Accronym provides a full load of Microsoft benefits to Xinergistix

Xinergistix, the Western Cape bulk transport company, has seen a 50 percent reduction in the carry-over of late monthly invoicing, since the deployment of a Microsoft-based technology solution two months ago. Having e-enabled its business processes, order delivery documentation is now captured instantly, leading to a marked improvement in cash-flow for the expanding business.

Accronym as the implementation partner, provided the platform for the implementation of Great Plains accounting software running off the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server platform, co-existing with the Terminal Server component and functionality. Microsoft Office 2000 has also been installed across the company. This has resulted in fully digitised financial operations at the Xinergistix head office in Cape Town. As loads are allocated to vehicles, the orders are automatically transferred to invoices following verification against the corresponding proof-of-delivery documentation received from the client. The appropriately updated information such as invoicing, debtors, creditors and statements can be shared between the 35 employees and 250 customers at the touch-of-a-button. For a Xinergistix customer such as Everite which requires daily updated invoices to be submitted, the appropriate information can now be sent through automatically, eliminating paper-based administration.

"The main benefits we have seen in the short time since the solution went live, is that automated processes have streamlined our business, saving administration costs and taking work load off employees," says Anthony Koegelenberg, IT manager at Xinergistix. "Microsoft`s strategic development relationship with Great Plains has resulted in the development of a true 32-bit financial application, which means improved functionality and performance where required at a business-critical level. The brief we gave to Accronym was to provide a stable platform to run our financial system while reducing total cost of ownership, but we have seen additional benefits such as improved loyalty from customers through reduced response times to queries."

E-enabling its business processes also includes utilising the functionality of Microsoft Outlook 2000 to communicate with customers. Through a custom-designed electronic form, customers can now e-mail their orders through to Xinergistix, leading to quicker turn-around time of this process.

In addition, when an order is placed either online or through the call centre, the person capturing the order can immediately access updated information from the debtor`s department, to determine whether the account can be used, or whether payments are outstanding. The proof-of-delivery documentation which is central to ensuring that invoices are issued appropriately for work completed, can be captured and added to the system as and when deliveries are done, leading to more accurate customer account reporting.

"The relationship between our operating system and financial management solution has provided us with a stable and effective platform on which to grow our business," says Riaan Boshoff, financial director at Xinergistix. "This deployment has the full support and approval from our auditors PriceWaterhouseCoopers, while allowing for further development of our satellite tracking system."

"For businesses to operate profitably, they have to ensure that their processes have employees working smarter and not harder," says Robert Sussman, regional director at Accronym. "The effective use of technology can ensure that companies such as Xinergistix get maximum benefit from their investment, while minimising expense in other areas, making them more profitable. This end-to-end solution provides Xinergistix with low total cost of ownership, as well as a scaleable environment which caters for future expansion."

Future plans for Xinergistix include launching an logistics division, as well as connecting its depots in Moorreesburg - Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to head office. The use of the Internet will be expanded to allow online order placing and tracking for customers.

"Financial applications are an essential element of the business backbone, therefore the underlying operating system has to provide stability for optimum performance," says Geoff ten Oever, partner manager at Microsoft South Africa. "Partners such as Accronym provide the value-add to customers on our technology platform, ensuring that the delivered solutions scale to their requirements. By taking the administrative load off Xinergistix, we can ensure that it delivers to its customers on time with maximum results."