KIA Canada Inc.
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Company Overview
KIA Canada, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, distributes a line of consumer vehicles ranging from the small Rio subcompact to the Sedona sport utility vehicle for their South Korea-based parent company. Several months after starting up Canadian operations in 1998, the company’s solution provider, Infinium NT Financials, was sold, and KIA lost domestic system support. The search began for a stable, scalable solution from a solid company that would provide support for years to come.
Business Challenge
Due in part to implementation problems, the company’s previous system provided very little information output. What information they could get first needed to be downloaded into text files before being properly formatted in Microsoft Excel—leaving very little time for analysis and reporting. According to Susan Munro, assistant manager of finance for KIA, the company needed faster financial statements, easier access to information, tighter budget control, reduction of labor and paper, and overall improved financial control.
The search for the new system began, and the company previewed several solutions including SAP and Microsoft Dynamics–Microsoft GP®. KIA desired an easy-to-implement, nearly off-the-shelf solution to avoid any customization issues, but still wanted to meet as many requirements as possible. The contest between the various solutions never really developed as Microsoft Dynamics quickly proved to be flexible, easily implemented, intuitive and user friendly with the ability to handle anticipated aggressive growth.
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Solution
Working together with Microsoft Dynamics reselling partner Options Software & Consulting, Inc., KIA successfully implemented their new solution in a short amount of time—only three months. Throughout the implementation, KIA struggled with the day-to-day issues of the legacy system but still managed to meet the deadline. Also, by requesting input from end users and keeping them involved in every step of the process, the transition to the new system was smooth, with KIA employees competently utilizing Microsoft Dynamics from the start.
Improved Access to Information
Many of KIA’s processes are now streamlined and accelerated. Decision makers receive information more quickly because of Microsoft Dynamics ability to e-mail documents and, through FRx Financial Reporter, users outside of the finance department control budgets more easily. The budgeting system’s improved information flow, combined with new internal competencies, allows KIA to administer budgets at a higher management level than ever before.
The solution also enables KIA to achieve goals beyond the finance department—the high level of team communication and cooperation stemming from the implementation process continues to benefit the company. Just recently, the Fixed Asset module was implemented, supporting the control and tracking of the company’s fixed assets around the country.
Business Benefits
High-level benefits KIA Canada receives from Microsoft Dynamics include:
| • | Tighter budget control and enhanced reporting. |
| • | Improved purchase control and a streamlined purchase and approval process—previously a manual process. |
| • | Reduction in paper—no need to print and file invoices. |
| • | Reduction in labour—leaving more time for high-level analysis. |
| • | A stable system—no more crashes requiring several days to repair a database. |
| • | The ability to e-mail documents directly from Microsoft Dynamics. |
For more information about Microsoft Dynamics, visit www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions
