Taska Prosthetics – NetSuite ERP Implementation Case Study

Introduction

Taska Prosthetics is a manufacturer of prosthetic hands located in Christchurch, New Zealand. They were evaluating Business Systems to support international growth and implement operational efficiencies. The current setup consisted of Microsoft Dynamics and spreadsheets. Taska Prosthetics had plans to extend the New Zealand business’ growth into international markets including Germany, USA and Australia.

Taska researched the NetSuite partner base in New Zealand for companies in specialising in Supply Chain, ERP and Manufacturing implementations on NetSuite (Leading Cloud Based ERP for SMBs) and found Absolute Vision Technologies (AVT). They then reached out to AVT to evaluate Oracle NetSuite ERP and draft a deployment strategy for their business. The evaluation process took approximately 6 months.

Business Needs

• Fast growing hi-tech product company with two NZ companies and two soon to be established overseas subsidiaries.
• Existing ERP was not going to scale easily for overseas companies, especially in relation to complex taxation and multi country trading
• User frustration with interface of existing ERP, difficulty navigating, poor searching and reporting.
• Users didn’t have access to real-time reporting to make day to day decisions

Challenges

• Core business management system were outdated and prone to errors
• Processes were not integrated and require duplication of information and effort
• Business processes were managed in silos using spreadsheets
• Customer order were being delayed due to business silos and lack of inventory accuracy
• Staff were unable to work and access information remotely
• Management were unaware of “hidden” workforce or labour costs caused by inefficiencies

Objectives

The main objectives of moving to NetSuite were:

• Deploy a system scale business operations across New Zealand, Germany and Australia
• Reduce operational costs and improve business performance
• Reduce IT risks related to supporting and managing in-house systems
• Reduce business risk by systemising processes adhering to recommended best practices
• Improve Order Management, Manufacturing, Production, Quality, inventory management, stock control, warehousing and operations efficiency through systemisation of processes
• Reduce effort to train by using role based access
• Manage Multiple organisations and entities in one system

AVT Engagement Feedback

• Key requirement was a partner that would meet tight timeframe (3 months) while allowing us to do most of the implementation work.
• AVT chosen after meeting and discussing their implementation methodology.
• Taska liked AVT’s approach to training first, then allowing customers to do the work with the support of AVT as required.
• Implementation went better than expected. The NetSuite CSV import utility made life very easy.
• Very few issues experienced that hadn’t been considered during project planning and training.
• One “major” customisation (Auto lot allocation) that was scoped and delivered very well and does exactly what we need it to, saving considerable time while still giving necessary lot tracing.

Achievements to date

• First monthly financial statements out within 3 days of go-live!
• Better stock control, visibility and accuracy
• Faster, more accurate manufacturing reporting
• Happier users!
• Easy set-up of German subsidiary, Australian one to be done soon
• Inter-company trade working.

Unexpected Benefits

• Visibility of information, very easy to drill through and across transactions.
• Saved searches are much better than expected.
• Dashboards are much better than expected.
• The ability to actually see things in “real time” has been a really pleasing aspect.
• Financial consolidations of companies much better than expected
• Ease of customisation. First major one done being a Revision record for non-assembly inventory items
• Workflow capabilities better than expected

AVT Engagement Methodology

AVT uses its proven implementation methodology to implement solutions. Using a structured process with clearly defined phases facilitates a successful, efficient implementation. The approach can be tailored to suit the exact requirements of each client, and is documented and agreed by all parties at the project initiation. An implementation framework reflecting respective AVT and Client roles and responsibilities can then be agreed in an informed manner through a thorough understanding of the project scope, objectives, activities and resource requirements.

A successful project requires joint responsibility from the customer and the vendor. More importantly, this joint ownership greatly enhances the Customer’s ability to manage the NetSuite application after the implementation project is completed.

Project management of the project will consist of the following phases:

Initiate: Engagement delivered and signed off by Customer.
Enable: Orientation and power user training.
Analyse: Process map business requirements and technical requirements (if needed).
Configure: System setup, process configuration and any technical development for the account.
Deploy: Process and Module testing and sign off, Data Imports, Training and Go-Live Preparation.
Go-Live: Go live assistance, transition to support, closure.

For more information on AVT NetSuite ERP implementation, or for a Free Business Consultation, contact AVT today!