Healthcare-related organizations have a mission of caring. However, it’s hard to accomplish that mission if the organization doesn’t take care of itself first. Without a seamlessly integrated ERP system, secure data and high-quality reporting tools, the modern healthcare org will struggle to serve its patients or customers properly and could even put them at risk.
At Enavate, we’ve helped healthcare organizations improve their operational efficiency and cybersecurity by moving their ERP solutions to the Cloud. Here are some key Cloud takeaways from the success of three of our healthcare clients: The New England Center for Children (NECC), Health Enterprises and Skeletal Dynamics.
The Cloud streamlines processes and reporting
When we started working with NECC, an organization dedicated to helping children with autism and related disabilities, they were still using Microsoft Dynamics SL, which was being phased out. Dynamics SL was difficult to integrate with other platforms, which meant it couldn’t automate certain processes. For example, NECC employees had to manually enter data from their accounts receivable invoices, which could take up to three days to complete — time that otherwise would have been spent caring for children. By migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, they eliminated manual data entry and streamlined their operations processes across the board.
The Cloud improves business continuity and connectivity
In 2020, Iowa-based Health Enterprises, a provider of various services for community-based healthcare, was hit with a double whammy: the pandemic and a major Derecho storm. Both events made it more difficult to physically access and maintain their on-premises Dynamics GP server, which delayed their attempts to fix technical problems and ultimately threatened business continuity. By switching to Cloud-based Business Central, they were able to keep the business operating despite the disruptions — and prepared themselves to withstand any future unforeseen disasters.
Operating on the Cloud also improves connectivity, as in the case of NECC, which connected Business Central to its existing business systems, giving its employees more control and visibility.
“With Dynamics 365 Business Central, I can see all the detail,” said Darcie Stawinski, NECC’s director of finance. “I can approve reports in the system and know that there are no changes being made after the fact. That’s already an improvement over what we were doing with SL because everything was paper-based and relied on being entered correctly by the AP person.
The Cloud boosts security
Physical servers require physical security, which means either hiring people for the task (and increasing costs), adding it to existing staff’s to-do lists (which makes it more likely to slip through the cracks) or hoping nothing happens (which is unrealistic). Moving to the Cloud meant that Heath Enterprises could rely on Microsoft’s top-tier cybersecurity teams to do the work for them.
The Cloud enhances processing speed
With their old Dynamics GP system, Health Enterprises employees working with data from two databases would have to wait at least 10 minutes for the software to load. With Business Central, they can now pull data in real time, no waiting required. They can also process transactions and set up cashflows more quickly. The increased efficiency made them more capable of delivering optimal service to their clientele.
A good tech partner helps get the most out of the Cloud
Skeletal Dynamics, a medical device company specializing in orthopedics, wanted to make the leap from GP to Business Central because they needed an ERP system that could better support consigned inventory management: The company’s independent distributors hold their inventory, and customers don’t issue purchase orders until the product has been implanted in a patient. They found a partner to support implementation; however, they were dissatisfied because the partner didn’t understand their niche. They switched to Enavate, and the results were immediately better.
“We just clicked right away,” said COO Tom Norman. “They understood what our challenges were with the software.”
Skeletal Dynamics found our team to be knowledgeable, trustworthy, responsive and an excellent collaborator, which was especially important when tailoring Business Central to their unique needs.
“Having an engineering background, I look at it as part of the engineering process,” said Norman. “Attempting to solve the problem, testing your solution, and if it doesn’t work perfectly, tweaking it a little bit until it fits as close as it can. And they work with us very well on using that approach to solve problems.”
Enavate can also take the wheel when necessary, helping ease the burden on our clients.
“The implementation was very well organized and completely driven by Enavate’s team,” said NECC’s Stawinski. “They organized a timeline; they had specific tasks that had to be done within certain periods of time and they were good at sticking to that. I cannot say enough good things about how helpful the team was with their knowledge and willingness to lead the way.”
Healthcare-related organizations tend to face very specific challenges — and they have a whole lot on their plates. Having an implementation partner that understands this ensures that you’ll be able to fully leverage all the benefits of moving to a Cloud-based solution.
Need help modernizing your healthcare org’s ERP?
Contact our expert team today to learn more about how we can help you successfully migrate to the Cloud and pass the benefits down to the people you care for.
