In the competitive business of craft coffee, Fulcrum Coffee‘s transition from their legacy accounting software to a modern, cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution was born out of rapid growth in a dynamic industry. Like many growing companies, Fulcrum Coffee started with the entry-level accounting application QuickBooks, but it soon tested its limits. That’s when Fulcrum Coffee turned to Acumatica Cloud ERP and NexTec Group.
Outgrowing QuickBooks’ Limited Capabilities
Fulcrum Coffee provides equipment and barista training for coffee shops, runs its own cafes, bottles its own beverages and is moving into the hospitality sector. The company faced a series of challenges with their entry-level accounting system, QuickBooks. Once a reliable solution, it struggled to keep up with the complexities of Fulcrum’s craft roasting operations, inventory management, and diverse distribution models. Monthly closings were time-consuming, and the system lacked the flexibility to support a hybrid and remote workforce.
“Managing inventory was our biggest pain point in QuickBooks,” recalls Cheryl Beslow, Accounting Manager for Fulcrum Coffee. “In addition to thousands of items to track, we build kits that may consist of beans, a bag, a label, and the labor to assemble it. QuickBooks couldn’t handle it well.”
Brewing Success with Acumatica ERP
Recognizing the limitations of QuickBooks, Fulcrum Coffee opted for a robust and flexible solution—Acumatica Cloud ERP. The transition to Acumatica addressed their challenges, providing a comprehensive platform with integrated financial management, inventory control, and distribution capabilities. Acumatica’s cloud-based architecture allowed remote access, supporting Fulcrum’s hybrid workforce needs and providing a scalable solution to accommodate future growth.
“A hosted application like Acumatica is much more efficient,” says Cheryl. “We no longer have any downtime, which is significant. Also, remote access is much quicker than when we used Remote Desktop. Many of our employees are remote or work from home a few days a week, and now they can be productive from anywhere.”
A Rich Pour of Efficiency and Growth
The implementation of Acumatica brought many benefits for Fulcrum Coffee, transforming their operations and boosting overall efficiency:
- Streamlined Monthly Closing: Acumatica facilitated a more efficient monthly closing process, reducing the time and resources previously spent on reconciliations and financial reporting.
- Hybrid and Remote Workforce Support: Acumatica’s cloud-based platform enabled seamless collaboration and access to real-time data, empowering Fulcrum Coffee’s hybrid and remote workforce to work efficiently from any location.
- Simplified Financial Reporting: The robust reporting capabilities of Acumatica provided Fulcrum Coffee with a clearer and more accurate picture of their financial health, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning.
- Robust Accounting Controls: Acumatica’s advanced accounting controls enhanced Fulcrum Coffee’s financial governance, reducing the risk of errors, fraud, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
- Additional Distribution Models: Acumatica’s flexibility allowed Fulcrum Coffee to explore and implement additional distribution models, optimizing logistics and opening new revenue streams.
A Roast of Success with Acumatica Cloud ERP
In the transition from QuickBooks to Acumatica, Fulcrum Coffee not only overcame operational challenges but also emerged as a resilient and agile player in the competitive craft coffee market. Fulcrum Coffee is well prepared for whatever is next. “NexTec is highly organized, very professional, and super responsive,” Cheryl concludes. “We know they’re there when we need them to help us get the most out of Acumatica.”