Finaspan builds scalable growth through a thoughtful ERP approach
When Finaspan’s ERP system could no longer keep pace with its growth, the company chose a thoughtful path over a quick fix. Guided by ACOMPANY, Finaspan built an IT master plan that clarified its strategy, streamlined decision-making, and led to a future-proof ERP solution, laying the foundation for scalable growth and renewed operational excellence.
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Client cases
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4 minutes
Finaspan, a Belgian specialist in veneer and panel materials, faced an important strategic decision. Their existing ERP system was outdated and no longer aligned with the company’s evolving needs. Instead of hastily searching for a new package, Finaspan chose a thoughtful approach. With guidance from ACOMPANY, the company first developed an IT master plan that provided direction for the future of its application landscape and led to the selection of a new, suitable ERP system.
“Without ERP, the company comes to a standstill”
Finaspan is a family-owned business with a strong reputation in veneer and wood processing. Positioned in a market niche between large industrial players and small workshops, the company delivers high-quality custom work to carpenters, interior architects, and furniture manufacturers. IT plays a crucial role in this. “Without ERP, everything stops,” says director Louis Mariën. “The system drives our sales, production, and invoicing.”
The existing ERP, Microsoft Dynamics AX, once provided structure but no longer fit today’s reality. Finaspan evolved from mass production to a premium customizer and needed more agility. AX was not flexible enough to support specific operations. Since the system was no longer maintained, the risk of downtime increased. The management therefore decided not to simply look for a replacement, but to first determine which ERP system could best support their strategy and growth.
A structured journey from strategy to selection
ACOMPANY was brought in to guide the process, following a clear philosophy: think first, then act. The collaboration began with the creation of an IT master plan. Through a series of workshops with management and key figures from production, sales, and administration, the company’s goals and processes were mapped out. This helped identify Finaspan’s strengths and the bottlenecks that hindered current operations.
The master plan provided structure and direction: digitalization efforts should primarily strengthen the company’s flexibility and delivery reliability. The conclusion was that renewing the ERP system would be the first and most important step.
According to Mariën, the master plan was crucial to ensure the process started from business strategy rather than technology. “It helped us focus on what we truly needed. The system itself wasn’t the main point. What mattered was how it supported our processes.”
Objective ERP selection based on a detailed requirements document
Following the master plan came the RFI phase, during which various potential suppliers were evaluated. By comparing different technologies side by side, Finaspan gained a clear and objective view of the market. It quickly became clear that the existing Microsoft ecosystem didn’t need to be dismissed outright but could be critically compared to other solutions.
The next step was to create a detailed requirements document, based on concrete use cases from daily practice. Together with ACOMPANY, Finaspan translated its processes into realistic scenarios (from order to delivery) so that vendors could demonstrate how their software would handle these specific situations. This ensured that comparisons between solutions were fair and transparent. “We wanted to compare apples to apples,” says Mariën. “The requirements document made that possible.”
Based on this document, Finaspan, again supported by ACOMPANY, selected two vendors for the RFP phase. Both suppliers were invited to give a demo, during which they had to work through the predefined use cases. This allowed Finaspan to see firsthand how each system supported their way of working. The demos proved decisive, clearly showing which solution best aligned with the company’s processes.
Testimonial
“The master plan helped us focus on what we really needed. Thanks to ACOMPANY, we knew exactly what we were looking for and why.”
Louis
Mariën
Director at Finaspan
After thorough comparison, Finaspan chose Acadon, a solution within the Microsoft ecosystem specifically developed for the wood and panel processing industry. Although management was initially open to alternatives, the structured process showed that Acadon best fit the organization’s needs. Its strong support for custom manufacturing processes was especially decisive.
ACOMPANY also guided the final phase of the project: evaluating the proposals, clarifying the contracts, and aligning the scope. This ensured that the chosen solution was not only functionally but also financially and organizationally feasible.
For the financing of the entire project, Finaspan made use of the KMO-portefeuille (SME portfolio), resulting in a 20% cost saving.
ACOMPANY as strategic compass
Throughout the entire process, ACOMPANY acted as both strategic compass and practical guide. Their approach brought structure to a complex process and helped Finaspan make well-founded decisions. “ACOMPANY brought calm and clarity,” says Mariën. “This gave us peace of mind. They also saved us a great deal of time, since they immediately knew which potential suppliers to approach for the RFI and RFP.”
The collaboration was not purely technical but above all strategic. ACOMPANY helped Finaspan rediscover IT as a means to strengthen its business strategy. They translated abstract objectives into concrete steps, from master plan to demos, and ensured that every decision was well supported. “ACOMPANY also brought a lot of expertise,” says Mariën. “They wrote a requirements document with the right use cases, in a language that allowed potential vendors to understand exactly what we wanted. We could never have defined it that clearly ourselves. That also made the demos much more engaging.”
The process does not end with the selection. ACOMPANY will also support the implementation of Acadon, providing expertise in project management, business analysis, and integration.
When choosing new software, a thoughtful approach is more important than the speed of the decision. By first investing in a clear master plan, Finaspan was able to make a focused and well-founded choice. What began as a search for software evolved into a journey that now shapes the company’s digital future.
Once the process and implementation are completed, the new ERP system will deliver a clear competitive advantage. “Our custom work will be much easier to capture in the ERP, so that, paradoxical as it may sound, we can standardize our customization,” concludes Mariën. “It’s not the software that makes the difference, but how well it fits who you are as an organization. Thanks to ACOMPANY, we knew exactly what we were looking for, and why.”
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