Finn Flare (Avarda.ERP)

Project Objectives

2003 in the history of Finn Flare became the significant period. At this particular time the company management made the decision on creation of an extensive network of the franchisee in regions of Russia and the subsequent exit to international market. The automation system existing at the time of the beginning of program implementation of development appeared incapable to cope with sharply increased volume of tasks and did not meet requirements of dynamically upcoming business. It was the reason basic on which in Finn Flare company the decision on acquisition of the new software product of the class ERP was made.

First-priority project objectives became

• System implementation, capable to work in the conditions of the planned development and dynamic growth of business
• The organization of full operational accounting of the company within a common information space
• Receiving effective planning tool and analysis of activity of the company
• Centralization of management of own retail network
• Creation of a powerful management system for a customer loyalty
• Optimization of work is near assortment
• Control automation by warehouses and logistics chain

System Selection

Due to the effective objectives the company management of Finn Flare imposed the following main requirements to the new automation system:

capability it is effective to work in the company with the distributed territorial structure, the powerful system of replication and high high-speed performance completeness of functionality openness and possibility of support of a system by forces of own IT department.

Specialists of Finn Flare company considered the different software solutions for the trade industry presented at the Russian market. As a result, the ERP system of AVARDA from Ansoft company was recognized the most conforming to requirements of the customer.

Project Features

By means of the ERP system of AVARDA full automation of Finn Flare - since the central office was performed and finishing with each warehouse and shop of own network. The reliable communication of all objects is provided with an AVARDA system replicaiton engine. At the same time all analytical data, the financial statements and other information necessary for effective and centralized operation by the company, it is stored in the single database. Finn Flare regularly performs deliveries of large batches of the products to all points of franchasing network. Therefore for Finn Flare company business processes both retail, and wholesale are inherent. The functionality of the basic AVARDA ERP systems configuration allowed to automate at the same time both a wholesale, and retail link of the company.

Project Progress

1 stage: The AVARDA setup under needs of Finn Flare. The system of discounts is finished, the block of commission trade is created, opportunities for formation of agreements are expanded. During the same period there was user training to work in a new system.

2 stage: Implementation of AVARDA at the central office of the Moscow representative office Finn Flare and also automation of a wholesale link and warehouse logistics. Among other works, activities for quoting of goods, formation of an assortment row were automated, the warehouse control system of the company using technologies of barcoding is created. All works planned for this period were complete by the end of 2003.

3 stage: The retail link of Finn Flare is automated and replication of a system in all shops of own network is made. Final system implementation of AVARDA was performed to the middle of fall of 2004.

Project Results

Implementation of a corporate information system based on AVARDA allowed Finn Flare company to centralize management in the conditions of continuous development and to increase efficiency of key business processes.

In general the project has the following results:

• A common information space is organized, the centralized system of operational accounting is constructed. It increased information security of the company and gives the chance to the management timely to make management decisions on the basis of up-to-date information
• By means of one system activity of the central office, warehouse economy and own retail network of the company is completely automated. All information on functioning of a wholesale and retail link of Finn Flare is stored in the single database.
• The Finn Flare company receives the tool for management of a warehouse and trade inventories which allows to plan more precisely work of a wholesale link and work with network of the franchisee
• The powerful management system for a customer loyalty is created
• Procedures of formation of an assortment row and creation of new collections are optimized
• Based on AVARDA the information system capable to function effectively in the conditions of growth of business and to adapt to new requirements of the company is built.

Today the ERP system of AVARDA is operated more than in 250 workplaces of Finn Flare company and develops by forces of own IT department. Thanks to openness of the software product specialists of the customer have all opportunities for continuous improvement of a system and its adaptation under new requirements of business. The most difficult completions are ordered in Ansoft company which also delivers updates of a basic configuration and shell program of AVARDA. In 2008 the company management of Finn Flare makes the decision to implement the ERP system of AVARDA in all shops of franchasing network. The closest compliance of opportunities of AVARDA of the strategy of development for Finn Flare gives to the company the major competitive advantages and offers new prospects of business development.

New AppleMoon brand: development with the AVARDA.RetailNetwork system

During the functioning in Finn Flare company the AVARDA.RetailNetwork system proved as the productive and reliable solution for the distributed retail network. Therefore the company management of Ruveta OY owning a brand of Finn Flare made the decision to replicate successful practice in shops of other brand belonging to it – AppleMoon.

AppleMoon is new network of monobrand shops of youth clothes. AVARDA.RetailNetwork system implementation purpose in AppleMoon shops is the organization of effective operational and management accounting on the scale of network. Data on functioning of each AppleMoon shop are transferred by means of the system of replication AVARDA.RPL which proved the high high-speed performance and reliability in Finn Flare network. Now the AVARDA system functions in 6 Moon Apple shops, and will be implemented in all new outlets.

Responses

Mirans Alexander, head of information technology of Finn Flare company:

"We use the AVARDA system more than five years. Now 2 offices, 4 distribution centers and 48 shops of own retail network Finn Flare are automated. In AVARDA.RetailNetwork more than 250 employees of the company work. Using a single system we managed to automate also jobs of cashiers with complex systems of loyalty, both a wholesale link, and warehouses. Exchange of primary information between divisions of Finn Flare is performed with relevance, the component is from 5 to 30 minutes old, depending on that, a warehouse or shop. The high relevance of data allows us to transfer quickly savings on discount cards, balances of gift certificates and other data. In the closest plans of the company automation more than 200 shops of franchasing network. It will allow to implement uniform standards of service of buyers and to provide a uniform federal loyalty system (discount, bonus and gift cards). The available positive operating experience of the AVARDA system allows to look with confidence at the forthcoming project".