With 37 years of experience, Locinox has become a leading player in the gate and fencing industry. From mechanical locks to innovative access control systems, the company offers a wide range of products that are delivered worldwide from their headquarters in Waregem and their branches in Chicago and Poland. Innovation and team spirit are central to their corporate values, as CIO Stijn Claeys emphasizes: "Together with the team, we make a difference and continuously strive to raise the bar with innovative products and services."
Preparing for further growth
The recent strong growth of Locinox brought along some fundamental challenges that needed to be addressed. "One of the biggest obstacles was the lack of space in the warehouse, which began to hinder the company’s growth. Additionally, the existing ERP system was out of service and no longer future-proof," explains Stijn.
"On top of that, the lack of integration between ERP and PLM caused inefficiencies. Since PLM was not connected to ERP, we had to manage data twice." There was also a lack of standardized item numbers, which, according to Stijn, created challenges for automation with AI and EDI.
The challenges for Locinox
Further growth
The warehouse could no longer support the growth.
Outdated ERP system
A platform that went out of service and was not future proof.
Lack of integration
ERP and PLM didn’t work together, leading to duplicate data entry and inefficiency.
Automation
The current item numbers made it challenging to further automate processes.
“Replacing the ERP system is like open-heart surgery. You're not just replacing the heart, but also ensuring all the connections are properly made.”
The project Locinox 4.0
Locinox launched Locinox 4.0 to tackle these challenges. Stijn summarizes it as follows: “Locinox 4.0 was designed to prepare us for further growth. On one hand, we built a future state-of-the-art warehouse, and on the other hand, we renewed the ERP system with integrations to CRM, PIM, webshop, and PLM.” The entire project focused on scalability and efficiency.
The goal was clear: to build a smart factory supported by strong digital systems. “Locinox 4.0 was more than just an IT project; it symbolized our strategy to become a future-proof company. Our unique 8-digit item numbers are a great example of this. They make further automation much easier,” Stijn explains.
The crucial role of ERP
According to Stijn, the ERP system is literally the beating heart of the company. “It’s the backbone that supports all our processes,” he says. “But just like with open-heart surgery, when replacing our ERP, we also had to renew all our connections to other systems like PIM, PLM, and CRM.”
“We chose to work as much as possible with Microsoft’s standard functionalities and avoid customizations,” Stijn explains. “This way, upgrades can be done easily, and we remain flexible.”
Stijn also compares the ERP overhaul to adjusting the foundation of a building. “We had a foundation for a villa, but our level of ambition demanded the foundation of a skyscraper. Thanks to this new ERP system, we now have the right foundation to build on,” he says.
The digital common thread
Locinox is striving for an overarching digital strategy. “The digital common thread means that all systems work seamlessly together,” says Stijn. “You want to enter data only once and then use it efficiently across all departments.”
The new digital landscape at Locinox combines Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management with other platforms such as PTC Windchill, Microsoft’s CRM solutions, Perfion as a PIM system, and Sana as a web portal. “The ERP and PLM systems are linked through a standard connector from 9altitudes. Additionally, we chose the Microsoft stack because it naturally integrates well and is scalable,” Stijn explains. “9altitudes set up all the integrations.”
"Completing such a global project without business impact is an achievement we can all be proud of together."
The tight deadline and scope
Locinox was under significant time pressure. “We had a strict deadline because our ERP needed to go live before our new automated warehouse could be operational,” Stijn explains. "Despite this challenging timeline, the global 'big bang' go-live went smoothly. Our customers didn’t notice a thing during the transition, which is impressive for projects of this complexity,” he says.
The project’s success was due to a combination of internal collaboration and the flexibility of 9altitudes. “Thanks to the flexibility of our partner, we were able to meet deadlines without compromising on quality,” Stijn adds. “Completing such a global project without any business impact is an achievement we can all be proud of.”
The results for Locinox
Integrated systems
Seamlessly integrated ERP with other systems like PLM for more efficient processes and digitalization.
Automation
8-digit unique item numbers that support scalable processes.
Continuity
No impact on customers during the transition.
Future-proof platform
A solid foundation for the growth and adoption of AI technologies, EDI, and order automation.
Digital Project of the Year Award
The scale and complexity of Locinox 4.0 have earned recognition from the industry, culminating in the Digital Project of the Year Award 2024 in the large projects category. "Winning this award means a lot to us," says Stijn. "It not only highlights the hard work everyone put into the project but also our vision to keep innovating. It also underscores how challenging this project was, with multiple partners, a broad scope, and tight deadlines."
Stijn sees this award as an inspiration for the future. "It really gives our team a boost to keep moving forward and deliver even more innovative projects," he says.
What does the future hold for Locinox?
Locinox's expansion continues with a strong focus on further automation and digitalization. “We’re exploring how AI and EDI can assist us with order entry and how we can enhance our digital customer experience,” Stijn explains. With plans to launch an innovative web portal and automate more processes, Locinox remains committed to building a sustainable platform for long-term growth. “We’ve laid the foundation for a skyscraper, and now we’re building upward,” he concludes.
Collaboration with 9altitudes
Locinox relied, among other things, on the years of expertise from strategic partner 9altitudes for the realization of Locinox 4.0. “9altitudes knows us inside and out, which made them the logical choice for this project,” says Stijn. “Their experienced consultants helped us not only replace the ERP system but also handle all the necessary integrations with PLM, PIM, the webshop, and CRM.”
The partnership between Locinox and 9altitudes, which has been ongoing for more than 15 years, was a key factor in the success due to a focus on standardization and flexibility.
Get in touch
Together with 9altitudes, Locinox is ready to reach new heights – on solid digital foundations! Curious about how you can strengthen your business digitally?
About Locinox
With 37 years of experience, Locinox has grown into a leading player in the gate and fencing industry. From mechanical locks to innovative access control systems, the company offers a wide range of products that are distributed worldwide from their headquarters in Waregem and their branches in Chicago and Poland. Innovation and teamwork are central to their company values.