Outdoor furniture manufacturer Windward has begun a substantial initiative to elevate its MRP/ERP business software platform for 2022. This major investment is designed to elevate Windward’s level of communication and tracking across all areas of sales and manufacturing processes as well as enhance collaborative information sharing.

“Our goal is to have all areas of our business including accounting, operations, purchasing, inventory, customer service, sales and marketing on one software platform,” says Charles Emmons, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Once totally implemented, Windward will have the capability for full, real-time visibility extending into every aspect of our business.”

The upgrade will allow the company, internally, to access live—real-time—inventory tracking of not only finished goods, but raw materials and components (WIP) throughout the Sarasota, Florida-based manufacturing facility. Externally, this software will provide dealers, reps, customers, and customer service teams with real-time information readily accessible for total order tracking. The same software will also provide a dealer portal for accessing information as well as digital assets and 3D coloring for use in sales and marketing.

“I am extremely excited to be implementing NetSuite into Windward as I know this will grant us the ability to communicate with efficiency and ease by giving us real-time information accessible at our fingertips,” says Rachel Peace, CIO. “Being able to provide top-notch customer service is a major focus for us as we continue to make investments into the business.” Through NetSuite, slated for full implementation by the end of July, Windward will incorporate what is currently five separate platforms into one concise and information-rich system.