Auto repair firm SmashCare jumps from spreadsheets to SaaS with TechnologyOne

Brisbane-headquartered auto repair group SmashCare has upgraded its legacy business systems to enterprise SaaS from TechnologyOne.

TechOne did the implementation directly with the customer to avoid the "blame shifting" and "drawn-out implementations" it said came with using resellers.

The new system replaced a loose configuration based on MYOB software and Excel spreadsheets, which resulted in inconsistent setups across SmashCare's eight branches across Australia.

"Before TechnologyOne’s solution we were an MYOB and Excel spreadsheet house,” SmashCare general manager Mark O’Shannessy told CRN.

“The configuration was loose, which is to say that there were several versions of setup – nothing too consistent."

He added that the upgrade was “the best enterprise-wide implementation he has experienced” in his career, and that the SaaS solution is already showing immediate benefits – specifically the consolidation of reporting across SmashCare’s multiple corporate structures and businesses.

O’Shannessy added that the previous systems could not support the company’s intentions for growth and expansion, hence its decision to consolidate all the data into a singular financial system. He said reports can be produced in less time and with fewer people.

“Our strong partnership with TechnologyOne was key to our success. This enabled us to go live ahead of schedules and under budget,” O’Shannessy said.

TechOne chief operating officer Stuart McDonald said its consulting offering was “a key differentiator” in the partnership, specifically the in-depth knowledge, customised training and deep industry engagement from TechOne consultants.

“We take complete responsibility for building, marketing, selling, implementing, supporting and running our enterprise solution for each customer. We don’t use implementation partners or resellers, which often results in blame shifting, drawn-out implementations and ultimately, unhappy customers,” MacDonald said.

TechOne reported a revenue bump of $64.1 million in the first half of the 2018 financial year, with $13.4 million coming from annual SaaS platform fees.