Chadwicks modernizes 40-year-old ERP and wins InterSystems award

By AI, Created 12:48 PM UTC, May 16, 2026, /AGP/ – Chadwicks Group has turned its long-running Accustar system into a cloud-hosted ERP platform called AccuPRO, with help from J2 Interactive, while keeping operations running. The project won the InterSystems READY 2026 Impact Award in Supply Chain and is now about halfway complete.

Why it matters: - Chadwicks Group is showing how a long-standing core business system can be modernized without losing decades of embedded business logic and historical data. - The upgrade is designed to improve usability, scalability, cloud readiness and device independence across a business with more than 50 locations in Ireland. - The project matters beyond Chadwicks because many established companies face the same problem: modernize mission-critical software without disrupting daily operations.

What happened: - Chadwicks Group said it has transformed its legacy Accustar platform into AccuPRO, a modern cloud-hosted ERP system. - The modernization is part of a multi-year ERP program supported by J2 Interactive, a technology consultancy focused on enterprise modernization. - InterSystems recognized the work with a 2026 READY Impact Award in the Supply Chain category. - The announcement says the project has been completed without disrupting operations.

The details: - Accustar had supported Chadwicks for more than 40 years and contained decades of business logic and institutional knowledge. - The old terminal-based green screen interface could no longer meet modern needs for usability, scalability, cloud readiness or device independence. - Legacy onboarding was time-consuming and costly, creating pressure for a more modern system. - AccuPRO is web-enabled and cloud-hosted, and it is intended to support Chadwicks’ growth in the builders’ merchant sector. - The upgrade is already improving back-office and branch user experience. - Accustar was built on the InterSystems IRIS data platform, which allowed Chadwicks to modernize without rewriting the system from scratch or losing historical data. - The platform has supported the business for four decades and is now positioned to support it for decades more. - InterSystems Director of Platform Strategy and Innovation Jeff Fried said the scale of the modernization won the award. - Fried also said the project showed organizations do not have to choose between preserving embedded business intelligence and building for the future. - Chadwicks IT Director Colm Scannell said the award reflects the work of the teams and the partnership with J2 Interactive. - J2 Director of Professional Services Paul Cranston said the project shows what is possible when the right technology foundation meets the right modernization partner. - After the initial pilot, Chadwicks expanded the engagement to include additional workflows and infrastructure components. - J2 Interactive continues to provide technical leadership in areas including credit control, purchasing and logistics.

Between the lines: - The award adds outside validation to a modernization strategy that is as much about preserving operational knowledge as replacing aging software. - The InterSystems IRIS foundation appears to have reduced the risk of modernization by avoiding a full rebuild. - The project also signals that Chadwicks is treating ERP as a long-term growth platform, not just a back-office replacement.

What’s next: - The modernization program is about halfway complete. - Additional Accustar modules are still being converted into AccuPRO. - Chadwicks expects the modern architecture and secure, scalable cloud infrastructure to support future expansion and changing business needs. - J2 Interactive will remain a long-term modernization partner as the program continues.