One of the challenges of taking an off the shelf software solution and applying it in a complex organisation is ensuring that it can meet the local user requirements.

This case study explores how our team were appointed as programme manager for a multi-phase implementation of NetSuite across 8 countries, overseeing the entire global design and rollout.

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Services

Project & Programme Management

Finance Transformation

Sector

Education

Location

APAC

The challenge

A-Star Education had entered an exciting phase of growth which had caused complex challenges in disparate financial operations and reporting. 28 separate entities spanning 8 country markets required one solution that would bridge the gap between standardised and consistent reporting expected at the headquarter level and the need for localised processes in the respective entities.

The implementation of NetSuite ERP and NetSuite Planning and Budgeting Cloud Solution needed to enable 50+ users and meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. The programme management required a deep understanding of the complexities of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) systems, as well as relevant multi-country deployment and change management experience. Our planning had to be meticulous to ensure local user requirements were met without compromising the standardisation goals of the parent entity.

The solution also needed to ensure A-Star had the ability to continually expand upon, implement and integrate growing entities, whilst giving them a finance platform and the tools to provide them with a single view of their financial performance.

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“The successful implementation of this project has transformed our business.”

Brian Rogove, Founder and CEO A-Star Education

The solution

We designed a clear implementation strategy across A-Star group’s entities; Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, USA regions and the UK.

We led design sessions, standardising processes across finance, sales, procurement, and fixed asset management modules, and drove the definition of common master data and reporting templates globally, whilst providing enough flexibility for localisations. With a strong project management and governance structure in place we managed to deliver on-time go-live of the first 3 countries within a 6-month period, operating in multiple time zones.

Over the entire 18-month period of this project, our comprehensive implementation approach has been proven to be successful transforming all A-Star's business with the adoption of NetSuite ERP and a NetSuite Planning and Budgeting Cloud Solution. We successfully standardised processes across the entire organisation, engaged and trained the finance management teams and significantly improved financial operations.

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