Fossli Maskin switched from spreadsheets to PowerOffice: “We now have a completely different level of oversight”

Posting individual invoices, storing documents in binders, and making manual payments through online banking – switching to a fully digital system marked a turning point for the contractor from Hommelvik.

“Now we can use the numbers to actually steer the business,” says Martin Sommervold, Administrative Manager at Fossli Maskin.

- We grew, and needed to become more efficient.

The company from Trøndelag has been working with groundwork and outdoor construction for 15 years, with roots going back to the 1980s. But as they expanded, they noticed their financial processes were struggling to keep up.

“We simply outgrew our routines. We could no longer post or remit invoices one by one. Today, we receive 150 incoming invoices per week. That’s when you need a system that can streamline the process,” says Sommervold.

Control and Oversight

The solution came from the company’s new accounting partner, Aider (then Abra). In a short period, they replaced paper-based processes with a cloud-based solution.

“We didn’t have any accounting software before using online banking, so Aider suggested we start with PowerOffice Go. Getting started was actually very simple,” Sommervold explains.

The new system proved transformative for the contractor. No more wasting time and resources on manual “punching” of tasks that could be automated.

“It’s incredibly efficient to have a tailored system that communicates directly with the bank. But even more important than the time savings is the oversight we’ve gained. We now have full control over, for example, customer accounts and receivables at any given time.”

Managing by the Numbers

The solution came from the company’s new accounting partner, Aider (then Abra). In a short period, they replaced paper-based processes with a cloud-based solution.

“We didn’t have any accounting software before using online banking, so Aider suggested we start with PowerOffice Go. Getting started was actually very simple,” Sommervold explains.

The new system proved transformative for the contractor. No more wasting time and resources on manual “punching” of tasks that could be automated.

“It’s incredibly efficient to have a tailored system that communicates directly with the bank. But even more important than the time savings is the oversight we’ve gained. We now have full control over, for example, customer accounts and receivables at any given time.”

Managing by the Numbers

Having up-to-date data and complete visibility also allows Fossli Maskin to make better decisions. For them, the accounting system is as much a tool for project and business management as it is for bookkeeping.

“We actively use the numbers to monitor each project. How is liquidity and profitability? With better data, we can perform more accurate analyses of both time and material usage. By posting project accounts monthly, we gain full control over the finances,” Sommervold explains.

During this period, Fossli Maskin experienced rapid growth—so much so that they no longer prioritize handling accounting tasks themselves.

“With this growth, we preferred to allocate our resources to follow-up work out ‘in the field.’ A practical solution was for Aider in Stjørdal to assist us with daily accounting follow-up. Today, we have an advisor onsite one day a week, and it works very well,” Sommervold concludes.

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– “Local presence and human relationships are important to us. With Aider, we have someone we trust and have great chemistry with.”