A strategic proposal to modernise Sino Brick's financial and operational systems with enterprise-grade ERP capabilities.
Prepared by
ERP Success Systems
Dudley Peacock | January 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Sino Brick Company, a Chinese-owned sintered brick manufacturer based in Gweru, Zimbabwe, is seeking to modernise its financial and operational systems. Currently operating with manual processes and basic accounting tools, the company faces increasing pressure from capacity constraints, cost control challenges, and competitive pricing pressure.
This proposal presents Sage X3 as the recommended enterprise resource planning solution, offering two implementation pathways tailored to Sino Brick's immediate needs and future growth aspirations. Both options include full Mandarin Chinese language support to accommodate the ownership's requirements.
Financial control and visibility across all operations
Production optimisation and accurate costing
Mandarin Chinese language support for ownership
THE CHALLENGE
Sino Brick faces three interconnected challenges that require a unified technology solution to address effectively.
The biggest pain point is the capacity to produce enough bricks to meet demand. Without real-time production visibility, optimisation opportunities are missed.
Keeping costs down is critical, but without accurate costing by product, colour, and grade, margin leakage goes undetected.
Competition is increasing, creating pricing pressure. Data-driven decisions are essential to protect margins while remaining competitive.
THE SOLUTION
We propose two implementation pathways, allowing Sino Brick to choose the scope that best matches current priorities and budget.
PATHWAY 1
Establishes a strong operational backbone with comprehensive financial management, purchasing, inventory, and sales management.
Financial Management
GL, AP, AR, Fixed Assets, Cash Management
Purchasing
Procure-to-pay, supplier management
Inventory Management
Multi-zone yard, lot tracking, FIFO
Sales Management
Order-to-cash, complex pricing
Annual Subscription
ZAR 280,564
(~USD 17,074)
Implementation
ZAR 1,128,000
(~USD 68,656)
PATHWAY 2
Builds upon Pathway 1 with full Production Management including BOMs, routings, work orders, costing, quality control, and preventive maintenance.
Everything in Pathway 1
Full financial and distribution suite
BOMs & Routings
Brick recipes, operation sequences
Work Order Management
Production tracking, backflush, WIP
Production Costing & QC
True costs, quality checkpoints
Preventive Maintenance
Kiln and equipment scheduling
Annual Subscription
ZAR 428,916
(~USD 26,105)
Implementation
ZAR 2,783,900
(~USD 169,445)
COMPARISON
Compare the two Sage X3 pathways to understand which option best fits your needs.
INVESTMENT
Annual Software Subscription
ZAR 280,564
(~USD 17,074)
ZAR 428,916
(~USD 26,105)
Mandarin Language Pack
Implementation Services
ZAR 1,128,000
(~USD 68,656)
ZAR 2,783,900
(~USD 169,445)
Implementation Duration
Year 1 Total
(excl. VAT, excl. language pack)
ZAR 1,408,564
(~USD 85,730)
ZAR 3,212,816
(~USD 195,550)
ROI CALCULATOR
Adjust the sliders below to see how efficiency improvements from Sage X3 could impact your bottom line.
Reduce material waste through better production planning
Improve efficiency through automated processes
Optimise stock levels with real-time visibility
Total Annual Savings
USD 106,750
Pathway 2 Payback
2.0 years
* Estimates based on assumed annual revenue of USD 2M, 60% COGS, USD 300K inventory, and USD 400K labour costs.
CASE STUDY
See how a brick manufacturer with similar challenges achieved operational excellence with Sage X3.
Loti Brick, based in Maseru, Lesotho, faced significant operational challenges:
Loti Brick implemented Sage X3 Manufacturing with 25 users:
100%
Cost Visibility
Real-Time
Production Tracking
25
Connected Users
Unified
Operations
"Sage X3 has transformed our operations. We now have complete visibility into our costs, can track production in real-time, and make data-driven decisions that have significantly improved our margins. The system paid for itself within the first year."
— Loti Brick Management Team
Products: Face Brick, Common Brick, Pavers |Location: Lesotho, Southern Africa
FAQ
Common questions about implementation, training, and ongoing support.
METHODOLOGY
Our implementation follows the proven STREAM methodology.
Requirements gathering, process mapping, and project planning.
System setup, customisation, and conference room pilot testing.
User training, data migration, and user acceptance testing.
Production cutover, hypercare support, and project closure.
WHY SAGE X3
Purpose-built for process and discrete manufacturing with native support for BOMs, routings, and production scheduling.
Full Mandarin Chinese interface with legislation pack, enabling seamless operation for Chinese ownership and management.
Start with financials and distribution, add manufacturing when ready. Pay only for what you need.
Role-based access control, audit trails, and data encryption to protect sensitive business information.
Built-in dashboards and reporting tools provide instant visibility into costs, production, and financial performance.
Trusted by brick manufacturers globally, including Loti Brick in Lesotho with a similar operational profile.
SEE IT IN ACTION
Watch how Sage X3's manufacturing module manages production planning, work orders, and cost tracking in a real-world environment.
CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES
"Sage X3 transformed our operations. We now have complete visibility into production costs and can make data-driven decisions that have improved our margins significantly."
Operations Director
Loti Brick (Pty) Ltd
Lesotho • Brick Manufacturing
CURRENCY REFERENCE
Use this tool to quickly convert South African Rand amounts to US Dollars for budgeting purposes.
Note: Exchange rate is approximate (January 2026). Actual rates may vary at time of transaction.
YOUR PARTNER
Q&A ERP Solutions, trading as ERP Success Systems, is a specialised consultancy dedicated to helping manufacturing and distribution businesses achieve operational excellence through intelligent ERP implementation.
Led by Dudley Peacock, our team brings deep expertise in Sage X3 and a proven track record of successful implementations across Southern Africa.
Sage X3 Specialists
Certified consultants
Manufacturing Focus
Industry expertise
ROI Focused
Measurable value
Regional Presence
Southern Africa
ERP Success Systems
Q&A ERP Solutions
Lead Consultant
Dudley Peacock
Website
erpsuccesssystems.comNEXT STEPS
We look forward to partnering with Sino Brick on this strategic journey to operational excellence.
Review proposal and confirm pathway selection
Workshop to finalise scope and requirements
Finalise subscription and services contract
Mobilise team and commence Phase 1
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Book a 30-minute call with Dudley Peacock to discuss your requirements