We recently had the chance to reconnect with Susan Dean, Director of Technology at Takeuchi, at the Click Connect 2024 event in Orlando. Last year, at Qlik World 2024 Susan shared her journey of transitioning from spreadsheets to Qlik.
This year at Qlik Connect 2024 we kicked off our discussion with a recap of what’s happened over the last 12 months since that initiative was deployed and some of their further advancements and new initiatives, including their steps toward implementing a robust ERP system.
In this conversation with Susan, we discuss her thoughts around the events many exciting announcements, such as how Takeuchi will be able to leverage some or all of the announced offerings such as the Qlik Talend Data Cloud, Qlik Answers and more. Let’s dive into some key takeaways from our conversation.
Transitioning from Spreadsheets to Qlik
Switching from spreadsheets to Qlik has transformed Takeuchi’s data management. Previously, the company relied on outdated spreadsheets to disseminate information to dealers, which resulted in stale data and inefficiencies. With the adoption of Qlik, data is now updated daily, providing dealers and sales teams with real-time information.
This shift has saved the sales team 20 hours a month, allowing them to focus more on selling and less on administrative tasks. Instant access to lifecycle and competitive information has empowered both dealers and sales teams to make strategic marketing plans. The conversation has shifted from “what did you do last year?” to “what are you going to do for us this year?” – a paradigm shift leading to substantial time savings and increased productivity.
Enhancing Warranty Management
Building on the success of Qlik’s integration, Takeuchi introduced a warranty application. This tool leverages machine data to streamline warranty claims by determining whether issues fall under manufacturer or customer responsibility.
With detailed machine data, the team can identify maintenance patterns and preempt potential issues, drastically reducing downtime. This proactive approach has been a game-changer, not only boosting efficiency but also enhancing customer satisfaction through better-managed warranty processes.
Manufacturing and ERP Synergy
Two years ago, Takeuchi set up a new manufacturing facility. Leveraging Qlik, they have successfully implemented applications to track and analyse defects, enhancing the overall efficiency of their manufacturing process.
Currently, they are in the midst of integrating a new ERP system. This monumental task involves a cultural shift within the company; it’s not just an IT project but a business-wide initiative. Utilizing Qlik has been instrumental in aggregating and cleansing data from old systems, ensuring a smooth transition.
Business-Driven ERP Implementation
ERP adoption is challenging, especially when integrated within existing teams without additional headcount. Susan emphasised that ERP is an enterprise-wide project demanding close collaboration and input from every business segment.
They have focused on changing the team’s mindset from replicating old processes to envisioning future needs. This future-oriented approach ensures that the new system not only replaces obsolete legacy systems but also meets evolving business requirements efficiently.
Data Integrity and Risk Mitigation
One of the critical aspects of a successful ERP implementation is data integrity. Takeuchi has utilised Qlik to identify and eliminate obsolete data, reducing the risk of inputting irrelevant or erroneous data into the ERP system.
This cleansing process diminishes storage issues and human resource wastage, and significantly cuts down biases and risks in decision-making processes due to faulty data. Ensuring only relevant data makes it to the new system has streamlined operations and improved overall data quality.
Key highlights
What role did Qlik play in transitioning from spreadsheets?
- Qlik provided real-time data updates, eliminating the inefficiencies and outdated information of spreadsheets, saving significant time for the sales team.
How has the warranty process improved with Qlik?
- The warranty process is now more efficient and transparent, allowing quick identification of maintenance issues, thus enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
What challenges did Takeuchi face with ERP implementation?
- The major challenge was the cultural shift, requiring the entire business to rethink old processes and focus on future requirements, all while managing the change within the existing team.
How did Takeuchi ensure data integrity during ERP transition?
- They used Qlik to cleanse obsolete data, ensuring only relevant and accurate data was moved to the new ERP system, minimising risks and biases.
What’s the impact of the new ERP system on manufacturing?
- The ERP, integrated with Qlik, has allowed for efficient defect tracking and analytics, improving the overall manufacturing process.
Transitioning from spreadsheets to Qlik has been a formidable step for Takeuchi, resulting in streamlined processes, significant time savings, and enhanced data management. Leveraging Qlik for further initiatives, including warranty management and a new ERP system, illustrates their commitment to ongoing business transformation.
As they continue to innovate, other businesses can draw valuable lessons from their journey to realise more efficient and strategic data management solutions.
This interview was produced by the team from Vidnion.com as an official Qlik Connect 2024 media partner, in collaboration with Qlik.
The full Qlik Connect 2024 event’s “live stream” is available “on-demand” via this link: https://bit.ly/qlik-connect-2024-live-stream
