News

At the event, spanning the 2nd and 3rd of March in Stratford-upon-Avon, Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) welcomed over four hundred delegates to its first live UK event post-pandemic. James Mitchell, Managing Director of KCS in the UK and Ireland, opened the conference and set the scene for the two days, focusing on the company's new and exciting digital solutions. 'We believe that digitisation, sustainability and profitability do go hand in hand, and over the course of the next two days, we would like to share initiatives with you that can significantly help your business reduce its carbon footprint, while delivering greater efficiencies and cost savings and helping you grow your profits – a win/win/win scenario!'

KCS staff conducted in-depth demonstrations and workshops on the company's latest mobile and web solutions, including a range of intuitive apps that deliver their customers' efficiencies in all aspects of warehousing and operation management. In addition, KCS showcased many partner solutions, such as their relationship with Phocas, an integrated BI platform that delivers real intelligence from the rich data held within KCS ERP solutions. They also took the opportunity to announce their partnership with the EFT solutions from Dojo and WorldPay for electronic payments, as well as the robotic process automation tools from Apollo that enable everyday tasks to be automated.

Neal Boomer, Group Finance Director at Haldane Fisher explains how K8 has successfully driven many developments over the years as the system has grown. "The openness of K8 provided us with the means of becoming one of the first builders’ merchants in Northern Ireland to go live with a fully-functional and integrated ecommerce website, allowing customers to check stock availability across our branch network as and when they need to."

To find out more, read the full case study.

Leading independent plastics distributor E.Tupling has selected K8 from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) as their new business management system. KCS is an ERP and business management software provider for merchants, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. Having evaluated offerings from multiple vendors, E.Tupling is confident that K8 is the right platform on which to successfully grow their business.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a leading ERP and business management software provider for distributors, wholesalers, retailers and the plant, tool and equipment hire industry, recently donated 15 PCs to the St. Mary’s Ukrainian School.

New identity to reinforce growth strategy

Following its recent acquisition by Kerridge Commercial Systems, RNH Solutions will rebrand to MAM Software. The move brings its automotive operations in the UK and Ireland under one unified brand to more accurately reflect its position as the leading provider of business management software solutions for the automotive aftermarket.

On May 5th Kerridge Commercial Systems, a global provider of ERP solutions, welcomed over 85 delegates to its Konnect Ireland customer conference. Held at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin, the event was attended by companies from the Distributive Trades, Automotive and Rental markets and demonstrated the enthusiasm users of its software have for learning and updating themselves on current versions and options in the KCS software portfolio.

Conference delegates, including companies that were new to the software as well as those who have been using it for years, were invited to discover how the latest technology can help improve business performance, from mobile apps and cloud computing to the latest developments and product road maps. “With over 620 customers in Ireland across our core markets, it’s really great to be able to share what we have been working on for the last few years, what products are coming down the lines, what innovations and importantly what direction we are going in, it’s so important to be able to share this with our customers and Konnect is the perfect platform to do this” explained James Mitchell, UK & I Managing Director.

KCS to demonstrate how its solutions can improve efficiency for Hardware and builders’ merchants and suppliers by digitising essential business processes with the latest version of K8

Kerridge Commercial Systems will be appearing at the The Hardware Show 2022 held at the Citywest Hotel & Conference Centre on 24th & 25th April. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the latest version of K8, and discover how processes can be digitised to deliver great customer service with a range of integrated apps and ecommerce solutions.

From digital proof of delivery, to digital receipt management and to remote order entry for the sales team, the innovative ERP application is designed to help Hardware and builders’ merchants streamline and improve their day-to-day operations, managing core processes with ease.

Hardware and Builders merchants can open up new channels to market with K8’s integrated, easy-to-use, sophisticated ecommerce solutions. Making selling to both trade and consumers online simple, whether that be through K8’s WebPro or through Amazon with the K8 Amazon Connector. Businesses can trade anywhere, any time, on any web-enabled device and online orders can be received directly and seamlessly into K8 for easy onward processing.

Andrew Wilkinson, European Sales Director said “We are delighted to be back at the The Hardware show this year. It presents the ideal opportunity for us to meet customers and suppliers face to face. It allows us to discuss the latest version of K8 and how it can help merchants and suppliers streamline operations, deliver digital strategies and compete better in the connected world.”

Visit Kerridge Commercial Systems on stand J16

Fifty years ago, Tileflair started trading with a small team of four people in one store. Passionate about being the best at what they did, they aimed to create a first-class experience for their customers. Such vision and the desire to deliver top-class service led the company to implement K8, the market-leading ERP solution from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). K8 helps busy distributors, wholesalers and retailers, like Tileflair, manage their trade and finance effectively.

To find out more, read the full case study.

Sustainability: it became the topic of 2021 and is set to continue in 2022, as it is a subject the industry has embraced. We recognise that it doesn’t have to be a choice between being profitable or sustainable, we believe they go hand in hand. Marginal gains taken now can make a real difference and investing in technology is a simple way to start the sustainable journey.

Read the full blog post.

Users of K8 are able to benefit from EasyAP, a new solution designed to automate supplier invoice processing.

The functionality, which is pre-integrated with the business management software from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), will deliver significant time and efficiency savings to K8 customers. EasyAP eliminates the need for manual invoice processing, allowing businesses to deploy their accounts payable resources elsewhere while significantly reducing their paperwork.

With EasyAP, supplier invoices are downloaded from email and all the details needed to process it within K8 are captured electronically. The system then matches the invoice to the purchase order and automatically populates the necessary fields within K8. Any corrections that need to be made can be entered manually, and innovative artificial intelligent processes enable K8 to remember these for future use.

An electronic version of the information is immediately stored alongside an image of the original invoice, helping businesses cut down on the need to print, handle and file paper copies.

In the event that a supplier cannot provide a PDF, it is possible to scan in a hard copy of the invoice. EasyAP then automatically populates the fields within K8 using these details.

James Mitchell, Managing Director UK & I at KCS, commented: "We recognise that time and efficiency savings are high on the agenda for our customers - as is the need to operate sustainably. EasyAP is the latest functionality within K8 that will help them achieve this.”

"The manual processing of supplier invoices can take several hours - especially for our larger customers - so we are excited to offer a solution that will speed up this process. We are proud that this solution is another great example of where Sustainability and Profitability can go hand in hand. Sustainability as this product will encourage the digitisation of a traditional paper process and profitability as this solution will reduce the admin time and physical resource (paper/ink) used.”

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a global distributor of business solutions for the distributive trades, is pleased to announce the acquisition of RNH Solutions.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) to demonstrate how its solutions can improve efficiency for merchants by digitising essential business processes with the latest version of K8.

Kerridge Commercial Systems will be appearing at the 2021 NMBS Trade Exhibition, held at the CBS Arena (formally Ricoh Arena) in Coventry on 8 & 9 September 2021.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the latest version of K8, and discover how processes can be digitised to deliver great customer service with a range of integrated apps and ecommerce solutions.

From digital proof of delivery, to digital receipt management and to remote order entry for the sales team, the innovative ERP application is designed to help builders’ merchants streamline and improve their day-to-day operations, managing core processes with ease.

Builders merchants can open up new channels to market with K8’s integrated, easy-to-use, sophisticated ecommerce solutions. Making selling to both trade and consumers online simple, whether that be through K8’s WebPro or through Amazon with the K8 Amazon Connector. Businesses can trade anywhere, any time, on any web-enabled device and online orders can be received directly and seamlessly into K8 for easy onward processing.

Paula Hayter, New Business Sales Director said “We are delighted to be back at the NMBS Trade Exhibition this year. It presents the ideal opportunity for us to meet customers and suppliers face to face. It allows us to discuss the latest version of K8 and how it can help merchants and suppliers streamline operations, deliver digital strategies and compete better in the connected world.”

Visit Kerridge Commercial Systems on stand 232

Laptops for Kids is a charitable organisation that facilitates the distribution of used digital devices to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in remote learning. Giving them access to the technology they need, free of charge, means they can complete homework tasks that would otherwise not be possible without a computer.

To find out more, read the full blog post.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has extended its online trading offering with the launch of K8 Sales Rep Portal, a quick-to-deploy, web-based product that allows field sales teams to take orders while working away from the office. The site can be accessed from anywhere with a suitable internet connection and can be used on smartphone and tablet devices.

At Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) our people are at the very heart of our business and we recognise mental health issues are a normal part of life. We all have a personal responsibility to look after our own wellbeing as well as the mental health of those who we work with and care for. As a Leadership Team in the UK business, we continuously work towards ensuring we do the best for our people. Being in a pandemic and now in a third national lockdown, supporting our people has never been more important.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has strengthened its presence in the Irish market with the appointment of Noel Burke as its New Business Sales Executive, responsible for both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Based in the midlands, Noel brings 16 years of experience in general management roles, as well as area sales and operations, working for companies such as McMahons, Topline and TJ O'Mahony (HPC Group).

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) is pleased to announce that Anthony Cornwall has joined the KCS Automotive Division as Account Director Automotive. Anthony brings with him a wealth of automotive experience having spent twelve years with CDK Global (formerly ADP) as a Major Account Manager and more recently as the Director of International Manufacture Relationships successfully managing relationships with a number of premium vehicle manufacturers and dealer groups.

Kerridge Commercial Systems has been developing innovative software applications for over 40 years, utilising expertise and experience to deliver you a powerful management solution you can trust to achieve your New Year resolutions and take your business forward in 2021.

To find out more, read the full blog post.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has today announced the formation of a new strategic Ecommerce Division within the group. The company, with operations across the globe, has recently seen a significant focus on ecommerce and digital technologies.

Announcing this key strategic investment, Tom Jackson, Director of Product Management at KCS, commented: "Our customers have looked to us to provide solutions that can help them meet the challenges posed by the recent pandemic, including changes to their business models.

July 2020 - Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a leading provider of ERP software, services and support solutions for wholesale, distribution, rental and installation customers worldwide, announced today it has acquired Unit4 Wholesale in the Netherlands.

This acquisition is an important strategic acquisition for KCS in the Benelux and a positive development for Unit4 Wholesale. Unit4 Wholesale will continue to maintain and support existing software solutions and introduce the benefits from the KCS portfolio to its customers to support customers even better

April 2020 - Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a leading provider of ERP software, services and support solutions for wholesale, distribution, rental and installation customers worldwide, has today announced its acquisition of Infomat.

This is an important strategic acquisition for KCS in Benelux and a positive development for Infomat. The company will continue to maintain and support its existing software solutions and introduce the benefits of the KCS portfolio to better support its customer base.

Heather Preu has joined Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) as Chief Executive Officer – North America. With a strong background in executive leadership, Heather’s recent roles include senior management positions within Infor and IBM, both global suppliers of software solutions.

Heather will take full responsibility for all KCS operations in the USA and Canada, including MAM and KCS (previously known as Dancik and Mincron).

Dear Customer,

As the effects of Coronavirus deepen across our world I wanted to update you on the work we are doing to support our customers around the world.

All our offices are in home working mode. Our Business Continuity plans have been instigated and all services continue to function with remote working. You should see no degradation of service on our support hot lines, including our 24x7 support service. Our R&D teams continue to develop and innovate and our consultants and training department are continuing to successfully help customers with new implementations, system management and upgrades by way of video conferencing tools.

Over the last 2 weeks we have implemented hundreds of VPN solutions to help many customers work from home. We have provided hundreds of hardware devices to help customers work in a mobile way and we have helped many of our customers move to Cloud Solutions for their business critical systems to ensure business continuity. This week we are launching new web-trading software to help customers rapidly implement internet trading solutions and keep trading electronically.

We are determined to be there and help you innovate, automate and evolve to meet the new trading challenges.

If we can help in any way please do not hesitate to contact your personal Account Manager or the support desk.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Bendelow
Kerridge CS Group CEO

Dear Customer,

In these unprecedented times, we are reaching out to make sure you know that Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) are here to help. We are working hard to make sure we support your business in any way we can and have put in place measures to ensure all our services continue in every way possible.

Many of you will be listed as critical services / key workers that are crucial in the country's supply chain. Keeping your IT system running is our number one priority. For businesses, finding innovative ways of still trading are important, which is why we are here to help you in any way possible. We will continue to reach out to every customer individually to understand what we can do to help.

Over the last few months, we have invested in technology to enable KCS to carry out our business operations remotely and we are pleased to say that this is fully operational and working well. This includes remote working capability for our staff and Microsoft Teams collaboration technology, which enables us to communicate effectively from various non-office locations, and to conduct remote training and assistance for our customers as required.

We are continuing to offer full support services and we will continue to provide our consultancy and training services remotely. Our account management team is here to help you engage with KCS.

We are already providing remote services such as system health checks, report writing, product file health check and remote training to a number of our customers. Our consultancy department is available to help our customers make the transition to remote working and address any urgent changes in their supply chain.

In light of the dramatic change to the way businesses in the UK & IE are operating, we are making available a variety of quick deployment ecommerce solutions to enable you to interact and continue trading with your customers remotely.

KCS is supported by a team of professionals loyal to the business and dedicated to providing a first class service and we will make sure that together we successfully get through this period.

Please feel free to contact me directly or our support team or your Account Manager through the normal channels.

Finally, in these challenging times I wish you, your families and your work colleagues all the best and hope that you remain healthy.

Kind regards,

James
James Mitchell | Managing Director UK & Ireland

Hungerford, UK, October 21, 2019 – Kerridge Commercial Systems (“KCS”), a market leader in software, services and support solutions for trade, wholesale, manufacturing and distribution customers worldwide, today announced it has completed its acquisition of MAM Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ Capital Market: MAMS) (“MAM Software” or “MAM”), a leading global provider of on-premise and cloud-based business management solutions for the automotive parts, tire and vertical distribution industries, having satisfied all requirements.

Ian Bendelow, CEO of Kerridge Commercial Systems, said, “KCS offers end-to-end ERP solutions including Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, CRM, Warehouse Management, Plant and Hire Management, Transport Management, Business Intelligence, ePOS and more, specifically for the distribution and manufacturing markets. Bringing MAM into the KCS group will strengthen our presence in the automotive aftermarket sector. We believe our broadened set of complementary solutions will allow us to better serve existing customers of both KCS and MAM over the long-term while also providing a very compelling alternative for new customers.”

Mike Jamieson, CEO of MAM Software, said, “The completion of this combination marks a significant milestone for both MAM Software and KCS. Working in partnership with KCS, will provide MAM with opportunities to more effectively serve its customer base through the deep and broad resources of KCS, which has a strong base of more than 15,000 customers globally. We are confident KCS will be able to enhance MAM’s leadership position in the automotive aftermarket space by leveraging the domain expertise of the KCS organization. We look forward to an exciting new chapter together as part of the KCS group.”

About MAM Software Group, Inc.

MAM Software is a leading global provider of cloud-based business and on-premise management solutions for the auto parts, tire and vertical distribution industries. The company provides a portfolio of innovative software (SaaS and packaged), data (DaaS), and integration (iPaaS) services that enable businesses to intelligently manage core business processes, control costs and generate new profit opportunities. MAM’s integrated platforms provide a wealth of rich functionality including: point-of-sale, inventory, purchasing, reporting, data and e-commerce. Wholesale, retail and installer business across North America, the U.K. and Ireland rely on MAM solutions, backed by dedicated teams of experienced service and support professionals. For further information, please visit www.mamsoftware.com.

About Kerridge Commercial Systems

Kerridge Commercial Systems provides specialist software, services and support to deliver fully integrated trading and business management solutions to distributive trades customers, large and small – wherever they are in the world. With our heritage in distributive trades, our technical experts are thought leaders in trading and management technology, and our innovative and flexible approach ensures our customers partner with us for the long-term. Our mission is simple: to design and deliver high performance, integrated ERP solutions that enable our distributive trade customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell profitably and service competitively. For further information, please visit www.kerridgecs.com.

Contact:
Kerridge Commercial Systems

Todd Fogarty
Kekst CNC
+1 212 521 4854
todd.fogarty@kekstcnc.com

Blue Bell, PA and Hungerford, UK, September 3, 2019 – MAM Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ Capital Market: MAMS) (“MAM Software” or “MAM”), a leading global provider of on-premise and cloud-based business management solutions for the automotive parts, tire and vertical distribution industries, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which it will be acquired by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), which provides software, services and support to deliver fully integrated trading and business management solutions to trade, wholesale, manufacturing and distribution customers across the world, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $154.2 million. Under the terms of the agreement, MAM stockholders will receive $12.12 per share in cash for each common share of MAM, which represents a 14% premium over the closing price on August 30, 2019 and a 38% premium over the prior 90-day average of $8.80 per share.

“This all-cash transaction provides MAM Software’s stockholders with a premium over the pre-announcement market price of their shares, and we believe it will allow our team to increase our focus on long-term success that will benefit customers, employees and partners. Together with KCS, we can offer a broader portfolio of solutions to our customers globally,” said Mike Jamieson, MAM Software CEO.

“We have long believed that a partnership between MAM Software and KCS would create a range of significant strategic opportunities,” said Ian Bendelow, CEO of Kerridge Commercial Systems. “MAM has significant traction in the automotive aftermarket sector that augments our solution offering, and this combination also will expand our U.S. market presence. We look forward to joining with the MAM team as we invest further in the business to accelerate MAM Software’s growth and bring greater value to its customer base.”

Following an extensive review of strategic alternatives and a thorough process, MAM’s Board of Directors have unanimously approved the proposed transaction. Following the execution of the merger agreement, stockholders of MAM representing more than 50% of MAM’s outstanding shares delivered a written consent approving the transaction and no other approval of MAM’s Board of Directors or stockholders is required to complete the transaction. The transaction, which is expected to close in or prior to the fourth quarter of 2019, is subject to certain customary closing conditions. A copy of the definitive agreement will be made available at MAM’s website at www.mamsoftware.com.

Mirus Capital Advisors and Sullivan & Worcester LLP are serving as MAM’s financial and legal advisors, respectively, for this transaction. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as KCS's legal advisor.

About MAM Software Group, Inc.

MAM Software is a leading global provider of cloud-based business and on-premise management solutions for the auto parts, tire and vertical distribution industries. The company provides a portfolio of innovative software (SaaS and packaged), data (DaaS), and integration (iPaaS) services that enable businesses to intelligently manage core business processes, control costs and generate new profit opportunities. MAM's integrated platforms provide a wealth of rich functionality including: point-of-sale, inventory, purchasing, reporting, data and e-commerce. Wholesale, retail and installer business across North America, the U.K. and Ireland rely on MAM solutions, backed by dedicated teams of experienced service and support professionals. For further information, please visit www.mamsoftware.com.

About Kerridge Commercial Systems

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) provides specialist software, services and support to deliver fully integrated trading and business management solutions to distributive trades customers, large and small – wherever they are in the world. With our heritage in distributive trades, our technical experts are thought leaders in trading and management technology, and our innovative and flexible approach ensures our customers partner with us for the long-term. Our mission is simple: to design and deliver high performance, integrated ERP solutions that enable our distributive trade customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell profitably and service competitively. For further information, please visit www.kerridgecs.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on beliefs and assumptions of MAM’s management and on information currently available to MAM’s management and that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements include information concerning MAM’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities, the successful closing of this transaction, effects of the transaction, operations as a private company and the location of its headquarters and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements consist of all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as “accelerates,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including, without limitation, (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (2) the possibility that the consummation of the proposed acquisition described in this communication does not occur or is delayed, either due to the failure of closing conditions or other reasons; (3) the risk that the proposed acquisition disrupts current plans and operations or increases operating costs and the potential difficulties in customer loss and employee retention as a result of the announcement and consummation of such acquisition; (4) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against MAM, KCS or others following announcement of the merger agreement and transactions contemplated therein; and (5) those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of MAM’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and MAM’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. MAM urges you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating its forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. MAM does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, MAM intends to file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a preliminary information statement on Schedule 14C. Following the filing of the definitive information statement with the SEC, the Company will mail the definitive information statement to all MAM stockholders. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by MAM with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or from MAM’s website at www.mamsoftware.com.

Contact:

MAM Software

Brian H. Callahan
Chief Financial Officer
610-336-9045 ext. 240

Kerridge Commercial Systems

Todd Fogarty
Kekst CNC
212 521 4854
todd.fogarty@kekstcnc.com

“Previously the only way we sold was through direct selling from the rep, so Vecta has facilitated a more multi-channel approach.”

Paul Gordon, Managing Director, Olympic Fixings

Vecta, the on-line sales analytics and CRM solution, has enabled Paul Gordon, managing director of Olympic Fixings, to spend more time managing and directing his business - rather than chasing data!

inspHire Limited is pleased to announce its acquisition of the inspHire software business from its reseller Elev8 Australia Pty Ltd.

inspHire has provided its award-winning rental solutions through its local reseller for the last 12 years and now plans to service customers directly. It targets a number of core markets including heavy plant, construction vehicles, powered access equipment, oil and gas equipment, portable toilets, audio visual and medical equipment.

inspHire has been providing its software solutions to the rental industry for a number of years and operates in Europe, North America and Africa, supporting over 1200 companies in 30+ countries. It is part of Kerridge Commercial Systems Group, who provides software to 15,000 customers worldwide, offering end to end ERP solutions including rental, supply chain management, financial management, CRM, warehouse management, transport management, business intelligence and ePOS solutions for the distribution and manufacturing markets.

James Mitchell has joined Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) as Managing Director - UK and Ireland. With a strong background in global business management as well as technical credentials in the software industry, James’ recent roles include senior management positions within CDK, a global supplier of IT solutions for the automotive retail industry.

James’ appointment follows a period of strong growth at KCS, both organic and through acquisition, and will allow CEO Ian Bendelow to focus on the future growth strategy of the KCS group. As managing director of KCS in the UK and Ireland, James will report to Ian Bendelow – alongside the managing directors of the KCS businesses in North America, South Africa and the Netherlands.

James said, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead a company that has such a strong portfolio of products which enable our customers to be market leaders in their industries. KCS’ strong customer partnership and heritage shows the company has been doing the right things over the years. I also value the commitment and backing we have from our investors, our executives’ clear vision as industry leaders for the future and the investments the company makes in innovating global products for the benefit of the entire customer base.”

We are delighted to announce that Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has been ranked No. 98 in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.

The league table ranks the top 200 of Britain’s mid-market private companies in order of fastest growing overseas sales. The league table is produced by Fast Track the Oxford firm that researches and ranks Britain’s top performing private companies.

When surveying the companies Fast Track found leading exporters have quietly secured overseas orders at a record rate almost double that achieved two years ago.

Private mid-market companies grew their international sales by an average of 31% a year for their past two years. Combined profits were £2.3bn, a 77% rise on the 2017 cohort.

This accelerations in sales is in part due to the fall in the pound. Yet it also reflects the strong demand for British goods and services.

Europe is a key market for the majority of the companies (86%) followed by North America (64%) and Asia (37%).

The nine strategic acquisitions KCS made in Europe, the US and South Africa were obviously instrumental in our international sales reaching £30.5m in 2018.

The full league table was published as a ten-page supplement within the business section of The Sunday Times on the 10th February 2019, in print, in the digital edition, and on the Fast Track website:

www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/kerridge-commercial-systems-2/

Reproduced by permission. Copyright The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200

“It’s a system that just keeps giving - and we’re learning more all the time.”

Mandy Humm, Financial Controller, Raven Roofing Supplies

The relationship between Raven Roofing Supplies and Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) goes back to 2004 when the company started to use an early KCS trading system alongside its accountancy package.

Five years later, during which time Raven opened three new branches, director Mark Applebee said, “I’m in no doubt that the results of the past five years have been partly attributable to how well we have made use of the system and our partnership with KCS.”

We are delighted to announce that Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has been ranked No. 37 in The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, a league table that ranks the top 200 of Britain’s mid-market private companies in order of fastest growing overseas sales.

The league table is produced by Fast Track, the Oxford firm that researches and ranks Britain’s top performing private companies. When surveying the companies, Fast Track also found that the US is the most popular country for overseas sales, with 118 of the 200 companies citing it as a major market. It is also the top choice for future growth, with more than half the firms (107) planning to expand there.

Fast Track also believed the league table shows the resilience of Britain’s mid-market exporters. Despite the uncertainty created by the on-going Brexit negotiations, their combined international sales have grown by an average of 62% a year over the last two years to a total of £10.1bn, the highest growth rate measured in the survey since 2013.

The Sunday Times reported that it was another sign of confidence that 60 of the listed companies had chosen to acquire overseas businesses to help accelerate their growth – up from 46 last year. The six strategic acquisitions KCS made recently in Europe, the US and South Africa were obviously instrumental in our international sales reaching £24m in 2017.

The full league table was published as an eight-page supplement with the business section of The Sunday Times on 10 June, both in print and in the digital edition and on: www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/kerridge-commercial-systems/

3 April, 2018 – Kerridge Commercial Systems, provider of integrated software solutions for manufacturing, field service and distribution, announced today that Datawright has been rebranded as Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS).

Over the last four decades of steady growth and diversification, KCS has acquired several companies each coming with a different name, which has become somewhat complex to navigate. Based on much research and discussion KCS has decided to reduce the complexity of their brand by renaming Datawright.

“We are very excited to make this announcement,” explained Kevin Stalker, Software Director. “As we continue to grow as a group, it makes sense to have our people and products under one brand name. The Kerridge Commercial Systems brand reflects our commitment to remain at the forefront of technology for our manufacturing, field service and distribution customers globally. We will continue to focus on innovating and delivering market-leading ERP solutions – only now we are reflecting this with a strong, unified company name.”

UK headquartered KCS already provides software to 15,000 customers worldwide, offering end to end ERP solutions including Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, CRM, Warehouse Management, Business Intelligence, ePOS, and more, specifically for the distribution, manufacturing and field service markets. The rebrand supports the company’s strategy of continued growth and follows five acquisitions during the last 24 months in the UK, USA, South Africa and the Netherlands.

The rebrand does not involve any changes to existing products. KCS believes that providing all of their services under one powerful brand will make them a stronger partner to their customers, enabling them to provide even more value to their own customers.

“The rebrand will have minimal effect on our customers. It’s very much business as usual. We will, of course, continue to develop our products and execute projects with the same level of excellence and professionalism our customers have come to expect. Going forward our strategy, values and vision remain unchanged.” Kevin Stalker, Software Director.

As the company transitions to the name KCS, they would like to thank their loyal customers for their continued support. This is an exciting evolution for the company. KCS look forward to growing their product offering globally, and are counting on the continued support of their customers.

About Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS)

KCS provides advanced, fully integrated business systems, installation and support services for the manufacturing, field service and distributive markets. The company has over 40 years of extensive knowledge and experience of working with manufacturers, field service engineers and distributors across many sectors. The company’s class leading solutions are functionally rich and highly flexible.

The KCS product solution set has a track record of delivering wide ranging benefits including greater operational efficiency and cost savings, resource and asset utilisation, together with real-time information for management decision making.

January 2018 - Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a market-leading global provider of software solutions to the retail, wholesale, merchant and distribution markets, has reached an agreement to acquire AGP, based in Veghel, the Netherlands.

UK headquartered KCS already provides software to 14,000 customers worldwide, offering end to end ERP solutions including Supply Chain Management, Quote to Cash, Financial Management, CRM, Warehouse Management, Transport Management, Business Intelligence, ePOS and more, specifically for the wholesaler, distributor, retailer and merchant sectors. The acquisition supports the company’s strategy of continued growth and follows five other acquisitions during the last 24 months, including 2 in the USA, 2 in South Africa and 1 in the UK.

Like Kerridge Commercial Systems, AGP has been delivering wholesale ERP Solutions for more than 40 years, as well as solutions for hire, projects and the installation industry. The company’s suite of products makes them a leader in the Wholesale ERP market in the Netherlands.

AGP will continue to maintain and support its existing solutions, including Trade, Rent, Projects and Installware. In time they will introduce new benefits to their customers from the KCS portfolio such as advanced e-commerce and Cloud services, along with an optional upgrade path to the established suite of KCS services and products. To further support existing customers of its K8 ERP system, KCS will look at integrating some of the solutions from the AGP suite.

Ian Bendelow, KCS Group CEO, said, “As a key strategic acquisition in the Benelux, this further strengthens our presence on the European continent, and expands our service capabilities and product offerings. As we further our platform for growth, AGP affirms and aligns with our on-going business strategy of focusing on the needs of merchants, wholesalers, retailers and distributors.

Our customers will benefit from an even stronger Netherlands based team to support our customers’ needs.

The KCS Group will continue to build organically with its industry focused solutions and customer focused service, constantly attracting more customers and helping existing customers to succeed and grow. We will add further strategic acquisitions to enhance our geographical presence and capability for our growing customers.

Michiel Bakker, Director of Operations - KCS Benelux added: ‘Combining the two companies strengthens our offering of ERP Solutions and Cloud Services in the same verticals, allowing us to grow even further in the Benelux. The ERP solutions complement each other and they secure a place in the market from niche customers to large global enterprises.’

“Turnover has doubled in the seven months since K8 was implemented and, although I can’t put that all down to K8, there’s no way we could have managed the current level of business using the old system.”

Darren House, General Manager, Trading Depot

Trading Depot, the online trading sister company to Grant & Stone, offers more than 48,000 product lines to a loyal and growing customer base who maintain its ‘excellent’ rating on Trustpilot, the online review community. The company supplies plumbing and electrical products, sanitaryware, flooring, PVC windows and doors, some heavyside materials such as paving and more than 30,000 tools.

“We’re seeing huge growth,” said Trading Depot General Manager Darren House. “While around 70% of our customers are homeowners, the remaining 30% are tradesmen who are happier shopping in an online environment today than they were 10 years ago. Although we don’t offer trade accounts, we offer a choice to builders who are looking for a keener price and are happy to wait a day or two for their delivery. We also offer a click and collect service from our warehouse. I like to think there’s a traditional merchant feel about the business as we offer great customer service including technical support over the phone at pre-purchase stage.”

“We wanted a system that allows some flexibility over what level of discount can be given so we can manage our margin better and increase profitability.”

Eoin O’Connor, Managing Director, Tadhg O’Connor Ltd

Limerick based Tadhg O’Connor Ltd, one of the larger stores in the Topline group, is about to implement a new ERP system provided by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). The family owned business operates two builders’ merchant branches and a furniture store.

Business is split 50/50 between trade and retail customers and there are more than 600 trade account customers.

Managing Director, Eoin O’Connor said, “We’re successful because our staff offer excellent service and our customers know they can rely on us having the right stock delivered in a timely fashion in perfect condition and at good value.”

“When K8 goes live across the business we’ll be able to use the Works Order module to relay information and orders more efficiently as well as making sure we’re earning a profit on every job.”

David Nordstrom, General Manager, Nordstrom Timber

Nordstrom Timber is the largest independent timber merchant in the City of Sunderland. Established in 1953 by Herman Nordstrom, the company has grown steadily since then through the leadership of Herman’s son, Alan, and more recently Alan’s son and daughter, David and Lynne.

The company supplies both trade and retail customers from a large site in Hendon. A vast range of timber including C24 grade carcassing, dressed timbers, sheet materials, skirtings and mouldings is stored in one of two warehouses alongside the trade counter, a hardware showroom and a complete showhouse displaying kitchens and bedrooms, doors, windows and staircases. A second warehouse accommodates a joiner shop for the production of bespoke joinery and a machine shop where original interiors for heritage projects can be matched. Recently the company supplied all the interior joinery, including the hardwood paneling, used in the restoration of Sunderland’s Roker Pier Lighthouse.

“We’re most proud of our staff,” said General Manager, David Nordstrom. “Most of them have been with us for several decades and have great knowledge and expertise of our trade. We’re determined to stay on top of what we do and our customers know they can rely on us for good service and good quality materials that are responsibly sourced.”

"We liked K8 because of its ability to deal with timber lengths and widths and the fact it had an integrated financial package."

Graham Knox, Managing Director, I.J.K Timber Group

I.J.K Timber Group, a timber company operating from two sites in Northern Ireland, is about to implement K8 software from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). The Belfast and Dungannon based company imports and distributes softwood and hardwood as well as constructional and decorative panel products.

Trading as Irvin & Sellers, Keizer Venesta and Northern Hardwood in the Irish market, the team completed a management buy-out in May 2004 from their previous owners - who bought the companies from Meyer International in 1991. Today they supply kitchen manufacturers, joinery works, builders’ merchants, shop fitters, furniture manufacturers and builders.

The I.J.K team decided to upgrade to K8 because their existing, ageing system lacked the functionality they needed for stock management and reporting. “Our existing system was causing us to do too many workarounds in order to get the management information we needed to make better decisions,” said Managing Director, Graham Knox. “We liked K8 because of its ability to deal with timber lengths and widths and the fact it had an integrated financial package. We’ll also be using the CRM, warehouse management and delivery scheduling functions within K8 and are looking forward to working with the KCS team to integrate our hardwood tally devices into the system.”

A lunch was held last week to celebrate the long-term relationship between Hungerford-based Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) and Newbury College.

Over the last 15 years, KCS has provided IT equipment to the college, supported careers events and welcomed students on work placements. CEO of Kerridge Commercial Systems, Ian Bendelow, and College Principal and CEO, Dr Anne Murdoch, attended the lunch along with other members of college staff and KCS employees.

Ian Bendelow said, “As a leading software provider we recognise the great variety and quality of career opportunities our industry offers to students of IT. This is why we are delighted to support the college’s IT curriculum.”

Several students have been employed by KCS following the completion of their IT course at Newbury College. Ex-student, Polly Theobald, who also attended the lunch, now works at KCS as a trainee software engineer.

Mr Bendelow added, “Our links with the community are very important to us and we’re in the process of strengthening existing relationships – as well as developing new ones - with local schools and other educational establishments. We’re in the unique position of being able to provide very relevant support to students considering a future in the world of IT, and I want KCS to have the opportunity to encourage as many of them as possible.”

KCS develops, provides and supports fully integrated trading and business management software solutions for distributive companies such as merchants, wholesalers and retailers.

It doesn’t seem all that long ago when K8 was the primary software platform that Kerridge Commercial Systems’ (KCS) customers used to run their businesses. For the most part, there were rather fewer third party software products to consider; the need for their integration was more the exception than the rule. But as we now know, the internet, ecommerce solutions and mobile technologies would change that position significantly, with opportunity and benefit potential on a scale that could have barely been imagined a few years back.

To find out more, read the full blog post.

One of the North East’s longest-established firms has invested in K8 Manufacturing ERP software from Kerridge Commercial Systems.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) are pleased to announce that Wm Coulthard & Co have decided to partner with them to rollout K8 Manufacturing throughout their business.

Wm Coulthard, founded in 1888, provides extensive engineering and manufacturing excellence in a wide range of products. The business has grown consistently during the last 50 years and now have enviable experience in supplying thousands of bespoke lubrication and lube oil systems in every type of environment around the world.

An important element of Wm Coulthard’s ERP search was a software system to fit not only their requirements of today, but also their future as they grow. A key requirement for the company was a full manufacturing suite to provide full visibility of their manufacturing processes. Wm Coulthard also wanted a user-friendly system that would allow them total control over their manufacturing profit margins.

The lubrication systems that Wm Coulthard design are universally heralded for their reliability, high quality and longevity; the company wanted an ERP system to match. After reviewing several systems, Wm Coulthard decided that the comprehensive integrated functionality offered by K8 Manufacturing would be a platform for the future.

The K8 system will bring wide-ranging benefits and help to ensure Wm Coulthard’s projected growth.

About WM Coulthard & Co

Founded in 1888 Wm Coulthard design and manufacture bespoke industrial lubrication systems for a wide variety of customers. The company is underpinned by an ethos of continual improvement and quality.

Based in the North of England, the company operates from a recently purpose built manufacturing facility in Carlisle, Cumbria (occupied since January 2011); with a second manufacturing site opened during 2013 in Cramlington, Northumberland.

To find out more about Wm Coulthard & Co visit their website: http://wmcoulthard.com/

December 2017 - Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a market-leading global provider of software solutions to the retail, wholesale, merchant and distribution markets, has reached an agreement to acquire Lakeview Computers (Lakeview), Dartford, UK.

UK headquartered KCS already provides software to 14,700 customers worldwide, offering end to end ERP solutions including Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, CRM, Warehouse Management, Transport Management, Business Intelligence, ePOS, and more, specifically for the distribution and manufacturing markets. The acquisition supports the company’s strategy of continued growth and follows three other acquisitions during the last 18 months including one in USA and two in South Africa.

The Lakeview business is seen as complementary to KCS’s current product portfolio and market positioning. On completion of this acquisition, the KCS operation will provide solutions to over 14,950 customers and in excess of 190,000 users.

The acquisition has been welcomed by Lakeview and their products will continue to be maintained and supported. KCS will look to investigate opportunities for the Lakeview solutions leveraging off KCS’s existing infrastructure and product portfolio. While with all ERP solutions there will be a set of common functionality, Lakeview’s products are clearly focused on the SME market whilst K8 (the KCS product) offers scalability and covers a wider set of verticals within manufacturing and distribution.

Speaking about the acquisition, Ian Bendelow, CEO of KCS commented “This is a key acquisition for us. It immediately gives us a greater presence in the UK market and an increased platform for growth in our traditional markets. Fundamentally both Lakeview and KCS offer customers value via functionally rich solutions and continuous development that is highly responsive to our customers evolving needs. Lakeview and KCS are a great match.”

Lakeview will operate as an independent business unit of KCS with a new brand to emphasize the synergy with KCS. The entire Lakeview staff will be working alongside the KCS team to ensure the success of the Lakeview/KCS integration.

You know that we now live in an increasingly digital world. For businesses, initially this meant having a website, then moving into e-commerce, and more recently, having a social media presence. However, the most forward-thinking businesses have now moved beyond these elements and are busy adopting their digital strategy.

To find out more, read the full blog post.

"I’m also looking forward to using the K8 CRM system and being able to share and store more information effectively."

Rob Pearce, Director, F30

F30 was founded in 2012 as a supplier of specialist building products such as structural waterproofing systems and brickwork and formwork ancillaries to the bricklaying and civil engineering sectors.

An accounts package at ‘breaking point’ was the driver for F30 Building Products Ltd (F30) to upgrade to K8 software from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) .“The program had served us well,” explained F30 Managing Director, Rob Pearce, “But it was starting to slow down and wasn’t capable of managing the volumes of data we are entering as the business grows.”

“We pride ourselves on unrivalled customer service and expert, unbiased technical advice,” he said. Based in Bristol, the company set up a second depot in Plymouth in 2016 and has already opened a second warehouse there to expand the stock profile to meet local demand. Mr Pearce said he has plans to open further branches with locations still to be confirmed.

“K8 has the real pedigree, heritage, and leading-edge functionality coupled with a clear and comprehensive product roadmap that demonstrates a long-term commitment to the industry.”

Gary Schneidman, CFO, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) is the headliner in the latest edition of CIO Applications magazine. Alan Cross, KCS Executive Vice President North America, features on the cover of the Enterprise Resource Planning special edition, which offers in-depth coverage of our market-leading ERP solution.

The cover story praises the North American rollout of the KCS brand, which began in 2015 with the acquisition of Dancik International, closely followed by the acquisition of Mincron in 2016. Looking back over the early successes of the North American expansion, CIO Applications concludes that KCS has stayed true to the client-centric philosophy behind the four decades of growth since the company's origins in 1976. Throughout the article, Alan Cross shares insights into the futuristic approach that has placed KCS in the spotlight.

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), a specialist software provider of integrated ERP software solutions, focused on servicing the distributive and retail trades, announced today that Integrity Software have been renamed Kerridge Commercial Systems.

KCS believes that providing that all their services under one powerful brand will make them a stronger partner to their customers, enabling them to provide even more value to their customers.

KCS assures that the rebrand does not involve any changes to Integrity’s existing products. The rebrand enhancement is a reflection of KCS’s commitment to being a strategic partner to their customers. They are committed to continuing to provide innovative solutions to support their customers.

Still the same great solutions, services and support

CARY, NC – September 14, 2017 – Kerridge Commercial Systems, provider of integrated software solutions focused on servicing the building materials, lumber, floor coverings, electrical and plumbing distribution, wholesale and retail markets, announced today that Dancik International and Mincron have been rebranded as Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS).

“We are very excited to make this announcement,” explained Alan Cross KCS Executive Vice President North America, “although it’s very much business as usual with no impact on our customers. As we continue to grow in North America, it makes sense to have our people and products under one brand name. The Kerridge Commercial Systems brand reflects our commitment to remain at the forefront of technology for the distributive trades globally. Our mission is to help our customers source, stock, sell and service competitively. We continue to focus on innovating and delivering market-leading ERP solutions built for the distributive trades – only now we are reflecting this with a strong, unified company name.”

Our Project Control Centre enables you to create projects and to track opportunities, from the initial contact right through to the order and beyond. Projects may be raised for prospective clients or for existing customer opportunities.

You can raise quotations for each project phase, agree pricing terms, and monitor the likelihood of success through regular project status updates. Upon successful conclusion, you can then convert quotations to sales orders and establish a call–off schedule for deliveries. Our software allows you to monitor all costs and invoices to control project profitability, including performance against your original estimates. You can update the project with relevant detail such as project status, start, milestone and end dates, attributes, etc - and use all of these for reporting on progress. You can also add multiple contact details, including those of third parties and other influencers.

Find out more about our CRM software.

"MegaBuild has been a long-standing customer. It is good to see clients prosper with the solutions Kerridge Commercial Systems offers."

Danie Du Toit, Financial Director, MegaBuild

Pupkewitz MegaBuild have gone live with K8 Web Builder a powerful, integrated e-commerce solution. Web Builder integrates into Pupkewitz MegaBuild’s existing K8 ERP system, enabling them to trade 24/7.

Pupkewitz MegaBuild are one of Southern Africa’s largest building and hardware supply operations and have been a leading supplier of building goods since 1946. The addition of an e-commerce website adds a lot of value to the business. The online selling capabilities enables customers to place orders at any time of the day or night, making Pupkewitz MegaBuild more accessible to their customers.

Danie Du Toit, Financial Director at MegaBuild said: “We are currently still in a final proof of concept stage with only limited customers having access to our website. We look forward to the official launch, when all customers can benefit from our e-commerce service offering.”

"The K8 roadmap presented to us, by Kerridge Commercial Systems, cemented our decision. We realised that an ERP change in our business is not a small one, and that our preferred ERP supplier must still be around in the next 20 years."

Gonnie Nadasen, General Manager, Kaizen Motor Spares Distributors

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) are pleased to announce that Kaizen MSD have decided to partner with KCS to rollout K8 throughout all their branches in South Africa. Kaizen Motor Spares Distributors, established in 2007, have grown into one of the largest automotive aftermarket distributors in South Africa with branches in Johannesburg, Durban, Nelspruit, Cape Town and Polokwane.

Kaizen MSD realised the need for a comprehensive, fully integrated system, Kerridge Commercial Systems. K8 will be replacing their legacy system. Kaizen MSD felt they had outgrown the system as it lacked multi branch stock management, financial controls, margin management and support in general. Furthermore, their legacy system did not cater for product descriptions, nor did it have a product file per branch.

Kaizen MSD will find immediate value in the alternatives associated with K8 once it is implemented. Such benefits include but are not limited to; back to back processes for buy-outs and strong financials for a multi branch business as well as the centralised controls needed.