Origin Enterprises, the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of crop nutrition and agronomy services, partnered with Columbus to deliver a complex Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementation - on time and on scope. CIO Derek Wilson shares how the solution modernised operations, improved ESG reporting, and enabled agile, sustainable growth across agriculture and living landscapes.
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Industry
- Manufacturing
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Country
- United Kingdom
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Insight Type
- Case
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Service
- Finance & Supply chain
- Enterprise Information Management
Choosing Columbus
With a broad portfolio of businesses, each operating on significantly different business models with seasonal demands, Origin Enterprises found their legacy Microsoft AX systems were no longer able to keep pace with the complexity and innovation required by their ever-changing business.
The scale of change for Origin was huge. They required a trusted partner to guide them through digital modernisation, with the implementation of a seamless integrated business solution.
Solving Origin's seasonality challenges
A key challenge for Origin was the seasonality of their work, with a busy peak season starting in early spring, leaving them with a tight timeframe for implementation. When they reached out to Columbus, Origin felt their current strategy wouldn’t allow them to achieve a winter go-live – especially considering the complexities of their business requirements.
Derek Wilson praised Columbus’ dedication to meeting timeframe and budget requirements without compromising on quality: ‘Columbus have a strong focus on timeframes and budget. They understood how we operate and our constraints, particularly around seasonality. They knew if we missed those deadlines, they’d slip by up to six months.’
‘From the first engagement with them, it was very clear they understood that and would do everything in their power to make sure we hit those dates – and maintained the quality of the solution.’
Successful outcomes
Despite complex logistics, seasonal deadlines and multi-entity structures, Origin Enterprises’ Dynamics 365 implementation went live on time with the functionality they required. Here are some of the successes they have achieved since launch:
- Streamlined logistics and scheduling
- Significant process improvements and automation
- Enhanced ESG reporting and field visibility
- Elimination of manual tasks
- Faster decision-making
If you'd like to learn more about how we can help your manufacturing business, get in touch today.
