“Sage X3 has removed layers of manual work and spreadsheets. Orders flow more smoothly, deliveries are more visible, consolidations are faster, and our teams can focus on higher value, strategic activities.”
Liam French – Supply Chain and Operations Manager
Industry
Music / Distribution
Background Overview
Roland Corporation Australia has been a trusted distributor of musical instruments for nearly 50 years, serving as the first joint venture established outside of Japan by the global Roland organisation. They are a global leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of products, including pianos, synthesisers, electronic percussion, and audio processing equipment. Within the Australian market, the business manages complex operational demands that span extensive dealer networks, multiple warehouses, and intricate logistics.
The organisation supports a rapidly evolving and diverse customer base, ranging from small independent retailers to national chains and eCommerce giants. Operating as the authorised local distributor, they must balance local competitive efficiency with the strict reporting requirements of their parent company, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. This dual focus requires a robust operational backbone capable of managing high-volume distribution while maintaining global alignment.
The Problem
As documented in the Roland Corporation Australia Success Story, the organisation reached a point where their reliable but outdated legacy business management system could no longer support their growth. The lack of a modern, unified platform led to fragmented processes that hindered their ability to scale effectively. Problems included:
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The business became overly reliant on numerous plug-ins and bolt-on applications to manage increasing operational complexity, leading to inconsistent processes.
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Spreadsheets became the primary tool for essential tasks like reporting, reconciliations, and analysis, which created significant manual overhead.
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Operational tasks, specifically order consolidation across their diverse dealer network, remained entirely manual and time-consuming.
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The legacy infrastructure provided limited visibility across the supply chain, making it difficult to track deliveries from cartons to pallets.
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Disconnected financial processes made it challenging to deliver timely reports and meet the rigorous compliance standards required by the global head office.
Why Sage and Leverage Technologies
Roland Corporation Australia conducted a vendor-agnostic evaluation of various ERP systems to find a solution that could manage complex logistics while improving financial management. They ultimately selected Sage X3 and Leverage Technologies to create a modern, agile platform aligned with both local and global requirements. Some of the main reasons are:
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Sage X3 was chosen because it provided the specific functionality required to manage complex distribution operations and logistics natively.
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The platform offered the flexibility to customise workflows for local operating needs without sacrificing alignment with global reporting directives.
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Sage X3 provided a user-friendly interface for both local operating and finance teams, making it the ideal backbone for their digital transformation.
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Leverage Technologies was selected as the partner due to their extensive expertise as a Sage Platinum Partner and their commitment to long-lasting customer relationships – paired with a deep understanding of the distribution industry
The Outcome
The implementation of Sage X3 has delivered efficiency gains across the entire supply chain, enabling Roland Corporation Australia to handle increased order volumes without expanding their headcount. By digitising processes through a new dealer portal and automating order consolidation, the organisation has successfully removed layers of manual work and reduced errors. Integrated warehouse and freight management have vastly improved traceability, providing the team with real-time visibility from cartons to pallets and allowing for faster order fulfilment – improving the overall experience for a customer.
Beyond logistics, the finance team has moved away from disconnected spreadsheets to a unified system that delivers accurate and timely insights. Financial reporting has been dramatically accelerated, with month-end sign-offs typically achieved within just a few days, and audit preparation has been streamlined through secure system access for external auditors. These improvements have transformed the business into a more resilient and scalable operation, now focused on future innovations like payment gateway integrations and expanded business intelligence for scenario planning.
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