Al-Balagh streamlines operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365, cutting approval times from 4 days to 4 hours

Established in 1977, Al-Balagh has earned a strong reputation as a leading private company in Qatar, excelling across industries such as construction, oil and gas, IT solutions, trading, medical, and facility management. With an established market presence, the company has continuously evolved through expansion and innovation. “Our sustained growth is driven by our commitment to technological advancement. We prioritize automation and digitalization, reducing reliance on paper-based processes and integrating cutting-edge technologies across all aspects of our operations,” says Sheikha Al-Kaabi, Vice-Chairman at Al-Balagh.

Siloed teams, manual processes

Managing complex, large-scale construction projects requires precise budgeting, forecasting, and financial control. Yet, manual processes, fragmented financial data, and difficulties in project tracking left Al-Balagh without full operational visibility. Key departments, including finance and project management, operated in silos and relied on weekly or monthly manual reconciliations to align budgets with actual costs. This lack of integration caused delays, inconsistencies, and challenges in tracking material movement, subcontractor payments, and project performance. “We needed a single, integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that could automate workflows, streamline approvals, and provide accurate, real-time data across all departments,” shares Maneesha Shiron, ERP Program Manager at Al-Balagh IT Solutions. 

Al-Balagh started looking for a platform that could support all its divisions. For example, the construction division relies on the project management module but doesn’t engage in direct sales; while trading and medical divisions depend on inventory management for buying and selling activities.

A reliable, user-friendly solution

After evaluating options, Al-Balagh was particularly impressed by a Microsoft Dynamics 365 demo presented by Intwo, a trusted Microsoft partner specializing in consulting and managed services. “Microsoft’s deep understanding of the local market, combined with their dynamic and results-driven approach, made them the ideal partner for us,” says Sheikha Al-Kaabi. “Microsoft’s expertise aligned perfectly with our needs, ensuring a smooth transition.” 

Al-Balagh took a structured, step-by-step approach to implementation. It started by assessing processes and evaluating requirements, then customized the system to fit the needs of the company while integrating it with existing applications. To ensure a smooth transition, the team tested workflows and carefully migrated data from the old system. “We tailored the HR and payroll modules specifically for Al-Balagh’s requirements. This included handling regional compliance needs and customizing workflows to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. The end result was a system that feels intuitive to their users,” shares Dilip Bolar, Executive Director at Intwo.

Having previously used Microsoft products, Al-Balagh’s teams were already familiar with the ecosystem, making it easier to introduce and adopt the new solution. Still, given the scale and complexity of the implementation, Al-Balagh IT Solutions with Intwo provided extensive support to ensure a smooth transition. “Our strong collaboration with Intwo played a crucial role in implementing Dynamics 365, accelerating the execution of our strategic plan, and turning our key objectives into reality,” says Sheikha Al-Kaabi.

Al-Balagh IT Solutions delivered over 300 hours of training, processed more than 1,200 support tickets, and handled over 270 change requests. As a result, the user base grew from 100 to 500, reinforcing adoption across the organization.

Automating workflows across divisions

Today, Al-Balagh’s three companies and six divisions rely on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance module to track costs, manage contracts, and automate workflows such as approvals and requests. "The platform lets us set budgets, track procurement, and handle client billing through predefined rules,” shares Maneesha Shiron. The team is also using the Finance module to automate subcontractor and supplier management, overseeing performance bonds, bank guarantees, and material movement across projects.

The Project Operations module has become central for managing projects in the company’s construction and oil and gas divisions. With real-time tracking of progress, costs, and resources, Al-Balagh can now avoid overspending. The system also serves as a central data hub, allowing teams to reference past projects when bidding on new ones. “Reports are now available at any time, with a single click, replacing the previous weekly or monthly updates,” shares Maneesha Shiron. “Our management no longer needs to chase down reports from various departments.”

To ensure security, Al-Balagh provides staff with role-based access, limiting data visibility to relevant responsibilities only, and enforcing restrictions on the actions they’re allowed to perform. This approach reduces unnecessary access to critical information, reinforces accountability and compliance, and gives users a clearer view of the data they need, minimizing dashboard clutter and data noise for a more focused and efficient experience.

Powered by a human resources (HR) solution from Intwo, HR processes are now fully integrated into Dynamics 365 Human Resources. Previously, tasks like collecting payslips required physical visits to the HR office. With the introduction of employee self-service (ESS), employees can now submit and track leave requests, access payslips, request official documents, and update personal information online. This shift has significantly reduced administrative workload while giving employees more control and transparency over HR-related tasks. 

Al-Balagh also automated approval workflows within Dynamics 365 and integrated them into email inboxes using Power Automate. Maneesha Shiron explains, “Now, instead of logging into the system, approvers receive an email with all the details needed. They can approve or reject requests directly from their inbox, saving time and speeding up processes across the organization.”

More visibility, efficient processes

Following this transformation, many of Al-Balagh’s workflows are now fully digitized. “Previously, we had to shuffle a lot of paper around for every approval,” notes Maneesha Shiron. “For example, purchase requests had to be sent from project sites to the head office for approval, then circulated again for final confirmation—a process that took around four days. Now, with Dynamics 365, automated workflows reduce this to just one to four hours.” This shift has also decreased paper usage by 90% across all divisions.

Al-Balagh has gained seamless real-time visibility across all departments. “Now, all departments operate from the same source of truth,” shares Shiron. Management can also trust the accuracy of the data as it’s always verifiable in the system. 

Ultimately, discussions have become more transparent, and decisions are made with greater confidence. “Every meeting is based on accurate, up-to-date data, which has had a significant impact on how we operate,” shares Maneesha Shiron. Built-in features also help steer things in the right direction. Previously, budgets tracked on paper often led to misalignment between planned and actual costs, requiring frequent revisions. Now, with real-time visibility and built-in budget controls, every project must have an approved, accurate budget before moving forward. Access to historical project data and higher data intelligence also allows for more accurate forecasting from the start. This has reduced budget revisions, improved financial accuracy, and prevented unexpected cost overruns.

The improved visibility has accelerated all Al-Balagh’s workflows. “By improving transparency across the entire group, we’ve enhanced reporting, streamlined workflows, and significantly reduced approval timelines. With more accurate data, efficiency has increased, daily processes run more smoothly, and productivity has increased—all thanks to Dynamics 365,” shares H.E. Sherida Saad Jubran Al-Kaabi, Founder and Chairman of Al-Balagh.

With Microsoft Dynamics 365 in the cloud, compliance is seamless and automatic. Previously, teams had to manually ensure data security and regulatory adherence, often raising concerns about handling sensitive project data. Now, built-in safeguards ensure full compliance, removing uncertainty and allowing teams to focus on their work with confidence.

Empowered, happier team

Overall, employees appreciate the improved efficiency and reduced manual workload. “Employee satisfaction has improved,” shares Shiron. “Interestingly, some of the users who were initially the most resistant to the change have become the most dependent on the system. If a report is delayed, they immediately ask for it—proof of how essential it has become. Seeing this shift from hesitation to full adoption is a huge achievement for us.”

The collaboration between Al-Balagh and Intwo was truly a partnership. “We weren’t just service providers. We worked side by side to ensure Dynamics 365 adapted to their specific workflows, especially in areas like project management and budgeting. That level of teamwork is what really made this project a success,” explains Dilip Bolar. 

“The Dynamics 365 implementation project in Al-Balagh is one of the very few undertakings in the country where a homegrown Qatari contractor has judiciously chosen to shift a traditional construction business IT operation from a legacy accounting and finance software package to a multi-module, full-fledged, cloud-based ERP solution,” affirms Vijay Bhattacharya, General Manager at Al-Balagh.

Al-Balagh continues its digital transformation, prioritizing automation and expansion. One of the next priorities is automating vendor invoices. Meanwhile, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Project Operations is being implemented for two sister companies, ensuring group-wide consistency. Looking ahead, the company plans to deploy the Sales and Customer Insight modules to enhance customer relationship management and business development. “Transforming Al-Balagh from a traditional business model to a technology-driven company was a challenge that required careful planning, adaptability, and a culture of innovation,” H.E. Sherida Saad Jubran Al-Kaabi reflects. “This shift has positioned us for continuous growth and success. Today, I am proud to say that, through our collaboration with Microsoft and Intwo, we have successfully achieved full automation of our ERP system, marking a significant milestone in our digital journey.”

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