"Abacus is the ideal overall solution for production companies."
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What role does Abacus play in your company?
Sebastian Naef-Niederer: Abacus is our central system for all business processes. We use it for all order processing, production planning and control, stock management, purchasing, sales, e-business, CRM, finance, payroll and HR. It is particularly important for us to map the entire production process - from the recipe and labelling through to traceability and delivery. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is also fully guaranteed.
Why did you decide to introduce Abacus Production Planning & Control?
SN: We were already using Abacus in many areas before the introduction of Production Planning & Control (PPS) and we were very satisfied with it. The decision in favour of PPS was made because our existing Access database was increasingly reaching its limits and traceability was not guaranteed. We also wanted to implement the IFS Food Standard, which is only possible with a professional production solution. With Abacus PPS, we can modernise our production processes, precisely map variants and recipes and control all processes digitally. In addition, we can now handle all our processes in a single software programme.
"With Abacus, we can track all production steps from A-Z."
What specific advantages does Abacus offer you in everyday life?
SN: We benefit enormously from end-to-end digitalisation: Quantities are automatically calculated according to the recipes, batches are fully traceable and audit documentation can be created quickly and easily. Linking goods receipt and accounting also saves us a lot of time and avoids errors.
What has changed in the company as a result of the overall solution?
SN: In the past, many things were paper-based, such as recipe calculations, stock management, order processing and much more. Today, everything runs centrally and digitally via Abacus. This makes our processes significantly more efficient and enables a high level of quality. Quality is very important, especially for sensitive products with a short shelf life.
How was the cooperation with your Abacus partner during the introduction of production planning & control?
SN: The co-operation with bsb.info.partner AG is very good. We became aware of them through recommendations and then received excellent support during the introduction of the PPS. Even with complex issues, the support is always very professional and solution-orientated.
Which Abacus functions do you use particularly intensively?
SN: The EDI connection, which enables automated and efficient order transmission to our business partners, and the recipe logic, with which quantity calculations and multi-level parts lists can be precisely mapped, are particularly important to us. Equally important is complete batch traceability, which is essential in food production and guarantees us a high level of safety and transparency.
How many employees work with Abacus and to what extent?
SN: Around 15 employees use Abacus every day. We manage over 3,000 items in the product master and process more than 80,000 production orders every year.
Are you planning further digitisation steps?
SN: Yes, we are currently reorganising our AbaShop with pingWoo. We are also looking into the use of Applicant Management and Time Recording. Our aim is to digitalise processes in HR and other administrative areas as well.
Would you recommend Abacus as a complete solution for a production company?
SN: Yes, I would definitely recommend Abacus.
About Eberle Spezialitäten AG
Eberle Spezialitäten AG, based in Gossau SG, is a Swiss family business that has been carefully producing high-quality cheese specialities and jams by hand since 1974. Their creations such as fruit and nut cheeses or stuffed Brie are particularly popular.
The range is complemented by homemade jams and the traditional Eisenhut-Latwergen. With a strong focus on quality, regionality and innovation, Eberle has secured itself a firm place in the delicatessen scene throughout Switzerland.
About Sebastian Naef-Niederer
Sebastian Naef-Niederer, Head of Human Resources, Finance and IT at Eberle Spezialitäten AG After completing a commercial apprenticeship, studying at a university of applied sciences and working in the financial sector, he brings extensive experience to the digitalisation and optimisation of company processes.