The Challenge: An Ailing System in Critical Condition
While an innovator in its field, Wells Johnson’s back office was anchored in the past. The legacy systems were unsupported, unstable, and entirely manual. This posed significant business risks.
“Everything was paper-based,” explains Sean Petty, General Manager at Wells Johnson. “Everything took a lot of time, and our computers were crashing. It got to the point where we couldn’t even buy new computers, because the operating system, I think it was Windows 8, was the latest that we could possibly buy, but there was no support for it anymore. So, there was a great deal of planning for the future that we needed to get ahead of as well.”
The challenges were profound:
- Time-Consuming Workflows: Manual processes were incredibly slow. Sean explained the old method for sending a quote, “We would have to make copies, go and fax it or scan it and send to ourselves... and then email it to the customer, which for them [was] out of sight, out of mind at that point in time.”
- High Risk of Error: Salespeople relied on memory to build complex orders with multiple accessories. “You dreaded it,” admits D.J. Jelaca, who managed the ERP project, “because I’d have to run to one of the other salespeople and say, ‘Okay, now, what do I put in for this?’ which was highly prone to mistakes.”
- Lack of Critical Insight: With no integrated system, the team was operating with blind spots. As D.J. admits, “We didn’t know what we didn’t know.” The company didn’t have a place where all the data was consolidated and analyzed.
The Solution: Prescribing a Digital Remedy
The decision to choose Sage 100 was rooted first and foremost in deep-seated familiarity and trust. The company’s COO, Brad Corneliusen, had a long, positive history with Sage 100’s predecessor, MAS 90. This connection was so deeply based that, as General Manager Sean explains, their original MS-DOS system was custom-built to be “as close to the MAS 90 as it could be.”
Beyond established trust, Wells Johnson made a strategic choice for stability. In a market often captivated by unproven tech, they selected a battle-tested ERP known for its reliability—a critical trait for a manufacturer of medical instruments. The modular nature of Sage 100 offered the perfect path forward. “The possibility for us to grow into different modules as we needed them” was a critical factor, Sean notes. “We were able to scale ourselves into where we needed to be,” thus ensuring their company could adopt new functionality as their business evolved without a massive upfront investment in features they wouldn’t initially use.
First Steps of The Treatment Plan: A Deep Dive into Operations
The journey to Sage 100 was more than a software installation; it meant building the foundations for their business’ transformation. The implementation process, though “hectic at the time,” as D.J. called it, forced a period of intense and valuable self-assessment.
This is the moment that D.J. believes truly changed the company for the better. “I think it made us a better company,” he states emphatically. “We had to investigate our inventory, the way that we classified items and named items... it really made us do a dive deeply into the way we collected information and the way we wanted to assess it moving forward.” The team was forced to cleanse its 11,000-customer database and build structured, logical processes from the ground up. Though this was laborious, it was worthwhile investing the time in this process, and the result was soon obvious.
The Digital Leap: From Manual Tasks to Automated Workflows
With the foundation set, Wells Johnson began leveraging Sage 100 to systematically eliminate manual tasks and automate critical workflows. This digital leap has been a game-changer for their short and long-term efficiency and accuracy.
A Clean Bill of Health: Results that Endure Today
Years after going live, the stability and data clarity achieved with Sage 100 are precisely what enables Wells Johnson to navigate the volatile market of 2025 with confidence.
Automated Sales & Quoting: Quotes are now emailed directly from Sage. Complex orders are built, using option bills that automatically include all the necessary components on the sales order, ensuring accuracy and saving time. “Once it was up and running, it made a huge difference,” D.J. says.
Streamlined Financials: Credit card processing is fully integrated and secure within Sage. The Payroll module also provides critical peace of mind, a lesson D.J. learned firsthand. “A couple of years ago, I was called into Brad’s office (Wells Johnson Chief Operating Officer ). He said that something was wrong with the payroll program, because he had a couple of employees who mentioned that there was an issue with taking out any Federal withholding. My first reaction was, 'Oh, God! How do I approach this? But I was sceptical, could this system make a mistake?'” D.J checked the numbers and discovered the power of a system that is always current and updated. “Guess what? It was right on the money, to the cent. It had to do with the way the laws had changed, but Sage 100 is updated constantly; it updates as the laws change. It wasn’t a mistake – on the contrary, it was incredibly accurate and compliant and helpful – this is invaluable for our company. We can rest assured we are not missing a thing.”
Pinpoint Tax Accuracy with Avalara: As a company selling nationwide, keeping up with the changes in sales tax was a significant burden. RKL helped Wells Johnson implement the Avalara plug-in for Sage 100, which automatically calculates sales tax with precision. “It wasn’t fun [to implement],” D.J. notes, “but, boy, our lives are a lot easier because Sage has that functionality.”
The RKL Partnership: A Lifeline of Expertise and Support
Wells Johnson knew they needed more than software. They needed a partner. “We were looking for a resource, somebody that could help us,” recalls Sean. They found that in RKL eSolutions.
This partnership has provided invaluable support long after the go-live date. Consultant Tina Leonard was central to their success. “I can’t tell you what an asset she is to your company. She’s been invaluable to us,” says D.J. General Manager Sean agrees, adding that Tina has been a “phenomenal resource... a one-stop shop, and it’s been fantastic.
The support extends across the RKL team. D.J. praises Matt Rohr as “excellent” for his help on the Avalara and website integration projects, noting how he patiently walked him through the setup. RKL eSolution’s professional team of experts has been a constant resource for Wells Johnson over the last three years.
The Result: A Resilient Foundation for the Future
By moving from a manual past to an automated present, Wells Johnson has built a stronger, more resilient business. The true test of their transformation is its enduring impact. The accuracy and traceability achieved by Sage 100 were instrumental in their recent ISO 13485 certification—a critical step for global expansion.
This accomplishment wasn’t a separate initiative; it was the direct payoff from the traceability, accuracy, and process control they established with Sage 100 several years earlier. Armed with a clear understanding of their operations and a scalable ERP system, Wells Johnson is confidently prepared for the next chapter of their growth, able to meet modern challenges due to the fact that they built the right solid foundation.
