Customer Testimonial - Vadigran
Lean startup, smart growth, maximum impact: this is how Vadigran rolls out Dynamics 365 Business Central
Business
Since 1955, Vadigran has been making life a little better for pets and their owners. What started as a Belgian birdseed company has grown into a leading petcare provider offering over 5,000 products, from food and grooming to toys and accessories. Yet, their roots remain important: every day, Vadipro, a dedicated entity within the group, produces 10 to 20 custom blends of seeds for birds and small animals.
Staying agile in a fast-changing market
Now in its third generation of family leadership, Vadigran has a bold ambition: to become Europe’s most sustainable petcare supplier. But achieving that goal isn’t simple in a market shaped by constant change.
“The way people view pets is evolving, and so is legislation,” says Pierre Cernero, General Manager at Vadipro. “At the same time, climate change and geopolitical tensions are putting pressure on grain prices. To stay competitive, we need real-time insights, the ability to react fast, and a clear view of our operations.”
Solution
With its existing IT systems, Vadigran was increasingly struggling to keep a grip on processes and data. The Navision package was end-of-life, and the arsenal of Excel spreadsheets was not enough to gain reliable insights or streamline processes. Time for an alternative.
Future-proof in the cloud
“Our goal was clear: we needed a cloud-based, future-proof solution,” explains Tim Du Bois, Head of IT.
After evaluating several options, Vadigran chose to stay within the Microsoft ecosystem. With Microsoft 365 already in place, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was the perfect next step.
Lean start, real results
The team opted for a lean, focused implementation, starting with Vadipro and concentrating on production and item traceability. “Vadipro’s production had evolved organically,” says Bram De Daele, Solution Architect at Cegeka. “Processes weren’t clearly visible, and reporting was minimal. Business Central changed that.”
Today, production planning is tight and traceability is seamless, from raw material to finished product. But the biggest win? Reporting. Instead of error-prone spreadsheets, the team now relies on real-time data in one central platform, bringing clarity and better decision-making.
“We used to hear: ‘Excel’s crashed again.’ That’s history now. We finally have one single source of truth.”
Business
Key to success: people make the difference
When asked about lessons learned, Tim doesn’t hesitate:
“Choose a partner who understands your business and thinks with you. We deliberately kept the project lean and focused, and Cegeka helped us stick to that plan. Also, good key users are worth their weight in gold. Give them time to test, learn, and provide feedback.”
Not sales talk, real partnership
From initial analysis to implementation and go-live, Cegeka was there every step of the way. The Vadipro team stayed closely involved, from management to shop floor. “The engagement across the board was crucial,” Bram adds. “From the general manager to warehouse staff, everyone gave input. Communication was smooth and transparent, even with tough questions.”
Pierre agrees: “We chose Cegeka because they came in with a straightforward, honest approach – not a sales pitch. That feeling continued throughout the project. We clicked on a personal level, and it shows in the results.”
He’s especially proud of the outcome: “We completed the project in just three months — a few days ahead of schedule, and used only 80% of the budget thanks to strict scope control and clear communication.”
What’s next: rolling out to the group
Even after go-live, Cegeka remains involved. Their Managed Services team offers daily support and ongoing improvements. Recently, they launched a visual planning tool to further streamline production, and upgrades to the logistics processes are coming soon.
Now, the rest of the Vadigran group is ready to follow. With the Vadipro blueprint in place, a broader rollout of Dynamics 365 Business Central is on the horizon. “It’ll be a bigger, more complex project,” Bram says, “but we’re fully committed to making it a success.”
Let’s talk about what’s possible
Vadigran’s journey shows what’s possible when the right technology and the right people come together. Planning your own digital transformation? Let’s connect.
Vadigran’s journey shows what’s possible when the right technology and the right people come together. Planning your own digital transformation? Let’s connect.
We believe in shaping digital together. We don’t just deliver technology, we work shoulder to shoulder with our clients to ensure technology drives impact when and where it matters most.
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