CUSTOMER STORY

Weight Watchers of Maine moves their financials to the cloud

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  • The challenge: Unique needs going unmet with old accounting software

    • The challenge: Unique needs going unmet with old accounting software

    Weight Watchers of Maine logo

    Before making the switch to Gravity Software (Gravity), WW of Maine was using Microsoft Dynamics® GP (aka Great Plains) as their accounting system. Although business was going well, they had three major needs that were not being met by their previous solution:

    1. Better reporting capabilities

    The main thing holding the business back was an inability to access comprehensive financial reports in a timely and efficient manner. Ed Porter, Accounting Manager for WW of Maine, had to manually compile reports, piecing together information in a process that could take an entire day to complete. With management asking for weekly and monthly reports, Porter was spending an inordinate amount of time compiling information instead of focusing on financial analysis that could benefit the business. “I wanted something that was easier to use and something I could get the information out of easier,” Porter said. “We needed a solution that was a little more streamlined.”

    2. Unique fiscal calendar

    Instead of using calendar months to track financials, WW of Maine operates on a weekly system. Unfortunately, most of the accounting solutions available are not able to accommodate these unique accounting periods. This meant that they would have to conform their business practices to the accounting software, and not the other way around. Porter knew they needed a new accounting solution that could be personalized to fit their business needs.

    3. Cloud-based accounting

    The main driver behind their search for a new accounting solution was aging technology. Their previous accounting software was installed on a remote server that could only be accessed by physically going into the office. This made it impossible to work from home and meant the franchise was less flexible in responding to changing business needs. Not only that, but the remote server that stored their accounting system was nearing the end of its lifecycle and had to be replaced. Leadership was faced with the decision to either pay a software developer to install Microsoft Dynamics GP on a new server and migrate data to that new server, or simply find a more cost-effective solution.

  • The solution: Cloud-based accounting to boost efficiency

    • The solution: Cloud-based accounting to boost efficiency

    Gravity Software multi-entity accounting icon

    Instead of investing in outdated technology with a new remote server, WW of Maine’s leadership made the decision to switch all of their financials over to Gravity Software. “We really saved a lot of money just by going with Gravity Software and starting fresh,” Porter said.

    With the help of Gravity’s dedicated support team, Porter quickly migrated all relevant financial data to Gravity’s cloud-based accounting system. Porter also used Gravity’s personalization options to set up unique accounting periods that reflected the company’s preferred fiscal calendar, something he said was missing in other accounting solutions he considered.

  • The result: Faster reporting, better financial insights

    • The result: Faster reporting, better financial insights

    Improved financial reporting and faster month-end close using Gravity Software

    WW of Maine saw an instant improvement in their reporting capabilities, both in terms of the time required to create reports and in ease of use.

    “Now, instead of piecing that information together from Dynamics GP, I just run a report in Gravity and there it is. It’s much more streamlined,” Porter said. “It used to take me a full day to get some of the financial reporting done, and now it just takes me a couple hours.”

    Switching to a cloud-based system not only saved the company money on server costs, but the flexibility made Porter more valuable because he can now view financial records from anywhere. Being able to access the system remotely also proved a lifesaver when the coronavirus pandemic forced employees to work from home.

    Porter said that because of the innovations Gravity Software was able to bring to WW of Maine, the owners of the franchise now have a better understanding of where the company is financially, and are better positioned to meet financial challenges and grow the business. “Gravity Software is easy to log into and to get to the information I need. It’s just much easier.”

  • About WW of Maine

    • About WW of Maine

    Weight Watchers of Maine logo

    Weight Watchers of Maine, Inc. (aka WW of Maine) is an independent franchise of Weight Watchers® International incorporated in 1968 by Marie and Walter Ludwick. The franchise is still owned and operated by the Ludwick family and is one of the few independent franchises in the company’s portfolio. They serve the greater Portland, Maine, area and help members achieve their health and wellness goals.

    Industry: Weight Loss Service

    Number of Gravity Users: 1

    Previous Accounting Solution: Microsoft Dynamics GP

    Key results:

    1

    Fast, insightful reporting

    WW of Maine dramatically reduced the time spent creating reports while empowering their team with easy-to-use tools that deliver accurate insights on demand.

    2

    Customizable financial calendar

    Gravity's customizations allowed WW of Maine to operate on their preferred weekly system instead of standard calendar months. 

    3

    Access to financials anytime, anywhere

    Switching to a cloud-based system saved the company money on server costs and allowed staff to view financial records at a moment's notice. 

    4

    7-Minute demo highlights

    Take a quick look at Gravity’s top features that helped WW of Maine take their accounting to the next level.

    Watch demo highlights!

  • The Accounting Manager's perspective: Streamlined financials thanks to the cloud

    • The Accounting Manager's perspective: Streamlined financials thanks to the cloud

    Edward Porter, Weight Watchers of Maine Accounting Manager

    Before Gravity Software, reporting at WW of Maine was a slow, manual process — requiring hours of data gathering and reconciliation just to produce a single report. For Accounting Manager Ed Porter, insights were delayed and time was lost to spreadsheets. Fortunately, with Gravity, reporting became instant and intuitive. 

    “Now, instead of piecing information together from Dynamics GP, I just run a report in Gravity and there it is. It’s much more streamlined.”

    Edward Porter, Accounting Manager, Weight Watchers of Maine, Inc.

    Download the Case Study
  • Resources for weight loss franchises looking to move to the cloud

    • Resources for weight loss franchises looking to move to the cloud

    G2 'Users Love Us' badge, recognizing Gravity Software for its high customer satisfaction with an average rating of 4.0 stars or higher

    Gravity Software empowers WW of Maine with better reporting capabilities, a calendar tailored to unique accounting periods, and cloud-accessible accounting. Check out these resources to learn how Gravity's features can do the same for your weight loss franchise.

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    See Gravity Live
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    Power smarter franchise growth with Gravity Software.

    WW of Maine transformed the way they manage their finances — gaining real-time reporting, flexible accounting calendars, and secure access to financial data,  wherever and whenever they need it.

    Gravity Software is purpose-built for multi-entity and franchise organizations that have outgrown obsolete, legacy accounting systems. Our solution delivers the clarity, control, and speed finance teams need to operate efficiently and scale without friction.

    See Gravity in action by scheduling a demo today!

     
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