Tag: #kefron

Datapac technology accelerates growth for Kefron in deal worth €370k

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that it has delivered a reimagined server and data storage solution to Kefron in a deal worth €370,000 over three years.

Kefron is a leader in document and information management, and has now developed its own invoice processing software, Kefron AP, which leverages machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide e-invoicing, invoice automation, and analytics to customers. The software has grown exponentially and now serves the needs of organisations of all sizes across a multinational customer base.

As Kefron experienced rapid growth both in terms of its customer base and the innovative services offered, the company needed to upgrade its IT infrastructure to keep pace with this expansion. Following an extensive consultative process, Datapac upgraded Kefron’s existing storage ecosystem to a HPE Nimble Storage Area Network (SAN).

The elevated and highly secure platform is resulting in significant time savings for Kefron AP’s users with faster scanning and invoice processing times. Upgraded VMware virtual servers are vastly increasing server uptime, meaning no interruption to vital services for customers across different regions and time zones. Kefron’s security posture is improved through enhanced encryption of all data, while Sophos firewall protection adds an extra layer of network security.

Kefron has ambitious growth plans and is aiming to double the number of customers using its invoicing software, underpinned by Datapac’s technology. The HPE Nimble storage system offers industry-leading scalability due to its unique data compression and de-duplication capabilities.

In turn, the solution has increased productivity for Kefron’s 180 employees across the business. Day-to-day tasks have become quicker and more efficient with lightning-quick access to critical business applications.

The technology has significantly reduced costs for Kefron, minimising the need to maintain or upgrade aging hardware. In addition to the best-in-class technology suite, the ongoing infrastructure management and support provided by Datapac continues to create capacity for internal IT teams to focus on more strategic, less routine activities which add a greater value to business objectives, with backups and other maintenance work conducted out-of-hours to ensure no disruption to daily operations.

Jonathan Purvis, IT Manager, Kefron: “As our software solution has grown, so too has the amount of data that needs to be stored and secured. Datapac has been a long-time trusted advisor to Kefron, and the team worked closely with us to provide strategic road mapping and deliver this infrastructure upgrade with little to no downtime or interruptions to our business.

“We can continue to grow Kefron AP at pace with the peace of mind that our IT infrastructure is fully scalable and enabling us to provide the highest levels of customer service. The Datapac solution has futureproofed our operations, maximising performance and ensuring the highest levels of security across the board.”

Pamela Keane, Service Delivery Manager, Datapac: “As long-term IT partner, Datapac are proud to play a continued role in Kefron’s ambitious evolution into the digital age. The innovative HPE Nimble platform, designed and delivered by Datapac, is helping Kefron to enhance the invoice processing services it provides to customers and is enabling the company to grow its user base. As Kefron’s customers extend across varying time zones, it’s essential that the platform underpinning their cloud service offering ensures the very best uptime possible.

“This technology harnesses the power of data and empowers Kefron with flexibility and scalability into the future. The solution provides the company with the platform and the confidence to keep innovating. We look forward to continuing to work with Kefron, building on our long and valued partnership.”

Irish family business Kefron to create up to 40 new jobs in 2022 as it reveals €1m investment

Leading Irish information management and accounts payable automation specialist, Kefron, has today announced a new partnership with Exclusive Networks. This partnership will support Kefron’s growth strategy as it seeks to create up to 40 new jobs within the coming year.

Kefron was selected by Exclusive Networks, a global trusted cybersecurity specialist and solution provider, as their global accounts payable automation partner. Using Kefron’s innovative software, Exclusive Networks can reduce the amount of manual data entry effort associated with processing their vendor and supplier invoices as the cyber security specialist enters new markets.

Today’s announcement will see Kefron provide Exclusive Networks’ global finance teams with a cloud-based platform that provides an accurate snapshot of Exclusive Networks AP department.  The Accounts Payable (AP) platform has been developed by Kefron’s in house development team while also benefiting from the latest advancements in machine learning technology, supported by a team of data engineering specialists based in Kefron HQ in Dublin.

With this new partnership Kefron will be able to pursue its own growth trajectory, investing €1m to bring its AP platform to new markets and expand its global customer base. This will result in the creation of 40 roles in the areas of emerging technology, customer experience and support. They will join the existing team of 120 at Kefron based out of Dublin and London. 

Paul Kearns, Managing Director, Kefron, said: “We are very excited to announce this partnership with Exclusive Networks today. As well as supporting Exclusive Networks as they seek to digitise their invoicing processes, eliminate errors and save valuable time, this partnership aligns with our own growth strategy as we look to enter new markets and expand our portfolio information management solutions. The new jobs being created will further enhance our capabilities and meet the needs of our global customers. We are very proud to partner with Exclusive Networks and look forward to working with them as they look to a future of enhanced transformation.”

“We chose Kefron as our global AP automation platform partner because they were one of few suppliers who could support both of our key requirements which include AP Automation and E-invoicing globally” said Stephanie Riera, Group Director of Finance & Transformation. “E-invoicing is fast becoming a mandatory requirement in European countries. This means that by law, clients will need to submit documents in specific formats approved by government to do business in that country. Kefron’s integration with Oracle NetSuite was also a key factor for us as we have invested in NetSuite to support our global growth”, commented Riera. Kefron is a “Built For NetSuite” verified solution and achieved the status from Oracle NetSuite in January 2021.

By 2024, it is estimated that the global e-invoice market will be worth more than €16 billion. This strong growth is being driven by digitalisation and government policy in countries across the world.

The new partnership between Kefron and Exclusive Networks will see Kefron’s AP software used in Singapore, Belgium, Denmark and Norway and in early 2022 will become available in a further 21 countries. As Exclusive Networks continue to scale their business, the intention would be that every location in which they operate in will eventually use Kefron AP as their invoice automation tool, creating further potential for expansion into new markets.

To find out more on Kefron’s AP automation solution log onto www.kefron.com/accounts-payable-invoice-automation-solution/

Kefron survey reveals majority of businesses planning for a partial return to office

Leading Irish document and information management provider, Kefron, today announced the results of its ‘2021 Smarter Office Survey’, revealing how Irish businesses are navigating the challenges of adapting their offices to the realities of the post-COVID environment.

The survey carried out in May of this year revealed that 79% of businesses were planning for only a partial return to the physical office in the recovery phase of the pandemic, with only 2 in 10 businesses currently seeking to fully return to the office in the coming months. When reflecting on the experience of a year of remote working, 38% of business reported seeing no change in productivity, 36% seeing an increase and 26% seeing a decrease.

In light the continuing demand for flexible working arrangements post-COVID, almost three-quarters of respondents agreed that accelerating the move to a smarter office, which enables employees to work from home or in-person, will be crucial to their organisation’s future success.

According to the new survey, the main obstacles facing businesses in reframing the role of the office this year include a continued leadership focus on mitigating the short-term challenges posed by the pandemic (35%), outdated work practices (23%), an absence of a digital strategy (12%) and a lack of in-house skills and expertise” (8%).

In embracing the potential of the smart office, business leaders expressed a range of priorities for the remainder of 2021. 28% of respondents agreed that maintaining a connected workforce will be their top priority, while 26% said that simplifying processes and work practices within the office will be the number one concern. This was followed by driving business efficiencies (13%) and improving productivity (12%).

Paul Kearns, Managing Director of Kefron said: “Our survey findings indicate that the Irish business landscape is going through a major transitional moment, especially with regard to how organisations think about the physical office. With the vast majority of businesses preparing for a partial, rather than full, return to the office, it’s now clear that the office will no longer confined to just four walls. It is becoming a hybrid space where employees can access information from any location securely so they can do their best work. At Kefron, we believe we are seeing the emergence of a smarter office fit for the future.  

“Business leaders voiced a number of concerns about the future of a smarter office, especially as it relates to employee collaboration and the threat of cyber-attacks. Going forward, the challenge for organisations of all sizes will be to develop robust systems that increase efficiency, reduce environmental damage, meet the needs of employees and customers alike, and protect their data from various existing and future risks. These concerns should be at the heart of each business’s plan as they embrace the smart office in 2021 and beyond.”

Other key findings of the survey include the following:

  • 78% of respondents said they were “more concerned” about the risk of fraud and cyber-crime since embracing remote work arrangements. 12% said they were directly affected by fraud incidents in the last 12 months.
  • 4 in 10 respondents said that their digital documentation and record systems were inadequate at the beginning of the pandemic.
  • 1 in 4 respondents agreed that “access to documents and information” proved to be a challenge during the pandemic.

Further details on the ‘2021 Smarter Office Survey’ can be found on: https://kefron.com/blog/smarter-office-survey/.