ABC Business Solutions

Case Study

In the early 1950s, the Gosden family started a long and successful career in the grain industry trading as JH Gosden Pty Ltd. They were mobile seed graders.

The business proved to be popular with local growers leading to the construction of a grain processing and storage facility in the town of Dalby.

In 1974, the Jorgensen family joined the team, sharing the same vision and ethics as the Gosdens.  The business was renamed Gosden Jorgensen Seeds.

Through hard work and determination, Jack Gosden and Max Jorgensen made Gosden Jorgensen Seeds one of the leading grain and seed handling businesses in the area.

In 1994, the Jorgensen’s bought a second site, Associated Grain.  Located on the Warrego Highway near Dalby, the site would assist Gosden Jorgensen Seeds with additional processing, packing, grading and storage facilities to accommodate increasing demand.

In 2000, the two entities consolidated and trade today as Associated Grain.

Partnering with ABC Business Solutions – Ostendo and Moneyworks

Associated Grain had outgrown their current industry specific program. It was cumbersome, very man power intensive and had limited reporting ability. Geoff Birch (Seed Manager) knew it was restricting growth, as they were using manual processes for inventory control and customer management, mostly done in Excel. They needed an inventory system, that would allow twenty plus concurrent users, set up, for Seed traceability- which they now have.

Geoff says ABC Business Solutions were selected from a group of consulting firms that were interviewed, because “we could describe what we wanted, and ABC could isolate the problem and solve it – live – in front of us. Carol knew the systems inside out, while the others we spoke to were just salespeople”.

Ostendo provides them with integrated processes from Contract to Sale, while managing inventory at multiple locations. Geoff says Ostendo is “open and transparent, and easy for staff to use, and easy for new staff to do their job”.

“Ostendo’s customisable list views have made Managing easier”, says Geoff. “We have been able to increase turnover in Grain, nearly double in Seed, without needing to put on additional staff”.

Benita Raguse (Management Accountant), also commented that “existing staff were happier, as they were more productive, handling less problems, and not having to do as much overtime in the peak periods to get the Grain and Seed ready for delivery”.

Associated Grain have used Ostendo custom screens to have integrated Weighbridge functions, a Seed Shop web integration with Ostendo , and a Smarter Seeds web integration with Ostendo, allowing Grain to be exchanged for Seed. These custom screens are created in .net , and integrate with Ostendo’s SQL Firebird database, and allow Associated Grain to have industry specific , and business specific functions on entry screens , while creating  real time actions for both web and the weighbridge .

Both Geoff and Benita stated, separately, that the Ostendo system has improved the issuing of invoices, cash flow and improved the experience for their customers and growers, as growers are now paid via RCTI and on time.

Benita worked with the previous general ledger system, as well as Moneyworks, and because Ostendo is fully integrated with Moneyworks, finds the search features and reconciliation processes in Moneyworks easy. Benita says “we have much more visibility, and BAS work and preparing for Audits is much easier”. Benita believes if they didn’t now have Ostendo and Moneyworks, with Associated Grain’s current trading conditions, they would have “double the staff”.

Meet the Team

Carol Roberts (BAS AGENT# 93400015)

Senior ABC Partner/ MCom(Prof Acct)/ Fellow IPA/ Dip. Financial Planning/ Ostendo Partner/ EXO Business Partner/ Xero Certified/ MoneyWorks Certified/ Management Accountant and Development Coach/ Project Manager /  BAS Agent/ NTAA Member/ Cert IV (Train and Assess)

Key Expertise: Project Managing software solutions that work. Carol can fix any accounting mess and provide business development support that finds the weak links, and task manages the business back to health. Carol can ‘clean up’ your accounting data, and then provide monthly Management Accounting services to maintain its integrity, including providing End Of Month management or board reports if required (remotely or on site).

Carol can project manage any complex accounting and operational system you need. Nothing is too hard, or a company too complex. High-level Stock-Control: With complex stock control systems involving multiple locations/depots, and web integration, your requirements can be highly technical. Add to this the challenges of importing/exporting with the associated problems of different currencies and varying exchange rates and it can easily become a nightmare. Other specialties are multi entity company requirements with consolidation, especially in aged care and retirement villages. With her passion for order and consistency, Carol will identify the problems and project manage a solution. Carol has 30 years experience in operational accounting and commercial accounting. Having completed her Masters in Commerce in Professional Accounting, she now has a Diploma in Financial Planning, and is a Specialist Adviser in Aged Care.

Carol has extensive knowledge in Ostendo software and Ostendo Job Costing, Xero accounting and Moneyworks accounting and more than eight years experience in MYOB EXO Business.

Carol believes the ABC motto “accurate information= better business decisions“.

Leng Leng Ooi
Developer

Leng Leng is a .NET Developer with a degree in Information Management Systems and Computer Science, as well as over 8 years of work experience in developing web and winForms applications, web services and windows services using .NET and ASP.NET, HTML and CSS. She is also experienced in the design and maintenance of SQL Server Databases. Leng Leng has experience in Ostendo setup and form customisation, she has also developed .NET applications, including custom user screens, which integrate with Ostendo.

Leng Leng also provides troubleshooting support for both Ostendo and EXO issues, related to tables or user function issues.  She has worked with various financial software and has developed numerous integration applications with MYOB EXO Business/AccountRight, including tools for importing financial related data like debtors, invoices etc.  She has experience in clarity forms customisation for MYOB EXO and developed SQL database level scripting. She has high level experience in customising Ostendo forms, reports and scripting.

Leng Leng has also developed and supported a variety of applications including integration packages for online payments with payment gateway, legislation compliance and gas deliveries applications.

Leng Leng also installs Moneyworks, and sets up the API link to Ostendo, and also sets up the Ostendo link to Xero. Leng Leng is able to troubleshoot any connection, or network, issues to both accounting applications.

Tina Nguyen
Bookkeeper/ MYOB EXO Business Consultant

Tina is an experienced 10 year Bookkeeper and accounts personnel, and is 8 units away from getting a Bachelor of Business Accounting.  Tina has experience in all aspects of Accounting and Bookkeeping in MYOB Account Right, Xero, Moneyworks, Ostendo and is a Certified MYOB EXO Business Consultant. With a passion for Accounting and challenges, Tina is results driven and is specialised to help you with your accounting and training needs. Tina is a very patient trainer for beginners, and an experienced trainer with your problem solving issues.

Ron Pourzinal
Developer/ BCompSc

Ron has more then 15 years experience in various areas of system analysis, software development and support of ERP system. He has experience in diverse programming environments: IBM mainframe, UNIX and windows platform with major development tools: Visual studio, Rational UI modelling and Delphi. Ron with his can-do attitude is able to find the right solution to any system integration and complex business reporting.Ron has over three years extensive experience in writing customised executable applications, scripting and third party links for MYOB EXO Business and Ostendo Software.

Angela Maynard
Office Administrator

When you call ABC Business Solutions Angela is the person in the office you contact with your enquiries and messages to pass onto your Consultant. Angela has over 20 years Office Administration experience and has developed a sound knowledge in administration and general office management. She is skilled in Windows, Outlook, MS Office and Ostendo. She also assists with Excel and template work for Ostendo set ups and can provide Xero timesheet training.  Angela’s overall experience is a valuable asset to the team and our clients. Angela also holds a current certificate in First Aid and CPR.

Margaret Cargill
Executive Assistant

Margie comes to ABC Business Solutions from assisting a Senior Partner in a high level law firm and brings to the team over 35 years’ experience in office administration and management gained throughout Australia and the UK.This extensive experience has given Margie a broad knowledge of commerce, excellent interpersonal skills and a knack for negotiating complex and frequently changing legal landscapes.Margie has worked extensively with Affinity, Empower, Outlook and Microsoft Office.

Margie manages the client interface for ABC 50plus and assists ABC Business Solutions’ Senior Partner.

David Williams
KEYSPACE

Keyspace is a full service IT provider offering solutions from Cloud through to VoIP and web design through to data security. We have a dedicated team of local experts with knowledge across a number of industry sectors and can tailor solutions to ensure your business is getting the most out of its IT investment. We are happy to sit down and discuss the best options for business and help you navigate the technology landscape.    www.keyspace.com.au

Services

ABC Business Solutions can help you to gain control of your business systems through assistance with strategic management, accounting and business workflow. Here at ABC Business Solutions, we understand the challenges you face in business. Our approach is practical, and down-to-earth. We come to you, to gain an overall understanding of your business, so that we find the best system that will suit your needs. We:

Assess your Business Requirements.
Help with “role” definition with ‘new’ system.
Liaise with your accountant for end of period taxation.
Help set up Customised reporting and KPI reporting
Help in the interview process for new staff.
Analyse your equipment needs.
Train your staff and write manuals.
Help key personnel to understand taxation requirements within your business software.
Custom Development and Report writing to analize data and improve business productivity.
Finalise the year’s file and roll your system forward to the new year.
…and anything else you need to make your business systems easier, quicker and less hassle.

The products that we provide services in are:

Ostendo Stock and Job Management Solutions
EXO Business Aged Care and Retirement Solutions
Moneyworks – Ostendo Solutions
WageEasy – Award and EBA payroll HR solutions
Xero – Cloud Accounting for smart businesses
Deputy – Online Timesheets – Visual Recognition
Ostendo Freeway Mobility Solutions
Workflowmax – All-in-one job management software

We can also provide assistance with the following:

Business Development and Business Bootcamp
Programming & Report Writing (Delphi, C#, C++, .NET, ASP.NET, VB, Java, PHP)
Xero Addons for Industry Specific Solutions
Customised corporate or business training days in Ostendo, Ostendo Freeway Mobility Solutions, EXO, WageEasy, MoneyWorks, Xero, Deputy or Workflowmax

Testimonials

“Thanks for your help with this – these accounts are the last of the tidy-ups which we have been chasing for the last two years and your team have been outstanding in helping us get it right. We really appreciate it.”

“Dear Anthony and Donaugh, Just want to thank you for your help over the last few days, we were in big trouble and you guys have saved us. Thanks again.”

“Thanks very much for your expertise this morning. It is very much appreciated.”

“You guys are too good.”

“Hi there, We attended the beginners course yesterday for Ostendo. Carol mentioned that they will be running a two day intermediate course for Ostendo. Could you also please let Carol know that we were very impressed yesterday and we learnt a lot. ”