Servicing the technology needs of Fortune 1000 companies is a challenging task in today's business environment-integrating legacy systems with new programs and equipment, enabling the worldwide transfer of large amounts of data, and utilizing the Internet as the backbone of technological operations are just a few of the issues that keep controllers and information management personnel awake at night. GemStone Systems, Inc., a developer of object oriented application server software, eases the burden with its cutting-edge object-oriented application server software that can handle complex data and business processes required by clients such as Texas Instruments, Ford Motor Company and Florida Power & Light.

"Our customers are early adopters of technology and look to new technologies for a competitive edge," said Chris Moore, controller of GemStone. "Our applications handle computer integrated manufacturing, health information systems, financial, utility, complex multimedia, and networking and telecommunications management."

GemStone's work for Texas Instruments (TI) is evidence of the company's ability to help its clients run at full capacity. Before hiring Gemstone to monitor its entire semiconductor chip manufacturing process, TI took up to 30 days to switch from the manufacturing of microprocessors to memory chips-now it takes just three days.

Founded in 1992, GemStone's revenues and orders have been doubling each year. There are 125 employees at the Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters and 12 sales offices across the U.S. The reason for the company's phenomenal growth lies in the flourishing object-oriented server software market. Just three years ago, only 10 percent of large U.S. corporations were using object-oriented technology. This number is projected to reach 40 percent in 1997 and 80 percent by the year 2000.

Maintaining a Competitive Edge

With its growing list of influential clients, GemStone had to take a look at its own technological capabilities. After an internal review, Moore determined that the company needed an accounting software program that could meet its current needs while also having the flexibility to grow with the company. After a thorough search, Moore found that only Navision Software could offer GemStone the advanced technological applications it needed. He turned to MicroAccounting Systems (MAS), a Navision Solution Center in Beaverton for assistance.

Moore was impressed by Navision's features, especially the software's object-oriented program design. As a software developer and large-scale systems integrator, GemStone knew the power of the product because the people in the company have a complete understanding and appreciation of the technology behind Navision. However, Moore was determined not to let the software dazzle him. He and his accounting team put it through rigorous testing and evaluation. Moore actually pulled the network wire out of the wall during a posting process. The system replied, "Communications with server interrupted" and paused its operations. After plugging the wire back in, Moore found that all transactions rolled back appropriately, posted correctly, and the system picked up where it left off.

"I was impressed by the robustness of the system and the clean user interface," said Moore. "We tried to break it and it wouldn't break! That's the kind of system integrity I want."

Patrick Short of MAS was equally impressed with Moore's determination to test the limits of the software. "Chris [Moore] was sure he could defeat the software in some way," said Short. 'But after challenging just about every aspect of it, he came away absolutely wowed by its reliability, versatility and customizability-not to mention the sophistication of the software's core technology, in particular its use of object-oriented program design. The software sold itself to him."

As a result, GemStone purchased several modules in Navision Financials: General Ledger, Sales and Receivables, Purchases and Payables, Inventory and job Cost software. Navision has allowed GemStone to customize its accounting procedures to fit its business processes.

"GemStone was at the point where the company needed to do much more than just crunch numbers with its accounting system." said Short. "it needed a way to pull lots of different data into an integrated system that could help it manage its current clients and project for future growth. GemStone needed a fully customized solution at a reasonable cost."

Navision's granular design provides exactly the kind of customization required by GemStone. Most mid-sized and large companies, such as Gemstone, need much more than an off-the-shelf accounting software program. Instead, they need a comprehensive management accounting solution-one that will allow them to integrate most of their business processes into a seamless operation, from order entry and shipping to general ledger and accounts receivable. Navision Software's granular design accomplishes this by breaking the system functionality down into small enough pieces to allow a "re-composition" to take place according to the needs of the business. This delivers the combination of scalability, adaptability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness that is essential for operational efficiency.

GemStone wanted the ability to display accounting and client information in multiple ways to satisfy reporting requirements, customer service and management needs. The company was easily provided this flexibility through Navision Software's built in Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) capabilities. OLAP allows users to extract greater value from the software by providing more flexibility in the ways the financial data can be manipulated and viewed. Navision allows users to define special, automatically updated "FlowFields" that summarize information for specific accounting dimensions. These fields are automatically drill-down enabled to allow navigation to the source transaction data and can display transaction balances based on user defined filters. Navision also provides a powerful "Matrix Box" function for viewing combinations of accounting data in two-dimensional spreadsheet format.

"Navision was able to provide us with a total solution to our needs," said Moore. "More importantly, MAS is still around on a regular basis-as we grow, so does the software. Their service and support is unbeatable."

MAS has become an outsourced M.I.S. department for GemStone by providing long-term solutions and strategies in the use of modern information technology, including hardware, software, network, installation, planning, project management, accounting, and Navision customizations.

Navision Solution Centers:

Personalized Attention Makes the Difference

Like most companies, GemStone had certain accounting and project management needs that simply could not be met by an off-the-shelf accounting program. The company needed a high-level management accounting system with quality support and training.

Through Navision's uniform network of dedicated locally-owned regional offices that know the local markets and customers, GemStone was able to call MAS and get local, personalized attention from a national company. MAS is one of Navision's carefully selected solution centers which devote their full time and attention to marketing, selling, and servicing the Navision product.

As a Navision Solution Center, MAS provides full service support, customizations and training to its customers. Patrick Short, MAS marketing manager, believes that Navision's personalized approach makes sense. "The key to a successful product lies not only in the quality of the product itself," said Short. "The service behind the product determines the real value of it. If you have a great product, but you don't know how to use it and you don't know how to maximize it for your particular needs, you haven't made a good investment."

Navision Solution Centers are staffed by experienced individuals with backgrounds in business, computers and software who understand the needs of businesses in their markets. These professionals can turn Navision into specific solutions for individual companies. MAS and other Navision Solution Centers understand how to automate all aspects of the business by making Navision software the information backbone of an integrated management accounting system.