A Kent-based software company says it is seeing a shift in regional manufacturers upgrading ageing legacy systems as businesses look to control rising operational costs and improve efficiency.
There are over 3,400 manufacturing companies employing over 45,000 people across Kent and Medway, contributing an estimated £3.2bn in annual economic value. With logistics, warehousing and fulfilment also expanding across the county, the efficiency of operational systems is becoming a critical factor in regional competitiveness.
However, many mid-sized industrial firms are still relying on legacy platforms introduced years - sometimes decades - ago. While these systems continue to function, they often struggle to support modern stock control, workflow automation and real-time reporting. The result is a quiet but persistent drain on productivity.
“We’re seeing more businesses recognise that outdated systems don’t fail dramatically - they erode efficiency slowly,” says Rob Sherwood, Managing Director of Kent-based software development firm Dev Partners.
“Although staff adapt, over time, friction compounds and costs add up.”
According to Dev Partners, demand from regional manufacturers seeking to replace legacy infrastructure has increased over the past 18 months. Rather than adopting generic off-the-shelf platforms, many firms are choosing tailored systems designed around their internal processes.
One manufacturer working with the company recently reduced operational overheads by more than 30% after moving from a fragmented legacy setup to a custom-built platform aligned with how the business actually runs. The shift improved workflow automation for the customer, reduced manual handling and provided clearer operational visibility - enabling faster, more confident decision-making.
For logistics-heavy businesses in particular, system inefficiencies can have a knock on effect throughout the rest of the company. Delays in reporting impact purchasing. Manual processes can slow fulfilment.
Lack of integration between platforms increases the risk of error. While each issue may appear manageable in isolation, together they create operational drag that becomes harder to absorb as companies scale.
“Modernising infrastructure isn’t just a technical upgrade,” Sherwood explains. “Operational systems need to be thought of as a strategic asset to the company, not an afterthought.”
The trend reflects a broader shift in how Kent manufacturers view technology investment. Rather than focusing purely on growth through sales, many firms are prioritising operational resilience - ensuring their systems can support expansion without increasing complexity.
As cost pressures continue across the sector, modern infrastructure is becoming less about innovation and more about stability. For businesses operating in tight-margin industries, even incremental efficiency gains can significantly improve long-term profitability.
For Kent’s manufacturing and logistics sector, the message is becoming clearer: operational systems are no longer background infrastructure. They are a defining factor in how effectively a business can grow.
Businesses unsure whether their systems are holding them back should consider a simple operational review - small infrastructure changes can often unlock significant efficiency gains.
Before you go…
➡️ Do you have exciting news to share about your business?
➡️ Would you like to advertise to an audience of decision makers in Kent?
➡️ Would you like to feature in the Entrepreneurs Deep Dive section?
➡️ Feature your business in the new Member Spotlight section of the Kent Business Newsletter (for free!) - click here
Contact us today - [email protected]
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe and pass it on to another Kent business owner who might also like it! Thanks.
