Cummings and Bricker Case Study
Cummings and Bricker Mission: To bridge the gap between manufacturer and dealer, providing functions which lower distribution costs through warehousing and marketing.
Industry: Distribution, Agricultural Equipment, Landscape, Construction, Forestry
Locations: Carlisle, PA
Products: Acumatica Advanced Distribution
Replaced: Linux
“We could have had any system in place, but if we didn’t have ICS and the people we have right now, it wouldn’t have worked. Acumatica in conjunction with ICS made this successful.”
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Empowering Distribution with Acumatica: How Cummings and Bricker Gained Control and Visibility Across Locations
In partnership with Innovative Cloud SolutionsKey Results for Cummings and Bricker
Unified operations across departments and warehouses in one platform
Integrated quoting, order processing, shipping, and financials for greater accuracy and accountability
Gained flexibility to support growth and streamline operations in both dealer and eCommerce channels
Eliminated dependency on an end-of-life system by upgrading to Acumatica
The Challenge
For over 60 years, Cummings and Bricker thrived as a family-owned distributor of agricultural and construction equipment. As a leader in their industry, they built their success on what was essentially a “homegrown” ERP system—custom-developed by skilled Linux programmers to align seamlessly with their unique processes. It didn’t just work for them—it fit like a custom glove. But over time, developers began to retire, technology evolved, and the demands of modern business grew. What was once their greatest asset had become a looming liability. With Linux retiring its final generation of developers, their ERP system was set to retire right alongside it.
Of course, this wasn’t the first sign that change was needed. Long before Linux announced its end, cracks had begun to show. For individuals like Nathan, who helped build the custom system, navigating daily tasks was second nature. But as the company grew and brought on new team members, it became clear the system wasn’t intuitive to anyone who hadn’t been part of its development. What had once been an internal advantage was quickly becoming a barrier to onboarding and efficiency.
Faced with the need for a modern, scalable solution, Cummings and Bricker partnered with Innovative Cloud Solutions to explore Acumatica—The Cloud ERP built for the future. While Acumatica’s flexibility and capabilities impressed the team, what truly made the difference was the relationship they built with ICS throughout the evaluation process. As company president Nathan Cummings shared, “That’s been the process that’s been easy for us—dealing with the people at ICS. That’s really what made it work for us.”
The Solution
When Cummings and Bricker recognized their legacy system had reached its limit, they didn’t just replace software—they reimagined how their business could operate. Acumatica, implemented with the support of Innovative Cloud Solutions, became more than just a platform; it became a foundation for future growth.
While the transition wasn’t without its hurdles, the long-term benefits quickly became clear. Acumatica introduced structured processes that held users accountable, reducing errors and improving data integrity. It was a shift from “getting it done” to “getting it done right”—a learning curve, but one they embraced.
What set the experience apart was the partnership with ICS. Personalized support from ICS consultants—helped Cummings and Bricker feel confident at every step. “That’s what made it work for us,” Nathan Cummings shared. “The process has been easy because of the people.”
The efficiencies gained have been tangible. Acumatica eliminated manual freight entry by integrating directly with their shipping system. Tracking numbers, costs, and logistics now flow automatically. Printing has been minimized, order status is visible in real-time, and lost pick slips are a thing of the past. Their dream of a “Domino’s pizza tracker” for equipment orders is becoming reality.
Looking forward, Cummings and Bricker are preparing to roll out Acumatica Payments to support online transactions and international currency conversions—features they never thought possible with their old system. And with access to customizations, dashboards, and user-specific layouts, their team is becoming more efficient by the day.
Cummings and Bricker also noted that collaboration with other distributors using Acumatica has been a game-changer. Being on the same platform has improved the ability to work together across businesses. As they put it, “It would be beneficial if everyone in our industry were on Acumatica—we’d all be speaking the same language.”
With ICS guiding the implementation and Acumatica enabling innovation, Cummings and Bricker didn’t just survive an ERP transition—they built the groundwork for what’s next.