Keventer Agro business divisions bind together seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Disconnected and disjointed operations led to efficiency challenges

The large FMCG company, structured in several operating divisions, employed numerous Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors. Each vendor worked independently at the assigned location on a distinct ERP platform. This led to operational challenges for the company -

• Operation: These ERP platforms, based on client-server architecture, required their own infrastructure, and backup & disaster recovery strategies, which meant higher costs and efforts in daily operations and maintenance.
• Management: The installation and management of the client software at various offices posed a challenge due to the company’s widespread geographic operations.
• Cross reporting: Disparate operations led to non-uniformity in processes and impacted reporting and compliance procedures with manually generated statements.

Finding the right blend 

Keventer Agro realized the need for centralized and integrated core business functions on a common software infrastructure. Keen to bring homogeneity in processes for all business divisions, Keventer Agro scouted the marketplace for a suitable fit. The FMCG company zeroed in on Microsoft Dynamics 365 for the platform’s ability to effectively blend functionality, inter-adaptability and scalability without maintenance hiccups. “Microsoft Dynamics 365 fit the requirements well, and the bundling of hosting, backup, disaster recovery, and managed services augurs well with our plans of a lean internal IT setup,” says Surbhit Lihala: Head IT and Digital Transformation, Keventer Agro.

Lean, agile and centralized operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Keventer Agro partnered with Acxiom Consulting for implementing Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. The aim was to streamline the finance and supply chain functions, smoothen operations and reduce the software footprint. Acxiom Consulting implemented a managed services platform. Insights from Microsoft’s large partner network and add-on solutions helped bring agility to the company’s widespread operations. 

Keventer Agro leveraged multiple benefits with the implementation: -

• Unified platform: The company is able to operate on a single platform across all divisions. Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management has helped streamline workflows in its supply chain and unified operations and processes across the business.   
• Automation: Process automation in sales and finance with Dynamics 365 Finance has helped Keventer Agro gain efficiency in freight management and reduce costs.
• Data consolidation: By using the cloud solution, Keventer Agro has consolidated disparate accounts and has a central purchase and inventory management data solution for all their business units. This has helped them visualize data from all their divisions in a more comprehensive manner. Now armed with better insights, they can make quicker and more effective decisions.
• Compliance: With built-in compliance, privacy and security features, the managed services platform cuts down paperwork and is prepared to face IT risks.   
• Environment agnostic: Employees at Keventer Agro could access the platform from anywhere, anytime. This was invaluable for the employees, especially during the pandemic and the company continues to leverage the advantages post-pandemic as well. Sanjay Gupta, Group CFO, Keventer Agro tells us, “For the end users, the solution has brought in a zero-footprint modern client interface, which is not limited to particular environments. Dynamics 365 was a big help during the pandemic years with assured services from Microsoft and the risks of downtime and others mitigated, without any impact to the business.”