at a glance
When Zimbler faced increasing difficulties managing stock and finances with an outdated on-premises SAGE Accpac system, they turned to NetSuite and Annexa to gain the real-time reporting and inventory control needed for effective business oversight.
- SAGE Accpac
- Spreadsheets
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Real-time decision-making
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Automated inventory management
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Growth-ready platform
the client
About Zimbler
Zimbler, a fourth-generation Australian family business, has been at the heart of the Australian toy and hobby industry for over six decades. Specialising in the importation and wholesaling of hobby and toy products, Zimbler represents leading European brands and supplies everything – from diecast cars to remote control vehicles – to both specialty stores and major retailers like Target and Kmart.
The legacy system was really outdated. It was hard to rely on because there was no real-time data to understand what stock was coming in, and that made it extremely difficult to manage inventory.Joel ZimblerManaging Director at Zimbler
the challenge
Outgrowing the limitations of legacy
Before implementing NetSuite, Zimbler faced a series of persistent operational challenges. At the heart of these issues was their outdated on-premises system, SAGE Accpac, which struggled to keep pace with their evolving needs.
One of Zimbler’s biggest challenges was the lack of real-time reporting. The process involved pulling data from various sources, often resulting in outdated or incomplete information. This delay made it difficult for the management team to make timely, informed decisions, particularly during high-demand periods when quick action was required. Relying on end-of-day updates meant that decisions were often based on data that was too old to be truly useful.
Limited visibility into stock levels across diverse product lines made inventory management a constant challenge, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities, particularly during peak periods. The team was further frustrated by manual processes for data entry and error tracking, keeping them perpetually on the back foot. To make matters worse, their system was unable to adequately integrate with critical tools like SPS Commerce and Pepperi for B2B sales, forcing even more manual data entry and leaving them without a cohesive view of sales and inventory.
Finally, the old system proved incapable of scaling with Zimbler’s growth. As the business expanded, the limitations of SAGE Accpac became increasingly pronounced. This was highlighted when an attempt to implement another cloud solution, DEAR Inventory, failed to meet their complex integration needs, collapsing under the strain.
As Zimbler looked to grow in the Australian market and expand into B2C, it became clear that their old system could not support their journey.
“We decided that we needed a system that could scale with our business and could give us more flexibility and automation. After evaluating options, we found that NetSuite was the best fit because it could integrate everything under one platform,” explained Joel Zimbler, the Managing Director at Zimbler.
the results
Building a foundation for growth with NetSuite
Implementing NetSuite transformed Zimbler’s operations. NetSuite’s real-time reporting capabilities gave Zimbler instant access to up-to-date data across inventory and financials, eliminating reliance on outdated end-of-day reports. Management is now able to make fast, informed choices based on current data.
NetSuite’s Advanced Inventory Management and Warehouse Management System (WMS) have completely overhauled Zimbler’s inventory and warehousing processes. Manual tracking is now a thing of the past, replaced by automated systems that ensure precise stock levels and streamlined stock control.
Zimbler shared: “NetSuite Advanced Inventory Management has been a game-changer. It completely automated our inventory tracking, which has saved us time and significantly reduced errors.”
The WMS, although initially a challenging transition for the warehouse team, provides a structured and efficient way to manage inventory, with pallet bays and coded locations simplifying the picking process. Meanwhile, scalable integrations with SPS Commerce for EDI orders and Pepperi B2B, streamline the order-to-fulfilment process, further boosting efficiency.
Customer experience got a boost too. With NetSuite, Zimbler can provide faster invoicing and accurate order tracking with the ability to generate and send invoices promptly, along with real-time tracking information.
For a generational business like Zimbler, which had relied on its legacy system for decades, the move to NetSuite represented a considerable change. The team faced some resistance, not because they didn’t see the value, but because of their familiarity with the old way of working. As Zimbler explains, “There was a lot of resistance at first, especially from the warehouse team who were used to doing things the old way. But we knew we had to change, and we made sure to support the team through that transition.”
This change was a marked departure from their routine and required a measured, supportive approach. With Annexa’s careful guidance and the company’s commitment to sustainable transformation, the transition was successfully managed, and the team adjusted to the new system with increasing confidence.
As Zimbler shared: “We are still really at the beginning of our journey with NetSuite, so we’ve got to really hone our reports and dashboards over the next 12 months to help us more and more. As we continue to grow, we’re confident that NetSuite can scale with us and keep everything working seamlessly.”
There is no doubt that the transition to a cloud-based infrastructure with NetSuite has provided Zimbler with the scalability and flexibility needed to support their growth ambitions.
Having live data means that when products come into the warehouse, the information updates instantly, and everyone can see it. It keeps everyone on the same page.Joel ZimblerManaging Director at Zimbler