Introduction
Founded in 1867, S.S.S. Company is one of the oldest non-prescription drug manufacturers in the United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company produces a wide range of over-the-counter creams, soaps, and herbal wellness products, such as the popular S.S.S. Tonic and Mother’s Friend cream. These products have been trusted by generations of consumers. As the business continued to evolve, S.S.S. Company recognized the need to modernize its manufacturing systems to improve visibility, reduce operational risk, and support future growth. As President and CEO, Nathan McFee explained, “We’ve been in business for a long time, and our systems reflected that. It became clear that to move forward, we needed technology that could support where we’re going, not just where we’ve been.”
Selection
Before selecting BatchMaster, S.S.S. Company relied on an aging AS/400 system, supplemented by spreadsheets stored on SharePoint and paper-based processes on the production floor. While familiar, this fragmented environment limited real-time insight, consistency, and scalability across manufacturing and quality operations. Reflecting on that challenge, McFee said, “We were managing critical processes across too many disconnected systems, which made it difficult to get the visibility and control we needed as the business continued to grow.”
At the same time, the company was planning a transition to QuickBooks Online and needed a process manufacturing solution that could integrate seamlessly while delivering the depth required for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical production. BatchMaster stood out for its industry-specific functionality, flexible financial integration options, and support for manufacturing, warehousing, quality, and R&D lab operations in a single, modern platform. According to McFee, “BatchMaster offered manufacturing depth without forcing us into a one-size-fits-all ERP, and that flexibility was a big factor in our decision.”
Implementation Objectives and Benefits
Replacing Legacy Systems with a Unified, Web-Based Platform
With the implementation of BatchMaster Web, S.S.S. Company set out to move away from its legacy AS/400 system and consolidate manufacturing, warehousing, quality, and R&D processes into a single, web-based platform designed to support both current operations and future growth.
Eliminating Paper and Spreadsheet-Driven Processes
Prior to BatchMaster, production and inventory activities relied heavily on paper documentation and spreadsheets stored on SharePoint. Over time, these manual processes became a bottleneck. As McFee noted, “Paper and spreadsheets slowed us down and made it harder to ensure consistency. We wanted a system that could standardize processes and give our teams access to accurate, real-time information.” BatchMaster enables S.S.S. Company to streamline workflows, reduce manual data entry, and improve accessibility to consistent operational data across departments.
Strengthening Record Management, Traceability, and Compliance
As a regulated OTC manufacturer, maintaining reliable documentation is essential. BatchMaster improves control over batch records, inventory traceability, and manufacturing documentation, helping ensure greater consistency and visibility across production and quality processes while reducing the risks associated with manual recordkeeping.
Supporting R&D and Formulation Management
BatchMaster also supports R&D and lab operations, allowing formulations and product development to be managed within the same system used for production. This alignment helps maintain continuity from development through manufacturing. McFee emphasized the importance of this connection, saying, “Having R&D and manufacturing connected in one system helps us maintain better continuity and accuracy throughout the product lifecycle.”
Integrating Manufacturing with QuickBooks Online
Integrated with QuickBooks Online, BatchMaster provides a clear separation between financial management and manufacturing execution, while keeping both systems connected. This approach allows S.S.S. Company to retain a familiar financial platform while gaining the depth of functionality required for process manufacturing.
Looking Ahead
With BatchMaster Web in place, S.S.S. Company has established a strong foundation for continued digital transformation. Moving off AS/400 marked a significant milestone for the organization, and McFee highlighted the impact of that transition, stating, “Moving off AS/400 was a major step for us. BatchMaster gives us better visibility, stronger documentation, and a system that’s far easier to manage and scale.” Looking ahead, the company plans to continue building on this foundation, with BatchMaster supporting future integrations and process improvements while preserving the discipline and structure that have long defined the business.
