Sponsored content by Annexa
Browse the shelves at any major pharmacy or supermarket and you’ll likely spot a Life-Space Group product.
Best known for its flagship probiotics brand Life-Space and children’s health range Pentavite, the Australian manufacturer has grown steadily over the past decade, expanding into new markets, launching new brands and scaling its production footprint.
That growth has shaped what’s on the shelf but behind the scenes, it also increased the pressure on systems and workflows – from traceability and compliance to inventory and operational planning.
As Life-Space Group’s supply chain matured, so too did the need for systems that could keep pace. Disconnected platforms and spreadsheet-heavy routines made it harder to maintain visibility, meet regulatory demands and forecast accurately across regions.
To build the foundations for the next stage of growth, the business took the decisive step to modernise its back-end tech.
Building a smarter operational core in manufacturing
NetSuite ERP was selected as the foundation for Life-Space Group’s next stage of growth. To guide the transformation, they partnered with Annexa – NetSuite and systems integration specialists with deep experience in manufacturing environments.
The result was a tightly integrated system that now supports global operations from finance to warehouse management. Finance operations were restructured to enable real-time multi-entity reporting and tighter budgetary control. Inventory management now supports full lot traceability across local and international warehouses. Approval workflows, once fragmented, were consolidated within NetSuite to streamline invoice matching and purchasing. The team also implemented anti-counterfeiting measures, assigning QR codes to individual product units to strengthen traceability and consumer confidence.
Life-Space Group’s transformation is one example of how mid-sized manufacturers are stepping back to reassess the systems behind their operations. As complexity increases across supply chains, compliance and reporting, many are recognising the need for technology that does more than just keep things running.
The growing need to rethink the back end in manufacturing
For many growing manufacturers, modernisation starts at the front line – new machines, automation, smarter packaging, digital tools on the factory floor. But increasingly, the back-end is where scale stalls.
As businesses expand into new markets or channels, outdated systems struggle to keep up. Finance teams battle spreadsheet chaos. Operations leaders are left flying blind across locations, Compliance becomes harder to manage without tighter traceability and integrated reporting. And when decisions rely on outdated or inconsistent data, the cost shows up everywhere – in delays, write-offs and missed opportunities.
In the ANZ manufacturing landscape, this pressure is building fast. Regulatory frameworks are evolving – from TGA and GMP requirements to the growing uptake of Peppol e-invoicing. Customer expectations are shifting. Export complexity is rising. Yet many mid-sized businesses still rely on a tangle of tools with few of them talking to each other. This disconnect makes it far harder to see the full picture across regions, stay compliant or plan ahead.
Like Life-Space Group, many manufacturers are now investing in cohesive, data-driven systems that bring finance, operations and compliance into one environment. The goal is alignment – giving teams across the business the information and structure to move faster, stay compliant and respond to change without pause.
Go behind the scenes of a real manufacturing transformation
If any of the challenges outlined here feel familiar – siloed systems, compliance strain, patchy visibility, or planning complexity – this webinar is worth your time.
You’ll hear directly from a company already deep into its transformation journey, navigating the same kinds of decisions many manufacturers are now facing. This approach offers a clear, considered path, one grounded in real operational experience and lessons other manufacturers can draw from.
Join Life-Space Group and Annexa on 30 July at 11am AEST for a practical, behind-the-scenes look at how one manufacturer is building the systems to support growth, visibility and compliance – all in one platform.
The content of this article is based on information supplied by Annexa. This information is general in nature and has been prepared without taking your personal/ professional/business objectives, circumstances and needs into account. You should consider the appropriateness of the information to your own circumstances and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice. Consider the terms and conditions for the product before making any decision.
