Companies that work with innovation also need to ensure that their internal processes keep pace with the speed of technological change.
As operations grow, manual controls, parallel spreadsheets, and disconnected systems can become obstacles to productivity.
Information becomes fragmented, conferences increase, and important decisions come to depend on data that is not always up-to-date or entirely reliable.
This was the scenario faced by Venturus, a Brazilian institution that operates in the areas of technology, research, development, and innovation. In seeking a platform capable of integrating information and supporting its next steps in growth, the organization found in Oracle NetSuite a more agile, reliable foundation, better prepared for global operations.
Venturus: technology and innovation as the essence of the business
Venturus operates in the development of software solutions, digital strategies, implementation of artificial intelligence, and production optimization.
Its journey began in 1995, when it was still called Informat, and has been marked by different cycles of evolution, expansion, and technological updating.
At the time depicted in the case study, the institution was approaching 30 years in the market and had approximately 650 employees. Since then, it has continued to grow.
Currently, Venturus itself reports having over 800 professionals, in addition to maintaining units in Campinas, Manaus, and Atlanta, in the United States.
This evolution reinforces the importance of building a management structure prepared to keep pace with new markets and higher levels of complexity.
For an institution that helps other companies develop the future, dealing with constant change is part of the routine. However, growth has also brought an internal challenge: ensuring that administrative and financial processes evolve at the same pace as operations.
The challenge of manual processes and fragmented information.
Before Oracle NetSuite, Venturus still relied on different systems and spreadsheets to manage important operational information.
The data was scattered across various tools, requiring manual consolidation, verification, and updating activities. This scenario reduced team agility and hindered the creation of a single, reliable view of the business.
The more the institution grew, the greater the effort required to gather information became. Instead of using their time to analyze results and support decisions, part of the team needed to dedicate themselves to operational tasks, such as locating data, comparing records, and correcting discrepancies.
In addition to impacting productivity, fragmentation increased risks related to the consistency of financial information.
The difficulty in registering foreign currency transactions.
A clear example was in the order processing for items placed in other currencies. Venturus was unable to directly include the original currency in the order.
Therefore, it was necessary to record a projected value, already converted. At the end of the process, conversion differences could generate errors and discrepancies in the values.
For an organization with global clients and plans for international expansion, this limitation represented more than just an operational problem.
It could affect the accuracy of records, financial planning, and the ability to track contracts made in different currencies.
The company needed a platform that not only centralized data but also offered adequate resources to handle an operation that was increasingly connected to the international market.
The search for an integrated and reliable platform.
Given this scenario, Venturus sought a robust ERP system capable of bringing together financial, administrative, and project information in a single environment.
The choice fell on Oracle NetSuite OneWorld. The platform allowed for the integration of accounting, purchasing, and project data and processes into a single system.
With centralized information, different areas began working with the same database. This reduced reliance on spreadsheets, decreased the need for manual transfers, and brought more reliability to the processes.
Instead of searching for information in different tools, teams began accessing integrated and up-to-date data within a single platform.
More than just implementing an ERP: an opportunity to review processes.
The implementation of Oracle NetSuite represented more than just the replacement of old systems.
The project created an opportunity for Venturus to revisit its processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement new controls. Instead of simply replicating existing routines within the ERP system, the organization used the change to rethink how financial and administrative activities were performed.
This movement spurred a significant transformation within the financial sector. Processes were reorganized, controls became more structured, and information gained greater traceability.
The system became a catalyst for change that involved technology, people, and new ways of working.
This is a crucial point in any ERP project: the best results emerge when the implementation is also used to correct weaknesses and prepare processes for the next stage of the business.
Accounting closing period reduced from 20 to seven days.
One of the most significant results was the reduction in the time required for monthly accounting closing.
According to the Oracle NetSuite case study, the process, which previously took about 20 days, is now completed in seven. This represents a reduction of 13 days, equivalent to approximately 65% of the previous timeframe.
The benefit isn't just in speed. With a faster closing process, leadership can access up-to-date financial data in less time, identify discrepancies, and make decisions with greater confidence.
Among the main advances provided by the new structure are:
- Centralization of financial and administrative information;
- Reducing manual tasks and conferences;
- more accurate records;
- greater control over operations in different currencies;
- Integration between accounting, purchasing, and projects;
- Faster financial closing;
- Greater reliability for analysis and decision-making.
The increased agility allowed the finance team to reduce the time spent on data consolidation and assume a more strategic role within the organization.
Reliable data for a more strategic financial area.
When data is fragmented, the finance department needs to expend energy verifying the accuracy of the information before using it.
With an integrated platform, this scenario changes. Professionals start working with a single source of data, more standardized processes, and greater visibility into each stage of the operation.
At Venturus, Oracle NetSuite supported precisely this change. The finance area underwent a process review that brought new controls and created conditions to keep up with the business more quickly.
The reliability of information also contributes to activities such as financial projections, project monitoring, revenue analysis, purchasing management, and evaluation of organizational results.
Thus, the finance department ceases to act merely as an area responsible for recording what has already happened and begins to more actively support the planning of what will happen next.
A structure prepared for international growth.
Venturus' next challenge was to continue growing, including outside of Brazil. At the time of the project, the institution already had a virtual office in the United States and was looking to expand its international presence.
Currently, Venturus' website lists a unit in Atlanta, in addition to operations in Campinas and Manaus.
To support this expansion, a solution capable of operating on a global scale was needed.
NetSuite OneWorld offers features to manage different companies, units, currencies, tax rules, and consolidated reporting on a single platform.
The solution allows for the recording of transactions in foreign currencies and the tracking of local and global financial information with greater consistency.
This means that Venturus can move into new markets without having to rebuild its entire management structure with each expansion move.
What can other companies learn from the Venturus case?
Venturus' experience provides valuable lessons for technology companies, professional services firms, and rapidly growing organizations.
Growth reveals fragile processes.
Spreadsheets and separate systems may work during the early stages of an operation. However, as the volume of data, projects, and clients increases, these tools become more demanding and generate more risks.
Implementing an ERP system also means reviewing processes.
Simply changing the technology doesn't solve structural problems. It's necessary to evaluate workflows, responsibilities, controls, and future needs to fully leverage the platform's potential.
The financial sector can drive innovation.
An innovative company also needs a modern finance department. Reliable data, integrated processes, and agile reporting create the conditions for better decisions and safer investments.
International expansion must begin with the infrastructure.
Companies that intend to operate in other countries need to prepare for different currencies, units, rules, and consolidation needs. Adopting a global platform before complexity increases reduces future obstacles.
Technology to innovate inside and out.
Venturus' success story shows that innovation shouldn't just be present in the products and services delivered to customers. It also needs to be part of internal processes.
By replacing manual activities and fragmented information with an integrated platform, Venturus has achieved greater agility, precision, and control.
Reducing the monthly closing time from 20 to seven days is a concrete result of this transformation, but gains also appear in data reliability, financial organization, and the ability to grow globally.
Active is an official Oracle partner and a pioneer in the implementation of Oracle NetSuite in Brazil. With certified consultants, experience in global projects, our own software factory, and dedicated support infrastructure, we support companies that need to transform their processes and build a foundation prepared for growth.
Does your company also face difficulties with disconnected systems, spreadsheets, and manual processes? Talk to the experts at Active and discover how Oracle NetSuite can integrate your management and support the next steps of your business.
