By Richard Humphreys |
UK breakfast cereal manufacturer Weetabix has modernised its supply chain by adopting Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.
The food manufacturer had previously worked with an on-premises enterprise resource planning (ERP) environment, which had become fragmented due to the customisations that had been added over time.
“For Weetabix, the question wasn’t whether to modernise. It was how to do so without disrupting production, compromising safety, or overwhelming a largely manufacturing-based workforce with change,” said Stuart Branch, group HR and IT director at Weetabix. “Our goal was to achieve consistent, trusted and visible data so more employees at every level could make fast, informed decisions, strengthening our partner and customer relationships.”
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management will help Weetabix to simplify operations, strengthen governance, enable more confident decision-making and speed user adoption. Weetabix was supported on this migration by the Microsoft FastTrack programme and international consulting firm HSO.
“We staffed the project with business process experts from within Weetabix – paired with technical specialists – to facilitate rapid learning and deployment and ensure the solution was tailored to business needs,” said Suraj Subbarao, head of IT and business applications at Weetabix. “It was an approach that facilitated stronger conversations and faster progress.”
Weetabix phased its rollout, starting with a smaller site. “Change management was critical, particularly for our manufacturing teams,” said Subbarao. “We tailored our training and communication to ensure everyone – from the shopfloor to the office – was ready for the new system.”
On the factory floor, the new platform made handheld device integration possible, giving operators real-time visibility into inventory, production status and quality controls. “Now, when we receive deliveries, we just scan them straight into the system – no more waiting for paperwork or delays,” said Nathan Barton, technical operator at Weetabix. “Clear error messages on the new system mean operators can fix issues quickly, which cuts down on mistakes and keeps production running smoothly.”
Operators can now block damaged or noncompliant stock directly from their devices, freeing managers to focus on quality investigations instead of administrative tasks. The platform also helps to make it easier to maintain food safety standards without slowing production.
Since the rollout, Weetabix has achieved a 94 per cent on-time, in-full delivery rate, and planned production output has increased by eight per cent.
“Modernising our ERP wasn’t just an IT upgrade,” said Branch. “It’s a strategic move to protect consumer trust, improve performance and create the agility we need to grow with confidence.”