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The Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company runs a smooth operation with improved efficiencies in several departments, as well as providing an excellent view of data, with Epicor Enterprise
| Company |
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company |
| Industry |
Sugar Farming, Speciality Sugar Manafacturing, and Distribution |
| Headquarters |
Maui, Hawaii |
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Business Challenge |
Needed an enterprise solution to replace their current system, development for which was discontinued and would no longer be supported |
| Solution |
Epicor Enterprise |
| Business Benefits |
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In 1843 Henry Baldwin, Hawaiian born and raised, and Samuel Alexander, a Hawaiian at heart met, marking the beginning of a life long venture as friends, business associates and eventually, family. As the two boys grew-up they charted different life courses; however, their maps eventually brought them back together.
Purchasing their first bit of land together in 1869, they worked hard to add to the parcels, and in 1870 they planted their first sugar cane on that land. That same year the two men became family with the union of Baldwin and Alexander’s sister Emily. The two families worked the land that would be A&B, and eventually the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S).
Today, HC&S is Hawaii's largest producer of raw sugar, accounting for over 70% of all of the state's sugar. They grow their sugarcane on a 37,000-acre central Maui plantation. Producing over 200,000 tons of raw sugar annually, HC&S is one of the largest employers on Maui with over 900 employees.
Growing using technology, HC&S was operating with a tier one solution provider. However, the time came when their solution was discontinued and service would no longer be provided. In their search for a new solution, they researched several tier one and midmarket offerings. They finally selected Epicor Enterprise for its flexibility and scalability as a tight match to HC&S technology requirements.
Meeting the Requirements
When HC&S began their search for a new enterprise solution there was one specific sticking point for the IT director. He maintained that it was important for the new solution to run on Microsoft SQL Server. Because SQL Server is easy to administer and has demonstrable lower total cost of ownership in the database market, it was the best option for HC&S.
Epicor has offered their business software optimized for SQL Server for many years, so the Epicor Enterprise solution was a perfect fit. HC&S felt secure that Enterprise would perform at a high level of efficiency, as well as have the ability to adapt to whatever changes they might make as a company.
“Epicor Enterprise has all the functionally we need today, plus the scalability that we will need in the future,” said Vicki Shortell, Applications Systems Specialist for HC&S.
The Specialty Sugar Business
HC&S got into the specialty sugar business several years ago, and began to not just manufacture and market but also sell and supply their own brand of pure cane sugar or “sugar in the raw”. With the start of this new division, Hawaiian Maui Brand Sugar, they had new demands to make of their enterprise solution.
“Epicor stepped right-up to the plate when we told them we were going to begin new business functions,” said Shortell. “The new operations began smoothly and have run that way ever since.”
Because Epicor Enterprise provides a scalable multi-company solution, HC&S was able to extend their business operations easily. Enterprise has allowed them to simply make the transition into direct sales and better serve their clients
Smooth Operators
Epicor Enterprise has made it possible for HC&S to continue to run a smooth operation including improved efficiencies in several departments, as well as providing an excellent view of data, which allows management to make better business decisions.
Before Enterprise, HC&S purchasing agents spent a majority of their time fielding calls about invoices. Now everyone can look-up specific orders to see the progress of the transaction, and the purchasing department can focus on finding great rates to keep costs down.
Also, each manager has the ability to drill down on specific information right from their desktop. They have access to specific metrics that help them make better business decisions, as well as get over all information.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Always looking for the most efficient way to stay on top, HC&S will continue to implement new programs like powering their own operations. Running two turbogenerators which produce more than enough energy to run their operations, HC&S sells the power not used to the Maui Electric Company.
As HC&S continues to grow and change they will remain a staple in the sugar growing business, and their big picture view will carry them through any changes their industry may bring. Epicor Enterprise will be there to grow and change with them supporting whatever functionality they might need in the future.
“Having a track record to prove it, we feel confident that Epicor will be there to support whatever functions we might need in the future,” says Shortell.
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