‘An ERP implementation is one of the most stressful periods for business users. A clear and well-supported training approach from Pipol helped ease this situation and keep a positive balance.’ Will Rowe, IT Manager at Sherwin Williams
For Sherwin-Williams, staying ahead of technological advancements is essential for maintaining operational efficiency. Recognizing the need to upgrade from their legacy ERP system, Microsoft NAV, the company turned to Pipol to help them lead a smooth transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The challenge: Future-proof their solution by replacing an outdated ERP system
The decision to upgrade wasn’t just about keeping up with technology. Sherwin-Williams needed to move away from Microsoft NAV, a solution no longer supported by Microsoft. The company also wanted to fast-track the implementation of a cloud-based ERP system to future-proof its operations and keep pace with the evolving business landscape.
"The key goal was to ensure a fast, seamless transition, and we knew we had the right team to manage this change's technical and organizational aspects." Will Rowe, IT Manager at Sherwin Williams.
The solution: choosing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Sherwin-Williams was already familiar with Microsoft NAV, which made
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central a natural choice. Microsoft's promotion to migrate Microsoft NAV systems online further encouraged the decision.
Key features that made Dynamics Business Central stand out for Sherwin-Williams included:
- Scalability: As a global company, Sherwin-Williams wanted a solution that could grow with them.
- Compatibility: Since Sherwin-Williams had already developed a Microsoft NAV core solution internally, Business Central was easily adaptable.
- Cloud-based flexibility: Moving to Dynamics Business Central enabled Sherwin-Williams to modernize its systems without losing its Microsoft NAV customizations, which they had invested heavily in over the years.
The journey: a phased, multi-country implementation
The project started with an ambitious plan: Lithuania was the first location to start the migration, beginning in November 2022 and going live by July 2023. Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic followed shortly after, with Poland set to go live in early 2025.
The phased approach helped Sherwin-Williams maintain business continuity while Pipol led the project through its complexity. Despite Lithuania's longer-than-expected timeline, the proactive attitude of Sherwin-Williams' employees ensured the project kept moving forward.
"Their team was ready and highly motivated, even when faced with challenges. There was some resistance at first since users were accustomed to Microsoft NAV, but overall, the team’s approach was very positive and solution-oriented," says Pierluigi Gianni, International Engagement Manager, Pipol.
Overcoming challenges: Customization and user adoption
One of the biggest challenges was adapting the extensive customizations originally built into Microsoft NAV. The teams worked to simplify and migrate essential functions to Dynamics Business Central, ensuring the result met Sherwin-Williams’ business needs without sacrificing either quality or performance.
The training phase proved critical, as only one IT team member had significant experience with Dynamics 365 Business Central. Pipol provided comprehensive training sessions to help other team members quickly become familiar with it.
Additionally, user adoption strategies played a key role. With practical training and gradual exposure to the new system, Sherwin-Williams saw an impressive shift in their IT and business teams' readiness to embrace the new ERP solution.
‘By familiarizing the users with Business Central from day 1, the positive benefits of using a modern system with clean and simple navigation became apparent early.’ Will Rowe, IT Manager at Sherwin Williams.
The results: Operational improvements and outlook
While the project is ongoing in some regions, Sherwin-Williams has already seen measurable improvements in its warehouse operations. The introduction of Barcode Scanning and Tasklet, a specific extension for Dynamics Business Central, significantly improved warehouse management efficiency.
Looking ahead, Sherwin-Williams is excited about the coming stages of the rollout and about harvesting Business Central's full potential. The company embraced the importance of involving the business early and prioritizing effective change management, which has driven the project's success.
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