Strong year post-acquisition at ERP specialist - proactive customer support drive - new on-line ‘customer forum’ – partnerships support R&D
London, UK, 1 February 2008: By adopting a single-minded focus on ‘unlocking business potential’ in its customer base, ERP specialist, Lakeview Computers Ltd (Lakeview) has recorded strong sales and profit performance, one year on from its acquisition by the incumbent management.
“In acquiring Lakeview, the team recognised the tremendous potential of the business in such key target markets as manufacturing and wholesale,” confirms executive chairman, Bob Critchlow.
“Companies acquiring technology from providers like Lakeview demand the broader benefits provided by comprehensive and proactive support,” he says. “In response, we have worked hard to expand both our solutions offering and deliver first-class service, in order for our customers to take full advantage of this identified opportunity.”
Professional Services
Following the appointment of ERP specialist, Mark Greatrex to the new position of product and services director, the professional services team has been restructured to ensure that customers enhance their use of, and so derive maximum benefit from, their Lakeview investment.
At the same time, in order to maintain and improve its strong technology offering, Lakeview continues to invest strongly in research and development, with recent additions to the solutions stack including the Deferred Income and Purchase Order Authorisation modules.
“Customers also now benefit from a more structured process of six-monthly releases,” says Greatrex. “In addition, by partnering with best of breed providers of business alerts, EDI and business intelligence tools, we are now able to provide existing and prospective customers with highly cost-effective and innovative management information packages.”
Lakeview has also worked hard to improve further its customer service focus, long regarded as a key strength of the business. Customers have responded positively to the establishment of Lakeview User Groups, ‘Customer Zone’ intranet and on-line ‘Customer Forum’ chat room, which enable them to share best practice in using their Lakeview tools.
Such initiatives provide them with a clearer view of the company’s solutions roadmap going forward and both encourages and ensures that they can play a more active role in Lakeview’s solutions development strategy.
‘Unlocking business potential’
New sales director, Russell Kirby, who brings with him 17 years’ specialist ERP sales delivery experience with major international providers, has similarly strengthened the Lakeview sales team with the appointment of new vertically-focused consultants. “Our goal is to ensure that both our customers and prospects receive expert advice from people who truly understand the issues they are facing,” he confirms, “as we strive to earn ‘trusted business advisor’ status as rapidly as possible.”
Critchlow believes that, “Lakeview’s strapline, ‘unlocking business potential’, fully reflects our goal of building stronger relationships with our clients, by helping them achieve significant productivity gains within their respective organisations.
“Over the past 12 months, we have strengthened the management of the business, grown our sales, marketing and support teams, more clearly defined our market position and delivered an enhanced solutions and service offering. As a result, we have created the ideal springboard for future success for both Lakeview and our growing customer base,” he concludes.
