Microsoft Dynamics SL Case Study - ATS Automation

Situation:

ATS Automation of Renton, Washington, provides building automation contracting services including engineering and installation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment to commercial buildings and campuses. ATS ran its business on an aging version of Peachtree accounting software, numerous versions of Microsoft® Excel, and a few vertical applications. The accounting staff invested a great deal of time performing duplicate data entry to tie the systems together and then printed monthly reports that sat in binders. Seeking a modern accounting solution that could automate business processes and provide Web-based access to critical information, ATS implemented Microsoft® Business Solutions–Solomon (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™). The company has approximately 90 employees, annual revenues of U.S.$20 million, and offices in Spokane and Anchorage in addition to the headquarters location.

Solution:

ATS Automation set forth the following objectives for its new business management solution:

• Greater integration to eliminate redundant data entry
• Browser-based accessibility of central office data for remote employees
• Rich array of capabilities that will facilitate company growth

ATS performed a thorough evaluation of construction industry software from Timberline, Forefront, and Computer Ease, and decided instead on Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon. “Microsoft Solomon has a Web portal, based on Windows® SharePoint® Services, that gives field people full access to project data over a browser,” Allen says. “None of the other systems had this. The portal also allows employees to enter time sheets and expense reports over the Web, which reduces administrative work for our accounting staff.”

Benefits:

ATS Automation now has a means of electronically supporting and integrating key business functions, including financial and project accounting, distribution, inventory, and field service. Not only do the many Microsoft Solomon modules span the functional breadth that ATS requires but they also are integrated, eliminating data reentry and related inaccuracies. Up-to-date project data is available to all employees at any time from anywhere. And the accounting staff is relieved of a great deal of time-consuming administrative work.
By harnessing Microsoft Solomon to all areas of its business, ATS now has electronic support—and the accompanying efficiencies—for every key business function. For example, in its project-oriented business, ATS needs to accurately transfer labor and materials costs to customer invoices as projects progress (progress billing). Before Microsoft Solomon, ATS had a tough time doing this because invoices were created manually. Today, project managers enter costs and schedule milestones in Microsoft Solomon, and that data automatically flows into the modules used to generate cost tracking reports, schedules, invoices, and other project documentation

The automated efficiencies of Microsoft Solomon have presented the most dramatic time and cost savings to the three-person accounting department at ATS. “Everyone on my staff is doing more in less time,” Valliant says. “This has enabled the company to grow tremendously without increasing the accounting staff.”

Using Microsoft Business Portal with Microsoft Solomon, ATS employees in remote offices and field-based project managers can get access to timely project information from any browser. This helps them manage projects more intelligently and cost-effectively, as well as answer customer questions more promptly.

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