From Spreadsheets to Enterprise Systems: Rapid Flexibility with UI Bakery at Zest Dental

The Problem 

Zest Dental Solutions has experienced remarkable growth, particularly in its “direct to dentist” business model. This growth resulted in a surge in order volumes, creating operational bottlenecks across contract management and accounting reconciliation processes.  

Historically, Zest relied on manual workflows supported by spreadsheets, which were inefficient and labor-intensive. Adding to the complexity was the need to integrate data from various business systems and reconcile transactions across multiple accounting platforms, payment processors, and eCommerce systems. Scaling these processes without significantly increasing headcount became a critical challenge.  

While exploring solutions, Zest evaluated several low-code platforms, including AppSmith, Retool, Google AppSheet, Zoho Creator, and Budibase. However, none met their requirements for affordability and extendibility, with some offering confusing usage-based pricing and others being too limited in functionality.  

Zest discovered UI Bakery and was impressed by its hybrid approach, which combined ease of use with robust flexibility and scalability. By leveraging UI Bakery, Zest’s lean technology team rapidly developed and deployed two transformative applications:  

Contract Management Platform

   - Streamlined the legacy process of creating and managing customer pricing agreements.  

   - Integrated seamlessly with Zest’s business systems (ERP, WMS, etc.).  

   - Enabled team members to generate agreements, manage existing ones, and access comprehensive reporting tools.  

Accounting Reconciliation Framework

  - Centralized data from multiple accounting systems, payment processors, and eCommerce platforms.  

   - Simplified transaction reconciliation and accelerated month- and year-end closures.  

UI Bakery allowed Zest to quickly iterate on MVPs, test solutions with business stakeholders, and customize applications for long-term scalability. This flexibility eliminated historical complexity barriers and enabled Zest to address challenges with technology rather than manual labor.  

While still early in their low-code development journey, Jason admits the team has already surpassed initial expectations:  

- UI Bakery has enabled the creation of both simple, spreadsheet-like tools and highly complex, business-critical systems.  

- The MVPs developed using UI Bakery have evolved into powerful, scalable applications that enhance operational efficiency and productivity.  

- Zest’s technology-first mindset has transformed its approach to growth, empowering its lean team to achieve more without expanding its headcount.  

Jason’s positive experience with UI Bakery has reaffirmed their decision to onboard the Enterprise solution for 2024. The company is excited to continue leveraging the platform to support future growth and innovation.