RESULTS
Probably the greatest advantage of the new system is also a general one: it provides visibility across the multifaceted operations and business units at Millbrook. Lead implementation consultant Amanda McGeorge goes into more detail: “This implementation had firm targets for anticipated benefits. With the nature of the resort, which has some privately owned properties and others owned by Millbrook itself, and all managed by the resort, it was necessary to implement a financial system which provided for detailed tracking of all expenses and incomes related to every property.”
The level of detail is fine and Verde delivered an integration between Opera and MYOB Greentree which now fully automates a process which was previously handled in disparate systems.
A major benefit relates to Millbrook’s property development operation, where significant sums of money are involved. Greentree’s job cost module provides for accurate tracking of the various components of taking bare land and creating a habitable property, bringing complete and easy visibility to a once-opaque aspect of the business.
The Greentree eDocs module revolutionised accounts payable. Invoices are emailed directly into Greentree, with immediate visibility as they arrive within the ERP system. This accelerates payment to suppliers, ensures nothing falls through the cracks and, crucially, eliminates a previous drift of paperwork. “This was a steep learning curve for the accounts payable department, but it has delivered a big boost; only 5 weeks in and already, Millbrook’s is the cleanest accounts payable desktop I’ve seen,” McGeorge remarks.
Reconciliations happen faster (and on demand), costs are managed better and, thanks to the companywide system, department heads can run reports at any time to track progress and performance. And, as a result, controls are vastly improved, too. Auld confirms it: “When we generate our month-end financial reports, they can be automatically calculated using real-time data for adjustments and balances – all without any human intervention. We’re also able to easily manage our inventory which is delivering huge gains in our efficiency.”
Auld says the solution is easy-to-use and cost-effective, making it easy for people to collaborate and reducing the risk of human-error. “It allows our team to work with anyone, anywhere. We’ve got staff members who would not – or could not – have worked together just five years ago, but can now thanks to new technology, they are providing up-to-the-minute information.”
He reiterates the value of a good system properly implemented by a knowledgeable partner: “In the past, we used make do with the systems we had. But technology provides outstanding benefits. Technology not only makes business life easier for your team, it can reduce your labour costs quite significantly.”
