Long-term technology partnerships can be difficult to maintain. Enterprise software changes quickly, the technology landscape evolves, vendor relationships shift, and IT leaders regularly reassess whether their providers still deliver value.
However, for REA Group, operator of realestate.com.au, a 10-year relationship with NetSuite integrator and services provider Annexa has gone from strength to strength.
The collaboration has driven continuous innovation across REA’s finance systems and evolved what both companies are celebrating as a strong model of long-term partnership.
REA Group and Annexa started working together in 2014 when the former needed to replace its ageing ERP system that could no longer support its expansion plans.
At the time, REA Group’s ERP was end-of-life and was creating many month-end challenges. A company representative described it as effectively a series of databases that had to be loaded and reloaded multiple times to get the final results.
Annexa consolidated 26 separate databases into a single NetSuite OneWorld platform, creating a global finance system that eliminated manual consolidations and delivered real-time reporting. Month-end processes that once stretched across weeks now happen in a fraction of that time.
A Track Record of Efficiency and Success
The partnership has since extended beyond the initial implementation.
Over 10 years, Annexa and REA have built custom solutions including a CAPEX module for software project tracking, an automated dunning system for collections, Slack integration for purchasing approvals, and playbooks for acquisition integrations.
“We really do see Annexa as our partner and they are effectively an equal partner with us,” said REA Group Senior Manager, ERP, Philip Moon. “We wanted Annexa to be there with us in the trenches. They’ve become integral to the success of the platform.
“We have 10 years worth of ways of working that have evolved and developed and they run pretty slick at the moment.
“As a result, we don’t need to invest time in establishing how we work or who’s on the job. Annexa knows how REA works. Annexa knows what’s required. Annexa knows our internal controls, processes and technology stack. So they can just focus on delivering.”
Annexa Director Matthew Owens said for his company, working with a high-profile technology leader has been professionally rewarding.
“Everyone’s very proud to be working with such a recognisable brand that’s performed so well,” he said.
“As a tech consulting firm, the team takes a lot of pride in working with a leader in technology and innovation and actually being able to get in there and work alongside them to challenge them on things.
“Our business has grown significantly over the duration of the partnership and REA has grown even faster. We’ve been challenged every week with new opportunities and it’s enabled us to keep extending our technical capabilities,”
“REA has very strong technical expertise internally and I think our team benefit from being able to see how REA goes about their work. We help them and they help us learn and evolve our business.” said Owens
Strong Roots and Bright Future
Annexa is an established NetSuite Solution Provider Partner and Systems Integrator with more than 30 years in operation and a team of more than 65 in-house NetSuite experts across Australia and New Zealand.
The company has completed over 200 NetSuite implementations and has received NetSuite accolades every year since 2015. Annexa was Australia’s first NetSuite Commerce Partner and, in 2024, was awarded NetSuite ANZ Growth Partner of the Year.
Annexa also became the first NetSuite partner in JPAC to earn the Expertise in SuiteCloud Technologies badge under the NetSuite Partner Program, with that achievement building on the company’s 2024 recognition as the first partner in the region to achieve the Oracle NetSuite Solution Provider – Expertise in ERP Certification.
As the world of business moves further into AI experimentation and practical implementation, both REA and Annexa are exploring AI applications within NetSuite, focusing on processes specific to REA operations.
Potential applications include automated insights, trend forecasting, and task automation that allows finance teams to review and approve rather than complete manual work.
“It’s about drilling into REA’s specific business processes and then using AI for processes and tasks that will surface the most value,” Owens said.
REA Group, which began in a Melbourne garage in 1995, now operates Australia’s leading residential property website, realestate.com.au, which attracts more than 12 million Australians each month. The company also operates the commercial property marketplace realcommercial.com.au
REA Group owns multiple property technology businesses including Mortgage Choice, PropTrack, Campaign Agent and Realtair, and holds strategic investments in property and fintech companies across Australia, India, Canada and the United States.
