Biz_ACC_CST_Pavers
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Since 2007, the South Jersey regional manufac- turing facility for CST Products has been grow- ing in demand. One of three regional plants, this Penns Grove location manufactures and inven- tories its own interlocking pavers and blocks for retaining walls to ensure color consistency, prompt shipping and regionalized customer serv- ice. In late 2012, however, CST’s corporate comptroller Neil Johnson saw how the compa- ny’s accounting software system was holding them back and boxing them into a certain way of doing things, so he went in search of some- thing that would make their business more ef- ficient, without going over budget. When Johnson set out on researching his op- tions, he had some key factors in mind: The sys- tem couldn’t be too large that it would be un- manageable, it couldn’t cost hundreds of thou- sands of dollars, and it needed to be able to grow with the company. “We found that Sage was the best fit for our needs,” says Johnson, “and Sage recommended ACC Accounting Solutions as a seasoned, local implementation partner. Ever since we met with ACC, it’s just been a tremen- dous change for the better.” Founded in 1996, ACC Accounting Solutions is a software consulting firm that partners with some of the most well-known business-related software names in the industry, and is a Sage-en- dorsed authorized partner. The ACC team spent two days at CST, learn- ing the departments and business flow. “We looked at how the company was set up and cre- ated a framework of how they can take the Sage system to make their business processes stronger and accounting processes faster,” says Sean Atkins, founder of ACC. CST has been most impressed with the Sage inventory model. John Blais, CST’s plant engineer, works daily with the inventory aspect of the new accounting software. “Before, we were working in DOS mode, and now we’re using Windows,” he says. “It used to require three people to in- put our daily manufacturing numbers into the sys- tem, and now it only takes one. In addition to that, once the information is put in, we can download it automatically to update our inventory records. Our records are more accurate and the system processes the information much better than what we had previously.” Johnson says, “We never had something this accurate. We can import our daily production seamlessly into the system and the software com- municates with other levels of the company, like customer service, so we immediately know what is available for sale.” The company’s historical data was also im- ported into the new system, which meant they didn’t need to re-key anything from scratch, says Johnson. Additionally, the new software has helped CST go paperless. Johnson says one of the things he appreci- ated most about working with ACC was the fact that they were cognitive of his budget through- out the process. “He wasn’t trying to sell us on the extra bells and whistles that we didn’t need,” he says. “If he noticed that a particular process would put us over budget, he suggest- ed other methods, and that’s something unheard of. He was comforting to me and my staff and helped us prepare for any potential hiccups be- cause he’s been through it all.” As CST grows, Sage and ACC offer add-ons and accessories that will continue to improve the company’s efficiency. “When they are ready, the system is there to grow with them,” says Atkins. “You don’t need to purchase everything up front. These modules and added functions can be implemented incrementally.” Since going live on the new software system last February, the relationship between CST and ACC is something Johnson appreciates. “The staff was hesitant to change at first, but the fact that Sean and his team were always avail- able helped make things go more smoothly,” says Johnson. “No matter what questions we had, they never lost patience with us. Since then, when we have a problem, we always get a voice on the other line.” ACC uses a remote desktop tool to log onto the computer and walk the CST employee through what they are doing so they can watch and learn, which Johnson says has been so helpful. “It’s like we’re sitting there over their shoul- der and helping them,” says Atkins. “It reduces what would have otherwise been a long support call on both ends.” Johnson says ACC’s local presence was also a factor in his decision. “ACC provides a lo- cal training facility and offers classes throughout the year, so as we grow and add on, we have the ability to send employees to their facility for train- ing. Not many software companies offer that, and it’s something we’re definitely going to take ad- vantage of,” he says. Blais says, “I feel like we were stuck with our previous system, but now we have the founda- tion to move forward for today’s business world, like the ability for online ordering or adding bar codes. There’s no limit to where we can go.” w VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 17 Cherry Tree Corporate Center 535 Route 38, Suite 320, Cherry Hill (856) 335-1010 | 4ACC.com Promotion Paving a Path to Success profile ACC Accounting Solutions helps CST Products become more efficient through an ERP software system. By Liz Hunter Photography by Jeff Anderson Accounting Solutions, Inc. ACC ACC Accounting Solutions founder Sean Atkins (left) with CST Products plant engineer John Blais
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Transcript of Biz_ACC_CST_Pavers
Since 2007, the South Jersey regional manufac-turing facility for CST Products has been grow-ing in demand. One of three regional plants, thisPenns Grove location manufactures and inven-tories its own interlocking pavers and blocks forretaining walls to ensure color consistency,prompt shipping and regionalized customer serv-ice. In late 2012, however, CST’s corporatecomptroller Neil Johnson saw how the compa-ny’s accounting software system was holdingthem back and boxing them into a certain wayof doing things, so he went in search of some-thing that would make their business more ef-ficient, without going over budget.
When Johnson set out on researching his op-tions, he had some key factors in mind: The sys-tem couldn’t be too large that it would be un-manageable, it couldn’t cost hundreds of thou-sands of dollars, and it needed to be able to growwith the company. “We found that Sage was thebest fit for our needs,” says Johnson, “and Sagerecommended ACC Accounting Solutions as aseasoned, local implementation partner. Eversince we met with ACC, it’s just been a tremen-dous change for the better.”
Founded in 1996, ACC Accounting Solutionsis a software consulting firm that partners withsome of the most well-known business-relatedsoftware names in the industry, and is a Sage-en-dorsed authorized partner.
The ACC team spent two days at CST, learn-ing the departments and business flow. “Welooked at how the company was set up and cre-ated a framework of how they can take the Sagesystem to make their business processes strongerand accounting processes faster,” says Sean
Atkins, founder of ACC. CST has been most impressed with the Sage
inventory model. John Blais, CST’s plant engineer,works daily with the inventory aspect of the newaccounting software. “Before, we were workingin DOS mode, and now we’re using Windows,”he says. “It used to require three people to in-put our daily manufacturing numbers into the sys-tem, and now it only takes one. In addition to that,once the information is put in, we can downloadit automatically to update our inventory records.Our records are more accurate and the systemprocesses the information much better than whatwe had previously.”
Johnson says, “We never had something thisaccurate. We can import our daily productionseamlessly into the system and the software com-municates with other levels of the company, likecustomer service, so we immediately knowwhat is available for sale.”
The company’s historical data was also im-ported into the new system, which meant theydidn’t need to re-key anything from scratch, saysJohnson. Additionally, the new software hashelped CST go paperless.
Johnson says one of the things he appreci-ated most about working with ACC was the fact
that they were cognitive of his budget through-out the process. “He wasn’t trying to sell us onthe extra bells and whistles that we didn’tneed,” he says. “If he noticed that a particularprocess would put us over budget, he suggest-ed other methods, and that’s something unheardof. He was comforting to me and my staff andhelped us prepare for any potential hiccups be-cause he’s been through it all.”
As CST grows, Sage and ACC offer add-onsand accessories that will continue to improvethe company’s efficiency. “When they areready, the system is there to grow with them,”says Atkins. “You don’t need to purchaseeverything up front. These modules and addedfunctions can be implemented incrementally.”
Since going live on the new software systemlast February, the relationship between CST andACC is something Johnson appreciates. “Thestaff was hesitant to change at first, but the factthat Sean and his team were always avail-able helped make things go moresmoothly,” says Johnson. “No matterwhat questions we had, they never lostpatience with us. Since then, when wehave a problem, we always get a voiceon the other line.” ACC uses a remotedesktop tool to log onto the computer and walkthe CST employee through what they are doingso they can watch and learn, which Johnson sayshas been so helpful.
“It’s like we’re sitting there over their shoul-der and helping them,” says Atkins. “It reduceswhat would have otherwise been a long supportcall on both ends.”
Johnson says ACC’s local presence wasalso a factor in his decision. “ACC provides a lo-cal training facility and offers classes throughoutthe year, so as we grow and add on, we have theability to send employees to their facility for train-ing. Not many software companies offer that, andit’s something we’re definitely going to take ad-vantage of,” he says.
Blais says, “I feel like we were stuck with ourprevious system, but now we have the founda-tion to move forward for today’s business world,like the ability for online ordering or adding barcodes. There’s no limit to where we can go.” w
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 17
Cherry Tree Corporate Center535 Route 38, Suite 320, Cherry Hill(856) 335-1010 | 4ACC.com
Promotion
Paving a Path to Success
profile
ACC Accounting Solutionshelps CST Products becomemore efficient through an ERPsoftware system. By Liz HunterPhotography by Jeff Anderson
Accounting Solutions, Inc.
ACC
ACC AccountingSolutions founderSean Atkins (left)with CST Productsplant engineerJohn Blais
ACC Accounting Solutions-v2-Colleen_r1-FINAL_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:36 PM Page 1
