A Global Leader with Local Challenges
For over 40 years, Esaote has been at the forefront of diagnostic imaging - ultrasound, MRI, and medical IT solutions used by hospitals and clinics worldwide.
With operations spanning multiple sites and a reputation for precision, reliability, and innovation, Esaote carries the responsibility of delivering world-class technology to healthcare professionals who rely on nothing less than excellence.
Yet even leaders in healthcare face cost pressures. Esaote’s operations included a complex mix of transportation, courier services, rental agreements, cleaning, and general services. The challenge was to reduce costs and increase efficiency without undermining quality, compliance, or the operational continuity critical in healthcare.
The Turning Point: Why ERA?
Esaote turned to ERA because of its multi-category expertise, market benchmarking, and consultative approach. The mandate was clear: find not just quick wins, but structural improvements in how costs were managed.
“Non-core activities, which for us represent a support area, are at the very centre of ERA’s expertise. This complementarity proved to be a winning factor.” — Domenico Fazio, Operations Director, Esaote
Translating Insight into Action
ERA began with a cross-functional review of Esaote’s major indirect cost areas, from international and domestic logistics to rental agreements and cleaning services.
Logistics & Freight (Couriers & Small Parcels)
ERA identified pricing anomalies in existing courier contracts. Through benchmarking and renegotiation, they achieved €160,000 in savings, a 23% reduction in courier costs.
Rental Agreements (Production Sites)
One of the most complex challenges lay in rationalising rental contracts for the Genoa production site. Negotiations involved not only Esaote’s management team but also the site’s investment fund owner (a major banking group) and their legal advisors.
The result: €500,000 in savings, representing a 50% reduction in annual rental expenditure. Crucially, the solution was effective on three levels - negotiation, legal, and environmental - safeguarding production needs while optimising cost.
Cleaning Services
Here, ERA confirmed Esaote’s excellent supplier management. No additional savings were identified, but the company’s high standards were recognised with a Certificate of Excellence.
Across all categories, ERA’s approach was pragmatic and collaborative: customised solutions, gradual transitions, and constant involvement of internal stakeholders. This ensured that even as contracts and processes shifted, Esaote’s day-to-day healthcare operations remained uninterrupted.
Breakdown of Results
€660,000
Annual Savings
Total annual savings achieved across logistics, freight, and rental categories.
€160,000
Logistics & Freight Savings
A 23% reduction in courier costs achieved through benchmarking and renegotiation of existing contracts.
€500,000
Rental Savings
A 50% reduction in annual rental expenditure at the Genoa production site, effective across negotiation, legal, and environmental dimensions.
50%
Reduction in Rental Costs
Rental contracts for the Genoa production site were renegotiated, halving annual expenditure whilst safeguarding production needs.
23%
Reduction in Courier Costs
Pricing anomalies were identified and renegotiated across existing courier contracts, delivering significant freight cost savings.
Uncover latent value within your cost structure
Challenges and Change Management
Introducing changes within a high-intensity healthcare environment necessitated more than mere negotiation. It demanded trust, clarity, and meticulous planning.
- ERA implemented phased transitions to mitigate operational disruption.
- Stakeholders from logistics, facilities management, and legal teams were engaged early.
- Benchmarks and pilot solutions gave Esaote confidence that quality standards would not only be maintained, but in some cases improved.
“ERA never positioned itself as a replacement for our internal resources, but rather as a partner. By clearly defining the scope and roles from the outset, we fostered mutual trust and mitigated risks and misunderstandings.” — Domenico Fazio
€660,000 Saved and Long-Term Value Created
The outcomes were both immediate and sustainable:
€160,000 savings in logistics & freight (23%)
€500,000 savings in rentals (50%)
Certificates of Excellence were awarded in categories already well-optimised (Cleaning, Sea Freight)
Beyond the numbers, ERA gave Esaote’s management something equally valuable: assurance. Assurance that costs were under control, that processes were sustainable, and that savings would endure.
The Partnership Today
The relationship has evolved into a strategic, ongoing collaboration.
ERA continues to monitor achieved savings whilst proactively exploring new opportunities, including maintenance contracts currently under review.
For Esaote, this partnership has freed leadership to focus on their core mission: advancing diagnostic imaging technologies - knowing that ERA is safeguarding their non-core costs with the same level of precision they apply to patient care.
Sustainable Growth Through Collaboration
Esaote’s story shows how even the most advanced healthcare companies can unlock significant value by partnering with external specialists. By combining Esaote’s commitment to excellence with ERA’s cost optimisation expertise, the company achieved €660,000 in annual savings without compromise.
“ERA has proven to be much more than a consultant: it is a partner capable of delivering tangible results across multiple cost areas, while always keeping service quality at the centre.” — Esaote Management
ERA identifies savings where you least expect them – transforming non-core costs into capital for growth and innovation.
