The Client:

Comsed is among the leading and fastest developing companies in the sale of kids’ and babies’ items and toys. The Bulgarian company has 4 regional centers in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Sunny Beach, 27 retail stores in 8 cities and 99 stands in a large gas station chain in various parts of the country. Comsed offers a wide variety of over 15 000 toys, children’s clothing, and accessories. Comsed is a distributor of popular toys’ brands such as Lego, Playmobil, Disney Plush, Nikko, Mattel (Barbie, Monster High, Hot Wheels, Fisher Price), Hasbro (Nerf, Furby, My Little Pony, Play-do) as well as leading baby brands such as Chicco, Avent, Chipolino, Cangaroo, Nuk, etc.

Business case:

The mission of preserving their leading position in the retail industry was turning into a challenge for Comsed due to the multiple inefficient systems they were using and the lack of connection between them. Furthermore, with their numerous store locations across the country and the increasing number of online purchases, Comsed experienced difficulties in managing their inventory due to their outdated system with limited functions. The errors and inaccuracies in the inventory management and replenishment processes were turning into everyday challenges. Moreover, without business analytics tools, Comsed struggled with following and identifying key customer trends that would help them personalize their offering, thus the lack of visibility hindered customer retention. All these issues were too costly for Comsed while the need for a transformative all-in-one solution was becoming more apparent.

The Solution:

Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central

NavTech Group recognized the setbacks in Comsed’s development and offered the holistic solution of the top-notch ERP system, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and its extension, LS Central. Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central combines ERP, POS, customer loyalty, inventory, replenishment, and staff management into one system by simplifying and rationalizing the business processes in the whole organization. Dynamics 365 LS Central is also highly scalable and adaptable to each employee’s role. Due to its intuitive and user-friendly interface, Comsed’s team got used to the new system quickly and the whole training process by NavTech’s consultants was executed smoothly.

The updated ERP system helps Comsed’s managers make the right decisions to lower expenses and increase profitability. Thanks to the Treemap analysis of Dynamics 365 LS Central, their team can identify and target top customers and best-selling items to guarantee exceptional service across all channels. As LS Central gives a holistic view of the enterprise, the sales and performance of each location, Comsed can closely monitor areas of improvement. The leading toy company tracks their financials, has visibility over all transactions and follows their performance in real time. This gives them better control over the business, the ability to spot specific challenges or future risks, and time to react effectively. What is more, owing to Microsoft’s robust security measures and guaranteed lifecycle support, Comsed are assured that they have chosen among the safest options on the market.

"Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central centralizes the data from all our departments which makes our work easier and most importantly – more precise and accurate. Tasks that used to take hours to complete now require only a few clicks.”
- Rosen Filimonov, CEO of Comsed

LS Central Sales and Marketing Functionalities

Comsed attracts and retains customers more easily with the help of LS Central’s sales and marketing functionalities. Their team can manage each store location from one and the same system – history of sales, consumer trends, best-selling items, marketing campaigns, promo offers and price management. This functionality of LS Central helps Comsed remain competitive on the market as it unravels numerous ways to increase customer satisfaction. By having access to key customer analytics, Comsed can create personalized offers and promo codes to align to customers’ preferences. Their clients can also purchase gift vouchers and use them as a payment method with the opportunity to pay extra money if the desired items exceed the voucher limit – both online and in-store. By following consumer trends, thanks to LS Central analytics tools, Comsed can create effective marketing campaigns to drive more sales.

POS System and Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) Integration

The holistic solution of Dynamics 365 LS Central also encompasses Point of Sales (POS). Working with the POS terminal is even easier than before – Comsed’s team can close sales, access product details and inventory availability, manage Transfer orders and deliver personalized customer experience. Their clients can choose the most convenient payment method – cash, card, gift voucher, payment on delivery, bank transfer, or split payment option. With the LS Central POS system, Comsed manages the process of returning items and the refunds. If customers want to return an item, there are two options: to either exchange it for another one or get a refund.

Additionally, NavTech Group also did an EFT integration: all bank devices are connected to the ERP system and the transaction information is automatically transferred to the POS terminal, after which the successful transactions are posted. By working with LS Central POS, Comsed’s team reduces the waiting time in their stores, limits the risks of inaccuracies from manual entering and enhances customers’ satisfaction.

LS Replenishment Module

LS Central Replenishment Module is designed to assist users in the inventory management process, ensuring that they always have the necessary supply. LS Replenishment calculates the quantity needed for the store or the central warehouse, makes proposals of the exact quantity to replenish and how it should be distributed across the locations. The Replenishment module, integrated by NavTech Group, automated the process of tracking and replenishing the stock in all Comsed locations in the country.

There are three types of replenishment included in the module: Replenishment for Purchases, for Transfers and for Redistribution. Over a certain period, LS Replenishment for Purchases generates a journal with purchase proposals, which are based on previous purchase and sales orders.

Replenishment for Transfers assists in the successful transfer of stock from the warehouse to the Comsed stores, ensuring that there is the necessary number of items available at each location. Comsed uses a journal with transfer proposals, generated by the system, which can be edited by the users.

Replenishment for Redistribution allows the Comsed team to redistribute stock between stores and warehouses through the generated Transfer Order proposals. The Replenishment module of LS Central increases the availability and sales across the whole store network while also guaranteeing that Comsed will respond to customer demand and avoid unexpected out-of-stock situations that bring frustration to both employees and clients. LS Replenishment brings cost-efficiency as it proposes redistribution from the nearest location in order to reduce high transportation expenses.

“With LS Replenishment, we have more flexibility and minimize all risks of out-of-stock situations. Having such visibility over our stock helps us save time and money while also guaranteeing the satisfaction of our customers which is a top priority for us.”
- Rosel Filimonov, CEO of Comsed

Warehouse Management System PocketNAV with the customized add-on Module ExVan

As part of the all-in-one solution of Microsoft Dynamics LS Central, NavTech Group did an additional integration of PocketNAV – a mobile application for warehouse management. With the large number of orders daily, Comsed needed a warehouse management system that would simplify the order processing process and increase the speed and accuracy of their work. PocketNAV was the perfect fit for their needs: with its user-friendly interface, numerous functions such as barcode scanning and the convenient size of the mobile devices, Comsed team have full control over their warehouse, right from their pocket.

As an additional functionality for the Comsed team's convenience and work speed, NavTech Group developed a customized add-on – ExVan Module. With the ExVan module of PocketNAV, Comsed's employees have direct access to the inventory available in the transport vehicles and can effortlessly process and fulfil customers’ orders. The ExVan module enables them to create and manage purchases, sales and returns, follow each order’s status, issue credit notes, print invoices all within the same mobile application, right away on customers’ site. Additionally, with the ExVan Module, Comsed's team can also restock their mobile warehouses from more than one location.

Comsed uses PocketNAV to follow their inventory closely, reduce manual processes, increase their team’s efficiency, and make the right decisions at the right time, thanks to the remote control and access. The barcode scanning function enhances the speed, precision, and reliability of the work processes, while also simplifying daily tasks across the warehouse and eliminating the stress and worries of the employees. The delivery process is agile as the suppliers deal with all order processes right at the spot, using the convenient mobile application.

“Efficient inventory management is crucial for us, especially because of the considerable number of orders and the rich variety of products we offer. With PocketNAV, we keep track of our inventory, manage customers’ orders, and guarantee that the right products will be delivered to the right place. The warehouse management system PocketNAV, and especially the ExVan module, make it easier for our team to control the inventory from everywhere, at all times, reducing the risks of errors.
- Rosen Filimonov, CEO of Comsed

Electronic Document Interchange (EDI) Integration

As an add-on to the solution tailored to Comsed’s specific needs, NavTech Group did an EDI integration which completely automated the data exchange between Comsed and other retail chains and made the communication of all business messages electronic. The advantages of EDI integration include time and cost efficiency, automated workflow, faster and more accurate document interchange, and seamless communication with customers.

Online Shop Integration

As online shopping has become a preferred choice for an increasing number of customers, Comsed aimed at maintaining a competitive edge in the e-Commerce world. To align with this need, NavTech Group integrated the ERP system with Comsed’s online shop and created a virtual warehouse. The online sales are completely automated by Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central, while all the information about customers’ purchases is collected and managed through the ERP system.

Comsed’s customers are enjoying a seamless online shopping experience, marked by diverse benefits. They can register on the website to become loyal members, use promo codes, purchase gift vouchers, or pay with them. Using their updated system, Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central, Comsed can set up different discounts, for example mix and match promotions: “Buy three, get one free”. Thanks to the integration of the online shop with the ERP system, customers can view the availability of items in each store location.

When a customer makes an order of items available at different locations, the system generates separate Purchase orders and sends them out to the specific stores. Consequently, the items in each store are scanned through PocketNAV and the system automatically generates a waybill and an invoice. Owing to the integration of the online shop to the ERP system, the order processing speed is significantly increased, and the risks of errors are minimized as each step in the process is automated. Customers choose the payment and delivery method they want and after finalizing their order, they receive an electronic receipt.

Business Intelligence Software Tableau

To stay in line with business performance and identify market trends to make the appropriate changes, Comsed needed an effective business intelligence tool. NavTech Group integrated the BI solution Tableau to maximize the benefits of the implemented ERP system. Tableau is a new-generation business analytics software and the first BI tool that focuses on human behavior rather than on technology. The BI software has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows users to easily adapt to it, without having any high IT knowledge or long-term training. Tableau connects to multiple data sources, visualizes data in just seconds without the need of any settings in advance and enables the Comsed team to follow every aspect of their business performance in exact numbers. The BI tool shows not only what is happening in the company but also why it is happening. With this cost-efficient BI solution, Comsed turns raw data into a powerful weapon for boosting productivity and making informed decisions.

“Business Intelligence plays a key role in our productivity, efficiency, and successful results. Tableau BI is part of the innovative practices we opted for and when working with it, in combination with the functionalities of Dynamics 365 LS Central, our team has access to all data sources, visualized in a very user-friendly manner. We keep track of our sales, performance, customer trends and this adds even more value to the functionalities of the ERP system.”
- Rosen Filimonov, CEO of Comsed

Fixed Assets Functionality

The Fixed Assets functionality of Business Central ensures the accurate periodic depreciation of Comsed’s fixed assets. Comsed’s team can access a card with information for each fixed asset, assign depreciation methods, keep track of maintenance expenses, manage insurance and budget, and post fixed asset transactions. The fixed assets can be grouped in different ways: by class, department, or location, and consequently, be maintained and sold by Comsed. Users set up one or more depreciation books, after which a report with periodic depreciation can be created. The Fixed Assets functionality enables Comsed to manage and control the whole life cycle of their fixed assets with minimum effort and with much more precision.

Benefits Gained:

One Holistic Solution for ERP, POS, Customer Loyalty, Inventory, Replenishment, and More

The solution implemented by NavTech Group gave Comsed one single truth: a holistic solution that allows them to control the whole business from just one platform. The Comsed team does not deal with numerous separate systems, lacking integration and bringing chaos for both employees and customers. Comsed leveraged the innovative approach of Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central and put an end to unaligned or unclear data that would result in costly mistakes.

Optimized Warehouse Operations

With the help of PocketNAV, Comsed achieved operational excellence and automated time-consuming daily tasks in their warehouse. Now inventory management is much easier and precise: the necessary stock is available, customers’ orders are fulfilled, and the team’s efficiency is enhanced. By simplifying the inventory management and order processing, Comsed increases customer satisfaction and boost sales. The real-time inventory updates in PocketNAV ensure that products are also restocked, especially during peak holiday demand, and that Comsed's customers receive the proper attention and high-quality service. PocketNAV also optimizes the workflow of Comsed's team and allows them to handle even higher order volumes effortlessly.

Reduced Errors, Increased Efficiency

The EDI integration and the Fixed Assets functionality are the solutions that modernized the often daunting and mundane work tasks in Comsed that require precision and careful attention. By automating data import, Comsed mitigated risks of errors caused by manual entries and gave their employees the ability to work more efficiently and perform better. The electronic transfer of purchase and sales documents is an innovative way to reduce paper waste and ensure effortless communication between companies and clients.

Data Analysis for Profitable Decisions

Comsed knows exactly what is happening with their business at any time, which is why the decision-making process is smoother. With BI Tableau, Comsed follows patterns and trends in customer behavior, thus adapting strategically to the changing market conditions. No more unexpected expenses or uncalculated risks – by using the data visualization and analysis of Tableau, Comsed is always one step ahead and can react swiftly in every situation.

Online Shopping Experience Adapted to the Modern Consumer Behavior

Embracing innovation and staying open to technological advancements are crucial for adapting to modern consumer behavior. Taking into consideration that most consumers now expect instant access to information, prioritizing the enhancement of your online presence is essential. This is exactly what the integration of Comsed’s online shop with their updated ERP system, Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central, achieved. Comsed manages to follow patterns in their customers’ shopping habits, offer them exclusive discounts, fast order processing and excellent buyers’ experience.

“The all-in-one solution of Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central and the add-ons integrated by NavTech Group optimized all operations across the company and set the beginning of a new innovative journey for Comsed. Now we use a system that unifies all key business aspects, and this transparency guarantees that we will make data-driven decisions to improve our offering and foster loyalty among our customers.”
- Rosen Filimonov, CEO of Comsed

Microsoft Dynamics 365 LS Central, alongside the numerous add-ons, integrated by NavTech Group, comprise the all-in-one solution that speaks directly to Comsed’s pain points and addresses their areas of improvement. The holistic solution puts an end to Comsed’s struggles with outdated systems and unaligned data. By embracing the latest technological advancements and the benefits of such cost-efficient and adaptable ERP system, Comsed maximizes profitability across all business aspects: accounting, financials, e-Commerce, supply chain, warehouse management, customer relationship management (CRM). The holistic solution provides a wide array of functionalities for each role in the company. The Comsed team tracks their costs, revenue, and profit to make well-informed decisions and drive growth. With the additional developments, part of the solution, Comsed establishes a closer relationship with their customers: following trends and responding to them accordingly.

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