Detroit PBS Modernizes Finance: From Paper Bottlenecks to Cloud-Powered Clarity

From bottlenecks to real-time breakthroughs

Detroit PBS has been a household name in Southeast Michigan for over 70 years. But behind the scenes of its beloved TV and radio programming, the finance team was dealing with a workflow stuck in the past.

“We had a physical documentation process, desk to desk,” said Rama Sriram, Controller at Detroit PBS. “If someone was out of office, the whole process just stopped.” 

‍Vendor payments. Budgeting forecasting. Cashflow visibility.‍

All of it was slowed by manual approvals and outdated systems. When paperwork stalled, payments got delayed, and the ripple effects showed up in the organization’s financial performance. 

“It wasn’t just about inefficiency. It was frustrating, for my team and for our vendors,” Sriram explained. “We were losing time we couldn’t afford to lose.” 

The tipping point

Detroit PBS knew they needed a change and fast. They wanted better forecasting, easier approvals, and flexible reporting their stakeholders could actually use. After hearing glowing feedback from other nonprofits, they turned to Alta Vista Technology to help guide the selection of the right solution for them, which ended up being Sage Intacct. 

“Alta Vista came highly recommended,” said Sriram. “We heard about how easy Sage Intacct is to use and how responsive the Alta Vista team is. That really sealed it for us.” 

Successful implementation, without the headaches

The roll out took just four months, start to finish. From GL and AP to budgeting and dashboards, every module was configured to match how Detroit PBS works. Alta Vista guided the entire implementation and managed the data migration with clear expectations, using our proven ClearPath methodology to ensure a smooth transition. 

“We used standard modules, but everything was tailored to what we needed,” said Sriram. “The dashboards especially were a game-changer.” 

Finance that moves at the speed of broadcast

Today, Detroit PBS has a centralized, cloud-based system that works the way they do. Stakeholders across the organization now get real-time access to the data they need, no more chasing down reports or playing gatekeeper.

Forecasts are collaborative. Corrections don’t require new entries. And the entire approval process flows smoothly, even when someone’s out of office.

“Project owners don’t have time to wait on us anymore, they go into Sage Intacct, check the dashboards, and get what they need. That’s a huge shift [for us],” said Sriram. 

The bottom line

The move from Sage Intacct didn’t just improve efficiency, it transformed the entire finance function at Detroit PBS. 

The biggest stat? An 89% reduction in paper check usage. ‍

“That’s a big savings for us. And switching to a cloud-based server has helped us work more collaboratively than ever,” said Sriram. “The team is extremely happy. Thumbs up all around!” 

Ready to bring your nonprofit finance into the future?

Let’s make manual reporting, paper checks, and approval bottlenecks a thing of the past.

At Alta Vista Technology, we help nonprofit finance teams like yours modernize with tools that work for real teams and real missions.

Let’s talk.‍