Erickson International

SOLUTION

Working with technology partner Information Integration Group, Inc., Mheidze briefly considered upgrading Sage 100 but upon examination felt that it wasn’t a true-cloud solution. “Sage Cloud is only semi-cloud, it’s very cumbersome and time consuming,” she says. “Correcting something required complex steps; one step forward then three steps back to correct. There was also a lot of batch processing, which meant a lot of waiting.”

Sage 100 was still an on-premises solution that only offered “cloud-connected” integrations. Batch processing does not support real-time data. “With Sage 100 we had to maintain a server and that server had a lot of associated costs. So, removing the headache to maintain the on-premises system was the number one reason we chose to go with Acumatica,” Mheidze says.

Information Integration Group introduced Erickson to Acumatica Cloud ERP, a single connected platform that offers a pricing model based on usage rather than per-seat. “The Sage price with additional users was at a bizarre amount,” Mheidze says. “I liked that Acumatica doesn’t care how many users you have but how much data you use. We don’t have to worry that our data is going to grow exponentially but what if I have more people working for me? I don’t have to worry about rapidly escalating costs.”

With Information Integration Group’s guidance, Mheidze handled the Acumatica Cloud ERP implementation from Erickson’s side by herself while still handling her CFO duties on an aggressive 3-month schedule. “Everyone said I was crazy to try to do it that fast,” she says. But Information Integration Group’s expertise and Acumatica’s ease of use made it easier, she says. “Now, it’s like Sage never happened.”

One Connected Business Improves Operations

When asked about Acumatica Cloud ERP’s top benefits, Mheidze doesn’t hesitate: “Mobility, accessibility, unification,” she says. Moving from managing disconnected systems in various locations to having all data in a single place “was a huge plus,” she says. “We had to bring California and Ohio, which were still operating in QuickBooks, to Acumatica to unify everyone. Now everyone can access the ERP, and there’s no more different coding or General Ledger systems.”

Now, everyone is on the same page with aligned data across seven locations. “To see all the data really improves our ability to serve customers and in manufacturing,” Mheidze says.

“We can see valid inventories, and if we need to know what we’re making next week, we can see what’s in stock and use this information. In Sage, the information wasn’t on one screen, and we had to do a lot more manual assembly of the information to learn the same thing.”

Secure ERP Inspires Confidence

Wearing her IT hat, Mheidze no longer worries how secure Internet connections are, how firewalls are holding up at various locations or increasing server maintenance costs. “Before there was a lot of cost, maintenance, and roadblocks about security,” she says. “I was constantly worried. Now, all I need is a solid Internet connection to get to the ERP from anywhere.” Acumatica Cloud ERP hosted on AWS provides automatic backup and security.

Mheidze likes that Acumatica Cloud ERP has an open API allowing third party applications to connect with ease. However, since she’s still in the early stages of using the new platform, she hasn’t added any additional applications. “Acumatica has everything I need.”

Intuitive Interface Makes Training Easier, Faster

Mheidze is the head software trainer for the manufacturer, and plowed through Acumatica Cloud ERP’s manuals, online training, and then remotely trained employees. “Acumatica’s user interface is absolutely fantastic, engaging, and intuitive,” she says. “If you are moving between screens or places, it gets you back to the same place – you don’t have to retype or remember something. Acumatica is very dynamic and intuitive and customizable; all our users are happy.”

One of her larger challenges was the change management that comes with any new software implementation. “It’s hard to break habits that people have,” she says. “They are used to doing things in certain ways so I have to do a lot of explaining, which is hard and challenging for any business.”

Employees like that they can customize Acumatica Cloud ERP’s dashboards to present information important to their roles and easily move and modify columns. “It’s like a Lego,” she says.

Improved Communication

Erickson International has boosted communication because Acumatica Cloud ERP allows everyone to see data about any location instantly; data no longer needs to be manipulated or imported or exported outside of the system so conversations happen instantly.

“If you are a midsized business that desires to grow and has the need to unify your locations, Acumatica brings this amazing gain; it connects people. In today’s world we need communication, and Acumatica provides the ability to have information at your fingertips that’s unified and delivered fast,” Mheidze says.