Blackwoods – Dynamics

Delivering a national automation integration solution

Blackwoods is one of Australia’s leading providers of industrial supplies, safety equipment, and workwear. With a long history dating back to 1878, the company has established itself as a reliable and trusted source for a wide range of products and services catering to various industries.

In 2020, Blackwood’s engaged ThreeSixty to lead their nationwide Microsoft Dynamics 365 automation integration project. ThreeSixty worked in collaboration with Blackwoods and Microsoft to configure, develop, and deploy the Microsoft Dynamics 365 (MSD365) warehouse automation configuration and integration with third-party systems.

Challenge

There were several challenges encountered during the project, these included working with diverse teams across continents, migrating to a live environment, replacing a legacy system, and adapting to a cloud-based infrastructure.

Due to the Covid pandemic restrictions imposed at the time ThreeSixty faced the complexity of remotely managing teams dispersed across multiple continents and disciplines. Ensuring effective communication, cultural understanding, and seamless collaboration were critical to achieving project success.

Similarly migrating to a live environment presented a significant challenge, as Blackwoods needed to shut down the site after hours to minimise disruptions. This compressed timeframe required precise planning and flawless execution to avoid any interruptions to ongoing operations.

The transition from a legacy Warehouse Management System to Microsoft Dynamics 365 involved intricate data migration, integration, and system adaptation. Compatibility issues needed to be addressed, and extensive testing was necessary to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. In addition to this moving from a paper-based solution to a rigid software product like Microsoft Dynamics 365 demanded a comprehensive change management strategy. Customisation and modifications were required to ensure it met the Blackwoods specific business rules and requirements.

Solution

Working closely with both Blackwoods’ and the Microsoft project teams, ThreeSixty designed, built, tested and deployed Microsoft Dynamics 365 warehouse automation configuration and the integration with third-party systems. This included developing and evaluating integration specifications between Dynamics, Dell Boomi, and automation systems like Dematic WCS, Dexion RDS, and Geek’s AMR, ensuring seamless communication and data flow. In addition to enhancing MS Dynamics and automation solutions,

ThreeSixty managed the Unit Testing, System Integration Testing (SIT), and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) processes.
ThreeSixty oversaw the transition and cutover from the legacy WMS systems to Microsoft Dynamics, ensuring a smooth migration. By integrating onsite Blackwoods stores with warehouse operations and designing real-time last-mile carrier selection and automated consigning/label printing. ThreeSixty’s expertise delivered improved efficiency and operational excellence for Blackwoods.

Outcome

Utilising virtual collaboration tools, ThreeSixty successfully designed and implemented the Microsoft Dynamics solution remotely, maintaining consistent engagement with all stakeholders. Meticulous planning and execution allowed Blackwoods to complete the site migrations within the specified after-hours window, minimising operational disruptions.

The multiple integrations and staged implementation of this project offered both challenges and opportunities within a live facility, which the Blackwoods team embraced side-by-side with ThreeSixty in a true partnership, and that delivered the benefits of improved customer service, speed and capacity.

David Weaver, Head of Strategic Projects Blackwoods