Many of you may have noticed a ‘subtle’ shift in the Verde structure, which has seen our MYOB practice steadily separating out from the rest of the business. From 1 July, this practice will be known as Avanza Solutions and has as its goal a sharp focus on MYOB Advanced, predominantly addressing customers in the construction, manufacturing, and warehousing and distribution industries. Probably the big question in your mind is ‘why’. That’s what this story is all about, so grab a coffee and settle in for a quick read.
The basic rationale is pretty simple: MYOB the vendor and MYOB Advanced the solution deserve specific focus. For those who don’t know, MYOB is an Australian multinational firm headquartered in Melbourne which has offered accounting software since the early 1980s. While the initial focus was on ‘basic’ accounting packages, MYOB made a big push towards the top end of town with the introduction of the MYOB Advanced Cloud ERP solution in 2015. Advanced is based on an American ERP solution Acumatica, which is essentially localised and specifically developed for the Australian and New Zealand markets as MYOB Advanced.
By now, the concept of the cloud for ERP solutions is well-established, offering multiple benefits and advantages over on-premises software. It’s flexible, allowing ‘anywhere’ data and systems access for remote work and improved collaboration, does away with hardware and associated costs, and offers improved business continuity and data protection measures. Configuring and deploying a cloud solution is often faster and less costly than an on-premises installation, too.
MYOB Advanced is winning customers across New Zealand in multiple vertical industries because it is highly customisable and scales readily to meet business ambitions on the upside, and market realities on the other side. A couple of very big steps away from the traditional ‘accounting package’, MYOB Advanced is a complete ERP solution with modules including financial management, customer relationship management, project management, and reporting. Our MYOB Advanced customers get what we like to call a ‘360-degree’ view of their business, and that means informed decisions based on data-driven insights. And, of course, keeping an eye on things all the time from anywhere on any device.
It is precisely the demand for MYOB Advanced and our growing customer base using the solution which necessitated splitting out Avanza Solutions as the dedicated MYOB Advanced partner within the broader Verde Group of companies. With this practice solely focused on MYOB Advanced, we’re driving specialisation among our teams. This benefits customers in several ways:
- We’re developing and perfecting rapid assessment and deployment methodologies. The process of identifying the right ERP solution, and then configuring and deploying, is infamously lengthy and demanding. It also generally takes place in the hullabaloo of ‘business as usual’, making for a remarkably demanding period of time for your organisation. While we already have a ton of experience under our belts, with successful implementations, specialisation will allow a further honing of our craft. While we’re under no illusions, and wouldn’t put you under any either, our mission is making the path to better ERP as easy, smooth, and rewarding as possible.
- We’re improving our knowledge of the software and its capabilities. We know MYOB Advanced in and out, but it’s a journey, not a destination. Software changes all the time. So does business. Staying on top and ahead requires a sharp, unrelenting focus. Avanza Solutions has that focus.
- We’re looking for further growth. New Zealand has hundreds of thousands of businesses which can benefit from better software systems. We know MYOB Advanced is highly suitable for a great many of these potential customers – but they may not yet know it. By sharpening our focus, we’re looking to spread the message and help more Kiwi companies take steps towards systems enabling growth, efficiency and performance.
Now, a lot of ERP skills are transferable from one software package to another. Other skills apply regardless of the software – like Business Analysts or database specialists or software programmers. That’s why, although we now have the dedicated Avanza Solutions business unit, we’re still part and parcel of the broader Verde Group. As and when necessary, additional complementary skills are on tap from the wider company, which means all our MYOB Advanced customers benefit from that sharp focus of a dedicated business unit… as well as the proven depth of skills you’ve always enjoyed from Verde.
It’s a brave new dawn for the company and an exciting one at that. If you have any questions or comments, do get in touch – as always, we love engaging and we’re always up for a chat and a coffee.
