ActivTec Solutions is a leading provider of specialised maintenance and repair solutions to the aged care and medical industries.
In the 15 years since their inception, the family-owned and operated company has become one of Australia’s largest service provider and distributor of medical and mobility parts.
In the last couple of years, the company has experienced rapid growth – and all the operational complexity that comes with it. They’d outgrown their old system, and chose to upgrade to MYOB Advanced Business. The result? A fit-for-purpose, modular system that enables ActivTec to grow by automating key business processes.
Recognised leaders: dedicated ‘maintenance-only’ operators
Although we would like it to be, medical, biomedical and mobility equipment is not indestructible. All equipment breaks down, and most of the time, repairing and replacing parts is the most effective and economical way to get things back on track.
Rather than selling new equipment, ActivTec focuses on asset management, maintaining and repairing a range of equipment used primarily (but not exclusively) in aged care, disability, nursing homes and hospitals. Everything from patient hoists, medical beds and wheelchairs to simple biomed equipment like thermometers and more.
When the inevitable happens, ActivTec has the expertise and available parts to respond quickly – keeping downtime to a bare minimum.
More customers, more parts, more technicians
Over the past three years, ActivTec has more than tripled in size to over 100 staff including 60 technicians with vans and stock and six warehouses across wider Australia.
The company is still family-owned and operated, joined by a team of skilled and highly experienced technicians and managers, trained in electrical, engineering and other trade-specific qualifications.
Despite the growth, ActivTec remains exceptionally committed to quality, reliability and service. Quality manager Nandish Trivedi joined the company more than three years ago to develop and manage business growth projects. In that short time, Nandish has been privy to the organisation’s growth spurt – and all the operational complexity that comes with it. Their previous accounting software didn’t have the functionality a growing business needs – so it was time for an upgrade.
"It [the old system] had basic functions, but we were growing out of it – it was just too simple for us, we needed more information and more functions."
- Nandish Trivedi, Quality manager
Upgrading the best move: from AccountRight to Advanced
System had basic functions, but more were needed
For many years, ActivTec had been using MYOB AccountRight. Nandish says that while the system did what it said on the tin, functions like inventory had to be processed and tracked manually – making it difficult for the team to see what stock was where.
Right from the start, Nandish explains, any new system they implemented needed to have at least the same module functionality as they already had. But more importantly, ActivTec needed an option that could be customised – and additional modules added to over time.
"I’d definitely recommend an ERP system, and if you’re with MYOB Accountright, then it makes sense to go to MYOB Advanced because it makes your data transfer easier – so it’s less risk to your business."
- Nandish Trivedi, Quality manager
Once they’d sorted the basics, ActivTec added – and continues to add – functionality and integrations according to what the business needs as it grows.
“I’d say most organisations would benefit from MYOB Advanced Business because it brings together a lot of modules in one place and integrates functionality, making it easy to build a connected system that works for your business,” Nandish adds.
Powerful system helps business perform efficiently
Real-time reporting, better internal processes and customer service too
What gives ActivTec its competitive advantage – even in a niche market – is being able to provide customers with records and reports when requested. As the business has grown over the last couple of years, more customers mean more data – and therefore more reporting.
With MYOB Advanced Business, the company can now run all sorts of reports for internal and external purposes. Personalised dashboards can display different information for each department, customised reports are based on specific customer data, and the financial reporting is fully integrated, making it easy for the team to make informed decisions fast.
At an organisational level, having a connected system helps to pick up variances and process errors across different departments. This high-level visibility means the company can monitor performance and operations in real-time.
"Everything is linked – sales, purchases, inventory, accounts, finance, payroll – so from a business perspective, we can see that every department is getting more efficient. That means, overall, the business is operating and performing more efficiently too."
- Nandish Trivedi, Quality Manager
