Why Fabuwood Chooses Acumatica Cloud ERP for Rapid Growth

In the competitive realm of kitchen cabinetry, Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp. stands as a beacon of innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2009 with a mere 40 employees and a modest warehouse, Fabuwood has grown exponentially to become the nation's largest and fastest-growing manufacturer in its niche. Today, the company boasts a sprawling one-million-square-foot facility in Newark, New Jersey, complemented by a secondary 400,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Jersey City. This growth is not just in physical size but in stature, with Fabuwood’s products reaching homes through a vast network of 3,000 dealers across the United States.

What sets Fabuwood apart is its rapid ascent in the competitive arena of kitchen cabinetry and its unwavering commitment to quality and speed. In an industry where the standard wait time for cabinet delivery stretches between one to two months, Fabuwood breaks the mold by delivering its products in just five days. This remarkable achievement stems from a blend of visionary leadership and a relentless pursuit of operational excellence. At the helm, co-founders Joel Epstein and Michael Panzer have cultivated a culture of innovation where challenges are embraced, and speed to market is understood as the cornerstone of success.

Take their very own solutions they have developed—a digital pricing tool, EZ Pricing, and the Warehouse Management System (WMS). These innovations are prime examples of Fabuwood's dedication to streamlining the kitchen cabinetry process for both dealers and customers alike. EZ Pricing contains more than 15,000 SKUs! It revolutionizes the traditional, cumbersome quote process by offering instant, accurate pricing, enabling dealers to serve their clients more effectively and efficiently.

On the other hand, the WMS system is a testament to Fabuwood's mastery over logistics and inventory management, ensuring that every cabinet is accounted for and can be delivered to any corner of the nation within the astonishing five-day timeframe. Together, these tools not only underscore Fabuwood’s commitment to excellence but also highlight the company's innovative approach to overcoming industry barriers, setting new standards for speed and quality in kitchen cabinetry.

Challenges Fabuwood Faced

As Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp. scaled, it encountered significant operational hurdles. Initially, the company managed its burgeoning enterprise using QuickBooks, a solution that, while sufficient during its early stages, rapidly became a bottleneck. The system’s limitations were glaring: it couldn't handle the complex inventory and assembly requirements of a growing manufacturing operation, nor could it efficiently process the volume of transactions Fabuwood was generating.

Furthermore, QuickBooks offered no real-time data visibility or integration with other essential business functions, leading to duplicated efforts, data inconsistencies, and an inability to make informed, timely decisions.

This led to the search for a solution that could seamlessly integrate digital ordering and warehouse management systems, offering a unified platform to support rapid growth and maintain their competitive edge in delivering semi-custom kitchen cabinets within an unprecedented five-day timeframe.

Solution

The decision-making process involved reviewing 10 different ERP solutions, with the final choice narrowed down to Oracle NetSuite and Acumatica. Several factors influenced Fabuwood's selection of Acumatica over the alternatives. A pivotal aspect was Acumatica's flexibility and the ease with which it could be customized and integrated with other software, which is crucial for a business looking to connect a myriad of third-party applications seamlessly. This adaptability was not just a theoretical advantage but a practical necessity for Fabuwood, ensuring the ERP system could evolve in tandem with the company's innovative business model and operational needs.

Additionally, Acumatica's Manufacturing Edition offered a compelling suite of features tailored for manufacturers, including comprehensive support for various manufacturing types and processes.

This was a significant draw for Fabuwood, as it promised a consolidated view of their manufacturing operations within a single platform. Acumatica's approachable user interface and the robust support ecosystem further cemented its position as the preferred choice. The direct customer support, community forums, Acumatica University training opportunities, and the annual Summit provided an invaluable resource pool for Fabuwood, enabling the company to leverage the full potential of its new ERP system.

Benefits

The implementation of Acumatica Manufacturing Edition at Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp. marked a significant shift in how the company managed its operations, steering it toward unprecedented levels of efficiency and growth. This transition to Acumatica not only addressed the challenges Fabuwood faced with QuickBooks but also propelled them into a new era of operational excellence. The benefits realized from this strategic move were immediate and impactful, touching every facet of their business.

One of the most significant improvements was the integration of a single, robust platform that united finance and manufacturing processes. This holistic approach allowed for real-time data visibility, a crucial factor for Fabuwood as it enabled unparalleled speed to market. The agility gained through this visibility meant that Fabuwood could maintain its promise of delivering semi-custom kitchen cabinets within a mere five days. This feat remains unrivaled in the industry.

Moreover, Acumatica's flexible platform seamlessly integrated with 15 third-party applications, eliminating the siloed operations that had previously hindered Fabuwood's efficiency. This integration capability ensured that the ERP system could evolve alongside Fabuwood’s innovative business model, supporting rapid growth without the growing pains typically associated with scaling operations. Fabuwood’s custom solutions, like their custom-made warehouse management system called GPS and EZ Pricing, were integrated as well.

The manufacturing management solution, inclusive of Material Requirements Planning (MRP), transformed how Fabuwood approached material purchasing and planning. This led to more efficient resource use, reduced waste, and ultimately, cost savings that contributed to the company's bottom line. The end-to-end operational visibility facilitated by Acumatica also meant that decision-makers at Fabuwood had clean and robust data at their fingertips, empowering them to make informed decisions quickly and confidently.

Thanks to the implementation of their new ERP solution, the company has seen significant improvements in its purchasing and inventory management processes. Acumatica's Materials Resource Planning (MRP) functionality has enabled them to better track material costs, view Bill of Materials (BOM), and obtain multiple-level BOMs, along with other manufacturing information that was previously unavailable to them.

Fabuwood Finance Controller Jim Murray explains, “Now, I see all the data in real-time. Having a formal bill of material (BOM) and formal routing, we can see what’s happening to all those different products from purchasing all the way through the manual manufacturing cycle day-to-day, minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour.”

Fabuwood's journey with Acumatica is best summarized by the significant enhancement in its operational capabilities, leading to a level of efficiency that supports its rapid growth trajectory. This sentiment is encapsulated in the reflection of Fabuwood’s CEO and President, Joel Epstein.

Revolutionize Your Business with Acumatica and Our Expert Guidance

The transition of Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp. to Acumatica Cloud ERP epitomizes the pivotal role of advanced ERP solutions in modernizing operations and fostering business growth. By moving away from QuickBooks to adopt Acumatica, Fabuwood not only overcame its previous operational hurdles but also set a new benchmark in the kitchen cabinetry industry for efficiency and rapid delivery. Our company AcuPower LTD, as a proud Acumatica partner, is at the forefront of facilitating such transformative journeys for businesses looking to leverage the cloud ERP's robust capabilities.

We invite businesses like yours, intrigued by Fabuwood's remarkable transformation, to delve deeper into the world of Acumatica through our comprehensive blog. Here, you'll find a wealth of information on how Acumatica empowers companies across various industries. 

If Fabuwood's story sparks an interest in exploring what Acumatica can do for your business, our team is ready to assist. We offer detailed consultations and customized demos of Acumatica, tailored to highlight how its features can specifically address your business needs and goals. As your Acumatica partner, we are committed to providing a suite of services that ensure your ERP solution not only meets but exceeds your expectations. Reach out to us to start your journey toward operational excellence with Acumatica.