THE BUSINESS
Catena Property Company is a Galway-based property development business. As the company grew, the volume of invoices, supplier activity, payments and documentation increased significantly, placing more pressure on the day-to-day accounts process.
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THE CHALLENGE The finance team was using Dext to capture invoices and documents, but there was still heavy reliance on email, spreadsheets and manual checking. Supplier statements, reconciliations and document checks took time, and it became increasingly difficult to keep everything organised across a growing number of suppliers and projects. |
WHAT CATENA NEEDED — A clearer view of current financial information. — Less repetitive processing and duplication. — A more efficient way to manage invoices, suppliers and payments. — A system that could grow with the business. |
WHY XERO AND MI SOLUTIONS
Xero appealed to Catena because it is user-friendly, cloud-based and gives the team access to the accounts wherever they are. It also provides stronger visibility of financial information and integrates well with other business systems.
Just as important was the support around the software. Caitriona felt MI Solutions understood what Catena was trying to achieve and could shape the setup and processes around the way the business actually worked — rather than simply handing over software and leaving the team to figure it out.
THE CLIENT'S STORY
A practical implementation, with support that continued afterwards
IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING
The implementation and training process was straightforward and well supported. Kevin took time to explain the system and how it could work for Catena, helping the team understand not only the Xero features but the new processes around them.
Having someone available during the working day to answer questions made a noticeable difference while the team was getting used to the new setup.
“The ongoing support has been excellent from Kevin and Finola. They are very approachable and responsive when we have a question or come across something we are unsure about.”
— Caitriona McLaughlin
WHAT CHANGED
The most immediate improvement was the reduction in manual work. Catena now has better visibility of its accounts, suppliers, invoices and payments, while reconciliations are more efficient and information can be found much more quickly.
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LESS ADMIN Reduced duplication and repetitive manual processing. |
CLEARER VISIBILITY Faster access to information on suppliers, invoices and payments. |
BETTER FLOW A more organised process for documentation and ongoing development projects. |
ONGOING SUPPORT
For Catena, the value of the relationship has continued after implementation. When an issue or question comes up, the team can contact people who already understand the setup and can help resolve it quickly. That continuity reduces troubleshooting time and gives the finance team confidence in the system.
WOULD CATENA RECOMMEND MI SOLUTIONS?
“I would definitely recommend MI Solutions to another business. They have helped us make our accounts processes more efficient, reduce manual administration and improve our visibility and control.”
''The biggest benefit for us has been having a team that understands both the software and the practical requirements of running a busy business.''
Caitriona McLoughlin | Catena Property Company
Caitriona has already recommended Xero to another business, Urban ARQ, an Architectural practice with offices in Dublin and Galway — a practical endorsement of the improvements Catena has experienced.
Thinking about improving your Xero setup or training your team? Contact us below today!