A healthcare organization had success with activity based costing. They used it to figure out the cost of different medical procedures. There are various activities involved in a medical procedure like the use of medical equipment, staff time for pre - and post - procedure care, and administrative tasks. ABC allowed them to see that some procedures were costing more than they were being reimbursed for. So, they adjusted their pricing strategies for those procedures, improved their internal processes to reduce costs, and as a result, they were able to improve their financial situation while still providing quality care.
A service - based firm also had a great experience with activity - based costing. They used to allocate costs based on a simple labor - hour metric. However, this was inaccurate as different services required different levels of support activities. Through ABC, they discovered that some high - volume but low - margin services were consuming a large amount of overhead resources like training and quality control. As a result, they adjusted their service offerings and pricing, which improved their customer satisfaction and bottom line.
One important element is the identification of cost drivers. In a logistics company, for instance, the number of shipments or the distance traveled can be cost drivers. When these are accurately identified through ABC, the company can better manage costs. Also, management buy - in is crucial. If management doesn't support the implementation of ABC, it won't be successful. In a software development firm, management needs to understand the benefits of ABC for it to work well and lead to success.
Another element is the identification of cost drivers. A logistics company might find that the number of shipments, distance traveled, and type of goods being transported are the main cost drivers. By understanding these, they can better manage costs. In activity - based costing customer success stories, this knowledge often leads to process improvements and more efficient operations. For instance, they can optimize routes or adjust packaging based on the cost drivers.
One success story is in the field of military intelligence. By using activity based intelligence, they were able to track the movements of enemy troops more accurately. They analyzed various activities such as communication patterns, supply chain movements, and troop deployments. This led to better strategic decisions and a significant advantage in combat situations.
One real story is about a haunted house. A family moved in and started experiencing strange noises at night. Doors would open and close on their own. They often felt cold spots in certain rooms. Eventually, they found out that a previous owner had died in the house under mysterious circumstances.
An environmental protection agency had a success story with activity based intelligence. They monitored industrial activities in a certain region related to pollution emissions. By analyzing production levels, waste disposal activities, and chemical usage, they were able to identify companies that were violating environmental regulations. This led to enforcement actions and a reduction in pollution levels in the area.
At school, we had a badminton tournament. There was a pair of students who were not the favorites to win. But they practiced different shots every day. They focused on their footwork and communication on the court. In the tournament, they surprised everyone by reaching the finals. Their story shows that with dedication, you can achieve great things in school sports.
In a construction company, a behavior - based safety initiative was launched. Supervisors started regularly observing workers' behaviors on site. They provided immediate feedback. Also, safety meetings were held more frequently to discuss safe behaviors. This led to a better safety culture, and the injury rate dropped by 30% over two years. Workers became more aware of their actions and the potential risks.
Zoom is also a great example of cloud - based communication success. During the pandemic, it became extremely popular for virtual meetings. Schools used it for online classes, and businesses for conferences. It enables high - quality video and audio calls, screen sharing, and breakout rooms. With its cloud infrastructure, it can handle a large number of users simultaneously. This made it possible for people all over the world to stay connected and continue their work and studies without major disruptions.
Company C in the manufacturing industry also had success. They used account based marketing to target large - scale clients. They segmented their accounts based on various factors such as size, needs, and location. For each segment, they developed tailored marketing campaigns. This led to a significant reduction in the sales cycle for these accounts. They were able to close deals 30% faster than before, and customer satisfaction among these accounts increased by a large margin.