“Without CableTracker,” says John Ferguson, Multi-Tek’s Sales Manager, “or if we had just left it as it was sold to us, I’m not even sure we would still be in business.”

Prospects and customers who come down to Multi-Tek’s facility for a tour often ask Ferguson directly if CableTracker is for sale. It isn’t, because it’s so customized to Multi-Tek’s own needs, but the question makes sense. So many companies — large and small — struggle with their ERP systems, investing large sums in third-party providers and biting the bullet on expensive customization when needed. Multi-Tek skipped that trap.

CableTracker is the nervous system that keeps all operations on track. And aside from the team who works here, it is the single most important reason why customers trust Multi-Tek. Let’s talk about it.

So, what does it do?

Essentially, almost everything. But some of its core functions at Multi-Tek involve:

• Order and workflow management: It tracks every order meticulously, and clearly lays out every step of the manufacturing process for assemblers. Customers who want to know the status of their order, in specific detail, can find out immediately.
• Time and labor tracking: CableTracker tells us exactly how long each assembler needs for any specific step of the manufacturing process. That helps us make improvements and deliver customer cable assemblies more quickly, whether by discovering we need to invest in additional equipment or rearranging our workforce so employees perform the work they’re best at.
• Version control: All design changes are immediately uploaded into CableTracker. That eliminates the risk of cable assembly mix-ups.
• Kitting management: CableTracker immediately logs incoming materials and flags any parts that are at risk of shortage. This boosts speed, allowing us to kit in the right order and find ways to make progress at maximum efficiency.
• CRM functionality: CableTracker handles this too. It tells us exactly when to follow up with customers on quotes and orders, streamlining communication.

That’s not an exhaustive list. But it does gesture toward exactly how crucial CableTracker is for both our business and our customers. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to deliver cable assemblies with guaranteed functionality and some of the shortest lead times in the industry, all with unmatched responsiveness.

How’d it get started?

Cody Verdoorn, Multi-Tek’s Systems Manager, started at the company working as an entry-level assembler. That was over 20 years ago. But not long after his arrival, he developed a second skillset: Finding ways to make Multi-Tek’s barebones database design system, a version of Apple’s FileMaker, into something much more.

Typically, ERPs are built out when a business reaches out to an external vendor, clarifies their needs, and finds (often expensive) support working out a solution. But it’s different at Multi-Tek. Verdoorn knows the ins-and-outs of both the business operations and ERP, so he drives the ideation behind what should be built, then he builds it.

After 20 years of iterative improvement, CableTracker is unrecognizable from its original form. It’s as unique as we are, and is a crucial part of Multi-Tek’s identity in the marketplace.

What’s next for CableTracker?

Everyone’s talking about AI, and so are we. Just a little differently.

As AI-integration takes place across digital platforms, we’re guarding against proprietary designs from our customers being used to train models. We take our customers’ privacy too seriously to risk letting their data leak.

Verdoorn and the Multi-Tek team are building a local server that will allow the benefits of AI integration without linking any data to the cloud. Our goal is to further improve customer service while protecting data. We know a lot of vendors play fast-and-loose with customer data, especially now. That doesn’t happen here.

Want to talk about your projects?

Then reach out. We get back to all business inquiries within hours. We’re happy to talk about what makes CableTracker and Multi-Tek different, or talk about the cable assembly needs that you might have. Minimum order quantities start at 100 cable assemblies.