Case Study

© Copyright 2014 Efima Oy

Processes can be outsourced and developed – simultaneously!

Case IskuIsku is a Finnish family company with long traditions.

It designs, manufactures and markets furniture and

interior design solutions for homes, kitchens, offices

and public premises. The company has operations

in Finland, the other Nordic countries, the Baltics

and Russia. Isku employs about 900 people, 600 of

whom work in Lahti.

In the past few years, Isku has focused on renewal.

The company’s strategic goal is to offer ”superior

service”. An essential part of strategy implementation

is to build supportive, strong partnerships through

networking in sales, distribution and service, but also

in business support functions. To develop its financial

management, Isku looked for new and creative ways

of working. It decided to outsource processes, but

at the same time develop them in a way that would

allow consequent fit-for-purpose reorganisation.

Efima became a competent partner for the task.

From the very start, the collaboration was well

aligned and productive.

EfimaConsulting Outsourcing

SoftwareMicrosoftDynamics AX

Efima IW

EfimaTravel

Outsourcing or development?As part of Isku’s strategic renewal, the company evaluated its own resources and competencies. In IT systems, this meant a ”health check”. As a result, Microsoft Dynamics AX – already in use on the industrial side of the business – was chosen as the system environment. Asko Dahlbom, CFO, describes how Isku strived for modern business management, and decided to start by fixing the processes in financial management. The processes had been benchmarked and found to be efficient as such, but they were inconsistent. ”We were therefore pondering, how we could improve the processes in order to outsource them, and at the same time run our daily operations. We could not free our own resources for the development. And the systems were not fit for outsourcing either”, Mr. Dahlbom says.

Have it both waysIn Efima, Isku found a partner who saw combining outsourcing and development as an opportunity. When the outsourced process is developed in conjunction with the outsourcing, organisational decisions can be revised later when things change. The company may continue to outsource or the process can be insourced again. At

the same time, the outsourcing partner be-comes a resource for temporary staffing.

To support its Microsoft Dynamics AX -system, Isku acquired applications for travel and purchase invoices from Efima. In addition, the travel and purchase invoice processes were outsourced, with a view to simultaneous streamlining and development. At the moment, the bookkeeping process is being developed. ”The benefits are manifold”, Mr. Dahlbom says. ”The quality of work has improved and we have gained experience and new competencies. Our own operations have been subject to a health scrutiny, and I personally have been able to review my own thinking. Our organisation is constantly learning. Efima has supported our flexibility and proficiency and at the same time taken care of the quality of our processes and financial management.”

The core of businessIt is important to Mr. Dahlbom that financial management is organised from a business standpoint. ”The mission of a CFO is to support the core business of the company instead of just managing a support func-tion. We develop our financial management from our supply chain’s perspective and

Isku is a Finnish family company established in Lahti in 1928. It designs, manufactures and markets furniture and holistic interior design solutions for homes, kitchens, schools, offices and other public premises in Finland, the Nordics, the Baltics and Russia. Isku employs about 900 people, 600 of whom in Lahti.

Asko Dahlbom, CFO

”It’s true! With Efima we outsourced and developed our processes at the same time.”

At a glance The challenges• inconsistent financial processes• need to outsource but simultaneously to

develop• no development resources The solution• Efima Software (Efima IW & Travel &

Expenses)• Efima Outsourcing (travel and purchase

invoice processes)• Efima Consulting: development of

financial processes The rewards• quantum leap in development• efficient processes • outsourcing that supports strategy• flexibility in financial management

© Copyright 2014 Efima Oy info@efima.com Tel. +358 10 470 5450 www.efima.com

Many mid-sized and large Finnish organisations have acquired their financial ma-nagement and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as a cloud service from Efima. In addition to software, Efima offers outsourcing and consulting services in financial management. Solid, hybrid competency in financial management and information technology, along with solutions that truly support customers’ business goals, are the basis of Efima’s rapid growth and customer satisfaction.

providing support to our sales”, he states. ”We can only win from the cooperation with Efima. We work together systematically. Efima’s philosophy seems to be that these things are not larger than life, they just need to be solved”, he smiles.