help drive ef ciencies in the company’s supply chain. Prior to its implementation of X3, Starborn didn’t have a full view of its supply chain. With more visibility into its supply chain, Starborn is able to give customers better information on their orders. Kavanagh and her team also have been able to anticipate shortages and take steps to minimize their impact. That has been particularly helpful given the many supply chain challenges over the past few years. Starborn began using Sage X3 in 2012, upgrading from a previous Sage product that was being discontinued. They began implementation in April and went live about six months later. “We were able to quickly hit the ground running,” Kavanagh says. Among other bene ts, Sage X3 has helped to provide the inventory information Starborn needs, while also enabling the company to better structure its customer database. Sage X3 also supports Starborn’s commitment to continuous improvement, from optimizing inventory to improving work order functionality, and increasing throughput. “X3 allows Starborn to manufacture one product and create different price points, design different quotes, or update an old quote in real time,” Kavanagh says. And while Starborn had a history of being paper-heavy, the Sage solution helped reduce that reliance. DIY TRACKING Customers also appreciate the easy access to shipping information. Starborn provides the shipping method, company, and tracking numbers, so customers can track shipments on their own. Over a period of several years, Starborn has moved many of its information solutions to the cloud. The transition started with Super Storm Sandy in October 2012. Cloud-based platforms can help keep systems running, even during natural disasters. Starborn rst moved Microsoft 365 and then its backups to the cloud. Next
Since the late 1980s, Starborn Industries has expanded its product line o¦erings, including wood screws for professional builders, while bringing to market its own fastener and related products.
works with Sage accounting solutions. In 2021, Starborn implemented Fortis Pay, a payments platform. Sage X3 has helped Starborn increase ef ciencies and “level up” to full automation to better serve customers, Kavanagh says. Key outcomes include reducing man-hours, better inventory tracking, improved customer satisfaction, and support of the company’s continued growth. “Thanks to X3, our business has increased 50%, without requiring any increase in transactional employees,” Kavanagh says. Starborn’s efforts to fully leverage the capabilities of X3 will continue. Kavanagh says she expects to keep improving processes, especially in fully implementing capabilities in production bills of materials and automating the warehouse. “I’m con dent that X3’s functionality and adaptability will continue to help us scale as our business grows, because
up was the upgrade to Sage X3, which resides in the cloud. In 2021, Starborn moved all its remaining applications to the cloud. “We are now 100% cloud-based with the exception of one local application for production,” Kavanagh says. The shift to cloud-based solutions made it easier for employees to pick up and work from home during the pandemic, she adds. Soon after the initial X3 implemen- tation was complete, Starborn began introducing other complementary offer- ings, including some from Sage and others from its partners. The goal in all these implementations has been to maxi- mize ef ciency. About one year after going live with X3, Starborn added Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI) from Tangerine Software. SEI is an integrated business intelligence and data management solution that helps leaders make informed decisions based on real- time data. In 2019, Starborn began implementing Altec DocLink, a document management and process automation solution, as well as DataLinx, a warehouse management solution that
there’s a lot of functionality that we haven’t yet deployed,” she says. “As a small company, it has been fun and exciting to see the ways that Sage has helped us grow.”
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