The recipe for growth: how Bakery Aernoudt implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Looking for the right ERP solution

“Our old custom-built system couldn’t keep up,” explains CFO Philippe Benoit. “It didn’t support a second bakery site, didn’t integrate with our POS system, and traceability and inventory management were unreliable.”

With help from an external consultant, Aernoudt mapped out their IT needs and explored new ERP platforms.

“We quickly landed on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central,” Philippe says. “It’s a powerful, stable, and flexible system, backed by Microsoft’s reliability. And since our people were already familiar with Microsoft 365, the learning curve was shorter.”

No piece of cake

Aernoudt selected the ERP platform first, then went looking for an implementation partner. The first attempt didn’t go smoothly.

“The initial partner approached things from a retail checkout perspective, while our focus was on artisan production,” Philippe explains. “That’s why we switched to Cegeka. They had experience not just with ERP in production environments, but specifically in the food sector. They also promised smooth integration with our POS systems.”

The go-live was intense. It coincided with Easter, one of the busiest times of the year and the complexity of the POS integration proved higher than expected.

“In hindsight, we hadn’t tested with enough transaction volume,” admits Thibaut Heeren, Unit Manager at Cegeka. “The scope was broad, and Easter added pressure. It was tough, but we learned a lot.”

The result: A system that supports growth

A year later, Business Central is fully operational. Around 30 people use it daily to manage production planning, stock, quality, and accounting. In every store, the POS system is seamlessly connected to the ERP.

“The first results are promising,” says Philippe. “We now have real-time insights into purchases, production, stock levels, and traceability. That gives us a solid foundation to optimize and scale, without losing control.”

Involvement of the entire team

Throughout the project, Carolien and Philippe stayed at the helm, supported by an internal project manager and key users from every department, from purchasing to production. Everything was tested thoroughly.

“The pressure was high, but the project brought us closer together as a team,” says Philippe. “After go-live, there were intense weeks of finetuning. We kept things light with humor and pizza, but everyone gave it their all.”

Lessons learned: keep it realistic

Philippe’s advice for other companies?
“Don’t try to juggle ten things at once. We were opening new stores and launching a second production site at the same time as the ERP project, and that was too much. Make time for the project, start with core functionality, and scale up later. And invest in change management. It’s crucial to bring everyone on board.”

A long-term partnership

How does Aernoudt reflect on the collaboration with Cegeka?

“Their consultants and project managers were highly skilled,” Philippe says. “Yes, there were bumps in the road, but we always talked openly and worked through it together.”

“Cegeka isn’t just a vendor, they’re a partner,” adds Thibaut. “That takes commitment and transparency on both sides.”

Philippe nods: “We’re confident Cegeka will continue to support us for years to come.”