8 Minute read
How Acumatica Helped Venture Engineering Streamline Inventory and MRP for Race-Day Precision
Discover how motorsport team Venture Engineering found their racing line with Acumatica for manufacturing ERP, implemented by Cedar Bay...
Roger Teagle
5th Nov 2025
Race weekends don’t wait for missing parts. In motorsport, precision is performance – and any delay, error, or missing component can cost a team the podium.
For Venture Engineering, a high-performance motorsport engineering manufacturer, that pressure was a daily reality. Behind the scenes of its success was a growing problem: managing over 20,000 parts, 1,000+ multi-level BOMs, and dozens of concurrent builds using nothing more than spreadsheets and intuition.
As the business grew, so did the challenges of keeping on top of the data. To be successful, the team realised they needed to take a streamlined approach – here’s how Acumatica helped Venture Engineering to find their racing line.
When every second counts, spreadsheets can’t keep up
Using spreadsheets rather than cloud-based ERP in a fast-paced industry like motorsport is like pitting a Ford Fiesta against a Ferrari on the racetrack – it’s just not up to the job. With spreadsheets, it is far too easy for things to get missed, tracking costs is inaccurate, scheduling is inefficient, and there is a heavy reliance on institutional knowledge leading to inaccurate reporting.
As Venture Engineering grew in size, these shortfalls only got bigger. “It was impossible to track project costs, labour, and inventory,” says co-founder and Manufacturing Director, Joe Lofthouse. “We were always working hand-to-mouth with no visibility.”
Understanding what parts or materials were available in inventory often meant walking to the warehouse and counting parts. They had no way to reserve parts for particular projects, which meant parts might not be available if another project grabbed them first. Restocking parts was guesswork and engineers had no clear visibility of what stock was actually available.
Project tracking that was stuck in the slow lane
The work that Venture Engineering does for F1 teams and other race teams is incredibly time sensitive. That means being on top of documentation at all times is crucial, something Acumatica has been instrumental in facilitating.
This used to mean manually filling in spreadsheets trackside while customers were racing, a process that was prone to error and delays. Since switching to Acumatica, all the team needs is a laptop that can remotely access Acumatica so staff can make live updates as the action takes place.
This is essential for keeping track of parts used when incidents occur trackside. The team takes trucks filled with spare Venture parts to have on-hand if a car breaks down – using Acumatica, the details can be accurately logged in real-time which helps the team stay in pole position.
“Parts are being ordered almost in real time as parts are consumed on a race weekend,” says Adrian Perkins, co-founder and Operations Director.
“As we consume parts during a race week, the guys are adding the demand back onto Acumatica,” says Adrian, “so they’re already ahead of the game when they get back.”
How Acumatica took Venture Engineering to the podium
Before implementing Acumatica ERP with Cedar Bay, Venture Engineering was running on manual processes that couldn’t keep pace with its growth. With Acumatica for manufacturing, everything changed. Here’s how the team went from spreadsheet chaos to complete control:
| Before Acumatica | After Acumatica |
| Inventory data was updated manually and often inaccurate – stock counts were out of date within hours. | Real-time inventory control with live tracking of 20,000+ parts across multiple bins and warehouse locations. |
| Material Requirements Planning (MRP) was guesswork, with parts ordered reactively instead of strategically. | Automated MRP that anticipates demand, schedules purchasing in advance, and keeps production flowing smoothly. |
| Engineers had no visibility of what stock was available or already reserved for other builds. | Live dashboards that show job progress, costs, and resource use – accessible anywhere, at any time. |
| Bills of Materials (BOMs) existed only in spreadsheets or files, making it impossible to track changes or true costs. | Multi-level BOM management that tracks every nut, bolt, and subassembly from design through to final delivery. |
With Acumatica’s automated workflows, the business now runs with real-time data, precise cost tracking, and total confidence heading into every race day. It’s a perfect example of how the right ERP system, delivered by the right partner, can turn manufacturing complexity into a competitive advantage. Find out more about Acumatica for manufacturing here.
Taking the guesswork out of the equation
The impact of Acumatica implementation was immediate – and, crucially for Venture Engineering, measurable.
“Ever since we started using Acumatica, we can track and trace absolutely everything,” says Joe. “Previously, there was work we thought was the be-all until we started looking at the data and realised it wasn’t making as much money as we thought. Having the knowledge base and the vision to see work in that much detail is just absolutely imperative to what we do.”
Now, instead of last-minute scrambles, the team has total control. Every engineer can see what materials are needed, what’s in stock, and when it will arrive – all from one connected system.
Discover more of Venture Engineering’s struggles with spreadsheets and how they overcame them in our blog, Why Venture Engineering Switched from Spreadsheets to Acumatica ERP and Never Looked Back.
“It’s been a game-changer,” says Joe. “We can walk into a race weekend knowing exactly where we stand. Nothing gets missed. Nothing gets duplicated. Everything is traceable.”
Cedar Bay – the experienced co-driver you need on your team
While Acumatica provided the tools, Cedar Bay brought the expertise. As a sector-specific Acumatica partner, Cedar Bay’s implementation focused on manufacturing excellence – understanding MRP cycles, supply chain volatility, and the need for agility.
This winning formula – an established cloud ERP implemented by a trusted partner who understands the complexities of specific industries – is crucial for success.
“The implementation, the integration, the support – it was second to none,” says Adrian. “Acumatica has completely transformed the business and has just made everyone’s life so easy.”
To discover more about how important it is to have the right Acumatica implementation partner, take a look at our blog, Why a Sector-Specific ERP Partner Can Help Accelerate Your Growth.
“The implementation, the integration, the support – it was second to none,” says Adrian. “Acumatica has completely transformed the business.”
Acumatica for manufacturing: Quick FAQs
1) How does Acumatica improve manufacturing performance?
Acumatica delivers real-time dashboards and reports, giving teams visibility into production orders, job costs, and resource use. Automated workflows replace manual processes, helping manufacturers like Venture plan smarter and move faster.
2) What is MRP and how does Acumatica automate it?
Material Requirements Planning (MRP) automatically forecasts demand based on live production data and inventory levels. Acumatica’s MRP ensures the right parts arrive at the right time, preventing shortages and excess stock.
3) How long does it take to implement Acumatica with Cedar Bay?
Most manufacturers deploy core modules within 3–6 months, adding advanced capabilities like MRP and BOM management in later phases. Cedar Bay tailors every implementation to the client’s size, scope, and goals.
4) Why choose Cedar Bay as your Acumatica partner?
Because Cedar Bay combines manufacturing expertise with hands-on implementation experience. We understand your workflows, not just your software, and we help you build ERP systems that your business needs to drive measurable growth.
Ready to race ahead with Acumatica and Cedar Bay?
Generic ERP systems can slow you down. With Acumatica for manufacturing and Cedar Bay’s expert implementation, you get a platform – and a partner – built for speed, precision, and growth.
If you’re interested in learning how Acumatica implementation can transform your operations, why not book a discovery call with Cedar Bay? We’ll scope your requirements and show you how Acumatica integration can boost your business.
