Project Overview
J Parker’s, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of plants, seeds, trees and produce, had grown rapidly, achieving its five-year growth target in just 12 months in 2021. Having previously operated on Microsoft Navision, the business needed a comprehensive ERP solution capable of supporting every aspect of its expanding operations, including complex seasonal order processes and integration across its UK and Ireland websites.
J Parker’s chose Transparity as its implementation partner, building on an established relationship and confidence in the team’s understanding of the business. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central went live in December 2021 and now manages around 500,000 orders annually, with Transparity continuing to provide ongoing support and bespoke development as the business grows.
The Challenge
As J Parker’s continued to grow, it became clear that a comprehensive ERP solution was needed to support every aspect of the business. Having previously operated on Microsoft Navision, the company made the logical decision to upgrade to Microsoft Business Central. J Parker’s chose to partner with Transparity for the implementation, opting to work with a trusted team of professionals who had previously supported them.
“We had confidence in the individuals involved, as they had a good understanding of our business processes. They were well placed to guide us through the implementation, manage the complex data migration, and develop the bespoke functionality required to successfully transition from Navision.” — Ray Baxter, Head of IT and Strategy, J Parker’s
The Solution
The implementation of Microsoft Business Central was a complex project due to the significant level of customisation required and the intricacies of data migration, which were expected challenges. Transparity supported the design, development, and rollout of the new solution, which successfully went live in December 2021.
“Transparity’s deep understanding of our business, along with their experience in similar implementations, proved invaluable. They helped us achieve a successful cutover to a large and wide-ranging solution that is now central to all our processes at J Parker’s.” — Ray Baxter, Head of IT and Strategy, J Parker’s
Microsoft Business Central now manages the majority of the core of J Parker’s end-to-end business processes, from initial customer contact and order capture, through warehouse logistics and carrier integration for despatch, to invoicing, purchasing, and financial management, including operational reporting and management accounting.
“Business Central underpins everything we do at J Parker’s. It gives us visibility across the entire operation and provides real time processing of orders throughout their journey to our customers.” — Ray Baxter, Head of IT and Strategy, J Parker’s
The solution is tailored to support the unique aspects of J Parker’s operations, including the creation of collection and mixed orders that combine multiple plant types within a single purchase. It also supports part deliveries, which are often influenced by seasonality and stock availability.
J Parker’s retail, wholesale and Irish websites are fully integrated with Business Central, accounting for the majority of incoming orders. Traditional paper-based and phone orders are still accommodated, ensuring accessibility for all customer types. The system currently supports around 500,000 orders annually.
Business Central’s finance modules consolidate the accounts for both the UK and Ireland businesses, providing a unified and comprehensive view of business performance across both regions.
Transparity continues to support the solution, providing everything from issue resolution to the development of new bespoke features and the implementation of existing functionality within Business Central. The support arrangement is evolving from a fixed number of days each month to a more flexible managed service focused on specific deliverables, supported by a broader team of Transparity experts.
We plan to move from our on-premise solution to the cloud version of the product, says Ray. This will allow us to benefit from new Business Central features as Microsoft enhances the platform. To do this effectively, we need to establish a rigorous testing process for each scheduled release.
As J Parker’s adopts more Business Central functionality, there will be further opportunities to streamline operations through greater automation.
The Outcome
Complete business visibility
A single enterprise-wide solution supports all of J Parker’s end-to-end business processes, delivering complete visibility across operations and enabling better control and decision making.
Tailored support for unique processes
Bespoke developments by Transparity have enabled J Parker’s to continue offering specialised services such as collections, mixed orders, and part deliveries that are essential to its customer promise.
Consolidated financial reporting
Business Central brings together financial data from both the UK and Ireland, providing a comprehensive view of performance, supporting critical strategic decisions.
Streamlined order processing
Integrated web ordering and carrier systems ensure smooth data flow from order capture through to despatch, helping deliver a seamless and efficient customer experience.
Responsive and expert support
Transparity’s deep understanding of J Parker’s ensures informed, proactive support that enhances efficiency and minimises downtime, backed by a flexible managed service model.
