Mazda New Zealand (NZ) is the official importer and distributor of Mazda vehicles across the country. From finance and parts to operations and accessories, they keep the business running smoothly with a tight-knit head office team of thirty people and a strong focus on operational excellence.
The team supports a busy dealer and service network, while staying closely connected to overseas manufacturing and supply partners. That means managing critical relationships, huge volumes of data and product, and juggling multiple stakeholder groups - all in a fast-moving environment.
With a small team, efficiency really matters. Instead of adding more people, they focus on finding smarter ways to work, using automation and innovation to lift productivity.
So, when they spotted risks and inefficiencies in their old finance system, they didn’t wait for things to go wrong. They made the call to modernise before it became a problem.
What needed to change?
Mazda NZ was working with a finance system that had done its time. Customisation was slow and expensive, and concerns around data and security were building.
A key part of the vision was a new parts portal for dealers. But with 75,000 active parts and some seriously tricky supersession rules, this wasn’t a simple plug-and-play decision. It needed a proper rethink.
Chris Tankard, General Manager of Operations, led the charge. With a background as a CIO, he’s helped many businesses move forward with technology, so he knows what’s possible, and how to get there.
We had to ask ourselves: do we update what we’ve got, or take the opportunity to introduce something better and build for the future?
The vision
Chris knew from experience that projects like this often share the same core elements - ledgers, balance sheets, inventory, the usual ingredients.
But it’s the nuances that trip you up. The little quirks that never show up on a whiteboard but can cause real problems if you don’t catch them early. Spotting those tricky areas early and solving them properly is often what makes the difference.
Mazda NZ had a clear direction and a solid set of priorities.
They wanted to roll out a new dealer portal so parts ordering and inventory management would be faster, easier, and less manual. They also needed the new system to connect with their existing warehouse platform, giving them full visibility and accountability from end to end across every order.
On top of that, they were looking for an ERP system that would:
- Reduce operational risk and improve security
- Provide real-time, accurate reporting across every stage of procurement
- Give dealers the tools to self-serve
- Support the business with a stable, scalable foundation for the future
- Automate and improve existing processes
What they built
After a structured partner and platform evaluation, Mazda selected Oracle NetSuite as their preferred ERP system and worked with Fusion5, as their implementation partner to deliver the solution.
The implementation combined:
- Oracle NetSuite Wholesale Distribution with Financials, Procurement, and Order-to-Cash
- A custom integration with Mazda’s long-standing on-premise Warehouse Management System
- Sales Order automation to reduce manual effort
- Accounts Payable automation using Fusion5’s ApprovalPlus
- A new Dealer Portal for streamlined parts lookup and ordering
One of the more complex areas was parts supersession where older parts are replaced by newer ones, but not always in a way that’s straightforward or interchangeable.
It’s a complex setup with loads of variables, and it takes time to fully understand how it all works. Getting it right isn’t about solving for now; it’s about designing something that will keep working as things change.
The team built in smart logic and automation to manage that complexity, so dealers could quote and order the right part with confidence.
A big part of the project’s success came down to collaboration. Mazda NZ and Fusion5 pulled together a focused, capable team that cared about getting it right.
Fusion5 brought the expertise and stayed close to the work. Team members were often embedded on site, getting to know the ins and outs of the business and the people behind it.
What the experience feels like now
For Mazda’s internal teams, the difference is immediate. There’s better visibility, automated processes, and real-time dashboards to flag anomalies.
“We’re not firefighting anymore,” says Chris. “The platform is secure, we get regular updates, and we don’t have to worry about patching old systems or managing security holes.”
For dealers, the new system means they can:
- Look up parts and supersession details
- See stock availability and ETAs
- Place and manage orders directly through the portal
Why it matters
The biggest gain for Mazda NZ is ‘certainty.’
Mazda NZ now has a stable platform, so they can focus on growing the business, not keeping outdated systems alive. Core systems are connected, and the risk that used to come with manual workarounds or old tech has been removed or at least significantly reduced.
And when something unusual happens in the data, the team sees it instantly and can act. Eliminating failed orders has saved time for everyone - dealers, customers, and the head office warehouse team.
Chris puts it simply:
I don’t want to worry about the basics. I want a platform I can trust so I can spend my time on what moves the business forward.
What's next
Oracle NetSuite doesn’t just solve today’s problems; it positions Mazda NZ for whatever comes next. As Chris says, “To be fleet of foot, you need good data and a solid foundation. Now we have both.”
Thinking about your own transformation?
If you're working with outdated finance systems, wrestling with complex vehicle parts inventory, or just looking for smarter ways to run your operations - you're not alone.
Success with platforms like NetSuite Wholesale Distribution shows the impact the right technology and the right partner can make. From order-to-cash automation and accounts payable automation to warehouse management system integration, digital transformation in the automotive industry isn’t just a future goal, it’s essential.
At Fusion5, we help automotive businesses deliver successful ERP implementations, improve auto parts inventory management, and build scalable operations with NetSuite ERP.
