Project Overview
Forever Living Products, a multi-billion-dollar global wellness and beauty company operating in over 160 countries, had been rolling out Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central across its European entities when its previous support partner suddenly exited all Business Central operations. With implementations already live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and an ambitious roadmap of further country deployments underway, Forever Living needed a new partner urgently.
Transparity stepped in to provide rapid handover and has since been delivering both day-to-day application support and project support across the European rollout. The user base is projected to grow from approximately 50 to over 250 in the next 12–18 months, with Transparity supporting implementations across Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary and multiple additional countries.
The Challenge
With its parent company in the US, Forever Living operates in Europe via independent legal entities. The organisation has been rolling out Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as a common solution for the European entities, ensuring that the US parent is able to consolidate data via a single set of standardised, real-time interfaces. Individual Business Central solutions have been delivered with standard templates incorporating the minimum necessary local customisation. These templates have been deployed to entities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Immediately after the Switzerland go-live, Forever Living’s previous support partner announced a sudden departure from all Business Central operations, precipitating an urgent search for a replacement partner.
“We needed a new partner to provide day-to-day technical support and project-based support to keep our ambitious rollout roadmap on schedule. The partner would need to be large enough to provide the bandwidth required for our heavy workload but also specialised enough in the Business Central space to ensure effective solutions would be deployed for each new country.” — Jan Bentvelzen, Manager, International Process and Innovation Projects, Forever Living
The Solution
Transparity is providing both day-to-day technical support, reacting to issues and change requests raised by existing Business Central users, and project support for the deployment roadmap. Current projects include implementations in Bulgaria, Romania (and Moldova), Slovenia and Hungary, with four Scandinavian countries and France, Spain and Portugal due to come on stream in 2025. The user base is projected to rise from approximately 50 to over 250 in the next 12–18 months. In addition, local partners are required in each location to deliver local language analysis and training.
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central provides an end-to-end enterprise solution for each legal entity, including sales and customer interfaces, finance and commissions, together with fulfilment, including logistics and warehousing where required. Business Central works seamlessly with Teams, Outlook and Office 365 with the ability to work from any location. Implementations are rapid and Forever Living’s business is future proofed with a scalable, secure solution trusted by over 40,000 small and mid-sized businesses.
“One of the advantages Business Central brings us and our parent company is the ability to easily budget the costs of each rollout project. There is little uncertainty involved, and minimal analysis required for each new location.” — Jan Bentvelzen
Forever Living is working with Transparity to ensure that sufficient bandwidth is available from both organisations to support multiple implementations at the same time and to protect the schedule from the risks of relying on key individuals.
“With Transparity’s support embedded in our organisation we are confident that issues are dealt with promptly and competently, and our ambitious deployment plans are secured going forward.” — Jan Bentvelzen
The Outcome
Focus on Business Central expertise
Transparity’s specialisation in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central brings significant benefits to Forever Living in terms of its expertise and experience with the chosen solution.
Cultural fit and ways of working
Transparity and Forever Living have rapidly developed an effective way of working that delivers a responsive and agile service covering both day-to-day and project support.
Continuity of relationships
Transparity’s team includes individuals from previous partner organisations who were involved in the original design of Business Central templates, bringing continuity of knowledge and expertise to the support capability.
Rapid handover from previous partner
Transparity provided a rapid and comprehensive handover from Forever Living’s previous partner, ensuring continuity of support and reduced risk of business disruption.
Future-proofed enterprise solution
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides a secure and stable platform for rapid deployment to new locations with minimal customisation and standardised interfaces for consolidation by Forever Living’s US parent.
