Serenic Navigator Streamlines
Financial Reporting and Analysis for Philadelphia Zoo
“We have cut two working days off the monthly closing process. The ability to
interface subsidiary ledgers, the ease of posting/closing accounts payable
activity, and the simplicity of generating financial statements has made this
(Accelerated Closing) possible.”
– Tom Walker, Controller
Throughout its 129-year history, the Philadelphia Zoo has played a monumental
role in educating the public about exotic animals, promoting and participating
in worldwide conservation efforts for endangered wildlife, and providing
exceptional recreational opportunities for families.
Today, the Zoo is a leading voice for wildlife advocacy, reaching new heights in all areas of its mission as a conservation, education and recreation organization. Its
state-of-the-art animal exhibits and health-care facilities, award-winning education and conservation programs, recreational opportunities, guest services,
scientific accomplishments, and historically significant venue make the Philadelphia Zoo one of the world’s most renowned zoological societies and
gardens. The Zoo is also the Philadelphia region’s leading family tourist attraction, welcoming more than one million visitors a year.
- Proactive Reviews of Activity. “The multi-user environment gives managers the
tools and ability to access department activity throughout the month, without
relying on outdated hardcopies,” Walker explained. “This saves both paper and
time.”
- Ease of Extracting Data. “In the past, satisfying diverse requests for data was
cumbersome, or virtually impossible with our old system. Serenic Navigator provides
the flexibility to extract this data easily and quickly.”
- Elimination of Down Time. “We are no longer experiencing system down time or
the frustration of waiting for reports to compile,” Walker said.
Scenario
The ongoing challenge for the Philadelphia Zoo, as with all non-profit organizations, is the
need to do more with less -- to maximize every dollar of revenue it collects on behalf of
the animals. To that end, the Zoo initiated a search in 2002 for a fund accounting software
solution that would increase operational efficiencies and better manage expenditures.
With annual operating revenue of $36 million, the Zoo had been using accounting software
that was not specifically designed for not-for-profit (NFP) organizations. This earlier software
lacked key NFP functionality, including fund accounting and a logical table-driven chart
of accounts. In addition, technical support for the product was very poor and getting data
out of the software was cumbersome.
Zoo administrators wanted a fully integrated accounting system that would
address all of the above, as well as one that offered procurement and inventory control
functionality.
After evaluating several fund accounting solutions that claim to have NFP-specific functionality,
the Zoo’s search committee, which was headed by Controller Tom Walker, selected
Serenic Navigator
from Lakewood, Colo.-based Serenic Corporation. According to Walker,
“Our primary goal for purchasing a new system was to streamline our current operations
and to get a better, more up-to-date picture of our financial position. We believe Serenic
Navigator will help us achieve that goal.”
Founded in 1999, Serenic Corporation, is a Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) industry solutions
vendor and was recently named to the MBS Inner Circle, an accomplishment earned
by firms whose sales achievement ranks them at the top echelon of the MBS global network
of value-added resellers.
Serenic Corporation’s flagship fund accounting product, Serenic Navigator, is
certified for Microsoft Dynamics®.
The implementation of Serenic Navigator
at the Philadelphia Zoo was handled by AVF Consulting,
the Baltimore-based value-added reseller of Serenic Navigator. According to AVF
Consulting sales chief Jeremy Fass, who said the three-month implementation went off
without a hitch, Walker and his team eventually settled on Serenic Navigator because,
“they wanted a system that could address most of their key requirements out-of-the-box,
with little or no customization. Furthermore, they were enamored with Serenic Navigator’s
simple and intuitive user interface and the ability to easily extract information.”
Some exceptional features of the
Philadelphia Zoo include:
- Rare Animal Conservation Center. Interactive graphics and up-close views of
some of the world’s most endangered animals showcase the Philadelphia Zoo’s role in many species survival programs. Giant Rodrigues fruit bats,
naked mole rats, blue-eyed lemurs and tree kangaroos are just a few of the animals to see.
- The Reptile and Amphibian House. Featuring the Zoo’s newest interactive
adventure path to see giant tortoises up-close and personal, this state-ofthe-
art facility exhibits 87 species of amphibians including the venomous
king cobra. Each day an electrifying thunderstorm is the backdrop to the
story and status of American crocodiles and alligators.
- Carnivore Kingdom. The first giant otters exhibited in the U.S. are featured
at Carnivore Kingdom. Carnivore Kingdom also houses snow leopards, red pandas and
clouded leopards in unique naturalistic environments.
- Treehouse. An activity-oriented discovery center, which features larger-thanlife
replicas of animal habitats for children to explore and learn about life from the
animal’s point of view.
- The world’s first Children’s Zoo, featuring a petting yard and daily live animal shows.
- The 15,000 square-foot Animal Health Center. Behind the scenes at the
Philadelphia Zoo stands one of the nation’s busiest and most comprehensive animal hospital and health-care facilities.
Benefits
The Philadelphia Zoo went “live” with
Serenic Navigator
in March 2003. “Even though we are still in the infancy stage,” Controller Walker said, “we are already enjoying some real benefits
from this financial system.”
Walker cites six specific areas where Serenic Navigator has increased the efficiency and
productivity of his staff:
- Accelerated Closing. “We have cut two working days off of the monthly closing
process,” he said. “The ability to interface subsidiary ledgers, the ease of posting/closing
accounts payable activity, and the simplicity of generating financial statements has
made this possible.”
- Issuance of Financial Statements. “This activity is no longer a burdensome process,”
Walker said. “Statements can be accessed throughout the month at various levels of
the organization. Now our staff can devote more time to analytical review, improving
the accuracy of financial reports.”
- Drill Down Capabilities. “Zoo staff can now drill down and analyze most variances
without having to leave their desks, eliminating phone calls to accounting, and trips to
the files to pull a hardcopy of documents.”
About Our Partner
AVF Consulting, Inc. is a full-service Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
provAs one of the Mid-Atlantic’s leading information technology firms, AVF Consulting
has been a reseller of Serenic Navigator for more than three years. The firm
offers a unique blend of products and services, including fully integrated ERP
solutions and technology consultation. Proving there’s a system to success, AVF’s
hands-on approach ensures that every engagement receives the highest level of
customer service and that each customer receives the individual attention they
deserve.
The firm’s professional staff provides a complete range of software and services
to clientele located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether clients need a
comprehensive, enterprise wide business management solution, or assistance
with the design, implementation, and maintenance of their information technology
infrastructure, AVF Consulting has the products and the professionals to handle
the most challenging demands.
AVF Consulting has been recognized as an industry leader due to the unique
skill set of its team. AVF consultants offer an in-depth knowledge of business
processes across a number of industry segments, as well as an extensive array
of technical skills, including programming. By combining the disciplines of a business
analyst with a programmer, AVF consultants are able to quickly understand
and efficiently create solutions for their clients.