eoStar Go Live - ABARTA Beverage East

(eoStar producer Rutherford & Associates, based in Holland, Michigan, presented our North Star team with wooden shows)

The latest Project North Star phase has been completed with the successful implementation of the Route Accounting software, eoStar, in ABARTA East on March 1.  Not only does this new software enable us to achieve key process improvements and to conform to Coke standards, but it brings us one step closer to the ABARTA Coca Cola initiatives to Standardize, Centralize and Specialize.  In addition to the software, our drivers also received new handhelds, and our Sales Team will now be using tablets which will enable them to consolidate Sales, Receivables, and Delivery Information, and help our customers grow their sales.

The North Star team looks forward to our next implementations in Buffalo and Cleveland.

Next planned events:
April 2016 – ABW eoStar Kickoff
Fall 2016 – eoStar – ABARTA West

Manufacturing, Inventory and Purchasing modules of Microsoft GP Implemented

After months of preparation and testing, the second phase of the ABARTA Northstar project was implemented the week of January 4, 2016.  This involved the Manufacturing, Inventory and Purchasing modules of Microsoft GP.  The plants are now planning, scheduling and operating efficiently using the new software.   We look forward to the next phase of the project – implementing of the Route Accounting software Eostar in ABARTA East during the spring of 2016.

Next planned events:
Spring 2016 – eoStar Go Live – ABARTA East
Fall 2016 – eoStar – ABARTA West

GP Implementation a Success!

We have successfully completed our first month end close on our new financial system, Microsoft Dynamics GP.  We have been processing Accounts Payable checks throughout the month of August and closed the month this past Wednesday on Dynamics GP.

Special thanks to the Financial project team, Flora Torina and Charles Allen our financial consultant, Toby Nissel our project leader, the SFS finance team, and the plants finance personnel.  It took the entire team to make this implementation a success.  Job well done!

Next planned events:
Sept 14 – eoStar Day in the Life Training in Lehigh
Sept 28 – eoStar Train the Trainer in Lehigh
Fall 2015 - GP MFG Go Live  - ALL Facilities
Nov – eoStar Go Live – ABARTA East
Early 2016 – eoStar – ABARTA West

eoStar Power User Training in Lehigh

eoStar Power User training for ABE will be conducted by Rutherford and Associates in Lehigh 8/10-8/13 (Operations) and 8/17-8/20 (Backoffice).  Operations training includes: Employee Setup & Security, Product Maintenance, Equipment Management, Order Entry, Pre-Sales, Order Processing, Route Operations, Warehouse Operations, Service Calls, and Reporting. 

Backoffice training includes: Customer Maintenance, Costing, Reconciliation, Route Settlement, Accounts receivable, Commissions, Pricing, Taxes, and Reporting.  The sessions will be recorded and made available online.

eoStar Power User training for Buffalo and Cleveland will take place in 2016.

Next planned events:
Sept - GP MFG Go Live  - ALL Facilities
Nov – eoStar Go Live – ABARTA East
Early 2016 – eoStar Go Live – ABARTA West

ABE eoStar Kickoff in Lehigh

Last week (May 19-21) kicked off the first portion of the Route Accounting Transformation of the Northstar Project.  Discussions included business transformation, the software implementation strategies, deliverables, communication strategies and timelines.  A discovery process evaluation was conducted by Rutherford and Associates (EoStar Development and Consultant team) into several of ABARTA’s current business processes which included Customer and Product related processes, Delivery, Order Processing, Route Settlement, Receivables, and Warehouse Operations.

Next planned events:
TBA - Various eoStar webinars
June 18 - GP Financial End User Training
July 1 – GP Go Live Finance
Sept 1 - GP MFG Go Live

Manufacturing Power User Training in Pittsburgh

BKD recently visited Pittsburgh to conduct Manufacturing Power User Training.  The sessions covered MRP, BoM, Routing, Inventory Item set up and Manufacturing processes.  There were also discussions regarding the current/interim/post-eoStar processes and best practices going forward.

Next planned events:
May 18 – ABE eoStar Kickoff
TBA - Various eoStar webinars

Finance Power User Training in Pittsburgh

Finance Power User training included sessions on General Ledger, Payables, Bank Reconciliation and Reporting.  The attendees are now expected to continue testing at their locations and create a training plan for their end users.  Flora will be the point of contact for any testing issues that occur.  The system is now available for Finance testing. Test Scripts and Training materials for Finance will be sent out to the group who attended training.

Next planned events:
April 20 – Begin testing in Financial modules
May 4-8 – Tentative Manufacturing Power User Training in Pittsburgh
May 18 – ABE eoStar Kickoff
June – GP Go Live Finance

* BKD will be returning to Pittsburgh at a date TBD to provide Management Report Writer Workshops to train users to create their own reports.