Business Central: Empowering North East SMBs

The North East of England is renowned for its vibrant business landscape, with a rich heritage across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, renewables, food & beverage (F&B), and health & life sciences. In fact, some of the greatest success stories of the last century, including Barbour, Nissan, Greggs and Tetley’s tea all have strong roots in the area.

We’re a region known for excellence, determination and grit, unafraid to roll up our sleeves in the pursuit of something we believe in. You only need to look at what the businesses above have achieved in their respective fields.

Admittedly, they did it in a different world; one without advanced technologies, AI or fierce global competition. The good news? The businesses that the region is producing nowadays have. They have systems that can support and underpin processes, AI, and automation to level up their work. So, despite a globally competitive landscape, they can succeed.

In this article, we’re going to look at just one of those technologies – the ERP, and namely, Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Built inside Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 ecosystem, Business Central offers North East businesses an adaptable, cloud-based ERP solution that supports growth and innovation. Leveraging its integrated platform, organisations can connect finance, sales, supply chain, and operations, freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on more meaningful work.

Business Central not only simplifies complex business processes but also empowers teams to respond rapidly to market shifts. This empowerment means that businesses in industries characterised by change and competition can access data-driven insights and automation to stay ahead, living up to the reputation that the North East has garnered over the years.

How exactly can Business Central help?

Streamlining operations

Operational efficiency provides breathing room for businesses that are often affected by supply chain complexities and regulatory requirements, which demand agility. To assist, Business Central automates routine tasks, integrates disparate systems, and streamlines workflows, helping SMBs reduce errors and save time.

Driving better decisions

Visibility of business performance and operational data points is a must-have for any business. Business Central offers real-time dashboards and reporting tools that provide a holistic view of business performance.

Supporting core North East industries

Advanced manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing businesses can harness Business Central to drive innovation and efficiency in their operations, seamlessly bridging the gap between digital systems and physical production. Its platform facilitates improved collaboration across departments, supports compliance with industry standards, and allows for rapid adaptation to changing market conditions. By providing a unified view of supply chain logistics, inventory levels, and production costs, Business Central empowers manufacturers to optimise resource allocation, minimise downtime, and respond proactively to customer demands.

Renewables

Renewables companies in the North East leverage Business Central to optimise asset management, monitor energy production, and ensure regulatory compliance in a sector driven by sustainability and innovation. The platform integrates data from field operations and maintenance workflows, enabling real-time performance analysis and facilitating proactive decision-making. By automating reporting and supporting the management of complex contracts, Business Central helps renewables organisations adapt swiftly to evolving industry standards and environmental policies, ultimately supporting their commitment to cleaner energy and operational excellence. Managing project finances, resources, and regulatory compliance, while forecasting future demand and optimising workforce allocation.

Food & beverage

Food & beverage businesses can leverage inventory management and real-time analytics to streamline supply chain processes and optimise stock levels, reducing waste and improving responsiveness to market fluctuations. Additionally, Business Central can address industry-specific challenges by enhancing traceability, managing batch production, and ensuring compliance with food safety standards, all within one platform.

Health & life sciences

Health & life sciences organisations benefit from Business Central’s capability to centralise patient records, support secure data sharing across departments, and maintain a transparent audit trail to meet stringent regulatory standards. By integrating disparate systems and automating administrative processes, Business Central enables healthcare providers to focus on delivering quality care, improving data accuracy, and accelerating compliance audits, positioning them for operational excellence in a highly regulated environment.

It’s what the North East deserves

Business Central is more than just another piece of technology. It sits at the centre of how businesses and organisations operate and grow, with a solution that’s fully integrated into the most popular workplace technology stack – Microsoft 365.

Interested in seeing how Business Central can empower your business? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.