How Giesen Group transformed winemaking with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

As operations expanded across markets and product lines, Giesen’s legacy systems struggled to keep pace. Manual processes, fragmented reporting, and an aging on-premises ERP made it difficult to match the agility required of a modern winery.

Giesen chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central integrations with Vintrace, WineWorks, and Giesen’s 3PL providers. It also connected Business Central to Solver for advanced analytics and introduced Esker to automate accounts payable workflows.

Giesen Group now has real-time reporting, accurate cost tracking, faster month-end close, and streamlined order fulfillment with reduced manual entry and errors.

In the heart of Marlborough, New Zealand’s world-renowned wine region, Giesen Group has been crafting exceptional wines for over four decades. Known for pushing boundaries in both tradition and taste—including a rapidly growing 0% alcohol range—this family-owned business has always had an eye on innovation.

But as operations expanded across markets and product lines, Giesen’s legacy systems struggled to keep pace. Manual processes, fragmented reporting, and an aging on-premises ERP made it difficult to match the agility required of a modern winery.

“As our business evolved, we needed a system that matched our scale and agility. We wanted a more intuitive, cloud-based solution that could keep pace with the way we work today—and support where we’re headed next.”

Shane Vivian, Management Accountant, Giesen Group

The shift to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, implemented by long-time Microsoft partner FUJIFILM MicroChannel, marked a major turning point. Giesen saw it as an opportunity to modernise, simplify, and future-proof their entire business—from grape to glass, and back again.

A fresh start, built in the cloud

Rather than replicate outdated processes, Giesen took the bold step of starting clean. The wine maker restructured their chart of accounts, aligned codes with external logistics partners, and adopted Business Central’s standard features wherever possible.

“Everyone was happy to let go of the old way. We redesigned everything with simplicity and accuracy in mind,” Shane explains. “And we didn’t have to compromise—Business Central gave us the flexibility we needed without the baggage.”

“Everyone was happy to let go of the old way. We redesigned everything with simplicity and accuracy in mind. And we didn’t have to compromise—Business Central gave us the flexibility we needed without the baggage.”

Shane Vivian, Management Accountant, Giesen Group

Choosing the right implementation partner was just as important as choosing the platform.

“We didn’t just want someone to support Business Central—we needed a partner who could support our business,” says Shane. “FUJIFILM MicroChannel really understood our industry and where we were trying to go. It’s been a great relationship.”

“We didn’t just want someone to support Business Central—we needed a partner who could support our business. FUJIFILM MicroChannel really understood our industry and where we were trying to go. It’s been a great relationship.”

Shane Vivian, Management Accountant, Giesen Group

Together, the teams implemented critical integrations with Vintrace (for winemaking), WineWorks (for bottling), and Giesen’s 3PL providers. They also connected Business Central to Solver for advanced analytics and introduced Esker to automate accounts payable workflows.

“We developed integrations with their winemaking software and bottling partner to automate key workflows,” says Michael Agustin, Business Central Consultant at FUJIFILM MicroChannel. “That reduced manual data entry and gave Giesen a more complete, and accurate picture of their operations.”

“We developed integrations with their winemaking software and bottling partner to automate key workflows. That reduced manual data entry and gave Giesen a more complete, and accurate picture of their operations.”

Michael Agustin, Business Central Consultant, FUJIFILM MicroChannel

Giesen also became one of the first wine producers in New Zealand to adopt VinPoint for Wine Management, FUJIFILM MicroChannel’s industry-specific extension built on Business Central. While the team has only been leveraging the solution for a few months, they expect it will bring significant benefits over time. Among its standout features: vintage management, a must-have for any winery. “With our vintage management feature, customers can track quantities, costs, and pricing by vintage without creating new SKUs,” explains David Moncrieff, Account Manager at FUJIFILM MicroChannel. “It’s simple but powerful—and something winemakers absolutely need.”

“With our vintage management feature, customers can track quantities, costs, and pricing by vintage without creating new SKUs. It’s simple but powerful—and something winemakers absolutely need.”

David Moncrieff, Account Manager, FUJIFILM MicroChannel

Real results, vintage after vintage

The benefits were immediate. Reporting that once relied on time-consuming spreadsheets is now available in real time. Variance analysis and cost tracking are more accurate. Teams now focus on value-added work instead of cleaning up data or chasing down errors.

“Our sales team can now see accurate product margins. Our month-end close is dramatically faster. And I no longer need to be the bottleneck for reporting,” Shane shares. “The data is clean, and everyone’s working from the same source of truth.”

Automation has also streamlined order fulfilment. Sales data flows directly from Business Central to bottling partners, eliminating manual entry and reducing errors.

“It’s the kind of invisible tech that just works,” says Shane.

A platform for the future

Looking ahead, Giesen is focused on creating an integrated planning model that brings together forecasting, inventory, and production management—from grape yield predictions to packaging requirements.

“We’re working toward full-circle planning,” says Shane. “If we know how many grapes we’re getting, how much wine we’ll make, and how much demand there is—then we can proactively manage labels, bottles, and logistics. That’s the dream.”

With the flexibility, scalability, and continual innovation of Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, it’s a dream that’s well within reach.

“From grape to glass, we now have the data foundation we need to build real intelligence into our business,” Shane mentions. “And we’re only just getting started.”

“Our sales team can now see accurate product margins. Our month-end close is dramatically faster. It’s the kind of invisible tech that just works. That’s the dream. From grape to glass, we now have the data foundation we need to build real intelligence into our business. And we’re only just getting started.”

Shane Vivian, Management Accountant, Giesen Group