Unlocking growth and agility with a cloud-based ERP system

Akita worked with a long-established, family-run business in the UK, specialising in providing hygiene solutions and expertise to commercial cleaning contractors and in-house teams, to transform its operations using Business Central.

Aligning Systems For Growth

With over 30 years’ experience, the company support clients across education, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail, helping them achieve high standards of cleanliness and sustainability through innovative products and advisory services.

Previously, the company faced significant operational hurdles. Their legacy systems, particularly Access Dimension, had become a barrier to productivity and growth.

Processes were fragmented and heavily reliant on manual data entry, which led to inefficiencies and a higher risk of errors - especially in finance, procurement, and inventory management. The lack of integration between systems made it difficult to gain a holistic view of operations, and reporting was slow and cumbersome.

Customer experience was also affected, as the business struggled to deliver the responsiveness and agility required in a competitive market. Managing complex warehousing and inventory, as well as ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, added further strain. Expense management and procurement processes were slow, with limited automation and visibility.

Deploying The Business Central Solution

To overcome its operational and technological challenges, the company embarked on a full-scale digital transformation, successfully implementing Business Central as its new core platform.

This project unified finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, and warehousing into a single, cloud-based environment, replacing fragmented legacy systems.

Key elements of the solution include:

• Automation of Core Processes: Automated workflows were introduced for approvals, expense management (using Continia), and procurement, significantly reducing manual intervention and accelerating day-to-day operations.
• Integration with Third-Party Tools: The new system was integrated with modules such as Continia for document capture and expenses, Yavrio for open banking and payments, and optional reporting tools like Power BI and Jet Reports, providing enhanced efficiency and business insight.
• Advanced Warehousing and Inventory Control: The company adopted advanced warehousing features, including bin management, directed put-away and pick, and serial/lot traceability. This enabled real-time inventory tracking, automated stock adjustments, and more accurate cycle counting.
• Improved Data Management and Compliance: Structured data migration templates ensured data accuracy and compliance, while automated VAT handling and support for multiple currencies strengthened financial management and regulatory adherence.

The Business Central solution was designed for scalability, allowing the business to add new companies, locations, and modules as it grows. A template company approach ensured consistency and simplified future expansion.

At the point of deployment, a “train the trainer” approach empowered super users and staff, ensuring smooth adoption and ongoing system optimisation.

Benefits Realised

Since completing the project, the company has experienced a step-change in operational efficiency and business agility.

Manual processes have been replaced by automation, freeing up staff to focus on higher-value activities. The integrated platform provides real-time visibility across all business functions, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.

Reporting is now streamlined and far more insightful, supporting both day-to-day management and strategic planning.

Customer experience has also improved, with faster order processing, better service delivery, and more responsive support. Inventory and warehouse management are now highly efficient, with accurate stock levels and reduced risk of discrepancies. Compliance with VAT and other regulations is assured, and the business is well-positioned to adapt to future changes.

Ultimately, the company is now enjoying greater productivity, improved financial control, and the flexibility to scale and innovate - ensuring it remains a leader in the UK hygiene solutions market.