Heveco wants to automate integrated company processes with Microsoft Dynamics NAV and SI Foodware from Schouw Informatisering
Jelle Vijn: "we've made it. We went live with the financial administration in two months"
Etten-Leur, January 2005 - Heveco, one the largest producers and distributors of mushrooms in Europe, has realized the re-automation of the financial administration. This has been achieved due to the implementation methodology of Schouw Informatisering and the flexible structure of Microsoft DynamicsTM NAV (Navision). Besides the financial administration, Schouw Informatisering will also work out the implementation of Dynamics NAV and SI Foodware® for the other processes at Heveco. "At this moment, the finishing touch is being made to the pre-study and the functional design", says Jelle Vijn, iterim director logistics at Heveco.
Once the management team of Heveco decided that the company processes and the organization structure had to be optimized, it became clear that there was the necessity for another level of company automation. "Unique about the organization of Heveco is the fact that the company foresees all the processes. From the composition of the compost in which the mushrooms are growing and breeding, up till the harvesting, packaging and distribution of about 800 tons of mushrooms per week", explains Jelle Vijn. "However, we are only supplying the large retailers and exclusive specialty stores outside the Netherlands." Jelle Vijn: "Of course this company has not been this big since the beginning. There have been a number of acquisitions throughout the years. For example several growers and packagers have been acquired and all these companies have their own automation systems with which exchange of data is hardly possible. Once the cooperation level becomes more intensive, for example by retrieving production schedules for the packaging lines, it becomes clear that there is a need for increased transparency in the supply chain. For example harvesting forecasts, transport schedules and capacity schedules are focus points".
Annelieke Wagemakers, Project Manager at Schouw Informatisering, explains the various phases of the project: "Back in October, when Heveco had made the choice for Microsoft Dynamics and SI Foodware, we immediately started the automation of the financial administration. Starting from January 1st, Heveco wanted to work from the new BV-structure and the financial administration had to be re-arranged anyway. We advised to work this out in Microsoft Dynamics Immediately, as it had to be done twice if not." She continues: "at the same time, we started with describing the company processes in the organization. Based on this, we looked to Dynamics NAV and SI Foodware, in order to connect them with each other." Finally, this results in design and a very detailed project plan. At that moment, Heveco got a very clear overview of which process should be automated in what way and when it should be done. "In this way, there will be no surprises during after the implementation", according to Annelieke Wagemakers.
Jelle Vijn: "because the mushrooms that are harvested today will be in the stores in England, France and Germany within three days, the optimal working of the primary company processes, such as logistics, is a must. For us, it turned out that this was a good moment to replace all the "island automation" with one integrated system." Annelieke Wagemakers: ‘At first, we researched if we could realize all the needs and demands of Heveco. Thereafter, we organized an extensive demonstration and a reference visit. The project team of Heveco had a clear vision on what they wanted, which worked out pretty well." Jelle Vijn continues: "all members of the project team filled in a checklist for the last of the two selected vendors. Unanimous, Dynamics NAV, with Gold Certified Partner Schouw Informatisering, came up on top. Dynamics NAV due to its guaranteed continuity and integration with other Microsoft products. Schouw Informatisering due to SI Foodware and its knowledge of the fruit and vegetable industry." Jelle Vijn continues: "the industry knowledge of Schouw increases the efficiency of the project. Critical processes of our daily trading system, such as party administration, but also other food aspects such as quality control and assurance are known topics for the consultants of Schouw Informatisering. And that has been the point that dragged us over the line."