TECHNOLOGY
New faces – Digital marketing assistant Tom Barnes( left), business development manager Adam Bowery( centre) and support technician and aviation fan Bryn Ward.
in terms of product development and the staff who’ ll implement the next phase of Fitfactory’ s journey.
Product-wise, its award-winning MES( manufacturing execution system) has been further developed, with improved integration with other ERP systems allowing seamless connectivity to the likes of Microsoft Dynamics and Sage.
Robert explained:“ We’ ve made major improvements and now have more than 35 customers using our MES platform, with close to 200 machines being monitored in real-time.
“ I’ ve been on site to experience first-hand how customers are using the scheduler and the shop floor data capture modules within the MES. I’ ve then used that feedback to improve the software even more.
“ That increased connectivity allows us to reach out to other potential customers who don’ t necessarily have to be using our MRP software. And with our MES, we are now looking at AI integration- how can we use AI to optimise our scheduling algorithms to fill gaps on scheduling?”
There’ s a major new product imminent too – Fitfactory ERP( enterprise resource planning), a modular, fully cloud-native
Launch – Fitfactory has created a modular, fully cloud-native business process management system that’ s packed with modern architecture, technology and advanced analytics.
business process management system that’ s packed with modern architecture, technology and advanced analytics.
An MVP version was released in August, with 12 existing customers testing it and providing regular feedback.
That will pave the way to its full launch next year, possibly in June – a move, says Jason, that will transform Fitfactory’ s product ecosystem and allow it to target a new customer base.
He said:“ It has big system functionality, but it’ s easily deployable to small to medium manufacturing companies – ultimately, allowing them to be more efficient by having access to a much more sophisticated system that would otherwise be out of their reach.
“ We’ ve spent a lot of time and money bringing that technology to a more affordable price range, because otherwise you’ ve got to be looking at implementing huge systems that could cost hundreds of thousands a year.
“ Ours is a fraction of that so, hopefully, it will allow the supply chain – and especially the UK supply chain initially – to be more advanced as technology transforms so quickly.
“ It’ s been a hefty investment for us – probably around £ 1.2m – but it futureproofs the business. And for our customers, it’ s a system that can operate for the next 20 or 30 years.”
Alongside its product innovation, with a push towards AI development another key project for 2026, Fitfactory has also welcomed several new starters, including business development manager Adam Bowery, whose recent work with the Department of International Trade in the UAE involved MoD work – a sector Fitfactory works heavily in.
Making a welcome return is support manager Gayle Gunner, who left in the pre-Everfield days but is now returning with a wealth of knowledge about the firm’ s systems and customer database and is fired by enthusiasm for its new era and outlook, while at the other end of the experience scale, Teesside University cybersecurity graduate and aviation fan Bryn Ward is starting his first job in technical support.
Add to the mix new sales engineer Joe Durrant, plus promotions for Anna Conley and Laura Neilson to Everfield UK and Ireland finance manager and Fitfactory marketing director respectively, and it’ s clear the Fitfactory team is refreshed and ready to go in 2026.
And even though they’ ll be doing it without Jason at the direct helm, he’ s confident Fitfactory is fit for an exciting future.
He said:“ I joined here four and a bit years ago, when the company was in a bit of turmoil, and I’ ve been through the whole process of building a management team, selling the business to a private investor, learning their playbook and continuing growth and scale.
“ It’ s bittersweet, but I’ m not going far – and ultimately, I’ ll be managing the new CEO.
“ But I’ ll be a little bit less‘ hands-on’, because I want to let whoever takes over grow into it and put their own stamp on it.“ Whoever it is, though, will be taking over a very well-functioning business that’ s growing consistently, has a great product roadmap, a solid track record on delivering and a fantastic management team that knows what they need to do and how to deliver.”
Visit fitfactory. com
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