Brief Summary

Balkan Services implemented the cloud-based solution Qlik at Kika Group to consolidate data from the company’s various international structures and provide a comprehensive, real-time view of the business. The solution automates sales and inventory analysis processes, facilitates the tracking of key performance indicators, and accelerates the preparation of reports and analyses. Thanks to the system, Kika Group has optimized its operations, improved inventory management, and supported timely business decision-making.

About the Company

Kika Group is the company behind the KikkaBoo brand – a baby products brand established in 2016 and successfully marketed in over 40 countries. The headquarters are in Bulgaria, and the company is expanding with branches in Spain and China. The majority of the business is export-oriented, with the foreign branches having their own warehouse facilities.

The Need for a New System

The need to consolidate data from the various independent management systems of Kika Group’s Bulgarian and Spanish subsidiaries, as well as to provide quick access to a comprehensive view of the business at any given moment, led to the decision to implement the new Qlik Business Intelligence system at Kika Group.

Project objectives

• Consolidating data from the various independent management systems of the Bulgarian and Spanish subsidiaries;
• Providing quick access to a comprehensive view of the business at any given moment;
• Automating data analysis processes for inventory and sales;
• Enhancing reporting and optimizing operational workflows;
• Supporting strategic decision-making through better business analysis;
• Providing a unified system for analyzing the company’s business.

The Solution

A comprehensive business analytics system based on Qlik was developed for the company, covering and automating the processes for analyzing inventory and sales data within the organization.

The cloud version of the business intelligence software has been implemented at Kika Group. The BI project began with an analysis of the company’s reporting requirements and needs.

After the BI system was built and tested, user feedback was incorporated, allowing it to be configured to best meet the company’s needs.

Results

• The company has a complete overview of its business in one place;
• A fourfold acceleration in the process of generating specific reports;
• Simplified analysis of sales across various segments – customers, products, markets, and sales representatives;
• An automated process for analyzing deliveries, leading to greater precision in orders;
• Quick and easy tracking of key business metrics such as revenue by country and customer, and gross margin;
• Improved analysis of inventory turnover – when it was ordered, when it arrived, the timeframe in which sales are realized, and the stock levels the company needs to maintain;
• Simplified planning of future orders;
• Faster preparation of purchase orders to manufacturers, which improves inventory management and optimizes sales;
• Simplified tracking of leading brands by sales and by category;
• Simplified analysis down to the lowest level – a specific product.

Brief Summary

Balkan Services implemented a cloud-based data and AI solution using Qlik at “Black Sea Gold” to enable more effective sales analysis and processing of large volumes of data. The solution provides quick access to up-to-date information, facilitates the analysis of distributor data, and supports informed management decision-making. Thanks to the cloud-based BI software, the company has improved its reporting processes, data security, and access to information from various devices and locations.

About the Company

Black Sea Gold AD is among the 15 largest employers in the “Beverage Manufacturing” sector in Bulgaria. The producer of wines, brandies, and rakia has been in business for over 90 years, and over the years its products have received numerous Bulgarian and international awards and medals.

The Need for a New System

As its business expanded, Black Sea Gold reached a point as early as 2007 where it could no longer process the massive volume of data without a specialized system. In response to this need, the organization implemented the Qlik data and AI solution for analysis.

As a natural extension of the project and to ensure even more precise and flexible information, in 2022 “Black Sea Gold” moved to a new level of business intelligence by implementing the cloud version of the Qlik BI software.

Project Objectives

• Enabling the processing of large volumes of data through a specialized BI software;
• Analyzing sales and distributor data (Sales Out);
• Providing more precise and flexible business information;
• Ensuring access to data from any location and device;
• Working with the always up-to-date version of the BI software;
• Improving data security;
• Accelerating analysis and reporting processes;
• Supporting informed management decisions based on up-to-date data.

The Solution

The Qlik data and AI solution for analysis has been implemented at Black Sea Gold, covering the analysis of sales and distributor data (so-called Sales Out). As a natural extension of the project and to provide even more precise and flexible information, in 2022 “Black Sea Gold” moved to a new level of business intelligence by implementing the cloud version of the BI solution.

Results

• Quick and easy access to comprehensive real-time business information;
• Significant acceleration of analysis and reporting processes – daily, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and other periods;
• Ability to accurately analyze sales by region, city, customer group, product, and more;
• Simplified real-time tracking of metrics such as turnover, profit, excise taxes, discounts, cost of goods sold, sales including excise taxes, VAT, and more;
• Simplified evaluation of the company’s distributors’ performance;
• Convenient access to reports via any device and from any location;
• Simplified data analysis from multiple perspectives;
• Faster and easier informed management decision-making based on accurate and up-to-date data;
• Significant time savings for key employees.

Brief Summary

The project involved localizing the Oracle Netsuite ERP system to meet Bulgarian accounting and tax requirements, automating key financial processes, and establishing an invoice approval process in an environment with over 100 companies and hundreds of users. As a result, Enery has optimized document management, improved process control, and increased the efficiency of daily operations.

The collaboration between Enery and Balkan Services is characterized by rapid implementation, high expertise, and timely support, ensuring the sustainability and reliability of business processes.

About the Company

Enery Services EAD is a renewable energy infrastructure management company that provides affordable and reliable clean energy to its customers.

The organization controls the entire renewable energy production chain, making it a comprehensive solution for industrial customers, utilities, and governments. Headquartered in Austria, the company acquires, develops, builds, and operates renewable energy power plants throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

The Need for a New System

Enery’s headquarters in Vienna manages its business processes using the leading cloud-based ERP system, Oracle NetSuite. In an effort to ensure full compliance with Bulgarian accounting standards and local legislation, the solution has been successfully localized for the territory of Bulgaria.

Project Objectives

• Implementation of Bulgarian localization package for the Oracle NetSuite cloud ERP system to support the centralized management of business processes;
• Ensuring full compliance with Bulgarian accounting and tax requirements through system localization;
• Automation and optimization of financial and administrative processes;
• Establishing an effective invoice approval and management process (AP Approval Process), part of the overall Procure-to-Pay cycle;
• Improving control, traceability, and transparency when working with multiple companies and users;
• Increasing operational efficiency and streamlining the daily work of teams.

The Solution

With the implementation of Oracle NetSuite localizations‘ and automations developed by Balkan Services, Enery has succeeded in centralizing the management of financial and administrative processes within a unified cloud platform. The solution ensures compliance with local regulatory requirements, streamlines document processing and approval, and improves control over operations within an organization comprising over 100 companies across several countries and hundreds of active system users.

The project was implemented entirely remotely in less than a month.

Results

• Optimized monitoring and analysis of document processing times and identification of potential delays, enabling continuous optimization and acceleration of the process;
• Automated generation of accounting documents in accordance with Bulgarian legislation and accounting standards, calculation of VAT for the territory of Bulgaria, SAP, and DAP as required by Bulgarian legislation;
• A structured document approval process with multi-level logic based on companies, departments, profit centers, and document value;
• Enhanced control, traceability, and efficiency in managing approval and payment processes to suppliers;
• Reduction of manual processing and acceleration of financial operations through automated payment following final approval;
• Ensured business continuity through designated alternates at various stages of approval;
• Increased efficiency through an implemented system for automatic email notifications to responsible parties.

Brief Summary

“Lavena” AD is implementing the cloud-based BI solution with Qlik in collaboration with Balkan Services to enable faster and easier access to information and more effective data analysis. The project provides predefined reports and analyses, as well as the ability for users to create their own reports according to their needs. Thanks to the system, the “Lavena” team works with up-to-date data, which facilitates sales analysis and supports timely management decision-making.

About the Company

Lavena AD is a leading manufacturer of cosmetic products and lavender oil in Bulgaria. Over the past 60 years, the company has established its brands across 5 continents and in over 40 countries. In addition to the popular “Bochko” products for children and babies, the company also owns the brands “My Nature,” “Bebble,” “Maternea,” “My Rose,” “Kiki,” “Hard-Working Hands,” “Hands@Work,” “Footness,” and “Sport Ready.”

The company produces 50 tons of lavender oil annually, which ranks it among the world’s leading lavender oil producers.

The Need for a New System

As Lavena AD’s business and data volume grew, quick access to accurate and timely information began to pose a challenge. Generating the necessary reports takes more and more time, the scope of the reports is insufficient, and every additional breakdown requires extra time.

Project Goals

• Faster and easier access to information;
• More effective data analysis;
• Automation of data processing and analysis;
• Working with up-to-date data in real time;
• Facilitating sales analysis;
• Ability to create personalized reports and statements;
• Supporting timely management decisions.

The Solution

The joint BI project between “Lavena” and Balkan Services streamline and automates business analysis processes in the sales sector. The developed BI application includes a central company-level dashboard, customizable reports tailored to specific business needs, as well as analysis of products, customers, discount analysis, geofencing, and receivables.

Results

• A single source of information: an effective tool for analysis and decision-making, providing all users with access to consistent data on key business metrics;
• A streamlined and accelerated process for processing and analyzing sales data;
• Faster identification of problem areas and timely decision-making;
• Streamlined and accelerated process for analyzing various sales discounts – monthly, quarterly, annual – and their impact on sales;
• Faster and easier access to predefined reports and analyses;
• Ability to generate customized reports with just a few clicks;
• Increased accuracy of sales data and quick access to up-to-date information;
• Timeliness and convenience in using available information;
• Significant time savings for key employees.