The Blystad Group case study
Chose Eye-share for their focus on innovation and development!
The Blystad Group, a rapidly growing enterprise in shipping, real estate, and various investments, sought to transition to a paperless environment. After a reference visit and seeing Eye-share’s commitment to innovation and adaptability, the group selected eye-share Workflow Invoice as their preferred solution.
Why Eye-share?
Several factors influenced Blystad Group’s decision to choose Eye-share. According to John Murray, IT Integration Manager at the Blystad Group, “We noticed that most shipping companies were using eye-share Workflow Invoice, and we found the scanning and interpretation tools to be more accurate than other solutions on the market. Additionally, Eye-share stood out for its focus on innovation and development, while competitors presented a more rigid approach, offering a ‘take it or leave it’ system.”
Eye-share’s willingness to customize the system to meet Blystad’s specific needs was a decisive factor. They even facilitated a reference visit to one of their other clients in the shipping industry, demonstrating that the system worked effectively in a comparable environment. “This was very beneficial for us. Other providers simply claimed their systems would work without offering tangible proof,” Murray adds.
Eye-share focused on innovation and development where competitors said, «this is the system; this is what you get”. Eye-share wanted to adapt the system to our needs.
Electronic handling of invoices
The eye-share Workflow Invoice system now processes 15,000 invoices annually for the Blystad Group, replacing the old paper-based shelf and folder system that was spread across multiple locations. Everything is now handled electronically.
“It has undoubtedly made the process easier, and we are also using eye-share General Ledger to further our goal of becoming completely paperless. With 58 employees in Oslo and Glasgow—34 of whom use eye-share Invoice regularly—we’ve streamlined our operations significantly. In Oslo, most invoices are received via email, sent to SmartSCAN for interpretation, and then processed through eye-share Workflow Invoice for coding and approval,” Murray explains.
The approval process in Scotland has also benefited from Eye-share’s customization. “Eye-share configured a very effective system for purchase invoices. A button in eye-share Invoice allows users to open and edit purchase invoices in a new window, which is very convenient. Other adjustments include color scanning in SmartScan to make PDA/Agent documents more readable, and additional columns for frequently used accounting dimensions. For instance, we have a separate column for services purchased abroad that are subject to special tax rules,” Murray adds.
Everything is online – with tracking functionality – so the whole business process has become easier, and it saves us a lot of time.
Time-saving processes
The Blystad Group began using eye-share Workflow Invoice in February 2013, and the results have been impressive.
“The entire process is now streamlined. We’ve replaced paper and binders with a searchable archive, making audits much easier. Each invoice is approved by two people, and the system’s reminder feature ensures we never miss a due date. Accounting templates and Excel imports further automate our routines. The best part is having immediate access to invoices and vouchers from all our locations worldwide, without the need to physically send papers back and forth. Everything is online, with tracking functionality, which has made our business processes significantly easier and saves us a lot of time,” says Murray.
Technological expertise and excellent support
Murray, who was deeply involved in the implementation process in 2013, is very pleased with the collaboration with Eye-share.
“We wanted to make several adjustments for currency, VAT, and the various countries we operate in, and the entire process was a success. Our impression is that Eye-share has extensive technological insight and expertise, combined with an attitude that says, ‘everything is doable.'”
Eye-share recognized our challenges right from the start, and their ongoing service and support have remained outstanding. “It’s a pleasure to work with Eye-share. If we want to explore new modules or need any assistance, we can simply book a meeting and receive immediate support,” Murray concludes.
About The Blystad Group
The Blystad Group is a diversified investment group with interests in shipping, offshore, oil and energy-related activities, and real estate. Owned by Arne Blystad and his family, the group allocates 50% of its investments to shipping, 25% to real estate, and 25% to other ventures. The Group’s shipping activities are a continuation of a long and proud tradition in international shipping, an industry Arne Blystad Sr. began engaging in as early as the 1940s.