From stalled migration to scalable success with Dynamics 365 Business Central

A leading wholesale marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products, faced increasing challenges with their outdated Microsoft Dynamics SL system and a failed migration attempt with another partner. When the project went off track, they turned to Rand Group for complete re-implementation. With Rand Group’s deep expertise and proven methodology, the client successfully transitioned to Dynamics 365 Business Central, achieving modern functionality, scalability, and efficiency across their financial operations, all within budget and on time.

The Goal

Migrate from outdated on-premise Dynamics SL to cloud-based Dynamics 365 Business Central to modernize financial systems and unify multi-entity operations.

The Outcome

The company now benefits from a stable, cloud-based ERP with automated workflows, streamlined intercompany accounting, and improved reporting visibility across its organization.

This was probably one of the smoothest implementations I’ve ever been a part of. We came in under budget with full functionality. That speaks volumes to Rand Group’s team.

Controller

The problem

After more than two decades on Dynamics SL (Solomon), the company faced declining system performance and increasing challenges as Microsoft’s end-of-support announcement for SL created urgency for a new solution. Their previous support partner had locked custom modifications under a contract that left them unable to enhance or transfer their system customizations. As the legacy software showed worsening performance issues—critical reports failing to run and users experiencing slowdowns—the company found itself “held hostage” by the outdated system. In an attempt to modernize, they chose an initial vendor to migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Still, the project quickly stalled due to the vendor’s lack of experience with Solomon-to-Business Central migrations. This left them stuck with their legacy system, still without a viable upgrade path.

Outdated ERP software: A decades-old Dynamics SL system approaching end-of-life, with increasing downtime and unsupported functionality.
Limited support & customization lock-in: Previous support agreements gave a third party exclusive rights to custom code, preventing enhancements or smooth transition.
Operational inefficiencies: The old system’s performance and siloed company databases led to redundant work (e.g., logging in and out for each entity) and unreliable reporting.
Failed migration attempt: An initial Business Central implementation with another vendor collapsed due to inexperience, wasting resources, and eroding stakeholder confidence.
Manual, time-consuming processes: Processes like vendor remittance emails and accruals remained manual and inefficient.

Legacy, outdated software and stalled migration

The solution

Rand Group brought deep expertise and a clear implementation roadmap to help the client migrate from Dynamics SL to Dynamics 365 Business Central. With experience from similar projects, Rand Group focused on key needs—multi-entity financial management, efficient workflows, and robust reporting. They deployed Business Central along with Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management (MEM) to seamlessly manage multiple business units within one system. Throughout the process, Rand Group worked closely with the team, answering questions, providing guidance, and adapting the plan as needed.

Experienced project leadership: Applied a proven implementation methodology and deep expertise to get the stalled project back on track, ensuring a seamless migration from Solomon to Business Central.
Modern ERP deployment: Implemented D365 Business Central as the new cloud-based ERP, retiring the legacy SL system.
Multi-entity management: Deployed Binary Stream MEM to eliminate manual switching between databases and automate intercompany transactions.
Vendor payment automation: Introduced automated vendor remittance emails directly through Business Central, replacing a tedious manual process. The Accounts Payable team no longer spends hours sending payment notifications one by one.

The result

With the new system in place, the company has seen significant improvements in the reliability and efficiency of its financial operations. Dynamics 365 Business Central now serves as a robust foundation, eliminating the performance issues of the legacy system and providing modern functionality, enhanced visibility, and scalable performance. The AP and accounting teams report major time savings, and the month-end close process has run smoothly, even during the year-end audit. Rand Group’s ongoing support has instilled confidence across the organization, with the internal team now viewing Rand Group as an extension of their own. As the company grows and adapts, their modern ERP system is ready to evolve alongside them.

Reliable, supported system: A stable Microsoft cloud ERP with ongoing updates and support, eliminating the risk of running on unsupported, end-of-life software.
Efficiency gains: Automation and process improvements (like MEM and AP email automation) free employees from redundant manual tasks, saving time every day.
Improved multi-entity operations: All business units are managed under one system, with streamlined intercompany postings and consolidated reporting, improving accuracy and simplifying workflows.
Enhanced reporting & visibility: Jet Reports and Business Central provide deeper insight into financial and operational data, enabling better decision-making across departments.
Trusted partnership: Rand Group’s support and expertise give the team confidence for continued improvement.

faster vendor remittance email process

hours saved per month by eliminating company switching with MEM

Take the next step with Rand Group

If your company is facing outdated systems, stalled migrations, or inefficient workflows, Rand Group can help you modernize and streamline your financial operations with Dynamics 365 Business Central. Our proven expertise and tailored implementation strategies ensure a smooth transition to a more reliable, efficient, and scalable ERP system. Let’s work together to unlock the full potential of your business.

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