COMPANY OVERVIEW

Visit Anchorage — the official destination marketing organization (DMO) representing of Anchorage and surrounding communities

Founded in 1975, Visit Anchorage, formerly known as the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) representing the vibrant communities of Anchorage, Girdwood, Eagle River, Eklutna, Indian, Birchwood, Chugiak, and Portage. As a pivotal entity in the tourism industry, Visit Anchorage plays a crucial role in driving economic prosperity, cultural enrichment, and social value for residents, businesses, and visitors through tourism.

CHALLENGES

The Need for a Digital Transformation: Overcoming ERP Limitations

Visit Anchorage encountered several challenges with their prior ERP solution, Microsoft Great Plains. The system had an approaching end-of-life date, expiring by 2025, which mandated the search for a new accounting system.

A major limitation of Microsoft Great Plains was its requirement for local hosting. This constraint hindered Visit Anchorage’s efforts to digitize their operations fully and support remote work. As the organization aimed to modernize its infrastructure and facilitate remote collaboration, the need for a cloud-based solution became increasingly apparent.

Additionally, Visit Anchorage sought a unified solution to consolidate their diverse range of processes. Their existing setup involved different systems for storage, processing, and approval, leading to inefficiencies and complications in managing financial operations. The reliance on manual processes and lack of integration between systems also posed challenges in maintaining data accuracy, consistency, and accessibility. Streamlining these processes into a single system became essential for Visit Anchorage to enhance operational efficiency.

OUTCOMES

A Unified Cloud-Based Solution: Streamlining Operations with Sage Intacct

After evaluating several ERP solutions, Visit Anchorage identified Sage Intacct as the ideal platform to efficiently address their challenges. Sage Intacct’s capability to store attachments directly with transactions and maintain an audit trail provided a centralized and organized system, eliminating the need for scattered journal entries. Additionally, Sage Intacct’s advanced dashboards allowed real-time access to transaction data, replacing the cumbersome reporting process of their previous system.

Visit Anchorage’s selection process for an implementation partner led them to CBIZ CompuData. Despite evaluating various different options, CBIZ CompuData stood out as the provider capable of accommodating an accelerated timeline while offering comprehensive support throughout the transition. With CBIZ CompuData’s expertise and support, Visit Anchorage achieved a smooth and seamless transition from Microsoft Great Plains to Sage Intacct. This seamless transition enabled Visit Anchorage to swiftly adapt to a cloud-based solution and continue their day-to-day activities without interruption.

“CBIZ CompuData’s unwavering expertise and dedication were instrumental in our seamless transition to Sage Intacct. What initially seemed impossible was made not only achievable but also highly feasible, ensuring a smooth and efficient migration process. The significant process improvements we’ve experienced have streamlined our day-to-day operations, empowering our team to concentrate on strategic initiatives. We’re grateful for their support throughout our journey toward a modernized environment, we look forward to continued collaboration and success in the future.”

Angela Johnstone, Accounting Controller at Visit Anchorage.

RESULTS

Transforming Processes: A Seamless Migration to Sage Intacct with CBIZ CompuData’s Support

Since implementing Sage Intacct, Visit Anchorage has witnessed significant enhancements across their operations. The platform offers a unified solution, consolidating diverse processes into a single, efficient system, eliminating the need for multiple systems and complex processes. With CBIZ CompuData’s guidance at every stage, Visit Anchorage has successfully digitized their operations, gaining greater cohesion and control over financial management processes. This transformation has empowered them to maintain competitiveness in the evolving destination marketing landscape.