Dynamics 365 FSC Implementation: A Catalyst for Change [Case Study]

Background
A leading manufacturer in the consumer goods industry, serving approximately 82,000 customer locations across the U.S., decided to embark on a significant digital transformation. Founded decades ago, the company had grown substantially through acquisitions and needed a robust platform to support its expansion. The organization sought to replace its heavily customized legacy ERP system with a modern, out-of-the-box solution using Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain (FSC).

Challenges
The organization faced several obstacles, including:

• A heavily modified Dynamics AX environment that was increasingly difficult to support.
• The need to standardize business processes across newly acquired businesses.
• Turnover in account management roles, leading to communication challenges.
• A competitive bid process, with a strong incumbent vendor also vying for the opportunity.

Why They Chose Us
The company selected our team for the implementation due to several key factors:

1. Partnership Approach: They sought a partner, not just a vendor, and valued the rapport we had established during earlier CRM replacement projects.
2. Industry Expertise: Our deep expertise in the food and beverage sector, combined with preconfigured best practices and configurations, provided a significant advantage.
3. References and Proven Success: References from previous projects, including detailed accounts of successful implementations, solidified their decision. Stakeholders emphasized how we act as a catalyst for operational transformation, not just technology upgrades.

Scope of Work
The project includes:

• Phase 1: Solution verification and a global template design ($500,000).
• Deployment Phase: Estimated $3M, starting in April/May 2025.

The implementation will involve future-state design elements for Core Finance & Operations business processes, application data models, data conversion, integrations, and migration services.

Results Expected
The new Dynamics 365 FSC solution aims to:

• Standardize business processes and reduce customization.
• Support growth and acquisitions with a unified platform.
• Enable smoother, more efficient operations for long-term success.

Key Takeaways
Our team’s ability to act as a strategic partner, offer deep industry expertise, and demonstrate success with similar organizations positioned us as the clear choice. This project exemplifies how we collaborate with clients to turn complex challenges into transformative opportunities.

Kevin Head

Kevin Head brings over a decade of Microsoft Dynamics expertise and 15 years of industry experience to his role as the Microsoft Food & Beverage Leader at RSM. With a strong background as a financial auditor and consultant, Kevin excels in guiding clients through their digital transformation and platform modernization journeys. He leverages his extensive experience to help organizations optimize their business processes with software, ensuring seamless integration and enhanced efficiency. Kevin’s expertise across the Microsoft platform enables him to implement advanced solutions tailored to the unique needs of the food and beverage industry, driving innovation and growth.