Parrish and Heimbecker Upgrades from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central to Leverage the Full Microsoft Stack
Quick Summary
The upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Business Central for Parrish and Heimbecker has significantly improved their search functionality and integration capabilities. These enhancements have provided better support for third-party applications for automatic invoice coding and financial reporting. TMC’s customized integrations for Parrish, utilizing their own intellectual property and APIs, have made the entire system more streamlined and efficient. This transition has facilitated smoother operations and enhanced the user experience, especially in terms of search capabilities and customization options, leading to more efficient processes and better alignment with the company’s technological needs.
Challenges
Compatibility Issues
The existing Dynamics NAV system was not compatible with the Asset Guardian, a computerized maintenance management system that the maintenance team wanted to use. This incompatibility pushed them to consider upgrading to Business Central.
Microsoft’s Support
Microsoft announced that NAV would eventually be phased out, which meant that Parrish and Heimbecker needed to transition to Business Central to ensure continued support and updates from Microsoft.
Integration and Automation Needs
The need for better integration with third-party applications, such as SoftCo for automatic invoice coding and Jet Reports for financial reporting, was a significant factor. Additionally, Parrish and Heimbecker were looking to automate several processes, including AP automation with SoftCo, automated bank statements, and EFTs. The existing NAV system did not support these integrations and automations as efficiently as Business Central.
Parrish and Heimbecker wanted to take advantage of newer technologies and the full Microsoft stack, including Power Platform and Power Automate, to streamline their operations and improve efficiency so it was time to move.
“There were some features that our maintenance team wanted to be able to use and that weren’t going be available with NAV and so the only option was to upgrade. We knew we had to upgrade at some point & it had been on our radar, so it wasn’t totally a surprise, but it was pushed a little faster than we had originally thought.
– Jennifer Hes | Financial Solutions Delivery Manager
Microsoft Solutions Partner Decision
During the decision-making process for their Business Central upgrade, Parrish and Heimbecker were already working with TMC. TMC had taken over their NAV license after their Microsoft partner struggled to fully understand and implement the necessary customizations. The former technology partner failed to ask the right questions, leading to repeated redevelopment, unexpected costs, and unclear timelines—all compounded by poor communication and support.
Parrish chose TMC for their proactive communication and deep understanding of their development needs. Confident in TMC’s ability to deliver accurate and efficient customizations, they decided to continue the partnership for their Business Central upgrade.
“I work fairly closely with the team at TMC, and I feel like anytime I ask about the status of something, they are really quick to reply. They often let me know if something is on the docket for the next two weeks, and if I don’t hear anything, they encourage me to follow up. The communication piece is a lot better than with our former Microsoft partner”
Jennifer Hes | Financial Solutions Delivery Manager
Vendor Decision
Parrish and Heimbecker had been long-time users of Dynamics NAV and were very satisfied with its performance. When it came time to upgrade, they viewed Business Central as a natural progression rather than a completely new ERP system. Given their existing use of Microsoft 365 and customizations on Dynamics NAV, it made perfect sense to continue with the Microsoft Stack to ensure seamless integration and communication across all systems.
TMC Approach
Solutions
TMC customized an integration solution to connect Business Central with Parrish’s SoftCo Accounts Payable Management system. This integration enhanced their accounts payable management, improved their reporting capabilities, and boosted overall operational efficiency.
The customization aimed to achieve the following goals:
Automated Data Transfers
The integration facilitated bi-directional automated data transfers between Business Central and SoftCo via an SFTP site. This ensured that data imports and exports were managed efficiently.
Improved Efficiency
By integrating SoftCo, Parrish and Heimbecker aimed to automate several processes, including invoice coding and approval, which significantly improved their operational efficiency.
Enhanced Reporting
The integration also supported better financial reporting by enabling automatic invoice coding and providing real-time updates on invoice statuses.
Streamlined Operations
The integration allowed for better management and approval of purchases, as well as improved handling of vendor information, purchase orders, goods receipts, and invoice payments.
Support
Jennifer shared several specific examples of how the TMC team supported P&H during and after the implementation, including the integration of the Asset Guardian (TAG) software. She highlighted the following points:
Proactive Support
The team was proactive in addressing potential issues before they became problems. This included regular check-ins and updates to ensure everything was on track.
Customized Solutions
The team provided customized solutions tailored to their specific needs, such as the integration of the Asset Guardian (TAG) software with Business Central. This integration helped in tracking equipment and maintenance plans, ensuring that all maintenance activities were well-documented and managed effectively.
Post-Implementation Assistance
After the implementation, the team continued to offer support, helping to resolve any issues that arose and ensuring a smooth transition.
Training and Resources
The team provided comprehensive training and resources, which helped Jennifer and her team to quickly adapt to the new system and maximize its benefits.
Favorite Features
Parrish and Heimbecker have found several features and functionalities of Business Central to be particularly beneficial in improving their business processes and efficiencies:
Overall, the transition to Business Central has facilitated smoother operations, enhanced the user experience, and better aligned with Parrish and Heimbecker’s technological needs.
Future Projects – Microsoft Stack
Parrish and Heimbecker are aiming to have a full Microsoft Stack to streamline their operations and enhance their technological capabilities. By leveraging the comprehensive suite of Microsoft tools, they are working towards a more integrated and efficient system. Here are some of the exciting future projects that TMC is collaborating on with Parrish and Heimbecker:
These projects are aimed at enhancing Parrish and Heimbecker’s operational efficiency, improving their reporting capabilities, and providing better management of customer interactions.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone at TMC. I always feel like they have our back. They do a lot of overnight updates and work with developers, making sure everything is tested thoroughly. They’re always looking out for our best interests.
We consistently work with the project manager at TMC, who is great at keeping us in contact and ensuring our needs are met. The support team is fantastic at picking up our tickets and keeping us updated on their status.”
Jennifer Hes | Financial Solutions Delivery Manager
About Parrish and Heimbecker
Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited (P&H) is a privately owned, Canadian agribusiness with over 115 years of leadership in the agriculture and food production industry. As a vertically integrated organization, P&H delivers comprehensive services across grain merchandising, crop inputs, flour milling, and livestock nutrition—supported by a nationwide network of more than 70 locations and over 1,500 employees.
They are recognized as Canada’s largest flour miller and one of the country’s leading full‑service grain-handling companies, offering end‑to‑end agricultural solutions that help producers, partners, and communities thrive. Their commitment to innovation, quality, and integrity drives them to continuously adapt and deliver valuable insights, reliable logistics, and tailored services for customers across 24 countries.
Large (1,000 – 5,000)
Industry
Agribusiness/ Food Production / Grain & Milling
Country
Canada
Microsoft Solutions Partner
TMC | Contact us
