scratch. Once initial business data, including customer details, suppliers, inventory, warehousing information and user details, is uploaded, the system can typically be operational within approximately one week.

Designed specifically for manufacturing environments, WAMRAD includes functionality for enquiries, quotations, sales orders, job scheduling, bill of materials management, shop floor tracking, purchase orders, reports and dashboards. Its proprietary‘ tree structure’ scheduling system allows businesses to manage complex, multi-component or bespoke jobs while maintaining visibility across each stage of production.

K software company Web Alliance has launched WAMRAD, a rapid application development platform designed to help SME manufacturers build and scale operational systems without the cost and complexity of fully bespoke software or the limitations of off-the-shelf SaaS tools.

WAMRAD, which stands for Web Alliance Manufacturing Rapid Application Development, combines a ready-touse CRM foundation with modular functionality that can be configured and extended over time. This allows manufacturers to start with a CRM-led operational layer and progressively extend it into ERP-style functionality, rather than committing to a full ERP implementation from day one.

Unlike traditional multi-tenant SaaS platforms, WAMRAD is delivered as a dedicated customer instance, allowing manufacturers to retain control and ownership of their operational data from day one. For clients undertaking significant customisation, access to the source code can also be provided, giving businesses the option to manage future development in-house if required and reducing the risk of vendor lock-in.

The platform has been developed in response to a structural gap in the SME software market. Off-the-shelf systems can be quick to deploy but often require businesses to adapt their processes around the software or rely on multiple disconnected platforms. Bespoke development provides far greater control but can cost in excess of £ 50,000 and take more than 12 months to deliver, placing it out of reach for many SMEs.

WAMRAD’ s modular architecture allows Web Alliance to reuse proven core components while configuring and extending functionality around each client’ s workflows, reducing the need to build every system from

The platform can work alongside existing accounting systems and drawing platforms through CSV imports and exports, allowing manufacturers to extend their existing technology stack without a full system replacement.

In one previous manufacturing project, a bespoke system initially estimated to take 12 months ultimately required 18 months to complete, as additional refinements, testing and reworking were needed once the client began using the platform.

By contrast, Web Alliance’ s WAMRAD approach has already helped accelerate delivery on a comparable project for a steel manufacturing company. Using a modular, staged development process, the business was able to begin using core functionality early while more specific customisations were developed and tested in parallel. The project was delivered in six months, significantly reducing development time, improving collaboration and lowering overall costs compared with a fully bespoke build. �

Intelligent SME. tech

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