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Case Study
Johnson Broderick Engineering Increases Cash Flow by 20% with Unanet AE ERP
Motivation for a New ERP Solution: To find an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that could support the growth and continuous improvement of a promising civil and structural engineering firm. Johnson Broderick Engineering (JBE) recognized its growing need for a superior accounting system leveraging automation to streamline and speed up its project-based accounting system. The firm also saw a need to take a more unified approach to how it managed its various business processes.
Johnson Broderick Engineering
Johnson Broderick Engineering is a structural and civil engineering firm located in Eugene, Oregon, serving its local building and design community for over 20 years.
The Challenges
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Find a project-based accounting solution that could scale with them
QuickBooks was proving to be slow, bombarded with pop-up ads and was failing to efficiently manage critical areas such as project budgets and resource planning.
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Support the firm’s lightning-fast growth with a unified ERP solution
JBE needed a more integrated ERP solution tailored to their distinct needs as an engineering firm and their growth aspirations.
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Bolster and enhance its business processes
The JBE team was left grappling with operational inefficiencies and a demand for more
sophisticated tools to manage their business.
QuickBooks was proving difficult to embrace and
implement. We needed something
simpler that integrated with project budgets and resource planning.
The Solution
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Turn to Unanet’s ERP to overhaul its accounting practices
Enter Unanet, armed with a dynamic approach to managing a project-based business and the capability to automate pivotal processes, including billing and collections via its Accounts Receivable (AR) Automation features.
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Move through a swift, seamless implementation process with a solution that delighted its team
The offered solution was not only easy to adopt, but also found favor with the staff who found it simpler to use than QuickBooks.
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Bring all its business processes together in one unified location
What set Unanet apart was its comprehensive offering of integrated timekeeping, permissions, and employee information functionalities, making it a one-stop solution for all JBE’s business needs.
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Improve how it does business
This unification facilitated improvements in JBE’s business processes. Whether it was client selection or onboarding new hires, the firm took a more strategic approach to how it did business as opposed to continually putting out fires from a reactive posture.
The interoperability between Accounts Receivable, project management, human resources, time and expense processing and other functions helps promote our growth. Unanet is what we’ll use whether we have fifty employees or five hundred.
The Approach
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Take a measured, deliberative approach to implementation
The company started small, focusing on integrating different sides of the business gradually. This phased approach allowed for a smooth transition and ensured that the operations didn’t suffer in their quest to innovate.
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Centralize its business systems
By choosing Unanet, JBE was able to have all of its disparate business processes located within one easy to use system. For example, a major component of its business was timesheets, which could now live alongside its projects, resource management, financials, and other business functions.
Billing and collections used to be a terrible game of ‘whack-a-mole’ for us. Now with Unanet, billing takes only a matter of hours and we’ve gotten our AR collection time frame down from 45 days to only 15. Imagine what that feels like - we’re collecting way more efficiently and all that AR is now sitting in operating cash.
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The average time in Accounts Receivable went from 45 days to 15
The solution saved significant time and increased the sophistication of JBE’s business management, instilling a renewed sense of confidence within the team. -
Increased cash flow by 20%
JBE was able to significantly lower its AR balance, putting all of its Accounts Receivable income into its operating cash. Since JBE implemented Unanet’s AR Automation, it has improved its available cash flow by 20% -
Enhanced project visibility
The ability to track the value and statuses of all projects visually improved their project management efficiency. -
More reliable and automated accounting
JBE was able to streamline its accounting processes and follow up on payments in a timelier manner. -
Better insight into and communication with its client base
Unanet empowered JBE to vet clients more thoroughly and be selective about the clients they partnered with, while also facilitating faster payment processes. -
Encouraged a new aura of professionalism
This integration not only enhanced internal processes but also resonated with their clients, reflecting a more professional image for JBE. -
Immediate ROI
100% of outstanding accounts receivable -
Sustained ROI
45 – 15 days improvement in average accounts receivable collection days -
Increased cash flow
20% increase in cash flow
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