As Finance Director Graham Burr explained:
“Dynamics 365 has helped to streamline some of our financial processes and focus our attention on continuing to improve the efficiency of our processes. Immediate benefits around project bank accounts, the CIS tax, and automated payment proposals are tangible.”
Solution
To modernise operations, Willmott Dixon selected Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O) and Customer Engagement (CE). The company partnered with Columbus, a Microsoft Gold Partner, to design and deliver a scalable ERP solution that would not only replace outdated systems but also support a long-term digital transformation strategy.
Key elements of the solution included:
- Unified ERP platform: Dynamics 365 integrated seamlessly with Willmott Dixon’s existing applications, standardising financial processes across the organisation.
- Automation of financial workflows: Automated payment proposals, project bank account management, and CIS statement generation saved hours of manual effort.
- Financial Reconciliation Agent (AI-powered): Reduced CIS reconciliation from more than two days to just one hour.
- Enhanced reporting and visibility: A single source of truth for finance leaders, with better forecasting and capital employed insights.
- Collaborative implementation: Columbus embedded consultants and project managers directly into Willmott Dixon’s team, fostering transparency and knowledge transfer.
Implementation Journey
ERP implementations are inherently complex, but Columbus and Willmott Dixon adopted a structured, risk-aware approach:
- Locked down the build early and conducted extensive testing before cutover.
- Balanced business pressures for speed with a strong focus on data integrity and risk management.
- Embedded change management by involving business users heavily in testing, ensuring smoother adoption.
- Held regular “honesty sessions” between teams to resolve issues openly and prevent friction.
The system went live at Christmas with no data quality issues — a rare achievement in ERP projects.
- United Kingdom
- Case
- Finance & Supply chain
Challenge
Founded in 1852, Willmott Dixon is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned construction and fit-out companies. With a workforce of over 2,000 and a turnover exceeding £1 billion, the business is renowned for delivering high-quality buildings, transforming lives, and strengthening communities. Its mission is to enhance the environment and ensure the world is fit for future generations.
Known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and social value, Willmott Dixon is also a trusted partner on major public sector projects, where compliance and robust financial processes are critical.
About Willmott Dixon
Willmott Dixon faced growing pressure from:
- Ageing legacy systems (including CODA and Sage CRM) that were nearing end-of-life and out of technical support.
- Manual, inefficient processes that consumed hours every month, managing Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) tax returns, processing supplier payments, and administering project bank accounts.
- Compliance requirements for government contracts that demanded secure, auditable financial systems.
- Limited scalability, which hindered growth and innovation.
Results
- Efficiency gains: Automated payment proposals save the finance team 3 hours daily, and CIS reconciliation dropped from 2 days to 1 hour.
- Compliance confidence: Dynamics 365 provides auditability and secure approval workflows, supporting certification for public sector contracts.
- Future-ready platform: Willmott Dixon now has a scalable, evergreen ERP foundation aligned with its Microsoft-first strategy.
- Cultural shift: The business embraces an ERP-first mindset, looking to Dynamics before bespoke development.
- Upskilled workforce: Columbus empowered internal project managers, architects, and finance staff to own and evolve the system.
James Mackenzie, CFO said: “Willmott Dixon are one of only a handful of construction firms to have invested in an evergreen platform such as Microsoft Dynamics, and in doing so, we have set the foundations for our future technology environment.
Partnership with Columbus
Willmott Dixon describes its collaboration with Columbus as a genuine partnership rather than a supplier relationship. Columbus embedded itself into the culture of the project team, aligning with Willmott Dixon’s values of openness, collaboration, and trust.
Key aspects of the partnership included:
- Transparency and honesty: Both organisations committed to open conversations throughout the project, addressing challenges early and constructively.
- Embedded delivery model: Columbus team members worked alongside Willmott Dixon’s staff as one integrated team, sharing accountability and knowledge.
- Knowledge transfer and empowerment: Rather than creating long-term dependency, Columbus ensured Willmott Dixon’s own teams were equipped to manage and sustain the system post-implementation.
- Cultural alignment: Columbus adapted its approach to fit Willmott Dixon’s working style, respecting the company’s risk profile while guiding it through digital change.
- Flexibility and responsiveness: The partnership remained dynamic, adjusting delivery methods and priorities as lessons were learned during the project lifecycle.
This partnership model helped ensure a successful go-live and built the foundation for a sustainable, long-term digital platform.
As Jess Drew, Head of Application Services at Willmott Dixon reflected:
“Finding a partner that understands your end goals, works transparently, and adapts to your culture is no easy feat. With Columbus, we found a really good balance, open, collaborative, and trustworthy.”
