Avalon: Streamlining Sales-to-Project Workflows with Connected Cloud ERP

Executive Summary

Avalon International Aluminium partnered with Folio3 to digitize and modernize its operational workflows through Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and integrated D365 Sales. The solution enabled automatic project creation from closed opportunities, improved data consistency, and centralized financial and operational visibility. Avalon plans to implement a BOM configurator to eliminate outdated Excel VBA processes, further boosting planning accuracy and efficiency.

Results at a Glance

Problems

Unique Business Challenges They Faced

• Manual BOM creation in Excel VBA: Used outdated Excel-based tools for Bill of Materials, lacking automation, accuracy, and version control.
• Sales-to-project process disconnected: Sales team operated in D365 Sales while project setup was manual and prone to delays.
• Lack of centralized project visibility: Project tracking was scattered, with no real-time insight into resource usage or cost tracking.
• Redundant data entry: Sales and operations teams duplicated efforts in multiple systems, leading to errors and inefficiencies.

Key Business Drivers & Objectives for Implementation

• Automate sales-to-project creation process
• Implement centralized ERP for project tracking & finance
• Prepare for future automation in BOM creation
• Enable scalability through cloud-based infrastructure

The Solution Delivered

Scope of Implementation

• Core Modules: Project Management, Sales, Purchasing, Finance
• Custom Extensions: Automated creation of projects from D365 Sales
• Integrations: D365 Sales and Business Central integration for project sync, plus a planned BOM Configurator for project-specific material planning

Our Approach

• Methodology: Hybrid (Agile for discovery, Waterfall for implementation)
• Implementation Phases: Discovery, Solution Design, Development, UAT, Go-Live
• Data Migration: Conducted via Folio3’s proprietary templates
• User Enablement: End-user training and phased rollout for ease of adoption

Technology Stack

Key Results & Business Benefits

• Sales-to-Project Automation: Enabled automatic project creation in Business Central upon opportunity closure in D365 Sales, reducing manual effort by approximately 60%.
• Process Centralization: Consolidated finance, sales, and project operations under a single ERP platform, improving interdepartmental collaboration and reducing data redundancy.
• Project Visibility & Accuracy: Gained real-time project tracking and material planning capabilities, reducing project delivery delays by 35%.
• Future-Readiness with BOM Configurator: Aims to eliminate Excel VBA tools for BOM management, expected to cut BOM generation time by 70% and improve accuracy in material selection.
• Operational Scalability: Cloud-based architecture supports multi-location expansion, including the new facility in Mississippi.
• Data Consistency & Error Reduction: Automation has reduced manual entry errors by over 50%, enhancing operational reliability.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time project and financial data allows for more accurate forecasting and faster executive decision-making.