JBS Toledo optimizes traceability with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Upgrade performance, security and go mobile

The traceability requirement was the main reason for JBS Toledo to replace their existing Microsoft Navision ERP system. More than that, the system dated back to 2013 and was reaching end of life. Users struggled with slow database performance, security was faltering, and Microsoft could no longer deliver full support. “Last but not least, we wanted the system to be available for our salespeople on the move, so it had to run on a smartphone and tablet. That called for a cloud-based solution,” Leen adds.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Today, JBS Toledo runs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with advanced, customized traceability features. The optimized traceability helps them document and link the production, processing and distribution chains across country and company borders – which is a great leap forward. In addition, Leen and her colleagues appreciate the new look and feel, the intuitive interface, the collaboration features (like chat) and the mobile app, which allows their sales team to work flexibly, on the go. 

Reporting 2.0

For Leen, as a CFO, the new reporting features take the cake: “On top of the built-in functionality to collect, analyze and share data, we connected Business Central to Power BI. That helps us create clear dashboards and reports based on the Business Central data. The management here and in Brazil now get a weekly update with useful insights on the market as well as our own business: sales, inventory levels, etc., directly on their homepage.” 

Migration Scan

“In 2013, JBS Toledo had implemented a standard Microsoft Navision ERP, with customized features for sea container management and import of goods. The migration scan helped us pinpoint functional gaps between that solution and the current needs, to then identify the technical requirements of the new system,” says Elke Roels, Business Development Executive at Cegeka. 

Based on that scan, JBS Toledo and Cegeka drafted a roadmap. They decided to first migrate the existing system and focus on extending the available traceability features. As Leen had been implementing the ERP system back in 2013, she took the lead again,  involving and training her colleagues later on. 

The recipe for ERP implementation success, according to JBS Toledo:

1. Free up enough time in the team.
   
   
2. Ensure open, always-on communications between the management, key users, business, developers, …
   
   
3.  Encourage users to experiment with the system before go-live, to boost user adoption.
   
   
4. Determine a clear scope and take it one step at a time: start with your key needs.
   
   
5. Choose the right implementation partner.

Future outlook: a fully connected company

When looking at the near-future, JBS Toledo plans to deploy the strong collaboration features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central outside its company walls too, to smoothly communicate and exchange documents with customers, business partners – warehouses, logistic firms, … – and networks around the world. In addition, they hope to optimize sales processes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. 

Until then, they can rely on Microsoft to deliver new releases twice a year and minor updates even every month. Cegeka is always available to deliver support, says Leen: “They’re quite big, and real experts, yet they feel like family. That close cooperation is why we chose to team up with them again for the upgrade.”