HITting the Road with Charlie Bigham’s: A Visit to SYSPRO South Africa

31 October, 2024

For UK-based food producer Charlie Bigham’s, staying ahead in a competitive industry means leveraging cutting-edge technology to support quality, precision, and growth. This commitment recently led Bigham’s team to South Africa, where they joined our Managing Director, Andrew Longland, for an exclusive opportunity to explore SYSPRO’s capabilities in action. Hosted by Johan Du Toit and Herman Martiz from the SYSPRO team, the visit provided insights into how SYSPRO empowers companies in the food and beverage industry to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Learning from Industry Leaders

The itinerary included visits to four companies actively using SYSPRO to drive their business processes—three of which were in the food and beverage sector. Through these visits, Charlie Bigham’s team gained an invaluable perspective on how similar businesses leverage SYSPRO’s technology to optimise resource management, refine production processes, and boost overall operational efficiency. For Bigham’s, a company committed to quality and precision in food production, observing SYSPRO’s impact firsthand revealed exciting opportunities to elevate its processes.

Each company visit highlighted ways SYSPRO provides a competitive advantage, from automated production planning to real-time inventory control. Witnessing these modules and SYSPRO ISV products in action gave Bigham’s team a deeper understanding of SYSPRO’s potential within their own operations. The visits showcased how advanced automation, data integration, and improved supply chain management can drive efficiencies and strengthen their position in a competitive market.

Exploring New Possibilities at SYSPRO Cape Town

A key highlight of the trip was the visit to SYSPRO’s Cape Town office, where the team experienced live demonstrations of advanced SYSPRO features. This session showcased both technical and strategic capabilities, sparking insightful discussions on how SYSPRO’s business intelligence tools could support data-driven decision-making at Bigham’s. Interacting with other SYSPRO customers during these sessions underscored the software’s adaptability and scalability, revealing how companies of varying sizes integrate SYSPRO to support sustainable growth, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making.

Andrew Longland was particularly thrilled to witness SYSPRO’s widespread impact firsthand, affirming his passion for helping businesses thrive through innovative technology. The opportunity to exchange ideas with other SYSPRO users was invaluable, providing Bigham’s team with inspiration on how to further optimise their operations and use SYSPRO to meet their evolving needs.

Strategic Reflections at SYSPRO Headquarters

The final leg of the journey took the team to SYSPRO’s headquarters in Johannesburg, where they were warmly welcomed by the senior leadership team. A standout moment was their meeting with a SYSPRO partner specialising in SYSPRO MOM, a module Bigham’s is keen to explore further. This session allowed the team to reflect on their current operational processes, identifying areas where SYSPRO MOM could reduce manual labour, enhance efficiency, and streamline production as they plan for growth.

These discussions illustrated that digital transformation with ERP is not just about upgrading software but fundamentally rethinking business operations. For a brand known for its commitment to quality, integrating more advanced SYSPRO modules could allow Bigham’s to maintain their standards while scaling production, ultimately supporting their strategic goals.

Insights from the SYSPRO EMEA & APAC Partner Conference

As Bigham’s team returned to the UK, Andrew stayed in South Africa to attend the SYSPRO EMEA & APAC Partner Conference. The event convened industry experts, partners, and SYSPRO users to share insights on the platform’s capabilities and future developments. It was an exceptional opportunity for Andrew to connect with thought leaders in the ERP space and learn about emerging features within SYSPRO 8 2024, including the new Application Designer for no-code and low-code application development. This feature allows businesses to adapt their ERP solutions with minimal coding, enabling customisation tailored to their unique requirements.

Additionally, Andrew received an early look at the anticipated SYSPRO 9 update, set for release in 2025, which promises even more powerful tools to support SYSPRO’s leadership in the ERP industry.

A New Chapter in Partnership and Innovation

Overall, the trip was a tremendous success, providing fresh insights, new opportunities, and a renewed sense of collaboration. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the SYSPRO team for their hospitality and to the team at Charlie Bigham’s for their trust in HIT Technology. It’s partnerships like these that inspire us to go above and beyond, driving us to invest deeply in our client's success.

Reflecting on this journey, it’s clear that our commitment to helping businesses grow and thrive is stronger than ever. By standing side-by-side with our clients, HIT Technology remains dedicated to supporting their operational goals through innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology.

Whether it’s optimising production processes, enhancing supply chain management, or exploring new digital solutions, HIT Technology will continue to be a trusted partner in our clients’ journey to excellence.

We look forward to seeing how SYSPRO continues to shape the future for companies like Charlie Bigham’s and beyond.