Innovative Furniture Dealer Finds Efficiency and Potential Business Growth with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Product

  Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Company

  Trade West

• Name & Job Title

  Hunter Hopkins - Financial Controller

• Industry

  Office / School Furniture

Problem/Challenge

Erasing Redundant Tasks & Improving Work Life with Modern Systems

Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, TRADE WEST is a well-established business devoted to the art of interior design and ergonomic comfort. TRADE WEST has been a supplier of attractive and functional furniture for offices, schools, and healthcare facilities, since 1986.

Previously, TRADE WEST used Excel spreadsheets to create quotes and sales orders. Their accounting software was slow, data had to be duplicated, reporting was limited, and inventory tracking was difficult. These challenges held TRADE WEST back as the business tried to diversify and grow.

“We needed a more modern system that could streamline and consolidate our internal processes,” explains Hunter Hopkins, Financial Controller of TRADE WEST. “It was difficult to access all our business information quickly, so it was important for us to move to a system with one central data hub.”

Solution(s)

The Choice: Cost-Effective ERP Solution with Seamless Integration Potential

TRADE WEST identified bottlenecks in their business processes and explored various ERP software options. They found that with Open Door, the costs of a Dynamics 365 Business Central cloud implementation would be significantly lower than with other suppliers. According to Hopkins, “Implementing an ERP system into any business is a huge undertaking, but the battle was well worth it. Open Door was able to navigate us through that journey for a successful implementation.”

The project began in February 2021, and the system was live and operating by September 2021. Open Door provided a helpful sandbox environment for testing and employee training throughout the implementation process, which was critical in working out any bugs and ensuring everyone was familiar with the system before going live.

“Open Door’s user training was better than expected, and I was surprised by how easily our employees adapted and were able to immediately start using the product confidently,” explains Hopkins. “We were impressed by Open Door’s knowledge of their system and business. Any concerns that came up, Open Door was able to find a solution to meet our needs.

Results

TRADE WEST Predicts Expansion in the Future

Now that TRADE WEST has been using Business Central for a few months, the entire company has been reaping the benefits. Every employee has been working harmoniously in the easily accessible, centralized system – with minimal data duplication and all the necessary information right at their fingertips. From quoting to shipping activities, all internal processes are running more efficiently.

Hopkins believes the new system and processes will enable the company to continue expanding in the future and has recommended Open Door’s software products and services to other companies. “Having a system like this will allow us to grow in a way that would’ve been impossible with our old system,” he says. “The new, streamlined processes have introduced large time savings for us. Employees can now complete their day-to-day tasks in a fraction of the time. They love it! We’re not looking back.”