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Designing a Better Future: ERP Transformation in the A/E Industry
Wold Architects & Engineers is an innovative, full-service design firm with projects that span education, government, healthcare, and senior living. When they decided to move off their legacy ERP system, they didn’t just want a basic upgrade. They needed a robust, cloud-based solution that could enhance cross-office collaboration and operational agility, setting an example for legacy ERP modernization in the architecture and engineering (A/E) industry.
BTM Global was the implementation partner with the tools and talent to turn that vision into a reality.
The Task: Replace a Legacy Framework
Wold’s legacy system simply wasn’t up to the task any longer. It lacked the flexibility to handle real-time collaboration and on-time project delivery.
The team was also contending with:
- Escalating maintenance demands
- Scalability issues for growing project portfolios
- Challenges integrating contemporary design and collaboration tools that are essential for multi-office workflows.
The firm was pivoting to cloud solutions to support important sustainability initiatives and firm expansion, while directly responding to calls from sales managers and project managers for:
- Mobile capabilities
- Real-time data
- Key performance metrics
- Automation.
Limitations were impeding real-time data access and increasing the risks of inefficiencies in project communication and coordination. The back-end tech needed a renovation.
The Vision: Get More Done Together
The dream was to achieve seamless project lifecycle management, automated resource allocation, and enhanced analytics. This approach was aligned with broader objectives, including cost optimization and market leadership.
The team wanted updates that would facilitate faster project timelines and better project management collaboration through shared portals, while providing superior outcomes tracking.
Wold selected BTM Global for its specialized proficiency in NetSuite customizations, successful precedents in cloud migrations, and a consultative methodology that aligns with their client-focused ethos.
No two projects or firms in the A/E world are the same. BTM’s references praised their A/E sector insights, ability to tackle unique custom needs, and NetSuite partnership credentials, which assured a complex, risk-managed implementation could be delivered.
Simply put: Expertise in the A/E sector and the ability to handle unique custom needs set BTM Global apart in the industry.
The Deliverable: Custom-Built NetSuite SuiteProjects
BTM’s agile and collaborative approach, rooted in over a decade of EBS migration expertise and SuiteProjects specialization, enabled iterative refinements tailored to Wold’s design workflows, minimizing operational hiccups.
NetSuite experts and project managers fostered close partnerships with Wold’s staff, leveraging industry knowledge for a high-fidelity replication of processes, strong adoption, and timely success. This included:
- End-to-end engagement, conducting requirements analysis to bridge EBS-NetSuite gaps.
- Replicating sophisticated but outdated legacy system workflows with NetSuite as the core cloud ERP platform, with intensive customizations to the SuiteProjects module.
- Extensive use of SuiteScript (for automation), SuiteFlow (for workflows), and SuiteBuilder (for UI enhancements)
- Deep customizations tailored for A/E project tracking, resource planning, and financial reporting
- Full-scale data migration and integration effort
- Agile iterations with rigorous testing and change management
- Post-go-live optimization and ongoing support
“This was one of BTM’s most intricate NetSuite customization projects, underscoring our prowess in heavy-lift migrations from legacy enterprise systems for creative and project-intensive sectors.
In the industry, it’s notable as a benchmark for customizing SuiteProjects to support sustainable design processes and multi-location operations, potentially the first such deep integration for an A/E firm of this scale.” – Kimberly Berneck, BTM Global President and CEO
The Results: Real-Time Collaboration Achieved
Since the go-live, Wold has benefited from:
- Faster and more accurate project management through automations
- Improved cross-office collaboration, with faster design iterations and real-time data sharing
- Lower maintenance costs and a scalable solution for growth
- Enhanced analytics for sustainable design innovation
- Increased client satisfaction and retention from better visibility, faster delivery, and more responsive service
All five office locations, from Tennessee to Minnesota, were positively impacted. The high-performance, future-ready cloud ERP system enhances functionality and expands opportunities, regardless of location or project.
Wold is now structurally equipped to scale, collaborate, and innovate without being boxed in by outdated systems.
The Art of Planning for Surprises
No large-scale ERP migration is without surprises. From complex custom data in EBS to tight fiscal deadlines, Wold and BTM navigated challenges with daily standups, extra engineering support, and phased rollouts.
Hidden legacy configurations were addressed through BTM’s scalable teaming, deployment of extra specialists, daily cross-functional sessions, and phased deployments for validation. Wold’s engaged internal champions helped with resolution, transforming hurdles into enhanced system robustness.
What could’ve been a blueprint for stress was streamlined by communication, clarity, and collaboration.
A Win for the A/E Industry
This isn’t just a one-off win but a milestone for the architecture and engineering sector. The World-BTM partnership demonstrates that even the most complex ERP needs can be met with the right team and tools and that SuiteProjects can be customized to meet the needs of high-performing, design-forward firms.
BTM Global is dedicated to empowering A/E firms with cutting-edge ERP transformations. Bespoke cloud adoption can rejuvenate legacy setups.
The Final Word: Building ERP Solutions That Last
BTM Global doesn’t just implement software; they provide the digital foundation for the next generation of leaders and innovators. With experience, innovation, flexibility, and a commitment to quality, they transform outdated systems into a launchpad for growth.
Join the BTM Global Team
Do you want to join our ever-growing team at BTM Global? Our positions offer a wonderful working environment with paths toward sustainable career and personal growth. Our competitive benefits package includes PTO, 401(k) with a generous company match, and health insurance. We believe in taking care of our employees at work and beyond.
