Support for logistics at Intratuin via Managed Applications from Focus Enterprise Solutions

Intratuin was created when eight entrepreneurs joined forces in 1980. They had a clear vision and decided to organize the purchasing jointly. When that turned out to be a success, the next step was logical: a uniform sales formula, which is now known as Intratuin. Since its establishment, this soft franchise has grown to 65 stores in three countries, the vast majority of which are located in the Netherlands. Sergei Herczog, Information Manager Supply Chain at Intratuin, talks about the collaboration with, and the support by, Focus Enterprise Solutions.

“Within Intratuin there are three Information Managers”, Sergei starts the conversation. “For example, we have an Information Manager for Commerce, one for Master Data and one for the logistics process. The latter is my role. In addition, I am involved in translating the wishes and needs of the business into ICT solutions. The ERP system is an important part of this. After all, this system ensures that the stores are supplied in the right way and at the right time.

When I joined Intratuin, they had just said goodbye to their ERP supplier and made the switch to Focus Enterprise Solutions (then GreatCircle). For support, we use Managed Applications from Focus Enterprise Solutions as well.”

“Our ERP system plays an important role. After all, this system ensures that the stores are supplied in the right way and at the right time.”

“It is only logical for me to use Managed Applications from Focus Enterprise Solutions in addition to the hosting and management and updates of AX2012. We have recently extended the Service Level Agreement for Managed Applications again. In this way we can guarantee that we have a single point of contact for all our ERP issues and that ensures that we are always helped quickly,” Sergei continues.

“We have a very nice cooperation with Focus Enterprise Solutions. At the moment, a consultant and a developer are there for us, on average two days a week. I talk to the business every week and collect the wishes they have. Together with the consultant and developer of Focus Enterprise Solutions, we implement small changes in an iterative process and we have a new release every month. Then all changes of that month are transferred to the production environment at once. My Application Manager, me and Focus Enterprise Solutions have found a mode in this that works very quickly and efficiently. It is therefore rare that a change is made that later turns out not to be good.

You can see that the number of incidents has decreased enormously in the past two years. And if something does happen, the solution from Focus Enterprise Solutions is always close by. I never actually speak to our Account Manager because there are problems or an escalation: our regular developer and consultant of Focus Enterprise Solutions have the right knowledge to help us with problems.  I also experience the cooperation with the Service Delivery Manager as pleasant because there are short lines of communication.”

“What is also nice about the collaboration is that the Focus Enterprise Solutions team now really knows our organization inside out. As a result, I can also use them for support matters that you may not immediately think of at first. For example, we have already engaged them to train all new employees of the Finance department. They found it difficult to understand how our financial administration is organized. Thanks to the clear explanation of Focus Enterprise Solutions, they can now all effortlessly find their way in our ERP system.

“If something does happen, the solution from Focus Enterprise Solutions is always close by. … I have good experiences with Focus Enterprise Solutions and would recommend a collaboration with them to everyone.”

I will certainly need that functional knowledge even more often, now that we are in the process of switching to the cloud. We first want to transfer the Finance department to Dynamics 365 and then train our people through Focus Enterprise Solutions. With that training we want to ensure that people really understand what they are doing and not just learn a trick. If they are enthusiastic about working with Dynamics 365, this also creates extra goodwill within the rest of the organization.

Thanks to the knowledge that exists within Focus Enterprise Solutions of the Microsoft Dynamics Software and our company, I look forward to that process with confidence. After all, I have good experiences with them and would recommend a collaboration with Focus Enterprise Solutions to everyone,” Sergei concludes his story.

After reading this customer case, would you like more information about our solutions support via Managed Applications? Please contact us. We are happy to see what best suits your organization