“I don’t have to buy new servers…I just enter a new company into the system, and Sage 200 and Windows Azure SQL Database take care of the rest.”

Darren Reynolds, Director, Slick Machine

Slick Machine, which provides business-outsourcing services, faced rapid business growth and tight deadlines. To meet those challenges, the company implemented a financial management solution from Microsoft partner Sage that runs on the Windows Azure platform. Now, Slick Machine can support its accelerated growth and serve more customers without additional investment in the company’s IT infrastructure. The streamlined solution is easy to use, and employees can work from anywhere with the highly available, cloud-based services.

Business NeedsBased in Burnley, England, Slick Machine provides administrative and financial services to companies that outsource business processes. To keep up with rapid growth and tight deadlines, the company wanted a more scalable, automated solution.

Slick Machine manages sales ledgers for growing businesses and provides services that reconcile incoming payments with outstanding invoices. In 2012, the company handled a turnover of approximately £24 million (US$38 million) for its clients, a nearly 30 percent increase over the previous year’s turnover of £17 million ($27 million). The company managed the accelerated growth while facing demanding service level agreements. “Contracts require us to perform to a certain service level,” says Darren Reynolds, Director of Slick Machine. “That means that 99 percent of payments received before noon must be directly allocated by 2:00 P.M. the same day.”

Each day, the company logged on to six different online banking systems, downloaded transactions statements, and manually matched sales to invoices using spreadsheets and other office applications. The process could be time-consuming, and Slick Machine wanted a more automated

workflow. However, the company also needed a solution that would not require extensive investment in IT infrastructure and management. “I’ve got a business to run,” says Reynolds. “I don’t want to worry about servers, backups, and upgrades.”

SolutionWhen Slick Machine heard that Sage planned to offer a version of its Sage 200 software running on the Windows Azure platform, it was eager to be an early adopter. Slick Machine knew that Sage, a leading global supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, had the financial tools and expertise it required. Reynolds says, “I’ve always felt that as a strong and reputable brand in the marketplace, Sage has the resources to be able to deliver a stable solution that’s well-tested by a large number of other customers.”

In addition, by running in the cloud on the Windows Azure platform, the solution would provide easy management and high levels of scalability without requiring additional IT infrastructure. So in November 2012, Slick Machine joined the Sage 200 Hand-Held Site Program, an early release of Sage 200 Online. After Sage business partner Innov8 Group installed client software on PCs and laptops, Slick Machine employees could

Customer: Slick MachineWebsite: www.slickmachine.co.ukCustomer Size: 6 employeesCountry or Region: EnglandIndustry: Professional services—Outsourced managed servicesPartner: Sage

Customer ProfileSlick Machine provides outsourced solutions including payment processing and customer service operations.

Software and Services Windows Azure platform− Windows Azure − Windows Azure SQL Database

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Windows AzureCustomer Solution Case Study

Outsourced Services Firm Supports Accelerated Growth with Cloud-Based ERP

sign on and immediately start working from virtually any location with an Internet connection.

Based on Windows Azure SQL Database, the solution integrates multiple external data sources, including in-house software and online banking systems, with Sage 200 Online. Sage also takes advantage of the Windows Azure Service Bus, a messaging infrastructure that integrates on-premises line-of-business applications with Windows Azure. As a result, Slick Machine can work with multiple customers and sales ledgers in a single, end-to-end solution. Next, the company looks forward to adding capabilities that will automate tasks such as matching sales receipts to outstanding invoices.

BenefitsSlick Machine can build business without adding infrastructure, improve employee productivity, and ensure business continuity with Sage 200 running on the Windows Azure platform.

Supports Accelerated Business GrowthBy implementing a cloud-based financial management solution, Slick Machine can take advantage of new business opportunities more easily. “I have nothing to worry about when we get a new customer,” says Reynolds. “I don’t have to buy new servers or think about how to install software and set up databases. I just enter a new company into the system, and the Sage 200 and Windows Azure SQL Database solution takes care of the rest. It makes it so much easier to take on a new piece of business.”

Now, Slick Machine can work on enhancing its own core services instead of managing IT infrastructure. The company expects to gain a competitive advantage as a result. “There’s a great market opportunity if we can hone our skills and use the best technology available so that we can handle business processes more accurately and efficiently than other companies,” says Reynolds. “We can definitely build on Sage 200 and the Windows Azure platform.”

Improves Employee ProductivitySlick Machine reports that the streamlined solution is easy to use as well as manage. Employees can sign on to one location to

access customer accounts and management tools, and they need little training. In fact, most employees learn how to use the solution on the job, without requiring additional time for instruction. “With Sage 200 and Windows Azure SQL Database, we can get employees up to speed on a particular task in a matter of minutes.” says Reynolds. “As a result, when I hire new employees, I don’t have to require specialized software knowledge. Instead, I can focus on the capabilities that interest me, such as financial and customer service skills.”

Ensures Uninterrupted Business OperationsWith a highly available, cloud-based solution, Slick Machine employees can continue working from anywhere without interruption. “I know I can rely on Sage 200 running on the Windows Azure platform,” says Reynolds. “I can log in every day and see our account data and record transactions, and I can do that from anywhere with the software installed on my PC. I don’t have to worry about the back end at all.”

Slick Machine is confident that it can meet its service level agreements, even when facing unexpected challenges. The solution proved its value in a recent snowstorm that prevented many in England from going to work. “By using Sage 200 and Windows Azure SQL Database, my accountant was able to work from home,” says Reynolds. “It doesn’t matter if she’s not in the office, and that’s really a key benefit to this technology.”

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Document published April 2013