GALVmed live with SunSystems in seven weeks

Jan. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Not-for-profit global alliance implements Infor FMS SunSystems from Sapphire Systems

GALVmed, a registered charity and not-for-profit global alliance of public, private and government partners chose to implement the Infor FMS SunSystems financial accounting solution from Sapphire - the global leading partner for the solution.

Nearly 700 million of the world's poorest people rely on livestock for their survival, and animal diseases devastate the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world. GALVmed is making livestock vaccines, diagnostics and medicines accessible, affordable and available to the millions for whom livestock is a lifeline.

Following incorporation in March 2005, GALVmed began operations in November 2005, with the vision and mission of protecting livestock and saving lives by developing products and sustainable partnerships to help poor, rural farmers and livestock keepers around the world. The GALVmed alliance spent its formative years seeking funding and used their accountants, Scott-Moncrieff, to produce management information during the initial stages of growth.

In September 2008 GALVmed secured substantial funding for 4 diseases enabling it to start delivery against its objectives.  This resulted in the need for GALVmed to implement more detailed, timely, and hands on, information production processes and management reports that could be created as and when required.

The finance team at GALVmed worked with their accountants to source and review appropriate finance packages.  On identifying suitable solutions, they ascertained the best supplier of each solution, then shortlisted three solutions with supplier to put forward a tender then product demonstration; Infor FMS SunSystems from Sapphire was on this shortlist.

Heather Stevenson, Finance Director at GALVmed, said "We opted for SunSystems as it is a complex system with multi-currency, sophisticated project reporting and multi-site capability.  The flexibility of SunSystems was also a key plus point: at this stage it is impossible for us to know how big GALVmed will become in the future, so it is important for us to have scalable systems in place."

Of Sapphire Heather said "The team at Sapphire has been professional and competent throughout.  We took up references from existing customers, all of which were positive and very robust." She went on to say "A key factor in selection was that Sapphire offers customers more than software: training, sophisticated support and product enhancements are all of equal importance.  We felt that the facilities available were indicative of Sapphire's approach to retaining and nurturing on-going customer relationships, rather than just implementing a solution then moving on."

GALVmed had a very tight implementation deadline: just seven weeks from selection to 'go-live'.  Heather said "Sapphire offered added value in a clear commitment to delivering on timescales.  The consultant from Sapphire worked incredibly hard, with minimal disruption to the team, to have us up and running with SunSystems within such a short period - during which we had other significant business commitments to manage."

Following implementation Heather said "With SunSystems GALVmed will benefit from detailed and timely management information, flexibility on analysis of project reporting, simplicity in multi currency processing and reporting and will have the flexibility to expand the solution as we grow." She went on to say "After care from Sapphire has been great; the Support team are fantastic and I have been particularly impressed with the use of WebEx to remotely assist with a new installation, or walking us through the online support site."

Ian Caswell, Managing Director at Sapphire, concluded "SunSystems is an excellent fit for non-profit organisations due to its extensive analysis, tax, budgeting and reporting capabilities, as well as compliance with charity specific guidelines such as SORP. Charities have the comfort that implementing SunSystems is low risk, has a low cost of ownership and has extensive referenceability in the sector.  We are delighted to be working with GALVmed in Edinburgh; the initiative to protect livestock in developing countries is to be commended."


About Sapphire Systems plc
Sapphire is the global leading reseller of Infor FMS SunSystems and the leading SAP partner in EMEA for SAP Business One.  Since 1986, Sapphire has offered customers wide-ranging practical expertise in selecting and implementing advanced financial accounting and business management solutions and today provides software, services and support for hundreds of customers worldwide from their offices in London, Manchester and the USA. Sapphire is a founder member of the British Application Software Developers Association and has featured in the Deloitte & Touche Fast 500 Technology rankings
www.sapphiresystems.co.uk  
www.sapphiresystems.us.com

About GALVmed
GALVmed, a not-for-profit global alliance works with key partners to make a sustainable difference in access to animal health medicines for poor livestock keepers.  GALVmed seeks to protect livestock and save human lives by:

* Developing, registering and launching several vaccines, pharmaceutical and diagnostic products over the next 10 years
* Partnering with organisations in developing countries to ensure sustainable research, production and delivery of new products to poor livestock keepers
* Educating stakeholders on the links between livestock and poverty and the role of livestock health in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
* Facilitating dialogue and collaboration in research efforts for new livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostic systems
Registered Charity in Scotland: SC039197; England & Wales: 1115606
www.galvmed.org

About Infor FMS SunSystems
Infor FMS SunSystems is a leading financial management and accounting solution used by over 20,000 companies worldwide. SunSystems is available in 30 different languages and is implemented in over 190 different countries worldwide. The product family is unique in its global reach, providing a combination of international functionality and local support unrivalled by even the largest enterprise application vendors.
www.sapphiresystems.co.uk/solutions/infor.htm