Al-Gharbi Building Materials success story with Daftra
Al-Gharbi Building Materials in Saudi Arabia moved from a desktop ERP far bigger than it needed to cloud-based Daftra: no server in the office, a subscription that matches what it actually uses, and e-invoices linked to ZATCA.
At a glance
| Client | Al-Gharbi Building Materials — Saudi Arabia |
| Industry | Ceramics and marble trading |
| Speaker | Mohamed Ibrahim, CFO |
| Users | Sales and accounting |
| Key features used | POS and invoicing, inventory, accounts and reports, e-invoicing |
Key results
✓No local server: the system runs in the browser, with data stored in the cloud.
✓A subscription that matches actual use, scaling in the same system as they grow.
✓E-invoices linked to ZATCA with no external system or manual integration.
✓Account closing and stocktaking from the same screen that issues the invoice.
About Al-Gharbi Building Materials
Al-Gharbi Building Materials is a Saudi company trading in ceramics and marble. It ran its accounts, inventory and invoices on a full desktop ERP, yet used it for just two roles: sales and accounting.
The story is told by Mohamed Ibrahim, the company’s CFO.
The challenge: an accounting system bigger than the company
01
Paying for unused features
A system built for multi-department, multi-branch organizations, paid for in subscriptions, training, and daily complexity.
02
A server that stops sales
Everything depended on a local server, and when it failed, selling stopped.
03
The accountant as IT support
With every outage, the accountant hunted for the database and backup instead of doing his job.
“A desktop system is exhausting when the server fails. I have to go looking for the database, the backups and all that trouble.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim, CFO
The solution: cloud accounting, chosen on two criteria
The company wasn’t looking for a weaker system, but for a complete one that gives it what it needs today and grows with it tomorrow.
“We were working on an ERP far bigger than what we needed.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim
A price that matches actual use
Daftra gives the company the modules and users it needs today, with room to add branches, warehouses and modules when the time comes.
“The first thing is the price. I find Daftra reasonable compared with what they had.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim
A web system, not a desktop one
After the server outages, the requirement was clear: work from the browser, with no server in the office and no backups resting on the accountant.
“At this stage we have to work on a web system.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim
Linked to ZATCA
E-invoicing is a condition for operating in Saudi Arabia, and a system that isn’t linked to the authority doesn’t serve the company, however good it is.
Simple from day one
The company started with two roles, and the accountant found that daily work became straightforward.
| Role | Use |
|---|---|
| Sales | POS and invoicing |
| Accounting | Entries and reports |
The results after moving to Daftra
| Area | Before Daftra | With Daftra |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Local server, backups on the accountant | Cloud, in the browser |
| Cost | A full bundle of every module | A plan that matches use |
| E-invoicing | — | Linked to ZATCA |
| Reports | — | Ready without complex setup |
“The software is excellent and easy, and it’s simple.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim
Feedback that builds a better product
A real success story includes feedback, and the CFO was clear on one point.
01
Multiple barcodes per item
Different suppliers of the same product use different barcodes, so the company asked for more than one barcode per item.
02
The feature was added
Daftra added this feature following customer feedback.
The bottom line
Al-Gharbi no longer pays for what it doesn’t use, and its accountant is no longer the IT team. A ZATCA-linked cloud system that fits its size today and grows with it tomorrow.
“
“The software is excellent and easy, and it’s simple.”
— Mohamed Ibrahim, CFO
Trading in ceramics or building materials? Start your success story with Daftra.
FAQs
What’s the difference between desktop and cloud accounting software?
Desktop software runs on a device or server inside the company, and your team handles backups and maintenance. Cloud software runs in the browser, keeps data on the provider’s servers, and can be accessed from anywhere.
Is Daftra suitable for small building materials companies?
Yes. It’s built to manage invoicing, inventory, and accounts for small and medium businesses, with a subscription that matches the actual number of users.
Is Daftra compliant with e-invoicing in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Daftra integrates with ZATCA under the e-invoicing requirements.
Invoicing
POS
Offers
Installments
Sales Commission
KSA E-Invoice Software
EGY E-Invoice Software
JO E-Invoice Software
E-Invoice Software
Chart of Accounts
Asset Management
Cost Centers
Expenses
Cheque Cycle
UAE VAT-Tax
Product Management
Purchases
Purchase Cycle
Suppliers
Requisitions
Stocktaking
Organizational Structure
Personnel Management
Attendance and Leave
Contracts
Payroll
Requests
Work Orders
Booking Management
Rental and Unit Management
Time Tracking
Work Flow
Lease Contracts
Manufacturing Management 
Client Follow-Up
Loyalty Points
Points and Credits
Memberships
Insurance Management
Daftra ERP Full App
Point of Sales App
Point of Sales for Desktop – Support Offline Mode
AI Expenses Scanner App
Employee Attendance, Sign & ESS App
E-invoice Reader App
Inventory Stocktaking App