Providing software and hardware to customers, EVS is a Belgian company that focuses their services in the broadcast industry. The company provides targeted solutions for its customers based on various products. This includes the slow-motion replays server and the XT video server. Since its beginning over 20 years ago, EVS’s business has changed from offering products to complex project management services. In order to carry out their services, EVS needs a system that promotes collaboration.
According to the IS (Information Systems) Manager at EVS, Philippe Gilbert, project management will become an, even more, focal point very soon to address new market segments. Currently, EVS has around 500 employees. They have headquarters in Seraing. In addition to this, they have 20 offices across the world. The worldwide presence is one of the main factors of success for EVS.
Business Need – Finding a One Integrated Solution
The story of EVS is one of continual growth. It demands a top-quality Information Systems platform. EVS decided to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX 3.0 as its primary platform around ten years ago. This included order management and inventory as well as accounting. The main idea was to use an integrated solution to cover all of their basic needs: sales, logistics, orders, or production.
However, the project failed for a couple reasons. For instance, they didn’t know how to streamline business processes or prepare each employee for these changes. Instead, EVS had to develop separate web applications for handling delivery processes or sales orders. This created a fragmented environment. Eventually, the CFO began to look at ways to improve the entire process with the help of technology.
Technology Solution for Collaboration and Other Processes
One of the first challenges was finding a new partner to support another Dynamics AX project. An audit had determined that the initial project failed. It was time to launch a new project with a company that offered the right experience, skillset, and size. EVS eventually chose Avanade for their new ERP project. Finding ways to support the accounts receivable processes was essential to the project’s long-term success. Having one interface for consignment activities and sales was critical.
EVS also chose to implement a function to support logistic processes, stock management, and inter-company transactions. Next, EVS began to emphasize the benefits of using Dynamic AX to all its employees. They did this by showing how the software could play a key role in improving business operations for their offices all across the world. The company scheduled seminars on the importance of collaboration instead of using silos to explain these features to managers and employees.
Explaining the immense value of using an ERP solution was essential in getting everyone on board. The company also took the extra time to listen to employee feedback and answer their questions. Listening to each employees and receiving their input was critical to success. The unwavering support from Avanade was another critical factor. They offered competence for completing the project. At the same time, they provided the perfect organizational structure and project management.
Adding CRM and Other Solutions
EVS began a project with Microsoft Dynamics CRM around seven years ago. However, the project didn’t receive much enthusiasm. It was similar to how the first ERP implementation was received. The Dynamics CRM was only implemented for the sales team in Europe. Other regions wanted to work with other solutions. None of these were integrated. CRM wasn’t being used on a corporate level.
Due to the continual growth of the business, however, EVS felt the time was right to reimplement the CRM. Providing the best app design and integration was a significant challenge to connect the sales team across the world.
Avanade began to integrate the master data (clients and product catalog) from Dynamics AX using Dynamics CRM. Meanwhile, they also included Business Intelligence. These BI cubes were defined for general ledgers. This included quoted products, CRM opportunities, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. As the business began to diversify its commercial activites, it became essential to have a clear view of each revenue stream.
Final Outcome
EVS began to expand reporting. This was done by eliminating manual interventions from the reporting and budgeting process. Ultimately, this creates an automated budgeting process. This process eliminates human error and enables quicker decisions. This new information system implemented by Avanade will play an essential role in the future. It allows managers to respond to new business opportunities with greater agility.
Overall, there wasn’t only one specific reason for the ERP project. Everything improved global efficiency throughout the business processes. After working with Avanade, EVS was able to streamline business processes. This significantly improved collaboration by reducing silos. Dynamics AX brought much needed stability to further support and sustain the growth of the business. Due to these changes, EVS is now even more prepared and ready for the future.
