MSX International - JDE World Upgrade

About the Client

With decades of experience and more than 5,000 industry experts in 50 countries, MSX International serves as a perpetual pioneer, opening new roads in the retail network and defining human capital solutions. Leveraging expertise in the passionate pursuit of outstanding results, MSX is adept at bringing innovative solutions to their customers and understanding their complex challenges. Through industry experience, leading talent, cutting-edge technologies, and best practices, MSX serves their customers’ business needs to ensure they achieve their goals. The dedicated team at MSX is committed to making their customers’ businesses cost-effective, profitable, successful, and highly efficient. MSX has been a fixture in the automotive industry for more than half a century. It has created a company that identifies and maximizes opportunities to effectively solve problems, and delivers comprehensive business strategies that give their customers a competitive advantage.

Challenges the Client Faced

Like many companies, MSX implemented JD Edwards World (World) a number of years ago and continued to leverage the A7.3 version to support their ERP needs. A strong IT team allowed MSX to develop several custom applications as well as major modifications to the core software. As with many organizations with shrinking IT budgets and staff, staying current with JD Edwards releases became secondary to running the business. Eventually, they had reached a point where it was increasingly difficult to support the system and receive assistance from Oracle support. Many phantom issues surfaced, making upgrading a priority. Additionally, Oracle announced that extended support for A7.3 version of the software was ending, along with the elimination of the payroll tax update. These limitations highlighted the need for upgrading to the latest release of World as the best path to move forward to ensure completion well ahead of the announced end-of-life dates.

GSI's Solution

The results achieved by GSI really pleased Mike Muraske, CFO, as there was minimal disruption to the business with the JD Edwards World Upgrade Go-Live. In fact, this proved to be the smoothest upgrade experienced by MSX. Initial payroll was completed and submitted on-time with no disruption to getting the team members paid. Various opportunities were highlighted as a result of the enhanced functionality and capabilities of the software that will improve the way MSX processes payroll in the future. Replacement of WorldVision with JWALK web interface was a huge success with remote users in Australia. Users were able to come in Monday morning after the upgrade and perform their jobs with barely any issues or reported errors. MSX took advantage of the new security enhancements in the latest release of World to help not only maintain strong SoD controls but make security much easier to maintain in the future.