Fluidata
Fluidata pioneers innovative, high speed internet
services that provide its clients with the ultimate network
solution. The company creates bespoke packages with increased
flexibility that directly target the needs of each individual
client. Fluidata has expanded rapidly over the past few years and
is poised to grow further over the next few years.
The challenge
"From very early on, we wanted to standardise how our company
operated and what software we used," says Piers Daniell, managing
director for Fluidata. "We decided we needed one piece of software
that would manage most of our business and would save us from
having issues with billing, customer data and service."
As Piers explains, "At the time, we were using Sage Line 50 to
process a modest number of transactions. We were still establishing
the business."
The solution
After researching a couple of software providers, the company
chose Access. Fluidata selected Dimensions for its strong finance
functionality and Service Manager for its detailed analysis of
products and services.
Since 2006, Fluidata has continued to configure its Access
solution to meets its growing business needs.
The results
"Access Dimensions drives our business. And having the CRM
module accompany the finance software works because it's good to be
finance focused," says Piers. "Everyone in the business is very
much aware of profits and recurring revenue - the things we need to
maintain our business and forward growth."
Technology enhances business
Everyone in the business is very much aware of profits
and recurring revenue - the things we need to maintain our business
and forward growth.Piers Daniell, Managing
Director
Fluidata customised Service Manager to provide details for each
service it delivers to customers. Internet connectivity services
became products in their own right, and the company created
packages to market the products. Using the link items feature in
Dimensions, the company assigned stock codes for the products which
are automatically fed through to Service Manager.
"We use the fields within Service Manager against each stock
code and product that is sold to capture customer details," he
says. "The software allows us to record a huge amount of
information on each customer."
Rollout recurring billing
Before implementing its Access solution, the business used
spreadsheets for billing. Access customised Service Manager to do
the work specifically for Fluidata. The software automatically
updates Dimensions with who's getting billed each month, says
Piers.
"We've been using BACs for three years, and we recently added
Albany E-Pay to give us a fully electronic BACs system," he says.
"This gives us full integration into Dimensions, which
automatically posts payments and saves us time."
Reduces paper usage
Happy with its recurring billing, Fluidata looked to automate
other business activities. The company implemented Document
Management in 2010, and changed the way it processed paperwork.
"Now, paperwork is bar coded and scanned into Dimensions. We
don't need to really fuss with paper, and we don't have to provide
storage for files," says Piers. "In a transaction, you can look at
the original invoice straightaway without having to search through
a file. Also because we store the scanned documents on our own
hosted cloud environment we no longer have to keep original hard
copies."
Boosts productivity
Fluidata's PCs, desktops and servers are virtual; it runs
everything from a private cloud environment. Proving that iPads can
be used a business tool, the company enabled the tablets to work
remotely to operate the Windows platform.
"We run a 3G network, which means people can use the Access
software when away from their desks. They have all the
functionality they would with a laptop," he says. "It's much easier
using an iPad, and people are more likely to have it with them. We
can be productive even when we're away from our desks."
Integrates HR and payroll
Prior to 2011, the company was outsourcing its HR and used an
older version of Access Payroll. Fluidata was working towards its
Bronze Investors In People Award and wanted to integrate its HR and
payroll.
"As part of the award's criteria, we needed to record our
training and development with staff," says Piers. "At the time, the
other features within SelectHR were a bonus rather than a
requirement. Now we use Self-service, and everyone manages their
own holidays."
Before, employees submitted their holiday requests to the
accounts team, who were manually recording them. This left the door
open for human error says Piers, and it created extra
paperwork.
"Previously, we would find that the wrong people were
authorising the holiday. Now everything is fed through to
SelectPay," he says. "The software helps us ensure employees get
consistent relationships with the business, and that we look after
people the right way," he says.
The future
Fluidata has plans to use its Dashboard functionality to analyse
the business."Automating our expenses with FocalPoint is a
longer-term goal," say Piers.
Summary
Fluidata wanted to solidify its business without investing in
multiple software platforms. By selecting an Access solution, the
company gained a scalable system that continues to grow with the
company.
"It's been a good decision for us. It's helped professionalise
our business," says Piers. "We've minimised the pieces of software
we've had to manage and use, which makes us more efficient."
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