Client Overview
A mid-sized European manufacturing company with operations in Germany. The business provides specialist components to both automotive and industrial markets and is recognised as a reliable supplier to international partners.
As the business prepared to modernise its ERP landscape, it identified Microsoft Business Central as the right platform to deliver standardised processes, stronger compliance, and better real-time insight. Lacking in-house expertise for such a critical transition, the client turned to our specialist team.
The Challenge
The company had been running a heavily customised legacy ERP (Dynamics AX/NAV 2012 R2), which had reached its limits. The system was difficult to maintain and left critical gaps in reporting and compliance. Key issues included:
- Limited real-time visibility across production and supply chain
- Manual, disconnected processes in finance, procurement, and inventory
- Challenges ensuring GoBD and EU VAT compliance
- End of mainstream support for AX 2012
- No internal Business Central expertise to drive the project forward
With a re-certification audit approaching and integration with a new logistics partner on the horizon, the client needed to complete its Business Central migration in just 10 months.
Objectives
The migration to Microsoft Business Central was designed to:
- Replace AX 2012 with a cloud-based ERP platform
- Standardise processes across multiple plants in southern Germany
- Ensure compliance with German tax and financial regulations through Business Central’s localisation features
- Improve forecasting, production planning, and reporting with BC’s real-time data capabilities
The measures of success were clear:
- A smooth go-live with no production downtime
- A 50% reduction in inventory discrepancies
- Compliance with GoBD and EU data retention laws
- Faster month-end financial closing enabled by Business Central’s automated workflows
Our Approach
We began by assessing the functional and technical gaps between the client’s legacy ERP and Business Central. To ensure delivery, we placed two key professionals:
- Senior Business Central Consultant – with deep expertise in German localisation, manufacturing, and EDI integration
- Bilingual (German/English) Project Manager – providing leadership while also supporting data migration, testing coordination, and end-user training
Together, they worked alongside the client’s internal team and external logistics partners to ensure a structured migration that leveraged Business Central’s native strengths while staying aligned with compliance requirements.
Results
The migration was completed within the provided timescales, ahead of the audit deadline. With Business Central in place, the client achieved:
Key Outcomes Included:
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Full migration to Microsoft Business Central
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55% reduction in inventory reconciliation issues, thanks to Business Central’s integrated warehouse and inventory features
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Month-end financial closing reduced from 7 days to 3, supported by real-time financial visibility in BC
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Successful 3PL and EDI integrations using Business Central’s flexible architecture
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Smooth end-user adoption, aided by reusable German-language training materials
The project not only met its immediate goals but also positioned Business Central as the foundation for a broader digitalisation journey.
- 55%
- Reduction in Inventory Issues
Client Feedback
"Wir waren beeindruckt von der Fachkompetenz und dem Engagement des Teams. Die Zusammenarbeit verlief reibungslos – sowohl sprachlich als auch fachlich. Der Umstieg auf Microsoft Business Central war ein voller Erfolg."
Translation: "We were impressed by the expertise and dedication. The collaboration went smoothly, both technically and linguistically. The transition to Microsoft Business Central was a complete success."
Connecting Experts
If you're looking to discuss your ERP project or need support with sourcing additional resource, contact the team today.