
Northeast Lantern: From Spreadsheets to Cloud ERP
Northeast Lantern exists to provide high quality solid brass and copper lighting fixtures through highly skilled and dedicated employees, excellent customer service and proficient manufacturing processes. Northeast Lantern offers a lifetime guarantee and unique ability to customize any fixtures to ensure confidence and satisfaction with customers. Northeast Lantern continually innovates and improves American made lighting fixtures to maintain a competitive edge in the industry and keep up with market demands. Over 20% of the company’s lanterns are custom. Northeast Lantern sells their finely crafted products through a network of US and Canadian authorized dealers.
OSI – A Modern Foundation for High Quality Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Osoth Inter Laboratories Co., Ltd. (OSI), headquartered in Thailand, is a high-quality manufacturer of pharmaceutical and dietary supplements and a subsidiary of the SAHA group, a multi-business/cosmetics and consumer product manufacturer.
When Planning for Its New Manufacturing ERP, Pacer Group Planned for Success
Established in 1979, Pacer Group (Sarasota, Fla.), is a leading wire and electrical cable manufacturer that offers custom electrical products, value-added solutions and parts distribution. The Pacer group of companies has expanded beyond its traditional marine industry focus at its 42,000 square-foot manufacturing, assembly and warehouse complex in Sarasota. Our array of capabilities begins with wire and cable manufacturing and progresses with customer focused solutions such as battery cable assembly, wire harness assembly, instrument and dash panel design, and complete electrical system integration.
Perpetua Advisors: Next Gen ERP Platform Advice for the Next Generation of your Business
Perpetua Advisors helps manufacturers digitally transform their business eco-systems through the effective expansion of reliable data. Core to their success is helping clients pivot away from traditional technology solutions that deliver siloed and fragmented data and move towards achieving long-term digital transformation success using unified data. Hear from Chief Digital Officer & Co-Founding Partner, Mike Wind, to learn how Perpetua advises their customers on the selection of a proven cloud platform with Salesforce and Rootstock to deliver one common data model that empowers customers and suppliers with timely, high-quality data.
Pioneer’s CRM and ERP now roll smoother on one cloud platform
Pioneer Motor Bearing provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users with first-class bearing engineering, manufacturing and repair expertise. Its mission is to help them design, build, maintain and upgrade large rotating equipment to operate more efficiently and reliably over an extended life.
Products include turbine and generator bearings operating in nuclear power stations, very large vertical guide and thrust bearing assemblies operating in some of the largest hydroelectric plants in North America, patented designs for small tilting pad radial bearings for high speed lightly loaded rotating machinery, and new and repaired bearings for the U.S. Navy.
Pro-Tech Cleans Up Software System with Cloud ERP
Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution, Inc. (Rochester, NY) revolutionized the snow and ice management industry when they launched the Rubber Edge Sno Pusher in 1994, which has helped thousands of snow and ice companies across North America move more snow faster, thereby increasing efficiency and profitability. Since then, they have never stopped working to craft the perfect containment plow, striving to increase the already extreme durability and functionality of their product line.
SPR Therapeutics Revolutionizes Customer Excellence with Next-Gen Cloud Platform
SPR Therapeutics is committed to improving the lives of millions of pain sufferers with its peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) platform technology poised to be the standard of care and ultimately, the treatment of choice for pain management.
Led by a world-class team of scientists, physicians, and business professionals with a track record of commercializing innovative neurostimulation products, SPR’s PNS therapy for acute and chronic pain management provides a non-narcotic, reversible, safe, effective and more affordable alternative to addictive opioid medications and invasive surgeries.
Led by a world-class team of scientists, physicians, and business professionals with a track record of commercializing innovative neurostimulation products, SPR’s PNS therapy for acute and chronic pain management provides a non-narcotic, reversible, safe, effective and more affordable alternative to addictive opioid medications and invasive surgeries.
Summit Imaging - Removing Obstacles to Growth with Rootstock and Salesforce
Summit Imaging (Woodinville, WA) is a technology-focused ultrasound medical equipment support company. It offers end-to-end customer support, including hands-on training courses, fast repairs, high quality parts replacement, free 24/7 technical support, the longest warranty on parts and services in the industry and the ability to diagnose most problems over the phone in under 7 minutes. Summit Imaging constantly strives to improve the customer experience and because of their outstanding reputation, has grown by over 60% year over year to become the very best in their industry. The company recently received ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 9001:2008 certifications from The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) for its repair and support services of ultrasound medical equipment.
Swift Straw - Using Native Cloud ERP Technology to Scale Rapid Business Growth
Swift Straw has earned its reputation as “the ground cover specialists” in the American Southeast. With a focus on pine straw and mulch products, the largest beautification components for landscaping nationwide, Swift Straw has created a method to package pine straw in compact easy-to-handle bales that allow for new market expansion across the country.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Swift Straw is the largest pine straw distributor in America. They ship and install pine straw and mulch products to a diverse client list of landscapers, private and commercial real estate projects, hotels, homeowner associations, schools, parks, and more.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Swift Straw is the largest pine straw distributor in America. They ship and install pine straw and mulch products to a diverse client list of landscapers, private and commercial real estate projects, hotels, homeowner associations, schools, parks, and more.
Supporting Explosive Growth with Rootstock Cloud ERP
Tilray, Inc. is a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is changing people’s lives for the better – one person at a time – by inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life by providing them with products that meet the needs of their mind, body, and soul and invoke a sense of wellbeing.
Unionwear Improves Production Capacity Planning with Rootstock & Salesforce
Unionwear is the trade name, URL and DBA of New Jersey Headwear Corp., which manufactures and embroiders headwear, bags, accessories, work wear and safety gear. Unionwear currently operates a 45,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Newark. Unionwear sells through a nationwide network of several hundred promotional products distributors. As the premium paid for domestic production shrinks, more and more markets are enforcing labor standards in their procurement, such as colleges, federal, state, and local governments, as well as corporations with strong union workforces – for employee gear, and non-profits.
For the past ten years, Unionwear has focused on providing products to clients requiring products to be made in the USA and is not forced to compete with imports on price. The US military and federal government accounts for half of the business with clients like labor unions and presidential campaigns representing much of the balance.
UTG Mixing Group stirs up ERP from scratch
Uutechnic OY - founded in 1993 and headquartered in Finland - specializes in the demanding technology of mixing solutions. Specially manufactured to meet almost any specific heavy industrial need, Uutechnic’s equipment-solutions serve a variety of large capacity conditions. Uutechnic has developed into a respected global brand for mixing technology and serves mining, fertilizing, pulp/paper processing, and chemical industry clients.
