Digital Systems Integration Intern
About The Business: Ajax Equipment Limited is a Bolton-based manufacturer with over 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing bespoke solids handling and processing equipment for industries including food, pharmaceutical, energy and advanced manufacturing. The company supplies custom-engineered solutions for handling powders, granules, flakes and other bulk solid materials and has a strong reputation for technical expertise and innovation. As part of its strategic growth plans, Ajax has committed to increasing digital capability across the business and has identified the need to strengthen digital connectivity across customer relationship management, CAD/CAM systems, manufacturing processes and marketing activities.
Overview: The project focuses on improving the management, accessibility and flow of customer, enquiry, quotation and marketing information through the introduction of a CRM platform that supports wider business connectivity and digital transformation objectives. The project aligns directly with Ajax's stated intention to strengthen connectivity across customer relationship management, manufacturing and business systems.
Desirable Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Understanding of CRM systems. Interest in digital transformation and manufacturing.
Job Description:
As part of its strategic growth plans, Ajax has committed to increasing digital capability across the business and has identified the need to strengthen digital connectivity across customer relationship management, CAD/CAM systems, manufacturing processes and marketing activities.
The company's longer-term ambition is to become a more agile, innovative and digitally connected organisation, improving efficiency, decision-making and competitiveness while supporting sustainable growth. To support this ambition, Ajax wishes to scope and prepare for the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
The internship project will help define business requirements, evaluate suitable CRM solutions and develop an implementation roadmap that supports improved customer engagement, enquiry management, sales opportunity visibility and commercial decision-making.
This aligns with the company's wider objectives around growth, increased enquiry conversion, improved customer engagement and stronger operational connectivity across the business.
Primary Technology Area: Data and Systems Integration
The project focuses on improving the management, accessibility and flow of customer, enquiry, quotation and marketing information through the introduction of a CRM platform that supports wider business connectivity and digital transformation objectives. The project aligns directly with Ajax's stated intention to strengthen connectivity across customer relationship management, manufacturing and business systems.
Project Goals and Objectives
1. Map current customer, enquiry, quotation and sales processes within the first four weeks, documenting information flows, responsibilities and reporting requirements.
2. Gather and document CRM requirements from key stakeholders by week six, producing a prioritised requirements specification that reflects operational and commercial needs.
3. Research and evaluate suitable CRM solutions against agreed requirements and provide a recommendation report by week eight.
4. Develop a CRM implementation roadmap by week ten, including data requirements, process changes, user adoption considerations and future integration opportunities.
5. Produce testing documentation, user guidance and training materials by the end of the internship to support future CRM deployment and adoption across the business.
Scope of Work, Methods, and Tools
Scope of Work
The internship will support Ajax's ambition to strengthen digital connectivity across customer relationship management, manufacturing and wider business processes. The project will focus on preparing the business for the successful adoption of a CRM platform. Current State Assessment
The intern will:
- Review how customer enquiries, quotations and customer interactions are currently managed.
- Map information flows between commercial, engineering, manufacturing and administrative functions.
- Document existing reporting processes and business information requirements.
- Identify opportunities where a CRM system could improve visibility, consistency and access to information.
Requirements Gathering
The intern will:
- Conduct workshops and interviews with key stakeholders.
- Capture functional and operational requirements for a CRM solution.
- Define requirements for:
- Customer management
- Enquiry tracking
- Quotation management
- Sales pipeline visibility
- Customer communication history
- Marketing activity management
- Business reporting and performance monitoring CRM Evaluation
The intern will:
- Research suitable CRM solutions appropriate for a manufacturing SME.
- Compare available systems against documented requirements.
- Assess usability, scalability, implementation considerations and potential business benefits.
- Produce a recommendation report outlining preferred options.
Implementation Planning
The intern will:
- Define recommended CRM processes and data structures.
- Identify customer and commercial data preparation requirements.
- Develop a phased implementation roadmap.
- Highlight opportunities for future connectivity with wider business systems and digital initiatives.
Adoption and Change Readiness
The intern will:
- Create draft process documentation.
- Develop user guidance and training resources.
- Produce testing plans and feedback templates.
- Make recommendations to support user adoption and ongoing system development.
Methods
The project will utilise:
- Stakeholder interviews
- Process mapping workshops
- Business requirements gathering
- Gap analysis
- CRM market research and evaluation
- Data review and assessment
- User acceptance planning
- Documentation and training development
Tools
The intern may use:
- Microsoft 365 applications
- Process mapping tools
- CRM vendor demonstrations and trial environments
- Requirements management templates
- Data analysis and reporting tools
Timeline with Milestones
Period Activity Milestone
Weeks 1-2 Stakeholder engagement and project initiation Project scope agreed
Weeks 3-4 Current state process mapping Current state assessment completed
Weeks 5-6 Requirements gathering and validation Requirements specification approved
Weeks 7-8 CRM market review and evaluation CRM options appraisal completed
Weeks 9-10 Implementation planning and roadmap development CRM implementation roadmap completed
Weeks 11-12 User guidance, training resources and final recommendations Project handover and final report delivered Intern Roles and Responsibilities
The intern will:
- Engage with stakeholders across the business.
- Map current customer and commercial processes.
- Document business and system requirements.
- Research and compare CRM platforms.
- Analyse business information needs and reporting requirements.
- Support implementation planning activities.
- Develop process documentation and training materials.
- Present recommendations and findings to project stakeholders.
Skills
Essential
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
- Ability to gather and document business requirements.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Competence using Microsoft 365 applications.
- Ability to analyse information and present findings clearly.
Desirable
- Understanding of CRM systems.
- Interest in digital transformation and manufacturing.
- Business process mapping experience.
- Data analysis and reporting skills.
- Experience producing user documentation or training materials.
Expected Outcomes
- Clear understanding of current customer, enquiry and quotation management processes.
- Documented CRM requirements aligned to business needs.
- Practical implementation roadmap for future deployment.
- Improved understanding of how customer and commercial information can support business growth.
- Increased organisational readiness for CRM adoption.
- Stronger foundations for wider digital connectivity across the business.
Success Metrics
- Process maps completed and reviewed by stakeholders.
- CRM requirements specification completed and approved by project sponsor Mark Waters.
- CRM options appraisal and recommendation report produced.
- Implementation roadmap delivered with prioritised actions.
- User guidance and training materials completed.
- Stakeholder feedback confirms project outputs support future CRM adoption.
- Project recommendations demonstrate alignment with Ajax's objectives around customer engagement, enquiry visibility, enquiry conversion and business growth.