Streamlining Operations at Greencross Vets

<h2>Overview</h2> <p>At <b>Greencross Vets</b>, I led the <b>Harmony</b> program, an initiative to harmonise business processes and data integration across their supply chain and finance teams. The program upgraded the existing <b>Navision</b> system to <b>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central</b> and built new integrations with third-party logistics partners using <b>Boomi</b>, supporting Greencross Vets’ growth, particularly in their expanding <b>Petbarn</b> retail business.</p> <h2>Key Activities</h2> <ul> <li>Conducted a deep-dive analysis of Greencross Vets’ <b>ERP</b> landscape, focusing on Navision’s heavy customisations and point-to-point integrations, identifying opportunities to enhance system architecture.</li> <li>Assessed <b>master data management</b>, identifying that master data was not properly mastered at source, creating opportunities for optimisation.</li> <li>Performed business process modelling, aligning processes to <b>APQC</b> naming conventions<a href="#apqc-note">*</a> to standardise and optimise operations for Petbarn’s retail growth.</li> <li>Collaborated with <b>Ernst & Young</b> to evaluate <b>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations</b> (D365 F&O), a discovery process that avoided costly, unnecessary investment by confirming a more efficient upgrade path.</li> <li>Developed new integrations with third-party logistics partners using Boomi, enhancing supply chain efficiency for Petbarn’s operations.</li> <li>Refined the <b>IT architecture roadmap</b> to integrate with Petbarn’s retail systems, aligning with Greencross Vets’ strategic goals.</li> <li>Enhanced integrations with inventory management, demand planning, loyalty programmes, patient management, and digital channels, focusing on unified master data management and advanced reporting.</li> </ul> <h2>Technologies Used</h2> <ul> <li>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central</li> <li>Navision (legacy ERP system)</li> <li>Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (evaluated)</li> <li>Boomi (integration platform)</li> <li><b>SaaS</b> (Software as a Service) cloud platforms</li> <li>Data analysis tools (e.g., <b>Excel</b>, <b>Power BI</b> for reporting)</li> </ul> <h2>Challenges and Solutions</h2> <ul> <li><b>Challenge</b>: Managing Navision’s complex customisations and point-to-point integrations with opportunities to enhance system architecture.<br> <b>Solution</b>: Conducted a thorough ERP landscape analysis to streamline integrations and lay the foundation for unified data management.</li> <li><b>Challenge</b>: Aligning IT systems with Petbarn’s rapid retail expansion.<br> <b>Solution</b>: Developed a cost-effective IT roadmap to upgrade Navision to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, avoiding the costly D365 F&O option, and built Boomi integrations for logistics efficiency.</li> </ul> <h2>Outcomes</h2> <ul> <li>Secured £1.6 million (equivalent to $2 million AUD) in funding for the optimised Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central upgrade, delivering strong ROI for Greencross Vets.</li> <li>Delivered modernised knowledge assets and an updated IT architecture roadmap, enabling scalable growth.</li> <li>Enabled Greencross Vets’ teams to align on a cost-effective cloud ERP solution with Boomi integrations, avoiding expensive re-implementations like D365 F&O, thanks to the detailed ERP landscape analysis and discovery process.</li> <li>Advanced Greencross Vets’ vision of harmonised processes and unified data, enhancing operational efficiency through APQC-aligned business processes and robust logistics integrations.</li> </ul> <h2>Related Skills</h2> <p>This program showcases my expertise in:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/skills/1">Technical Programme Management</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/4">Stakeholder Management</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/11">Planning</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/6">Risk Management</a></li> </ul> <h2>Learn More</h2> <p>Explore Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central <a href="https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-gb/business-central/overview/">here</a>, Boomi <a href="https://boomi.com/platform/">here</a>, or contact me to discuss my work with Greencross Vets!</p> <p id="apqc-note"><small>* The APQC Process Classification Framework (PCF) is a standardized taxonomy developed by the American Productivity & Quality Center for classifying and benchmarking business processes. It provides a common language to improve efficiency and performance across organizations. Learn more at <a href="https://www.apqc.org/process-frameworks">apqc.org</a>.</small></p> <p style="font-size:0.9em; color:#666; margin-top:2em; font-style:italic;"> This description reflects my personal contributions and general outcomes during my tenure at Greencross. Details are high-level and represent my own perspective. </p>

Overview

At Greencross Vets, I led the Harmony program, an initiative to harmonise business processes and data integration across their supply chain and finance teams. The program upgraded the existing Navision system to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and built new integrations with third-party logistics partners using Boomi, supporting Greencross Vets’ growth, particularly in their expanding Petbarn retail business.

Key Activities

  • Conducted a deep-dive analysis of Greencross Vets’ ERP landscape, focusing on Navision’s heavy customisations and point-to-point integrations, identifying opportunities to enhance system architecture.
  • Assessed master data management, identifying that master data was not properly mastered at source, creating opportunities for optimisation.
  • Performed business process modelling, aligning processes to APQC naming conventions* to standardise and optimise operations for Petbarn’s retail growth.
  • Collaborated with Ernst & Young to evaluate Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O), a discovery process that avoided costly, unnecessary investment by confirming a more efficient upgrade path.
  • Developed new integrations with third-party logistics partners using Boomi, enhancing supply chain efficiency for Petbarn’s operations.
  • Refined the IT architecture roadmap to integrate with Petbarn’s retail systems, aligning with Greencross Vets’ strategic goals.
  • Enhanced integrations with inventory management, demand planning, loyalty programmes, patient management, and digital channels, focusing on unified master data management and advanced reporting.

Technologies Used

  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
  • Navision (legacy ERP system)
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (evaluated)
  • Boomi (integration platform)
  • SaaS (Software as a Service) cloud platforms
  • Data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI for reporting)

Challenges and Solutions

  • Challenge: Managing Navision’s complex customisations and point-to-point integrations with opportunities to enhance system architecture.
    Solution: Conducted a thorough ERP landscape analysis to streamline integrations and lay the foundation for unified data management.
  • Challenge: Aligning IT systems with Petbarn’s rapid retail expansion.
    Solution: Developed a cost-effective IT roadmap to upgrade Navision to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, avoiding the costly D365 F&O option, and built Boomi integrations for logistics efficiency.

Outcomes

  • Secured £1.6 million (equivalent to $2 million AUD) in funding for the optimised Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central upgrade, delivering strong ROI for Greencross Vets.
  • Delivered modernised knowledge assets and an updated IT architecture roadmap, enabling scalable growth.
  • Enabled Greencross Vets’ teams to align on a cost-effective cloud ERP solution with Boomi integrations, avoiding expensive re-implementations like D365 F&O, thanks to the detailed ERP landscape analysis and discovery process.
  • Advanced Greencross Vets’ vision of harmonised processes and unified data, enhancing operational efficiency through APQC-aligned business processes and robust logistics integrations.

Related Skills

This program showcases my expertise in:

Learn More

Explore Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central here, Boomi here, or contact me to discuss my work with Greencross Vets!

* The APQC Process Classification Framework (PCF) is a standardized taxonomy developed by the American Productivity & Quality Center for classifying and benchmarking business processes. It provides a common language to improve efficiency and performance across organizations. Learn more at apqc.org.

This description reflects my personal contributions and general outcomes during my tenure at Greencross. Details are high-level and represent my own perspective.

Systems Software

Business Central