Global Plast chooses ELIAN for Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation

Global Plast (http://globalplast.com.ro/) is a group of companies active in the import and distribution of everyday household products. The portfolio contains over 3,500 items (cleaning and storage products, disposables and paper products, candles, etc., including three own brands – Zorex, Papelino, Alabala).

The products are distributed through a national network with warehouses in Bucharest, Iași, Bacau, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Constanța, totalling an area of over 14,000 sqm. Global Plast’s customers are large retail chains, the Horeca sector and other regional or local distributors. In addition, it also operates its own online sales channel through its shop https://gospodar.shop/.
The group of companies has been active since 2003 and currently employs more than 230 people and has an annual turnover in excess of €25 million.

Global Plast, a mature business with national coverage and over €25 million turnover has catalysed the whole business with an investment in technology.

In 2016, with the help of Elian Solutions, the company implemented Dynamics NAV, in a version with multiple customizations, to optimize and standardize business processes. Global Plast has achieved all of its goals, and the return on investment has been rapid.

Business challenges

The Global Plast Group has seen a steady increase in turnover in recent years, even in the context of the pandemic. The business has strengthened, the product portfolio has expanded and the number of partners has increased significantly, now reaching over 5,000.

The evolution of the business has made it necessary to use an integrated IT system, providing access to centralised data and complete visibility of the activity.

The company also wanted to eliminate the use of Excel files and paper documents, easily consolidate all existing data across the group, and provide field-based employees with mobile access to customer and stock information. All of this led in 2016 to the initiation of a plan to implement a modern ERP system.

“In 2016, in order to lay the foundations for long-term development, we set out to implement an integrated IT system. The objective was to make business processes run in the system, digitized and visible to the entire organization and therefore easier to measure and control.

We also wanted all employees to have access to consolidated data, whether they were in sales, purchasing or warehousing, at the company’s headquarters or in the field.”

Vasile Stoian, Operations Director, Global Plast

Global Plast opts for Dynamics NAV

In order to choose the right solution, Global Plast carried out a selection process whereby it analysed several solutions available on the market, according to criteria related to complexity, customisation capacity, support services, etc. At the end of the process, the company chose Dynamics NAV and ELIAN as its implementation partner.

Global Plast also appreciated the international footprint of Dynamics NAV, which thus includes the expertise of many companies, from different regions and industries. Microsoft was an additional guarantee, especially in view of its extensive technology portfolio and focus on innovation.

In addition, ELIAN boosted Dynamics NAV’s score through prior experience in similar projects, understanding of the import and distribution domain and good communication skills.

“We looked closely at the market and realized that there were two major categories of applications: some too large and complex for our company’s requirements, and others that offered limited possibilities in supporting long-term development.

Dynamics NAV was between these categories and convinced us that it was a complete and powerful solution that could be tailored to the specifics of Global Plast’s business. A solution that brings us a set of best practices, through which we can optimise our business, but is also easy to adopt and use.”

Vasile Stoian, Operational Director, Global Plast

Advanced customizations

Global Plast implemented Dynamics NAV in 2016, the project was preceded by a requirements and functionality analysis phase. The system delivered by ELIAN combines standard Dynamics NAV functionalities (mainly for financial-accounting management) with multiple developments and customizations at operational level. The company has optimised specific processes for sales, procurement, inventory, reporting and mirrored them in the ERP system according to its own requirements. Subsequently, the company added a dedicated module for Business Intelligence, and management reporting was significantly improved.

At the end of the project, Global Plast initiated a systematic training programme for all employees to increase efficiency of use. After the transition to production, which took place simultaneously for all companies in the group, key users were defined to support colleagues, collect feedback and manage new developments. The company currently has over 150 active users in the system.

As a future development, Global Plast is targeting a receivables management module, allowing for a stricter trade policy and easier collection of debits.

“The implementation was complex because we wanted the system to reflect the specifics of the business as well as possible. It involved a lot of effort to analyse and understand the processes and mirror them in the solution.

Elian’s support was prompt and efficient and together we found the right technical solutions for each aspect.”

Vasile Stoian, Operational Director, Global Plast

Streamlined processes and business discipline

After implementing Dynamics NAV, the company has significantly improved its business, especially in departments that were previously not supported by IT tools. Business processes have been digitised and all employees rely on the information in the system.

Communication has become better, both internally (through the Intercompany module) and with customers and business partners, and business relations more fluid.

The management team now has access to comprehensive reports and can make decisions based on real-time data.

Benefits

Centralising data at group level, increasing control and visibility over activity

By using Dynamics NAV, Global Plast has consolidated all existing data in the group companies into one system, which simplifies access to information and centralized reporting.

In addition, the company has optimised business processes, put commercial policy in order and standardised the way of working.

Optimising sales activities

Regardless of location, the Global Plast sales team has access to all the data needed to interact with customers directly from their tablet or mobile phone. Agents know customer history, real-time stock availability, can place orders and make firm delivery promises.

At the same time, the app enables an efficient order validation and approval workflow and provides full traceability of sales processes.

In addition, agents have facilities for planning activity and customer visits, selecting the optimal route via geolocation.

Improve the procurement process and match orders with existing stocks and supply needs

ELIAN has developed specific functionalities in Dynamics NAV for the purchasing department to improve forecasting and procurement processes to limit out of stock situations.

At the purchasing level, the system facilitates order grouping and shipment consolidation to reduce costs.

As a result, the company has been able to move a similar volume of goods with fewer shipments and therefore lower costs.

Automation of document exchange with large retail networks (key accounts)

ELIAN has also integrated EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) technology into the new IT system, which enables the bi-directional circulation of documents in standard format between Global Plast and business partners with similar technologies.

This facility eliminates manual processing of documents and generates significant time savings as well as streamlining business relations with large retail networks.

Speeding up and simplifying reporting to the environmental fund

In order to manage the reporting to the environmental fund as easily as possible, Global Plast requested the automation of this process. Based on developments made by ELIAN, the system automatically retrieves the necessary data and structures it according to the requirements of the relevant legislation.

Manual processing and the risk of errors disappears, and the time taken to obtain reports is significantly shortened.
Thus, using NAV provides certainty and compliance in reporting to the Environment, as well as a rigorous way of complying with legislation.

“We have business partners in 20 countries, from Asia to America, and we work with all categories of carriers. It’s a very complex business, and Dynamics NAV helps us keep it under control and have visibility of the real situation.

We combine different elements (destinations, carriers, partners, cargo) for maximum efficiency, a process that couldn’t be done manually, only with a high-performance IT system.”

Vasile Stoian Operational Director Global Plast

Conclusions

For Global Plast, the standardisation and best practices introduced through the implementation of Dynamics NAV are a major gain, as they have enabled a shift to a more rigorous way of working and a stronger internal policy.

With the help of ELIAN, the company has optimised its business processes and adopted the most appropriate solutions. Global Plast believes that the investment in Dynamics NAV was an inspired decision that has fully paid for itself.

“Implementing an ERP system is a catalyst for a company’s growth and should be a mandatory step. A system like Dynamics NAV helps to interconnect and improve business processes and provides the tools to make the most inspired decisions.”

“From my perspective, what matters is the mix of people + technology. The system developed by ELIAN allows us to save time to think about problems and find solutions that can be the difference between profit or loss.”