Challenge

HMS Networks’ growth was hampered by an outdated ERP system with limited functionality and dependency on a few key personnel.

Solution

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management and Cepheo Managed Services.

Result

A cohesive and robust platform with improved customer support and enhanced data analysis that is continuously updated to support growth.

HMS Networks is a successful Swedish manufacturing company with a focus on industrial communication solutions. Millions of devices around the world use HMS Networks' products, which enable devices to communicate with software and systems through IoT, increasing the productivity of their customers.

Since 1988, the company has grown into a global player with over 1,200 employees in more than 20 countries. It's a coveted position, but the company has even bigger ambitions. HMS Networks has a strategy of continued growth through organic development and acquisitions. The challenge, however, was that the company had outgrown its ERP solution. 


"The technical platform was outdated, which meant the system was unable to support our growth," says Magnus Hansson, Dynamics 365 Product Owner at HMS Networks.

 

The company was using an ERP system from the 1990s, which no longer met the requirements of a modern company. The system had limited functionality and required several customizations, including the use of third-party products to meet HMS Network's needs. In addition, its user interface was also outdated.


There were also very few consultants available to support and develop the system.


"The system was operated by our internal IT department, which created a dependency on a few key people. That created a risk of not being able to ensure the availability required to support our global operations in many time zones and with many users," says Hansson.


The nearly 40-year-old company needed a modern, robust and global ERP system to manage data and processes in a consistent way across the organization.

 

"We now have a more integrated solution that enables our systems to communicate more effectively with each other, opening up even more opportunities to benefit from in the future."

 

Magnus Hansson
Dynamics 365 Product Owner, HMS Networks

Clear strategy led to Microsoft ERP system

 

The process started in early January, 2022.

 

"We conducted a thorough evaluation of several ERP systems and partners and finally decided to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management," says Magnus Hansson, the project manager for the entire implementation.

 

Dynamics 365 Finance is an ERP system that improves efficiency by bringing all business functions together on one platform, providing better insight into business data and supporting global growth. Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management is also an ERP system that optimizes and automates supply chain processes for increased efficiency and flexibility. It allows HMS Networks to manage and scale its complex operations more smoothly.

 

Hansson explains why the choice fell on solutions from Microsoft's extensive ecosystem.

 

"Microsoft is one of our largest IT service providers, and we have strategically chosen to focus on them as one of our main partners."


He says that the fact that HMS Networks already uses solutions from Microsoft was also a contributing factor.

 

"A key reason was that we were already using several other solutions from Microsoft, which created synergies."

 

For example, HMS Networks had been using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement solutions for many years, which contributed to their choice. This is a CRM system that helps manage customer data and interactions. With the solution, companies can improve their customer service, increase sales productivity and strengthen customer relationships. This is particularly important for a company that operates globally and needs to keep track of many different customers and markets.

 

Another important factor in the decision to choose an ERP system from Microsoft was that HMS Networks was already using Microsoft Power BI. This is a data platform for business intelligence and data analysis that enables businesses to collect, visualize and analyze data efficiently. By using Power BI, companies can make more informed decisions based on real-time data and in-depth analysis, which is crucial for their strategic planning and daily operations.

 

Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management are delivered by Cepheo. The partnership ensures that HMS Networks receives the support and expertise needed within the Dynamics 365 platform.

 

Greater opportunities and more benefits for HMS Networks

 

With the implementation of Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, HMS Networks has achieved a more coherent business platform.

 

"We now have a more integrated solution that enables our systems to communicate more effectively with each other, opening up even more opportunities to benefit from in the future. This has led to an increased ability to provide better support to our customers and the ability to follow up and analyze data more efficiently," says Magnus Hansson, Dynamics 365 Product Owner at HMS Networks.


The business platform ensures that operations are much more robust than before," he says.


"We have a more stable and reliable environment, and we are no longer as dependent on our own resources. We have also gained access to a much wider range of solutions and can now benefit from a larger base of external consultants at Cepheo for support and development."


This has given the company some completely new benefits and opportunities.


"One major benefit is that the platform is continuously updated with new functionality. Having a system that can support our growth and business development is crucial to enable us to continue to develop our business and offer the best possible support to our customers," says Hansson.

"Going forward, we see great potential in further developing the system, especially by better integrating our different solutions and maximizing the value we can gain from them."

 

Magnus Hansson
Dynamics 365 Product Owner, HMS Networks

See great potential in AI in the future

HMS Networks chose Cepheo as its IT partner because they best met the company's requirements in the tender This was especially in terms of implementation model, resources and the ability to support the company in the subsequent management of the system, which is delivered by Cepheo via a Managed Services agreement.


Another decisive factor was Cepheo's experience from the manufacturing industry, says Hansson, who enjoyed a positive cooperation with Cepheo as IT partner.


"The partnership with Cepheo has been successful, supported by skilled application consultants who work well with our people to solve the challenges we face," he says.


He adds that the focus in the future will be on maximizing the value of all the solutions in the business platform.


"Going forward, we see great potential in further developing the system, especially by better integrating our different solutions and maximizing the value we can gain from them. HMS Networks aims to continue to grow, and we are continuously working to roll out the systems to more markets and to integrate new acquisitions."


Although HMS Networks already has a fairly comprehensive business platform, it is far from finished investigating new technological opportunities.


"We aim to automate more processes and eliminate unnecessary steps to free up time for more value-added activities. AI is an area where Microsoft is investing heavily, and we look forward to capitalizing on that to improve our data analytics and streamline our daily tasks," concludes Hansson. 

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