A leading roofing and solar company pivots toward operational excellence

Client background

SmartRoof, a leading residential roofing and solar company faced substantial hurdles during a period of rapid expansion. Specializing in both traditional roofing and cutting-edge solar installations, their operational complexity surged alongside their growth. Their reliance on QuickBooks Online became increasingly problematic as the software failed to scale with their evolving needs. Leadership recognized the need for a more robust, flexible accounting system that could handle their expanding operations and facilitate strategic decision-making, prompting their transition to Sage Intacct, facilitated by the expertise of Baker Tilly.

The business challenge

As SmartRoof grew, it encountered significant limitations with QuickBooks Online. The software, crucial to their early financial management strategy, struggled to handle the increased complexity and volume of transactions and projects associated with the company’s growth. This inability to scale effectively became a significant barrier, impeding operational efficiency and limiting strategic decision making capabilities, prompting SmartRoof to seek a more future focused financial management solution.

The need for more detailed financial analysis and reporting highlighted another set of challenges with QuickBooks Online. Its limited reporting features fell short of providing the comprehensive insights required by SmartRoof’s management, hindering strategic planning efforts. Moreover, the software’s lack of customization options restricted SmartRoof's ability to tailor the system to their specific needs, especially for nuanced financial reporting. These shortcomings underscored the necessity for a transition to an advanced cloud accounting solution that could not only fulfill their immediate needs but also support their ambitions for continued growth.

SmartRoof needed a new solution that could solve for:

• Scalability limitations
• Insufficient reporting capabilities
• Customization constraints
• Demand for detailed reporting

Strategy and solution

SmartRoof's journey towards operational and financial optimization led them to Sage Intacct Construction. The solution stood out as to meet their growing demands, with a blend of scalability, advanced reporting and flexibility that was notably absent in their previous software.

Scalability
Sage Intacct’s capacity to adapt to SmartRoof’s expanding operations was a key factor in their decision. The software’s scalability ensured that growing transaction volumes and increasing business complexity could be managed effectively, supporting their upward trajectory without the need for frequent system changes.

Advanced reporting
The detailed and customizable reporting features of Sage Intacct addressed their need for in-depth financial insights. This capability was critical for extracting actionable intelligence from their financial data, enabling them to make informed strategic decisions.

Customization and flexibility
Unlike the rigid structure of SmartRoof's previous system, Sage Intacct offered a high degree of customization. This flexibility allowed their financial leaders to tailor the software to their specific operational and reporting needs, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity across the board.

Efficient project management and reporting
Recognizing the challenge of managing thousands of projects, Sage Intacct provided specialized tools for project accounting. This feature streamlined project-level financial tracking and reporting, a crucial requirement for SmartRoof's business model.

Integrations
For SmartRoof, a critical element of their operational efficiency and success was the seamless integration of Sage Intacct with their existing systems. The controller highlighted the essential role these integrations played, particularly noting the importance of API, expense, accounts receivable (AR) integrations and the synergy with their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. These integrations were pivotal in ensuring that their diverse operational platforms communicated effectively, creating a cohesive and streamlined workflow.

The outcome

Following the implementation of Sage Intacct, SmartRoof witnessed a transformation in their financial management processes, with significant improvements in efficiency, reporting and strategic planning.

Transformed financial reporting
The shift to Sage Intacct brought about a dramatic improvement in SmartRoof’s financial reporting capabilities. With the help of Baker Tilly, the creation of custom reports, like the WIP report, exemplified Sage Intacct’s impact, enabling significantly quicker and more insightful financial analysis with less manual effort.

Operational efficiencies and productivity gains
The automation and streamlining of financial processes resulted in notable time savings across various accounting tasks. These efficiencies allowed them to redirect focus towards strategic business activities, enhancing overall productivity and operational performance.

Strengthened financial controls
With Sage Intacct, SmartRoof enhanced their financial governance through improved internal controls and compliance mechanisms. The introduction of automation significantly reduced the risk of errors, ensuring the integrity of their financial data.

The overall adoption of Sage Intacct marked a pivotal moment for SmartRoof, driving significant improvements in financial management, operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. These outcomes have not only resolved the challenges faced with their previous system but also positioned the company for continued success and growth in the competitive roofing and solar industry. The expertise and support provided by Baker Tilly in this integration process were invaluable. This expertise allowed for the smooth functioning of Sage Intacct within SmartRoof's complex ecosystem, underscoring the software’s flexibility and the service provider’s adeptness.