The Situation: System Chaos & Vendor Lock-In
For this national distributor servicing convenience stores and retailers, the operational noise had become deafening.
They were in the midst of a multi-site massive migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) to modernize both their enterprise resource planning (ERP) host system and their end-user technologies: voice and pick-to-light.
But as is often the case with major tech projects, the hefty implementation of a new system brought chaos in its wake.
The distribution company was faced with a rigid host system that refused to play nice with their existing workflows. Competing technology providers attempted to leverage this chaos, using vendor intimidation to convince the client that their desired workflows were impossible without ripping and replacing their entire voice infrastructure.
Trapped between a rigid ERP and a fragmented edge, this distributor was being backed into a corner. They needed a solution and a partner to help them reclaim their sovereignty.
The Solution: Ascend™ as The D365 Liberator
Thankfully, the distribution company’s voice solution support and partnership with Mountain Leverage provided a steady anchor to help them cut through the chaos and find a clear path forward.
Mountain Leverage identified that this client didn’t need new systems; they needed Work Orchestration.
We deployed Ascend™, our intelligence layer, to sit between the ERP and the multiple edge technologies on the warehouse floor. Here’s what happened:
- We Unified the Host and the Edge: D365 is powerful, but often inflexible regarding specific warehouse workflows. Ascend™ acted as the critical connector, integrating directly with the D365 MHAX interface. Instead of forcing the client to change their business to fit the software, Ascend™ translated the ERP’s requirements into a seamless, voice-directed workflow. We didn’t just connect the systems; we liberated the data trapped inside them.
- We Harmonized Voice and Light: This distribution company’s operations required a combination of voice-guided workflows and Matthews pick-to-light systems. In a chaotic environment, these would be two separate silos. With our Work Orchestration™ approach, Ascend™ became the conductor for both. Ascend™ now ingests work from D365 and intelligently routes it—orchestrating Hands-Free, Eyes-Free™ voice workflows for some zones while simultaneously driving the Lightning Pick integration for others. This ensures that pickers, regardless of the tool they use, are marching to the same beat.
- We Orchestrated Logic Outside the ERP: One of the most critical points of friction was containerization. D365’s native logic for determining box sizes was too rigid for this distributor’s diverse product mix. Rather than accepting this limitation, we moved the logic into the Orchestration layer. Ascend™ runs a sophisticated algorithm to calculate the exact container needed before the pick begins. We took a process that was suboptimal and highly expensive inside the ERP and optimized it at the edge—squeezing additional margin and efficiency for the customer.
The Outcome: Sovereign Possibilities
By rejecting the narrative of vendor lock-in, this convenience store retail distribution company regained control of their roadmap. They successfully migrated to D365 across four distribution centers without sacrificing their preferred workflows–or their freedom.
The Orchestration Outcomes:
- True Sovereignty: The warehouse leaders avoided a costly rip-and-replace scenario and successfully deployed a solution within their existing frameworks and their preferred partners.
- Liberated Workflows: We enabled flexible containerization poised to scale, bypassing the inflexibility of the host system.
- Operational Harmony: By unifying the ERP, pick-to-light, and voice systems under one intelligence layer, this distribution company achieved a resilient solution that looks forward to downstream problems rather than reacting to them.
“Throughout the entire design and implementation process, we felt supported every step of the way. After a disappointing experience with another voice solution in one of our facilities, we knew who to turn to. We reached out to Mountain Leverage, and once again, from that very first onsite meeting, we were filled with confidence. Your ability to truly understand our operations before even beginning the design process sets you apart.”
The Takeaway: Orchestrate or Lose
This success story proves that you do not have to accept the limitations of your host system, nor do you have to let vendors dictate your strategy. With Work Orchestration™, you can silence the cacophony, harmonize your edge technologies, and make your work sing.
