MOVING OPERATIONS TO THE AZURE CLOUD
Once the solution was identified, Sevan had to find a technology partner to help implement Microsoft Dynamics 365. The company sought a provider that would offer ERP and CRM expertise and demonstrate an understanding of Sevan’s core lines of business—construction, design, surveys, program management, and technology. Bentley and his colleagues reviewed and compared several companies that looked promising. They engaged in multiple in-depth conversations about the company’s requirements and values and the upcoming deployment. Ultimately, Sikich emerged as Sevan’s preferred partner. Bentley says, “Sikich shared our value perspective of delivering excellence to customers. Starting with the very first contact, the Sikich team demonstrated the empathy, business insight, and technical expertise that we thought would be essential to the project’s success. I’m happy that our relationship has become even stronger through our collaboration.”
Sikich technology and business experts performed a phased implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365. First, Sevan went live with a pilot of the solution’s CRM functionality. Shortly thereafter, financial and operations management capabilities—typically associated with ERP—followed. Sikich also helped Sevan integrate and implement several software tools that extended Microsoft Dynamics 365 capabilities to meet the company’s unique needs. These included Microsoft Power BI reporting and analytics, Replicon business-critical software for managing time and expenses, SK Global for managing banking transactions, and CCH SureTax to facilitate compliance with state sales and use taxes. “Sikich helped us set expectations and priorities for a successful implementation,” Bentley notes. “Then they helped us execute the deployment in the timeline we hoped to achieve-including integration with Replicon.”
Jim Evans, President and CEO of Sevan, describes the implementation experience from his perspective: “Sikich has an excellent process for managing complex, large projects like our Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementation. They helped us resource it in the best possible way, and then collaborated with us to meet all of our milestones on time. They have wonderful people with a wealth of experience and an unshakeable commitment to our success.”
NEWFOUND TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY
Much of the value Sevan will realize from Microsoft Dynamics 365 comes from the increased visibility of data in one centralized resource that is available to business users in the cloud anytime, anywhere. Bentley explains, “We wanted to get our business data onto Microsoft Dynamics 365 and take advantage of the integrations with analytical and business intelligence tools that Microsoft offers in the same Azure environment. That gives us control and transparency in growing the business and getting the right data to the right people in the right business groups.”
John Schneider, Vice President, Finance and Risk at Sevan, emphasizes the transparency and control Microsoft Dynamics 365 brings to the company, especially when compared to previous financial reporting that relied on spreadsheets. “In Microsoft Dynamics 365, we can set up metrics and reports to see exactly where we are in terms of our plan and goals for the year, whether it’s the overall business or at the individual project level,” Schneider explains. “We can benefit from more reliable and timely assessments of our financial performance and revenue flow. Forecasts will be far more accurate. We can be more confident that we know where we are and where we are headed.”
As Evans views it, Sevan’s clients are sure to benefit from the company’s use of Microsoft Dynamics 365: “Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps us see ourselves more clearly, which means we will be able to make commitments to our clients with greater certainty. Thanks to Microsoft Dynamics 365 as implemented for us by Sikich, we will also be more competitive and effective in winning and serving large enterprise clients with the quality, innovation, and speed they expect.” The business development team will be one of the first beneficiaries of Microsoft Dynamics 365. “We already maintain highly successful client relationships,” Bentley says. “Soon, we will be able to track account information, review opportunities together, and become even more efficient and consistent across our entire organization in how we develop pricing and proposals, project incoming revenue, and execute on the projects that we win. That will provide tremendous value.”