Business Challenge

The Success Communications Group (formerly The Cherenson Group and Success Advertising) is one of the top ten advertising agencies in New Jersey (measured by NJ Biz Magazine ). Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Success was expanding into new markets nation-wide, and by 2003, they had six offices located throughout the United States .

Success was using an Access database to track and record insertion order information (an insertion order is a work order to place advertisements in newspapers and magazines) The Access database did not include a workflow system: after an insertion order was recorded, five copies of the order were printed and manually distributed to different departments in the agency. As the company grew, this paper-based workflow system was straining their resources, causing delayed and lost orders, and leading to a decline in profits.

IND’s Solution

IND performed an extensive search and evaluation of existing off-the-shelf software applications that could be used to replace the Access database. However, it became evident that there were no existing applications that had the required functionality or the flexibility for customization at a suitable price.

In November 2003, IND began production of a custom Web-based software application to provide a single digital repository for client, vendor, and insertion order information. Additionally, the new system included a workflow system to track an insertion order throughout its lifecycle, from inception to invoice. IND also created auditing and business intelligence (BI) tools, which provide management and owners with real-time access to leading metrics and financial reports crucial to decision making.

The new application, named AdWorks, was launched in September 2004, and by the end of the year it proved to be so invaluable that Success requested the creation of an invoicing application that would allow invoices to be generated within AdWorks (instead of creating invoices in separate billing software.) In May of 2005, IND launched the new invoicing module. IND also designed and implemented two co-located Web and database servers (with real-time Microsoft SQL Server database synchronization) to provide a redundant hosting platform for this business-critical application. Most recently, a client access module was developed to allow Success clients to access reports and other information from the Web.

Real Results

As of June 2006, Success has 11 offices across the US . Because of AdWorks, they were able to eliminate the point-to-point T-1 Internet connections required to use the old Access database – saving almost $200,000/year. They also no longer needed custom 5-part paper to print orders – saving $100,000/year. The IT investment required to open each new office has been reduced by $40,000. The new invoicing module allows more orders to be invoiced by less people, and cash flow has improved because orders can be billed much quicker. Success has also saved untold thousands of dollars because there are no more paper orders to misplace.