Carr’s Group: “BESTMIX® ERP Suite and BESTMIX® Recipe Management tick all the boxes”

When Carr’s Group needed to upgrade to new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, the company had high expectations for its future partner: it wanted a solution that integrated seamlessly into its IT ecosystem and could provide all current functionality of a complex, diverse business. BESTMIX® ERP Suite easily fulfilled those expectations, and by adding BESTMIX® Recipe Management, Carr’s Group was also able to streamline its formulation processes and gain access to a host of additional insights.

Company profile

Carr’s Group is a UK-based leader in agriculture and engineering, primarily providing value-added products and solutions across two key segments: specialty agriculture and engineering. The specialty agriculture division manufactures and supplies nutrient-dense feed blocks, minerals, and boluses containing trace elements and minerals for livestock, serving an extensive international customer base. Carr’s Group prides itself on delivering high-quality products under market-leading brands, and the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Transition to BESTMIX® Software

Carr’s Group’s journey with BESTMIX® Software began in 2017. Neil McGuiness, IT Solutions Manager at Carr’s Group remembers: “Our existing ERP supplier, with whom we worked for over two decades, announced that the ERP package we were using would no longer be supported. The company offered to switch us to another ERP package it planned to distribute, but we decided to investigate whether that was the best choice for us. BESTMIX® Software, then trading under the name Adifo, had an excellent reputation within the industry.”

The selection process

Microsoft software forms the backbone of Carr’s Group’s IT landscape, making Microsoft Dynamics 365 a pivotal factor in choosing a new ERP solution. BESTMIX® ERP Suite — formerly known as MILAS® — has Microsoft Dynamics 365 at its functional core, which was an immediate plus for McGuiness. “We needed a supplier that could deal with the complexity of several different subsidiaries, several production sites and a network of retail outlets,” he says. “Another challenge was the tight deadline. We were determined to work with a provider that could offer us operational security and was an established player in the sector. BESTMIX® Software ticked all those boxes.”

Smooth implementation

Implementing a new ERP is a complex process for any company. “We assigned a professional, dedicated team to the implementation project and together with key stakeholders, formed a group of project management, core testers, trainers and in – house support. We also brought in an experienced program manager to oversee each phase. We then set up several blueprint sessions to document our existing processes. Our aim was to transfer all existing processes to the BESTMIX® ERP Suite, and that has worked very well. The great thing about this process is that you’re supported by a number of permanent BESTMIX® Software consultants, which means you’re working with professionals who know the project inside out. They also take the time to understand our business, which saves a lot of time and the partnership gives you a higher level of knowledge and trust. We were also very fortunate to have a highly motivated and enthusiastic user base.”

Carr’s Group opted for a phased implementation. “In August 2018, we went live with our Group finance division. Another milestone was the go-live of the specialty agriculture division. We experienced little to no friction across the board, which I would describe as very successful for an ERP implementation.”

Enhanced user experience

“Once all the systems were in place, we focused on ROI: what can we do to get even more benefit from this ERP package?” Neil McGuiness continues. “One of the solution’s key advantages for us is the ability to fully integrate with manufacturing processes and data analysis using Microsoft Fabric, an AI-powered analytics platform. “The fact that BESTMIX® ERP Suite has Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations as its functional core undoubtedly goes in its favour here. Our systems run very smoothly, allowing us to gain a broad range of insights quickly and easily.”

McGuiness sees the implementation of an ERP package not as an IT project, but rather as a business project. “The IT department facilitates the integration, but the aim is for the business to reap the rewards, and that’s definitely been our experience here at Carr’s Group.”

BESTMIX® Recipe Management

Recipe formulation and management are at the core of Carr’s Group’s business, in particular when it comes to the composition of its feed blocks. The company also closely evaluated BESTMIX® Recipe Management too. “Our recipe formulators felt they weren’t getting enough value out of our existing software and that they weren’t getting the insights they wanted,” says McGuiness. “There was also room for improvement in terms of declaration capabilities and tighter integrations. BESTMIX® Software is known as a leader in the market, and it didn’t disappoint us in the least. A huge asset for us is the fact that you can choose a cloud-based version of the solution, which allows us to work location-independent, or on premise. Currently, we’re working with BESTMIX® Recipe Management 4 in the United States, and we’re considering making the switch from version 3 to version 4 in the UK too.”

Conclusion: A Strong Partnership

“The great strengths of BESTMIX® Software lie in the software itself, which runs smoothly, offers ease-of-use and boosts efficiency,” concludes McGuiness. “The integration possibilities also stand out, and of course I have to mention the professionalism of the consultants, who provide the best advice and assistance to our clients. After working together for several years, I hold BESTMIX® in the highest regard.”

The BESTMIX® perspective

Xavier Vande Langerijt, who works as a BESTMIX® project manager with Carr’s Group, highlights the mutual benefits of this collaboration, which is typical of BESTMIX® Software’s way of working. “We aim for a long-term relationship with our clients,” he says, “and this case clearly illustrates that. We achieve this by listening and responding to the client’s needs and thinking along with them. This is also reflected in the fact that we were able to provide an overall solution consisting of BESTMIX® ERP Suite in combination with BESTMIX® Recipe Management. Neil and his team attach great importance to integration with their other internal systems, and that’s one of the great strengths of our software. So I’m really looking forward to continuing to build a bright future together with the great people of Carr’s Group.”