Colonis Pharma
Case study

Colonis Pharma

Colonis Pharma is  an innovative value-added medicines company, operating across the UK and Europe with a focus on supporting patients globally in receiving the most appropriate and accessible treatment for a better quality of life. With ambitious international expansion plans and a clear strategic growth roadmap, the business required an ERP platform that could deliver independence, accuracy, and scalability.

Patty Efraimidou, Finance Director at Colonis Pharma, partnered with Datel to implement Sage Intacct, establishing a fully independent finance function and creating a solid foundation for international expansion.

Datel customer since: 2023

 

 

Building Independence to Enable Strategic Growth

Following separation from a previous parent company, Colonis continued operating under a legacy arrangement where financial services were outsourced. While workable in the short term, this structure limited operational independence and visibility.

As Colonis prepared for future growth and international expansion, full ownership of financial systems and data became essential.

At the same time, the business was migrating to a new distribution partner, redesigning operational processes, and building a new finance team. Their system had to go live on the exact same date as the distribution transition, a deadline that could not move.

“As part of our longer-term business planning & value creation strategy, we identified that operational independence from legacy systems & inefficient processes would be critical. One of the key areas requiring attention was finance, as we did not yet have our own standalone finance system.”

Patty Efraimidou, Finance Director

Why Sage Intacct and Why Datel?

After a structured RFQ process evaluating three solutions, Colonis selected Sage Intacct with Datel as its implementation partner. Alongside choosing the right cloud-based ERP, the priority was ensuring the right partner was in place to deliver successfully under tight timelines.

Datel demonstrated a strong understanding of Colonis’ operational complexity, pharmaceutical inventory requirements, and complex tax structures. The early discovery sessions were particularly valuable, helping translate strategic intent into a clear, scalable system design.

The combination of structured discovery, dedicated project management, and shared commitment ensured the project maintained momentum throughout. The project began in November and Sage Intacct went live on 1st March 2024 - aligned precisely with the distribution migration.

“I had the vision, but all the puzzle pieces weren’t fully formed. The sessions with Datel’s consultant really helped bring clarity. I genuinely enjoyed those discussions - they asked the right questions and helped shape the structure around what we were trying to achieve. With dedicated project management and the same level of commitment on both sides, it worked very well.” 

 Patty Efraimidou, Finance Director 

What Colonis Pharma has gained

Since going live with Sage Intacct and partnering with Datel, Colonis Pharma has achieved:

Operational independence

Full control and ownership of financial data, eliminating reliance on legacy systems and enabling true autonomy.

Improved reporting accuracy

System-driven month-end processes reducing manual intervention and lowering the risk of errors.

Greater efficiency

Streamlined reporting allowing the finance team to focus more time on analysis and strategic support rather than processing.

Pharma-aligned configuration

Inventory management and complex tax structures configured to meet regulatory and operational demands.

Scalability for growth

New legal entities, including the Netherlands, added seamlessly, with user numbers increasing from approximately 14 to 20 as the business expands.

A strong ongoing partnership

Dedicated project management, consistent and knowledgeable support, and continued optimisation work have ensured Sage Intacct continues to evolve alongside the business.

Colonis Pharma’s Sage Solution from Datel

The Datel Team partnered with Colonis Pharma to deliver a Sage Intacct solution that supports them in their growth journey, ensuring a seamless transition from their legacy system.

See how Datel can support your transformation journey

Sage Intacct implementation

Multi-entity configuration

Pharmaceutical inventory configuration

Reporting and dashboard optimisation

Complex tax setup

Intacct illustration - PPC

Advice to Finance Leaders Embarking on ERP Transformation

Reflecting on the implementation, Patty emphasises that successful ERP projects are as much about people and preparation as they are about technology. Here is Patty's advice for finance leaders that are embarking on ERP transformation.

1. Engage stakeholders early

Even those who may not initially seem directly impacted. Large-scale system change often has wider operational implications than anticipated, and broader early engagement helps reduce last-minute pressure and unexpected requirements before go-live.

2. Allow sufficient time for testing

In time-pressured projects, testing can feel like a final step, but it builds confidence across the business, validates processes, and significantly reduces risk at go-live.

3. Invest time upfront in project discovery

This allows consultants to fully understand the operational model, regulatory environment, and long-term ambitions leading to better design decisions and stronger outcomes.

Martin Boyd - Headshot

The partnership with Colonis Pharma

“Working with Patty and the team at Colonis Pharma was a true collaboration. With a fixed go-live deadline linked to a distribution transition, there was no room for delay. Their commitment and clarity around what they wanted to achieve allowed us to deliver Sage Intacct in a way that supported both immediate operational needs and long-term international growth. It’s rewarding to see how the platform continues to evolve as the business expands.”

Martin Boyd, Customer Success Manager, Datel

Ready to move to the cloud?

Sage Intacct's cloud-native platform drives business transformation with real-time insights and built in automation. See how your business can benefit from moving to Sage Intacct. 

Schedule a demo

See how we've helped other businesses to reach their potential