Modernizing Operations After Outgrowing a Legacy ERP
Westfield Steel, a Midwest-based service center and parts manufacturer, had reached a breaking point with its outdated “green-screen” ERP system — a platform that looked and functioned like it was built in the 1980s. For years, it handled the basics, but as the company expanded its manufacturing capabilities and distribution footprint beyond a single state, the old system simply couldn’t keep up.
“We needed something that could support a more complex business,” says Fritz Prine, President and CEO of Westfield Steel. “Our legacy ERP just wasn’t built for the way we operate today.”
Choosing a System Built for Metal
When evaluating new solutions, Westfield Steel needed an ERP that could handle every part of their business — from inventory control to purchasing to finance — while also offering the flexibility to create custom reports and workflows.
RealSTEEL™ stood out immediately.
According to Prine, the team was especially drawn to:
- A fully integrated, multi-module ERP that supports every area of the business
- Excel integration, enabling custom reporting and data flexibility
- Configurable workflows that streamline purchasing, credit management, and internal approvals
“Excel integration is one of my favorite features,” Prine notes. “It gives us the flexibility to build the reports we need, exactly the way we want them.”
Fast Implementation, Strong Support
From the beginning, RealSTEEL™ played a hands-on role in Westfield Steel’s ERP transition. The implementation team helped map processes, build the system blueprint, and get the company operational quickly.
“RealSTEEL™ was instrumental in getting us up and running,” Prine says. “They helped us install everything, figure out the blueprint, and get operational in a very short amount of time.”
And while the RealSTEEL™ support team is always available, Westfield Steel rarely needs to call.
“The system is so stable that we don’t need much support — but we know the team is there when we do.”
A Platform That Grows With the Business
Today, RealSTEEL™ powers Westfield Steel’s entire operation, giving the company the modern, flexible, and reliable ERP foundation it needed to scale.
For Prine, the value is clear:
“RealSTEEL™ allows us to do everything in our business, from inventory to purchasing to finance. It’s all in one place. It’s exactly what we needed.”
Hear more of what Fritz Prine has to say about working with RealSTEEL™ in his video testimonial.