Case Study: The Next Steps for Boca Electronics

Justin Roehl, Hakeem Allen, Iftakher Hossain, Mary Milburn & Amanda Yoke

Bellevue University

Professor Bonifant

April 3, 2021
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The story of Boca Electronics is the story that so many of our businesses face in the

growing world of commerce. Boca is a smaller company established in 2002 from Houston,

Texas that manufactures semiconductor components. The company had strong relationships

with IBM, Compaq, and Motorola in the beginning. As time has gone on and technology has

advanced, their purchasing manager, Ron Butler, has attempted to find ways to keep up. Ron has

typically utilized his forecasting tools that base their information on prior sales to determine what

to purchase and order in the future. This is where the questions of this case come into play. To

determine what is best moving forward for Boca we need to discuss and answer the following:

what are the trade-offs of an ERP system versus best-of-breed integration, how will this

implementation affect suppliers and customers if there is no change by Boca what are the

consequences and what is our recommendation based off all the information presents.

The implementation of an ERP system at Boca Electronics versus buying best-of-breed

software and using middleware to integrate would have several trade-offs. Adopting an ERP

system would be beneficial to the company as it would allow for the sharing of data across the

enterprise. Boca Electronics is already facing issues with the exchange of information between

accounting and sales management. Implementing an ERP system would fix this issue making

them more efficient. An ERP system would reduce redundancy and inaccuracies as well. Thus,

saving them money in the long term. However, there is a huge cost and time to implementing an

ERP system, and the company does not seem to want to spend the money for the system. Boca

Electronics has a potential lack of skills needed to implement the integration. To understand the

trade-off fully, more information is need on the capabilities and skills of the staff. Adapting to a

best-of-breed software would be customized to their needs, takes less time to set up and the need

for training is down. Training costs money and time. Using middleware to connect the systems
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could potentially make it easier for Boca Electronics. They would not have to redefine all their

processes to meet the needs of an all-inclusive ERP system.

It would be beneficial to Boca Electronics who is already having issues with the flow of

information to implementing an ERP system that would streamline data flow. Enhancing

collaboration between supply chain partners. Also, a reduction in potential negative impacts to

suppliers and customers will be seen. An accurate life cycle of deliverables and an entire timeline

of each customers’ product will allow for strong forecasting and shorter lead times. With a

successful integration, there will be more access to accurate data with fewer mistakes or delivery

errors. With an unsuccessful integration, there will be a loss of and data by the suppliers and

customers. ERP implementation has the potential to lowers costs by having all parties accessing

the same data. Most importantly, Boca Electronics will retain its largest customer by adapting the

system.

Currently, they have a mixture of systems that have a lack of overall communication and

cannot respond efficiently. That causes unreliable forecasting leading to scrambling to complete

large orders and possibly a loss of customers. They are having redundant and inaccurate

information share in their mixed systems, leading to an issue in the cash flow. If they stay with

their current system, it could lead to them losing their competitiveness. The failure to change will

have a major impact, potentially bankruptcy.

The adaptation of the ERP system will have a more real-time data transfer, but it is not

only a risky investment it is also a costly one. While adapting to a best-of-breed software with

middleware, is less of a cost up-front it will still act as a risk. To keep their largest customer, our

recommendation to Boca Electronics is to implement a best-of-breed system with middleware.

This will also create an operational blueprint showing their flow and identifying future structural
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changes that should be made. Ultimately to stay relevant and competitive, implanting an ERP

system will need to be reevaluated.

Boca Electronics like many others that split from their parent company, the old ways and

systems came with them. That has become an issue for them as the times are changing and they

need to change with them. To stay up-to-date and relevant with both the customer and suppliers,

there needs to be accurate data communicated efficiently. Boca Electronics will lose its largest

customer and its competitive edge if they choose to not make any changes to their current

system. Since they have a tight timeline to implement a change, they should start with a best-of-

breed system and middleware to keep their largest customer. This will then allow for research

and analysis of the best ERP system for them to implement should there be a turn in the

economy.

Bibliography

Sanders, N. (2017). Supply Chain Management: A Global Perspective. Hoboken, NJ. John Wiley

and Sons, Inc