Grafton Recruitment Turns To Topaz Solution

Grafton Recruitment, the supplier of employment solutions in Ireland, has joined the trend of leading companies such as BT by effectively moving to an all-Ireland, cross border operation.

Based in Belfast ñ though originally established in Dublin - Grafton turned to leading UK based solutions house Topaz to provide the platform to integrate its operations both north and south of the border. This will see both Grafton Recruitment and Blueprint Appointments, its sister company, both utilise Topaz Financials to underpin their respective day to day activities and facilitate the sharing of critical data across 26 branches throughout the north and the republic.

Previously Grafton, the holder of the Queenís Award for Enterprise in 2006, had used Pegasus Opera in the north and Exchequer in the south, both of which were deemed unsuitable to handle the all-Ireland business approach.

According to John Healy, Graftonís Chief Information Officer, the company ñ whose blue-chip clients include Ulster Bank and P and O Ferries - spent a considerable time looking for a best-fit solution before opting for Topaz.

This assumed even greater importance in that it is stage one of a wider plan which will eventually see the Topaz solution used to bring in the ledgers from Graftonís extensive overseas operations ñ 68 branches in 17 countries - ranging from Eastern Europe to South America, as well as other business units on the island of Ireland.

ìWe spent quite a while evaluating Topaz,î says John Healy. ìWe found that in particular the credit control and sales ledger modules, alongside the main accounting functions, made it stand out over and above what else was available on the market.î

Grafton has also acquired the Topaz Web Portal which will enable its branches on both sides of the border to better access and use its key financial information.

ìNaturally the fact that Topaz offers the highest level of integration with Safe Tempest Pay and Bill, which we use, also played a part in the decision,î says John Healy.