Key benefits:
Increased efficiency, saving weeks of administrative work by automating routine tasks such as invoicing, payroll, and data reconciliation.
Real-time data visibility means managers can make informed decisions faster with instant access to financial and operational data.
Streamlined payroll and job costing ensures all labour and material costs are accounted for, significantly improving project profitability and financial forecasting.
Cash flow management means Camex can now better manage invoicing and payments.
Enhanced reporting ensures compliance with tax and regulatory requirements, making it easier to prepare and submit financial reports.
Camex Civil has built a strong reputation in the construction and earthmoving industry, growing steadily over the years. However, as the business expanded, its existing systems struggled to keep up. The company faced challenges with visibility, manual data entry, and operational inefficiencies that slowed down decision-making and impacted scalability.
Recognising the need for a robust, cloud-based solution, Camex embarked on a journey to find an ERP system that could support its long-term growth and streamline its financial and operational processes.
Hitting the limits of legacy systems
By 2021, it became clear to the team at Camex that their current system had reached its limits. According to Julia Blackman, Camex’s Finance Manager, the lack of real-time visibility and reliance on manual data entry created significant bottlenecks.
“We had hit a ceiling with what we could do. Our system was split, which meant we couldn’t get a complete view of our business performance. Data entry was manual, which meant wasted hours and a higher chance of errors.”
– Julia Blackman, Camex Finance Manager.
Without automation, the business found itself constrained. The only way to scale was to add more staff to handle the growing workload, which wasn’t a sustainable long-term solution. In addition, tracking project costs and managing cash flow manually became a cumbersome task, slowing down decision-making and impacting profitability.
Finding the right fit with MYOB
The search for a better solution led Camex to MYOB Acumatica. After exploring various ERP options, it stood out as the ideal choice for its flexibility, cloud-based architecture, and API integration capabilities.
“We started looking at the end of 2021. MYOB actually reached out via LinkedIn, and after going through a demo, we could see it was a strong option. We took some time to consider the cost and overall impact, but by mid-2022, we were confident MYOB Acumatica was the right fit for us,” Julia says.
Key factors that influenced their decision included:
Cloud-based accessibility: Ensuring all teams could access up-to-date financial and project data from anywhere, eliminating the need for paperwork and enabling remote work capabilities.
API integration: Enabling seamless data flow from the field to the office, reducing double-handling of information and ensuring that key stakeholders have access to the latest figures in real time.
Scalability: Supporting future business growth without requiring additional staff to manage admin tasks, meaning the business can take on more projects without increasing overheads.
Advanced job costing: Allowing the company to track project expenses in real-time, ensuring budgets are adhered to, reducing financial risk, and improving overall profitability.
A smooth implementation with Avanza Solutions
Camex partnered with Avanza Solutions to implement MYOB Acumatica, ensuring a smooth transition from their legacy system. Given the business had accumulated more than 25 years of financial data, the migration process was critical.
Avanza Solutions National Sales Manager Wayne Potgieter says the foundations for success were laid early on. “Camex Civil understood that this project was a transformative building block for their future and assigned the right team to the job from the start,” he says.
“A clear appreciation of the significance of the partnership – and the desire to move towards a shared set of goals and outcomes – resulted in the assignment of appropriate resources, time and intent.”
“Working with Avanza has been incredibly beneficial,” Julia says.
“The implementation was seamless despite the massive amount of data we had to move. They understood our needs, provided customisation where required, and were always available when we needed support.”
One of the standout aspects of the implementation was MYOB Acumatica’s sandbox testing environment, which allowed the team to trial the system before fully committing.
“The sandbox feature meant we could test different configurations without disrupting daily operations. It gave us the confidence to roll out MYOB Acumatica without any surprises,” Julia says.
The actual implementation took just three days, ensuring minimal downtime. This was critical for Camex, as they could not afford prolonged system outages. Staff training was also prioritised to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible.
Kyla Lambly, Camex’s General Manager of Finance (and also an MYOB Acumatica 2024 Winner in Tech Award finalist), echoed the importance of a smooth implementation.
“For us, not moving was a bigger risk. We couldn’t continue doing business the way we were before MYOB Acumatica. Having a support partner meant we were prepared to tackle problems quickly and efficiently.”
– Kyla Lambly, Camex General Manager of Finance.
Real-time insights spark transformation
Since implementing MYOB Acumatica, Camex has seen a significant transformation in how they operate. The biggest improvements include:
Increased efficiency: The business has cut down on manual data entry, saving weeks of administrative work. The ability to automate routine tasks such as invoicing, payroll, and data reconciliation has freed up staff to focus on higher-value activities.
Real-time data visibility: With live financial insights, managers can make informed decisions faster. Real-time dashboards allow for instant access to financial and operational data, providing greater control over costs and project progress.
Streamlined payroll and job costing: Employee hours and project costs are now accurately tracked and integrated, ensuring that all labour and material costs are accounted for in real time. This has significantly improved project profitability and financial forecasting.
Cash flow management: With MYOB Acumatica’s financial reporting tools, Camex can now better manage invoicing and payments. Automated alerts for overdue invoices and better forecasting tools help maintain steady cash flow and avoid financial bottlenecks.
Enhanced compliance and reporting: The system ensures compliance with tax and regulatory requirements, making it easier to prepare and submit financial reports. The integration of automated reporting reduces errors and provides greater transparency across financial records.
Julia highlights the transformative impact of MYOB Acumatica, stating, “We live by the saying that ‘facts and data set you free.’ Before MYOB Acumatica, we’d wait up to three months to close out month-end. Now, we can do it within seven days, giving us real-time financial clarity and allowing us to make strategic decisions faster.”
The ability to integrate MYOB Acumatica with other business tools has also been a game-changer. With over 220 staff, ensuring user-friendliness was key to getting widespread adoption across the company.
“We needed something intuitive. MYOB Acumatica makes it easy for different departments to access the information they need without unnecessary complexity,” Kyla says.
A future-proof system for continued growth
Looking ahead, Camex is confident Avanza Solutions and MYOB Acumatica will continue to support its growth and evolving business needs. The company is now exploring further automation and advanced reporting capabilities to drive even more efficiency. Custom dashboards and analytics will allow them to monitor key performance indicators with greater precision and provide deep insights into operational performance.
“The most valuable thing MYOB Acumatica has given us is confidence. Confidence in our numbers, in our processes, and in our ability to scale. It’s no longer a struggle to get a clear picture of where we stand financially.”
– Julia Blackman, Camex Finance Manager.
Would Camex recommend MYOB Acumatica to other businesses? Absolutely.
“It’s one of the best systems I’ve used in my career. It’s customisable, scalable, and it grows with your business. If you’re serious about improving efficiency and visibility, MYOB Acumatica is the way to go,” Julia concludes.
Ready to transform your business?
If you’re looking for a flexible and powerful ERP solution to help your business scale, MYOB Acumatica could be the right fit. Find out more today.
