Provide a brief description of the Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative.
The Richmond Olympic Oval was in the need of an immediate software solution and was looking to purchase and implement a software solution within a month. They were developing an athletic facility that would house a world-wide major athletic event, and after the event would need to manage and maintain the facility as a recreational centre for recreational activities & leases for commercial clients. For Plus Computer Solutions Ltd. a crucial requirement of the software solution was the compatibility with the CLASS Active Registration software, which is used for the recreational classes that will be hosted at the facility. The new software solution must be able to import a “Flat ASCII file” from the Class Active program. The company is using Windows XP as their desktop operating system, and planned on networking the new software on their own internal network. The Richmond Olympic Oval had to have the capability and the functionality to track revenues and expenses by programs and departments in order to track all of their revenue sources after the Olympics. They required substantial & easy to access financial reports as well as the ability to keep track of their fixed assets with the integration to the accounting system and a payroll system that is easy to manage with electronic paystubs & EFT deposits. The Richmond Oval would require on-site assistance in addition to quality technical service during training and pre & post implementation.
Describe what makes this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative original or innovative. How is this over and above the accepted norm?
The Richmond Oval is a 512,000 square foot, multi-use facility, with capacity for 8,000 spectators. Its permanent features include community wellness services and programming, sports medicine and sciences, a major fitness centre, community activity areas, restaurant and retail space. The area surrounding the Oval will be the site of a major waterfront neighbourhood incorporating a park and a plaza, with residential, commercial and public amenities. The Richmond Oval project will evolve in three stages: Pre-Games, Games-Time, and Legacy (Post-Games). Prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Oval will be open to the public for recreational activities, while the ice is tested for Olympic readiness, and athletes, officials and staff prepare for the Games. The Oval was one of the busiest venues during the Olympics and hosted 12 Long Distance Speed Skating medal events. Upon conclusion of the Games, the Oval began its legacy as an important permanent fixture serving the local, national and international community as a one-of-a-kind centre for health, wellness, and sports excellence. VANOC took full operational control of the Richmond Oval for the 17 day duration of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from February 12 to 28. The Oval housed a 400m track with a capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators and was the location of all Olympic Long Track Speed Skating events. As the host venue for a total of 12 medal events, with 36 medals to be awarded, the Oval was one of the busiest venues during the Games. Other Games-Time Oval features include first-class support areas for athletes, coaches, trainers, officials and volunteers, as well as extensive accommodations for hundreds of worldwide media broadcasts. Stations were provided for approximately 250 accredited media, with additional space for thousands of non-accredited media and VIP lounges. The Oval also played an important role in achieving a drug-free 2010 Olympic Winter Games as the location of the official Olympic anti-doping lab. Since the Oval has now become a recreation centre after the Olympics, they are using Sage ERP Accpac to track all expenses and revenues, memberships and classes will be purchased through their website and eventually integrated to the back office.
Describe the improvement this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative made to the customer’s sales or revenues. What changed?
Provide evidence of measurable improvements in sales, revenues, cost reduction, etc.While the Richmond Olympic Oval was home to a once and a lifetime event, they actively planned and anticipated for the future after the Olympics and rely on their Sage system (FAS & Accpac) in order to get the appropriate information to ensure that they are and continue to be successful after the Olympics.
Describe the improvement this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative made to the customer’s efficiency. What changed? Provide evidence of how customer efficiency was increased.
While still in somewhat of a development stage, The Richmond Oval is getting used to the processes involved, and has the ability to get the reporting and budgeting reports that they require early on in order to make executive decisions for the Oval after the Olympics. The fact that there has been no problems with the system and the knowledge that sometimes minor adjustments will allow them to get the information that they require they are able to track their revenue easily, which gives them great confidence in the software, Sage and Plus Computer Solutions Ltd. to ensure that the system continues to grow with them & develop as they do.
How did this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative improve the customer’s ability to serve its internal and/or external clients? Provide evidence of the improvement.
While they are still learning and developing plans for the future, the Richmond Oval is excited about the possibilities for Sage to further enhance their efficiency. Having the capabilities to have their members system (CLASS) integrate with their accounting system, ensure that they are able to track the success of special events and regular activities of a recreation centre. Want to know how successful the registration is for a yoga class, the information is available to them.
In what ways does this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative go above and beyond industry norms and expectations?
The Richmond Olympic Oval is in the pioneer states of its existence and is making considerable efforts to continue their development to become more organized and efficient. Implementing Sage Accpac ERP as their solution has allowed them to design a fairly complex chart of accounts (over 400) and the ability to track all of their costs based on activity or project type. The information that they are able to retrieve from Sage Accpac ERP Is very valuable and while they are still in the learning process and running into a learning curve they know it is only a matter of time before the functionality is exactly where they want it and are able to tweak and use the complexity of their system to grow with them. Having the support from Sage and Plus Computer Solutions Ltd. ensures that the Richmond Olympic Oval will continue to grow with their existing Sage system and be able to introduce other Sage products throughout their development to enhance & become more efficient.
Optional Question: How does this solution further your customer’s green or environmentally friendly plans?
They are working towards becoming a paperless office, and the implementation of sage Accpac erp & sage FAS is allowing them to take these steps. Sustainability initiatives has already been incorporated into the building of this world class facility, including the roof on the structure allows for the collection of rain water for use in the operation of the building as well as providing water for the trees and pond in the surrounding landscaped area and approximately one million board feet of Pine-Beetle kill wood was used in constructing the roof. The roof, which covers 335,000 sq metres, is believed to be the largest surface to date covered in recovered wood. Sage products allow The Richmond Olympic Oval to take one more step towards moving to a paperless office & enhancing their sustainab