Duco Media

This vibrant marketing agency based in Ottawa, has been going from stride to stride since 2016, growing and expanding their business.

Emrah Eren, CEO of Duco Media says their success in delivering creative solutions has fueled rapid growth. But with success came new challenges. Managing their finances became trickier as projects grew larger and more complex. And they needed a solution that could keep pace with their expansion – not just in Ottawa, but also as they ventured into the US market.

Needing a stand-out small business platform

With the agency’s success came admin challenges which were slowing down processes. Simply, the financial systems they were using were not built for the speed at which the agency was growing.

Invoicing, cash flow, and financial reporting became increasingly difficult to manage. And their existing processes were inefficient, taking up valuable time and sometimes leading to delay in paying bills and getting paid from their clients.

Emrah and his team needed a stand out platform that could support their diverse client needs as well as their own growth, all while being user-friendly enough for a busy team without a dedicated finance expert.

“We didn’t have the systems in place to handle our growing workload, larger and more complex projects, our expansion into the United States, and a growing team,” said Emrah. “We realized we needed to get serious about cash flow, revenue forecasting, and having a flexible platform that could adapt to the various demands of our clients and stakeholders.”

When the accountant delivers a successful pitch

Emrah said he needed a solution that he could pick up and run with. In 2021, their accountant stepped in with a game-changing pitch: ‘Why not give Xero a try?’

“As a small agency owner who wears many hats (and doesn’t have a finance background), I found Xero’s clean, user-friendly interface made everything easy. Coming from the marketing world, I appreciate software that balances design with feature set—and Xero does just that.”

Cloud-based accounting also meant they could manage their finances from anywhere, a perfect fit for their fast-paced, on-the-go work style.

Switching to Xero was refreshingly straightforward for Emrah and his team. Duco Media quickly set up their bank reconciliations, key integrations like Stripe for direct online payments, as well as customized invoice reminders which minimized the need for manual follow-ups. Plus, Xero’s financial reporting tools gave them new insights into their cash flow, and added to a new, streamlined process, making their finances more efficient than ever.

Delivering on the brief

Xero didn't just streamline Duco Media's financial management, and meet their brief – it transformed the way they did business.

With online payments and automated reminders, they saw a 35% improvement in payment collection speed. Delays for payments became a thing of the past, and now most invoices now paid on time or within 1-3 days.

This newfound financial clarity and efficiency had a direct impact on their bottom line. In fact, from 2022 to 2023, Duco Media saw a 120% surge in revenue. Xero's cash flow forecasting tools gave them the data they needed to make informed decisions, driving growth and success.

“Before Xero, we typically got paid 15 to 20 days past the deadline, depending on the terms. Now, we’ve reduced that to just 1-3 days past due, and most invoices are paid on time. This has made a big difference in our cash flow.”

“Keep it simple,” Emrah said. “Make sure your invoicing system is easy to understand, and connect it to online payment options. Communicate your payment terms clearly upfront, and use automatic reminders to follow up. Offering multiple payment methods helps too, and clear, consistent communication can avoid most late payments.”

But it wasn't just about the numbers. Xero freed up the Duco Media team’s time, allowing them to focus on what they do best: delivering exceptional creative solutions to their clients.

Testimonial

Emrah Eren, CEO of Duco Media, sums up their experience: "Using cloud-based software like Xero has been a game-changer for Duco Media. It gives us the financial clarity and flexibility we need from anywhere, anytime. Managing cash flow isn't a guessing game anymore – it's a data-driven process that helps us make smarter decisions."

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