24 Jul NAI Improves Reporting Using Oracle PBCS: Case Study
The following is a Case Study written about NAI Group and our efforts to improve our internal reporting processes. It was provided to us for use by the leader in PBCS implementations, Key Performance Ideas.
NAI Group provides end-to-end connectivity solutions for high-performance systems, delivering the confidence and reliability that enable their customer’s success. As a custom interconnect solutions provider, NAI has been manufacturing custom cable assemblies, harnesses and electro-mechanical assemblies across diverse markets, including telecom, wireless, data, industrial technology and medical industries.
This unique ability to service both high mix / low volume and low mix / high volume programs, while complying with complex regulatory requirements, enables them to support customers’ unique business needs with fiber optic, copper or hybrid connectivity technology solutions.
NAI employs sophisticated project tracking tools, production and quality measurements throughout the manufacturing process for every order. Therefore, NAI can provide its customers with world-class quality and service metrics and ensure process and product reliability for its connectivity technology solutions.
Challenge
NAI wanted to evolve their current consolidations and reporting process by developing a reporting solution against data from their Infor Visual GL system. By implementing a reporting solution in the cloud, NAI can reduce infrastructure costs as well as decrease implementation time. They decided to move from an Excel-based process to a world-class reporting and planning application and selected Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service™ (PBCS) and turned to the leader in PBCS implementations, Key Performance Ideas.
Solution
Partnering with Key Performance Ideas, NAI decided to incorporate the Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Services (PBCS) to implement an EPM solution to improve and enhance on their current reporting processes.
The solution consists of a single PBCS application and includes all the necessary dimensions (Account/Statistics, Entities, Intercompany Partner, Departments, Locations, Currency, Data Source, 12 Monthly Periods, Years, 3 Scenarios including Actual, Budget, and Forecast) required to do their monthly close process. Oracle Data Management™ is used to load general ledger data from their Infor Visual GL system. The solution was also built to provide automated intercompany eliminations utilizing Calculation Manager Business Rules and by leveraging Smart View for input of manual topside adjustments and monthly reporting journal entries.
With Key Performance Ideas’ support, the company can translate local currency to USD currency for their foreign entities and apply different rates to different months, as needed. This process is performed automatically and quickly through business rules and is flexible enough to allow for values or FX rates to be modified and re-translated.
The cash flow process was automated via member formulas and provides the ability to make manual inputs and adjustments.
Benefits Achieved
After implementing PBCS and integrating the application with the Infor Visual GL system, NAI achieved the following benefits:
- Improved functionality providing for an integrated, efficient, and accurate intercompany elimination process
- Automation of cash flow calculation, including the ability to enter manual inputs and adjustments
- Ability to produce reports quicker and easier via Smart View
- Foundation to build out planning functionality in a future phase
- Implemented a user-friendly solution that can grow as the company continues to expand its operations and its Oracle EPM platform
“This is the second company I have used KPI to implement PBCS as the reporting software for a multi-currency, multinational company. I am very pleased with the flexibility for changes and growth that we built into our system. KPI has been a great implementation partner.” — Sean Murphy, Corporate Controller, NAI Group