Case Premix

Before the deployment of NetSuite, Premix was in a situation where the company had as many as three separate ERP systems for different needs: financial management, customer relationship management and manufacturing. These separate systems did not communicate with each other, so the change was necessary for the organisation, which wanted to be data driven. The harmonisation of processes and systems in all locations also resulted in cost savings for the international company. The harmonisation of the different systems supported the objectives of knowledge-based management and the management of entities, while allowing the company to automate certain routine tasks and proactively build systems that support future growth.

The project for the renewal of systems was started with a phased approach, and financial management was the first to adopt NetSuite. Digia was the partner in the project from the very beginning. The gradual transition was a conscious choice that facilitated implementation and reduced risks, as the challenges that arose could be addressed even before the next functionalities were deployed. “It is easier to continue with new modules when they are connected to the same system. Working with Digia was also made easy by the team's strong understanding of our business, background and needs – this has increased our confidence in Digia as a partner and it serves as a good basis for cooperation,” Järveläinen says.

Today, a large proportion of Premix employees use NetSuite in some form, as product management, the daily management of the order-supply chain and CRM are all in the same system. The most critical change took place in the order-supply chain: now the stock, customer service, order and invoice processing and shipping of orders all use the same platform. Previously, customer data was also found in several systems, between which there were no linking or data transfer. After the reform, Premix's account managers can now monitor the entire customer path and offer new opportunities based on data. “NetSuite is a user-friendly choice and our system now dates from a completely different era than before. This has also shaped our brand in a fairly conservative industry – our customers have also noticed that we want to utilise modern tools to manage our everyday life,” Järveläinen says.

Read also how the new ERP system helped Robit with its rapid international growth >

Some customization accommodating the company’s specific needs was made in the NetSuite implementation built for Premix. For example, Digia tailored an inventory management tool for Premix to enable the smooth collection of right pallets and batches from the warehouse without unnecessary typing. Operations are now more reliable as some routine procedures were automated. A real-time view of the division of responsibilities is also available: Premix now knows exactly what is happening, what needs to be done next and how the work should be managed and allocated. All information was brought together, and the staff no longer has to switch from one system to another.

“NetSuite has been a good choice for us, and its scalability gives us a clear advantage. After a year of use, I can say that we have seen many of the planned and desired benefits, for example, in terms of data-based management. Our users have also been really active during the process – this has been a big investment for us, so it is important to achieve the promised functionality,” Järveläinen sums up. The change in the system has been reflected in the everyday life of Premix employees in many ways, and the training of the personnel has played a key role in the successful change. For example, during the deployment phase, weekly clinics were arranged with sales, with the new system being made to work and the change carried through with the help of active dialogue and training.

Surprises can never be completely avoided, but Digia's active approach and joint development are praised. “Communication and cooperation with Digia's consultants worked very well during the project. Digia employees exuded genuine interest in Premix's operations and we can count on the consultants presenting us with the best possible solutions. You can't plan everything in advance, and when there were problems, Digia employees reacted quickly and support has always been available,” Järveläinen says.