Fursetgruppen: Switches to the AI Solution SEMINE

– We weren’t just looking for an AI solution, but an end-to-end solution that could strengthen the value chain and accompany us on our future journey, replies Sergej Malytchev, CFO of Fursetgruppen.

Fra left: Sergej Malytchev, CFO in Fursetgruppen,Jesper Elimar Krumm, Sales Manager in Semine.

In 2022, Fursetgruppen expects to record annual revenues of almost NOK 600 million, distributed among 22 companies. The group owns and operates several of Oslo’s leading restaurant concepts, most notably Maaemo, Ling and Ekerbergrestauranten.

The group also imports food products, and is an established player in canteen operations.When we ask Malytchev to describe how Fursetgruppen came to choose SEMINE, he is quick to point out that such choices require extensive preparation, insight and evaluation. - You don’t just go for the first thing that catches your eye, he clarifies.

We established some parameters that were important for our evaluation. Firstly, we examined exactly how the system would affect our finance function based on our existing processes, and how it would impact our users. We also had to consider the impact on our 22 companies, who would also be affected by our decision. Finance staff and authorisers need to work together, so it was important for the new system to facilitate this. We feel that SEMINE helps us do this. In addition, we were looking for a long-term solution, which meant that we also needed to consider strategic compatibility and the system’s ability to deal with more complex operations in the future.

- Finance staff and authorisers need to work together, so it was important for the new system to facilitate this. We feel that SEMINE helps us do this.

READ MORE: Here’s why AI can make finance departments even more efficient

Goals, vision and concept

Fursetgruppen also considered a number of non-technical aspects in making their choice. It was important, Malytchev continues, that the system we chose also supported and matched the group’s goals, visions and strategy. Finding a system to meet both short- and long-term needs without involving unnecessary manual processes was slightly outside our normal experience range. Unfortunately, in practice operations in general, and in this case the finance function in particular, often have to adapt to the systems that have been chosen. - This was not the case with SEMINE. On the contrary, the solution meets all the group’s needs, and also adds value, he smiles.

 - Unfortunately, the finance function in particular must adapt to the systems that have been chosen. This was not the case with SEMINE. On the contrary, the solution meets all the group’s needs, and also adds value.

A simple and long-term choice

When we ask what distinguishes SEMINE from other solutions, Malytchev is also quite clear. “When you look at the market, there are quite a lot of people out there. Some are good at one thing, others at something else, and so on. What we feel makes SEMINE stand out is that it sees and streamlines the entire process, from the receipt through to the posting of invoices in the accounts. It deals with everything much better than anything we have seen before.

READ MORE: How efficient is actually your invoice processing?

Receipts, communication both internally and with the supplier, flow and documents are simply processed much more efficiently. --We have also found that SEMINE’s solution gives us a long-term perspective, by processing multiple elements in the value chain in a good and well-thought-out way.

- What we feel makes SEMINE stand out is that it sees and streamlines the entire process, from the receipt through to the posting of invoices in the accounts. It deals with everything much better than anything we have seen before.

Now we have a system that can grow with us and accompany the group on our growth journey. In that sense, we have to say that it was quite a simple choice really, concludes Malytchev.