Headquartered in the Midwest, this client is a retailer that mostly buys excess clothing inventory from big box retailers and sells them to consumers at a discounted price. It also sells general merchandise (e.g. cookware, bedding, toys, etc.) and maintains an online web store.
The Challenge
Rapid expansion to over two dozen locations revealed the limitations of their existing systems: QuickBooks for accounting and Lightspeed for point of sale (POS). Lightspeed, designed for smaller, single-location businesses, couldn't scale to their multi-store operations. Frequent downtimes, particularly during peak shopping seasons, led to slow checkouts and abandoned purchases.
The retailer needed an integrated solution for accounting, inventory, and POS robust enough to support current and future growth across the Midwest. Recognizing this, The TM Group recommended Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with LS Retail's POS system tailored for apparel and fashion. During the Implementation Planning Study, the retailer’s challenges and goals were clearly defined, leading to a collaboration between The TM Group and LS Retail partner Xsi Retail Partners to customize the ERP and POS solution.
The Solution
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, a cloud-based ERP used by over 15,000 organizations globally, streamlines activities such as accounting, inventory management, supply chain management, and sales. LS Central, built on Business Central, consolidates accounting, inventory, and POS data in one central location, enabling real-time tracking across all stores.
A critical feature for the client was the ability to manage purchase orders, helping them anticipate inventory arrivals and reduce errors. Their previous systems hindered this, causing confusion and stocking issues. The TM Group addressed this by configuring Business Central to receive all purchase order inventory into the main warehouse financially, then transferring inventory costs to stores upon sale, streamlining the process.
Container tracking was another challenge due to varied shipping methods and arrival times of goods purchased from multiple vendors. The TM Group configured Business Central to improve container tracking and inventory receiving. This allowed the retailer to log expected arrivals, update inventory upon receipt, and track storage locations within the warehouse, preventing lost items and ensuring efficient shipping to stores. Business Central also tracks purchase orders and container origins, enabling profit margin calculations by container and assessing supplier performance.
The Results
The retailer is highly satisfied with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, which effectively centralizes their financial and inventory management systems. The new system has enabled process improvements in managing inventory and accounting for cost of goods sold. The client plans to expand their use of Business Central/LS Retail, exploring additional features like shift scheduling, payroll, and e-commerce capabilities.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can drive success across various industries. The TM Group, with extensive implementation experience, can customize Business Central to enhance your business operations. Contact us to learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics products can transform your company.