Starting with massive ceiling fans that efficiently moved air in factories and dairy barns without air conditioning, Big Ass Fans quickly made its mark in the market thanks to its unique aerodynamic designs. Despite rotating at low speeds, their fans delivered exceptional airflow, providing cool and comfortable environments for large spaces. Not stopping there, Big Ass Fans expanded its product portfolio to include LED lighting solutions and residential ceiling fans, making a strategic shift into new market segments.
Promises are not enough ERP
Initially, Big Ass Fans chose its first ERP system based on promises of scalability. However, reality soon fell short of expectations. Carey Smith, CEO of Big Ass Fans, recalled the time when the company’s revenue was around $10 million: “I still remember them telling me: ‘Even if you grow to $25 million in revenue, we’ll be able to support you.” Yet, shortly after, as Big Ass Fans’ fan designs quickly gained traction in the market, the limitations of their old ERP system became evident.
Choosing Epicor ERP to keep up with growth
After a thorough evaluation process, Big Ass Fans selected Epicor ERP—a truly flexible platform capable of growing with the business. Bill Nall, Chief Information Officer at Big Ass Fans, shared: “It may look like just a ceiling fan, but our product is incredibly complex. That drives a lot of complexity in the bill of materials and how all those parts come together on the factory floor. That’s where technology becomes absolutely critical—because you simply can’t manage that level of complexity without a robust ERP system.”
Illustration. Source: Epicor Câu chuyện thành công Big Ass Fans
Global supply chain visibility from end to end
With manufacturing plants spread across the globe, seamless connectivity between all teams and processes has become vital for Big Ass Fans’ continued success. Everything starts with production planning and order fulfillment. Greg Finley, Production Manager, emphasized: “A good ERP system is crucial for pulling together all the demand, all the sales orders, and developing a sound production plan. Epicor ERP truly ties our entire company together—from start to finish—all the way to shipping products to customers on time.” Beyond production management, the ERP system also empowers Big Ass Fans to coordinate inventory levels, control raw materials, and proactively respond to global supply and demand fluctuations.
Leveraging business intelligence for faster decision-making
One of the biggest differentiators enabling Big Ass Fans to sustain an impressive 30% annual growth rate since 2008 has been its ability to deeply leverage data from its ERP system. Despite facing common manufacturing challenges such as cost reduction, inventory optimization, and demand fluctuation, Big Ass Fans stands out thanks to Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities delivered by Epicor ERP.
From using supplier data to negotiate better material costs, to identifying new business opportunities, data has become the driving force behind every strategic decision. Carey Smith confirmed: “We’ve grown into a $300 million business… I honestly can’t imagine how we could have done that without having a very robust software system and a partner like Epicor.”
He added: “Looking back at the transition from our old ERP system—which was already struggling when we hit $25 million in revenue—I truly appreciate the importance of honesty from a supplier. We’re extremely pleased with what Epicor ERP has delivered. Now, after more than 10 years, the system is still running strong. By investing in the right software, we’ve gained control over inventory, production, and customer connections. It was a game-changing decision.”
The right technology – A foundation for sustainable growth
Big Ass Fans’ journey stands as a clear example that choosing the right technology platform not only solves current operational challenges but also lays the groundwork for long-term business growth. With Epicor ERP, Big Ass Fans continues to expand, innovate, and maintain its leadership in the industrial cooling and lighting equipment market.
3S Software Co., Ltd.
To successfully upgrade a business, businesses need an experienced and trusted partner. 3S will be a partner accompanying businesses on their path of development, helping businesses become more comprehensive and increase productivity at lower costs. Along with compliance with the Epicor Signature Project Implementation Methodology, it will help businesses increase production efficiency and improve profits at a very reasonable cost. 3S believes that it will always bring the most satisfaction to customers.
The 5 main solutions of 3S include:
Epicor ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning
Epicor MES – Manufacturing Execution System
BPM XSOL Solution – Business Modeling Solution
ECM DOCSTAR Solution – Digital Content Management Software
Epicor CADLINK solution – The solution allows transferring information from CAD drawings such as AutoCAD, Solidworks to Epicor ERP
More references: CENTURY A/C SUPPLY FROM CULTURE TO TECHNOLOGY
