Leading cider producer Thatchers Cider Company has been working with The NAV | 365 People for over six years to develop and support its enterprise-grade platform as the company continues its investment program in transforming business operations. Since deployment, Thatchers has improved efficiency within its supply chain, achieved higher throughput and output without increasing headcount costs and improved decision making through access to real-time data.
The integrated Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Drink-IT® solution benefits from the latest version of nHanced NAV (a module developed by The NAV | 365 People to provide greater versatility and functionality). The feature rich solution provides Thatchers with a future-proof platform that can rapidly scale as the company continues on its transformational path to automation and digitisation.
Access Dynamics NAV remotely
Using the Dynamics NAV mobile client Thatchers has enabled the sales force and Quality Dispense Technicians to access Dynamics NAV remotely. This has streamlined operational efficiency by enabling the teams to enter updates directly into the system, ensuring all users have access to accurate, real-time data. The mobile app has also proved beneficial to on-site employees. Providing staff with mobile access to the system has yielded immediate results in efficiency; access to accurate data has delivered greater clarity and improved decision making.
Hand-in-hand with this enterprise-grade solution, Thatchers has achieved strong year-on-year growth. Its cider is sold across the UK and in over 22 countries around the world, with this year being the busiest on record with Thatchers selling a record number of litres in 2018.
The NAV | 365 People are an integral part of our business
Ian Dorling, Head of IT at Thatchers comments: 'The NAV | 365 People have a deep understanding of the business processes within the cidermaking industry. Our relationship with them extends beyond the IT system, they are an integral part of our business. Together we are driving digitisation to improve processes and maximise efficiency across the organisation. The breadth of interaction has delivered massive benefits and is bringing the Thatchers vision to life.'
The additional functionality provided by the new fully integrated solution has enabled Thatchers to provide growers within the supply chain access to the system from any device, to schedule the delivery of their apples. Growers select the date and time of delivery and specifying the variety and quantity of apples. By efficiently scheduling deliveries, Thatchers has maximised plant efficiency, minimised delivery congestion and provided a more engaging experience for growers allowing them to harvest and deliver apples at their freshest.
A solution for the entire business
The solution is now utilised across the entire business; tablets are used by non-desk-based employees to access the system and enter information, rather than relying on paper-based records. Dynamics NAV is at the very heart of the organisation and is the central repository of information.
Ian Humphries, Managing & Product Director at The NAV | 365 People commented: 'Thatchers has grown at an enviable rate in the last few years and has harnessed the latest innovations to expand the business, improving efficiencies whilst maintaining their cost base. Our collaborative relationship with Thatchers is a result of our mutual belief that technology can be a catalyst for change and a powerful differentiator.'
Click here for the full case study!
About Thatchers Cider
Award-winning Thatchers cider is sold across the UK and in over 22 countries around the world. It is a family-owned business based in Somerset with Martin Thatcher, fourth generation of the family leading the business as Managing Director.
Thatchers has over 500 acres of its own orchards and at the height of season, Thatchers can press 450 tons of apples per day. The company also maintains an exhibition orchard in which over 458 different varieties of apple tree are grown. Many of the traditional ciders produced at Myrtle Farm are matured in 100-year-old oak vats, which gives the cider a distinctive taste.
For more information please visit Thatchers Cider
.png)