MACCS at Bury Market

MACCS at The World Famous Bury Market
 
This Case Study was written by Andrew Heyes Market Manager Bury Markets

Until the introduction of MACCS, the markets industry had been left in isolation because of the failure of corporate systems to adapt to handle the complexity of markets. Nationally there has been a lack of financial control within markets due to the archaic paperwork systems forced upon markets through the lack of suitable I.T. solutions. Corporate FMs might handle the global finance but would lack the detailed controls to minimise the risk of fraud.


Bury Markets introduced MACCS in April 2004 and overnight the benefits were clearly evident. The arduous tasks of writing out carbonated toll sheets, manually balancing after collection, rewriting for the following week, compiling payment schedules, analysing attendance, chasing arrears and compiling key performance indicators could now be completed in minutes rather than hours.


So what benefits has Bury Market derived from the introduction of MACCS?


  • The administration has been streamlined resulting in freeing up officer time to concentrate on marketing/promotional activities.

  • Key performance indicators are immediately available ensuring Markets Management can react to changes in the marketplace before it’s too late.

  • Easier to ensure traders are complying to markets rules and regulations as information is more readily available

  • Despite the complexity and specialist nature of markets, the system provides a full audit trail including an archive data facility. The detailed controls assign each transaction an individual audit reference number to minimise the risk of fraud.

  • Bury Markets profile has been raised as requests for information either internally or externally can be accessed instantaneously portraying an efficient, professional image.


Bury Market has prospered in recent years demonstrated by a string of local and national awards including the BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards and NAMBA Market of the Year in 2006 and again in 2009. The role of MACCS in this success cannot be understated as Markets Management uses more readily available information to drive the business forward. This has resulted in full occupancy and increased marketing activity which, in turn, has produced approximately 1200 coach visits to the market this year.