How to get the ERP implementation partner you deserve

Investing in a new financial solution can be fraught with danger. Not because the application can’t deliver the benefits you expect (and BlackLine most certainly can) but because your partner could be learning on the job - your job. 

And while they are ‘learning’, it can often be at your expense and to your detriment.  

So, if you’re wary of running over time and budget and ending up with a disappointing outcome, what questions should you ask potential partners at the outset?  

1. Track record: What’s their experience in your region and your industry? And do they have real-world experience? 
2. Approach: What’s their approach during the discovery phase, and how does that influence the project set-up? 
3. Support: What support do they offer before and after go-live? 
4. Knowledge: Do they live and breathe accounting and finance? Do they ‘get’ you and your organisation needs to be successful?  
5. Certification: Are they a Gold BlackLine solution partner, and do they have specialist certifications?  

(Yes, we openly admit that the above questions are self-serving. But if we were in your shoes and looking for the best possible partner, they are the very questions we’d ask.) 

• Fusion5 is a Gold BlackLine solution provider, and we are specifically certified to deliver BlackLine’s Financial Close solution, including transaction matching, as well as its Invoice to Cash (accounts receivable) solution. 
• We have successfully completed multiple implementations across Matching, Journals, Accounts, Task Management, and Invoice-to-Cash for your Accounts Receivable automation. These were across a diverse range of industries, including banking and financial services, retail, telecoms, health, and real estate.
• We’re local – with offices and BlackLine experts in New Zealand and Australia, so we understand the day-to-day business environment you work in.
• Our team includes thirteen Chartered Accountants, five of them with Masters or MBA degrees, as well as being technology superstars. So, we understand exactly what you are talking about and how to translate your needs into actions.
• We follow a deep-dive discovery approach that ensures we set up your BlackLine solution to stand you in good stead, and makes sure you comply with best practice, as well as regional or international reporting requirements.
• As for support, we have a well-defined process (and a dedicated onshore helpdesk) to make sure help is always at hand when you need it. 
• Lastly, we have a mature project governance framework and have ISO9001 Certification for Quality Management.