Steatite designs, manufactures, and supplies highly reliable technology for use in harsh conditions, where failure is not an option. Operating in both the US and the UK, Steatite caters to a wide range of customers, from SMEs and government organisations to large multinationals.
The problem:
The company’s legacy system, a highly customised on-premises ERP, was becoming increasingly complicated according to Jonathan Jackson, Operations Director at Steatite. The system had evolved through various iterations from Vantage to Epicor, and the volume of custom code made updates difficult and resource intensive.
The solution:
By moving to the cloud, Steatite sought to resolve its operational challenges while unlocking access to innovative features available exclusively through the cloud-based version of Epicor Kinetic. “Epicor’s development path was a consideration point for us,” Jackson says. “Remaining on-premises risked obsolescence, while moving to the cloud made sure we stayed with the latest and most secure product.”
Additionally, Steatite’s growth required a robust and scalable solution. With additional business units located in different sites, some of which lacked technical capabilities, the cloud offered reliable access from multiple locations.”We needed scalable, flexible, resilient access for multiple parties, all with varying levels of connectivity and inhouse expertise”. The cloud-based solution addressed all these requirements, streamlining the onboarding of new sites and users and eliminating the complexities that had once hindered expansion efforts.
The move to the cloud was designed to ease the load on Steatite’s IT team. With a growing staff base, managing updates, backups, and licensing was consuming resources that would have been better used for strategic projects. By consolidating these processes in the cloud, Steatite aimed to free its IT team to prioritise innovation and long-term improvements, shifting focus from routine maintenance to enhancing operations.
The challenges:
But it wasn’t entirely plain sailing. To switch from a highly customised on-premises system to a cloud-based ERP, Steatite needed to streamline its current system to a “vanilla version” that would work with the new cloud-based SQL database. It was crucial to carefully decide which core functions to keep when stripping down the product.
On top of that, creating new interface elements was another challenge. “We had to develop new forms, reports, and dashboards from scratch, using different toolsets and environments,” Jackson explains.
Migrating to the cloud meant embracing completely new tools and environments, demanding significant time and specialised knowledge. To navigate this, Epicor assigned a dedicated project manager to collaborate with Steatite’s internal team and provide continuous support during the migration process. This collaboration ensured that all operational requirements were met by the move, giving priority to necessary features and reducing downtime.
The migration was phased over six months, with careful planning and implementation for testing, piloting, training, and rollout. “This structured approach eased the transition and ensured employees were prepared to use the new system effectively,” Jackson reports.
The result:
Steatite has benefited greatly from the move to the cloud, which ultimately transformed its business and IT operations.
“The greatest benefit is the reduction in burden on our IT team to manage backups and recovery. We no longer need to spend time on patches and redevelopment as this is taken care of centrally,” Jackson shares. This allows IT to focus on growth initiatives rather than routine maintenance.
Scalability has also improved, streamlining onboarding and facilitating expansion. “We know that the system is flexible enough to accommodate additional requirements from new sites or staff, regardless of location or available bandwidth, making onboarding quick and easy,” Jackson notes. “Having day-to-day functionality located in the cloud and centrally managed works extremely well for a business such as ours, which is comprised of very different business units with unique requirements operating globally.”
Another significant advancement has been security. Multi-factor authentication and other security technologies are integrated into the cloud system, guaranteeing adherence to industry standards like ISO and CEP. According to Jackson, Steatite has “reached the same level of security in the cloud as we would expect from an on-premises platform.”
AI-driven predictive maintenance has also been made possible via cloud integration. This feature enables the business to extend asset lifecycles, reduce downtime, and proactively manage equipment—all of which are essential for preserving dependability in harsh conditions.
A future-ready platform
With Epicor’s ongoing support and a robust cloud infrastructure, Steatite is now well- positioned for long-term growth and innovation. The organisation has decreased IT overhead, enhanced security, and increased operational efficiency by switching to a simplified, scalable cloud solution. The business has established a solid basis for its future by welcoming change and addressing obstacles head-on while remaining both inventive and competitive.
When asked if they’d consider returning to an on-premises system, Jackson’s response is unequivocal: “No thank you!”
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