Global Medical Device Distributor Finds
Success With Sage PFW
The Albtrade Group is a multi-company organization based in Albania. Its operations began in the mid 90’s with syringe distribution, and after finding great success they quickly branched out into the larger category of medical device distribution—becoming the recognized leader in their region of the world. To keep business running smoothly, this technology driven company uses Sage PFW ERP—a powerful and scalable process-manufacturing package specifically designed for the complexities innate to global commerce.
Find a New Sense of Freedom
Located off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Albania is a country rich in history and tradition. But it wasn’t until the early 90’s that the government went through a period of democratic and economic reform, and with that reform, introduced its people to capitalism. This newfound freedom gave birth to Albtrade Group—a company founded by visionary Enver Guga. In its early days, the company’s singular focus on syringe distribution was its saving grace as they gained a foothold in an ever-developing economic environment. At the time, the company managed financials with Peachtree by Sage—a great entry-level accounting solution for small businesses. But once operations began to blossom, they needed a more robust system.
Leave it to the Experts
It became evident that Albtrade Group was ready to make a change when operations had expanded to three locations and they were running three separate systems to track financials. “It was just too difficult to get the clear picture we needed regarding the health of our business,” said Genci Guga, Executive Director of Albtrade Group. “We needed a system that met our then-current demands, but would also grow with us. We were quite happy with Peachtree, so we decided to look within the Sage family of products for an ERP system that could handle the data processing that comes naturally to a process manufacturing business, as well as multi-currency, and our lot numbers.”
“We needed a system that
could meet the current demand
and grow with us.
Sage PFW has surpassed
all of my expectations.”
After contacting Sage to explore a new system, Albtrade Group was put in touch with a local Sage business partner who met with Mr. Guga to evaluate the business and the need. “From their very first visit to our location in Tirana, I knew we had the right partner,” says Mr. Guga. “They completely understood the nature of our operations and even set up a demo company to show us how the real life system would be configured and how it would work in our environment.”
Gain Flexibility to Manage all Aspects of Your Business
Today Albtrade Group is made up of two main entities: Albtrade Pharma—the pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device distribution arm of the company—and Albtrade Ducros—a herb and spice manufacturer that delivers product to customers both locally and on the international stage.
The multi-company functionality within Sage PFW allows Mr. Guga to set up and process data for both companies. Now the financial picture of the parent company is easy to navigate and understand. And since Sage PFW comes with the Processing Company ID Menu Header, Mr. Guga is ensured he’s always reviewing and recording information associated with the correct entity—reducing improper data entry.
Albtrade Group does business on an international level, so multi-currency capabilities are of the utmost importance. The Multi-Currency Manager allows Mr. Guga to create and maintain an unlimited number of different currencies and exchange rates. Plus he can enter transactions in any currency and produce reports in both the local currency, as well as their customer or vendor’s currency, if they differ. Multi-currency reporting provides Mr. Guga the insight necessary to determine how the company is performing in the international arena.
“When I was evaluating Sage PFW, I was looking for a solution that was flexible, could report on a localized level, and remain compliant to Albanian legislation—PFW has surpassed all of those expectations and more,” said Mr. Guga.
Information at Your Finger Tips
In process manufacturing, accurate information is king. Mr. Guga needed real-time data that provided an exact count on products sold and products in inventory. Albtrade’s use of the Sage PFW Inventory module provides Mr. Guga just that. With data easily accessible, Mr. Guga can make better business decisions about what merchandise to stock, discontinue, and market. Information for profitability planning and product trend analysis is always readily available.
Plan for the Future
With Albania’s push for entry into NATO, Mr. Guga is hopeful that government–provided healthcare will improve. But he doesn’t think that it will be enough. “We’re currently working with the prime minister on plans for a private medical facility under the Albtrade Pharma wing,” says Mr. Guga. “We plan to use Sage PFW to track medicine stock and process our accounting. With the efficiencies already gained, I’m confident that the solution will be up to the task of taking on another business line.”
Mr. Guga’s greater goal is not to just grow a business, but to help build his nation and better the lives of its citizens. And he’s using Sage PFW to make sure that his dream stays on track.
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