Seamless digital transformation has become an imperative in today’s hypercompetitive industrial landscape, particularly for businesses reliant on robust, real-time systems to power their operational and customer interaction lifecycles. For Controlgear Instramac (CGI), a full turnkey electrical, control, and instrumentation solutions provider, a recent migration from a legacy ERP system to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, orchestrated by Braintree, signifies much more than just a technical upgrade—it represents a fundamental shift in how the organization delivers on its promise of excellence, resilience, and customer-centricity. This article explores the strategies, successes, lessons, and broader industry implications of this digital journey, spotlighting the nuances of ERP migration, the significance of expert partnership, and the future-proofing of industrial operations through cloud-driven capability.
Founded in 1986, CGI has long served as a vital link in the mining and industrial supply chain—where efficiency, accuracy, and transparency are non-negotiable. Over time, the company developed processes deeply rooted in physical documentation and manual workflows. These legacy systems, while proven over decades, began to limit the organization’s ability to scale, modernize, and respond quickly to changing market demands.
The driving force behind CGI’s decision to migrate was twofold: the impending obsolescence of its aging ERP platform and the compelling need to unlock digital benefits unavailable under its current architecture. According to Deon Nieuwoudt, Director at CGI, “We wanted to build a store where customers could log in 24/7/365, access and purchase products on their account and gain immediate visibility into stock availability.” For CGI, the future was not just about sustaining operations but creating a differentiated, self-service digital experience for customers and streamlining operations across global teams—often working under disparate connectivity environments.
Courtney Hounsell, Account Manager at Braintree, observed, “Customer involvement determines the success of a migration and CGI were hands-on, engaged and focused. It made all the difference to the final result and to the fact that Business Central is delivering exactly what they need.” This synergy underpinned the project’s ability to navigate both predictable and emergent complexities.
Key steps included:
Independent analyses of similar Business Central deployments in the industrial sector echo these findings, citing time savings in reporting (routinely up to 40% faster), reduced reconciliation errors, and the ability to run complex queries with ease—all factors likely contributing to CGI’s early satisfaction.
Nieuwoudt remarked, “The look and feel is fresh and accessible, miles ahead of our original ERP platform.” Employees and customers alike have responded positively, indicating not just a technical win, but a meaningful uplift in user experience.
Braintree’s established expertise and prior successful deployments position it as a trusted partner. For CGI, the successful migration is not just a technology story but a testament to the potential of cloud ERP done right.
Looking ahead, CGI’s journey offers a roadmap for others in industrial sectors facing similar inflection points:
In an age where industrial competitiveness hinges on digital dexterity, CGI’s pragmatic, well-executed ERP migration underscores the value of preparation, partnership, and continuous innovation. For industrial businesses at the crossroads of transformation, this case study stands as both a blueprint and a motivator—showing that bold moves, made with care and expertise, can unlock extraordinary new opportunities.
Source: Intelligent CIO Braintree simplifies Microsoft ERP implementation for Controlgear Instramac – Intelligent CIO Africa
Founded in 1986, CGI has long served as a vital link in the mining and industrial supply chain—where efficiency, accuracy, and transparency are non-negotiable. Over time, the company developed processes deeply rooted in physical documentation and manual workflows. These legacy systems, while proven over decades, began to limit the organization’s ability to scale, modernize, and respond quickly to changing market demands.The driving force behind CGI’s decision to migrate was twofold: the impending obsolescence of its aging ERP platform and the compelling need to unlock digital benefits unavailable under its current architecture. According to Deon Nieuwoudt, Director at CGI, “We wanted to build a store where customers could log in 24/7/365, access and purchase products on their account and gain immediate visibility into stock availability.” For CGI, the future was not just about sustaining operations but creating a differentiated, self-service digital experience for customers and streamlining operations across global teams—often working under disparate connectivity environments.
Choosing a Partner: Why Braintree?
Selecting the right implementation partner is as crucial as the technology itself. CGI turned to Braintree not only due to its role in supporting the legacy system but also because of its comprehensive familiarity with Microsoft’s ecosystem—including prior deployments of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Teams. This foundation of trust and technical alignment enabled a pragmatic, low-friction transition strategy and extended the partnership from infrastructure to business-critical applications.Courtney Hounsell, Account Manager at Braintree, observed, “Customer involvement determines the success of a migration and CGI were hands-on, engaged and focused. It made all the difference to the final result and to the fact that Business Central is delivering exactly what they need.” This synergy underpinned the project’s ability to navigate both predictable and emergent complexities.
Orchestrating the Migration: The Roadmap from Legacy to Cloud
Mapping Out the Journey
The project kicked off in May 2024 with a detailed assessment of CGI’s existing processes, immediate pain points, and longer-term ambitions. Braintree’s methodology focused on deep collaboration, aligning business outcomes with technical requirements.Key steps included:
- Legacy Evaluation and Data Cleansing: Cataloguing paper-based and legacy digital workflows, identifying redundancies, and prioritizing data for migration.
- Custom Configuration: Designing optimized layout fields for core documents such as invoices, sales orders, and delivery notes, ensuring a high degree of fit for CGI’s established practices while leveraging the flexible architecture of Business Central.
- Workflow Automation: Transitioning paper-heavy and manual processes to digital workflows, automating approvals, notifications, and record-keeping.
- Integration and API Readiness: Preparing the platform to launch new digital channels, including e-commerce systems, with APIs for seamless information exchange.
Minimizing Downtime, Maximizing Value
One of the most notable achievements was the minimal business interruption CGI experienced during the switchover. After a six-month preparation and configuration period—which included rigorous workshops and data mapping—the final data migration took place over a single weekend. By Monday, CGI was fully operational on Business Central. Nieuwoudt credits this to “the support and buy-in we had from the Braintree team,” and emphasizes how challenges were met with tailored, pragmatic solutions.Realizing the Benefits: Fact or Hype?
Enhanced Data Visibility and Reporting
The migration delivered immediate improvements in access to actionable insights. Users now benefit from dashboards offering real-time stock levels, order statuses, and customer histories, allowing for rapid decision-making. The ability for employees to drill down into data and surface granular insights has reportedly enabled faster problem-solving and a more proactive service stance for clients.Independent analyses of similar Business Central deployments in the industrial sector echo these findings, citing time savings in reporting (routinely up to 40% faster), reduced reconciliation errors, and the ability to run complex queries with ease—all factors likely contributing to CGI’s early satisfaction.
Improved User Experience and Customer Self-Service
CGI’s ambition to provide always-on, self-serve functionality for its customers is now within reach. With Business Central’s e-commerce integration capabilities, powered by secure APIs, customers access real-time stock and order data at their convenience—a critical edge in industries where lead times are tightly managed.Nieuwoudt remarked, “The look and feel is fresh and accessible, miles ahead of our original ERP platform.” Employees and customers alike have responded positively, indicating not just a technical win, but a meaningful uplift in user experience.
Streamlined Processes for Diverse Teams
Given CGI’s global teams—including engineers in connectivity-challenged environments—the migration demanded simple, resilient authentication and access strategies. Braintree leveraged Microsoft 365 licenses to provide SharePoint and Teams for enhanced collaboration, allowing disparate teams to access, edit, and share vital information with reduced friction, regardless of location. This approach demonstrates the strength of a cohesive Microsoft stack, delivering continuity between productivity and operational systems.Faster System Response and Navigation
Users note a significant improvement in response times and system navigation, thanks to streamlined code and modern UI design choices. This translates to less user frustration and greater operational throughput. While anecdotal, these impressions align with broader industry accounts of Business Central deployments, where cloud-native architecture delivers a consistent, low-latency experience for distributed teams.Challenges and Lessons Learned
No migration of this scale is entirely frictionless, especially when re-platforming decades-old business processes. CGI faced several notable challenges:- Legacy Customization vs. Modern Best Practices: Some legacy workflows were deeply embedded, requiring careful adaptation or re-engineering within Business Central’s framework.
- Cultural Change: Transitioning from paper-based systems to digital-first operations can be daunting for long-tenured staff. Ongoing training and communication proved essential.
- Connectivity: Supporting teams with limited internet access required robust offline strategies and thoughtful authentication policies.
The Bigger Picture: What CGI’s Journey Illustrates About Modern ERP Migration
CGI’s story is emblematic of a wider transformation happening across the industrial and mining supply sectors, where legacy systems are fast giving way to cloud-first, SaaS-based architectures. Several key themes emerge:The Value of True Partnership
A recurring narrative in CGI’s migration is the role of a trusted technology partner. Beyond technical delivery, Braintree’s ability to align to CGI’s vision, challenge legacy mindsets, and adapt solutions to real-world constraints—while keeping the migration “phenomenal” and efficient—highlights why many organizations rate partnership quality as highly as technical capability in selecting systems integrators.The Importance of Clean Data
An oft-cited but critical detail: the teams invested heavily in data cleaning, mapping, and validation ahead of and during migration. This practice is corroborated by numerous ERP experts, who warn that “bad data in, bad data out” remains the cardinal risk for digital transformations. CGI’s success here sets a benchmark for future projects: perfect visibility starts with perfect data hygiene.User Training and Change Management
Even the most sophisticated systems falter without user buy-in. CGI minimized resistance by focusing on rapid, iterative training alongside rollout. Commentaries from manufacturing industry analysts underscore that successful ERP migrations universally rely on upfront and ongoing training programs, helping legacy users realize the tangible benefits of new platforms.Acting on Real-Time Insights
The ability to respond to system queries with real-time answers fundamentally shifts business agility. Instead of waiting for periodic reports or reconciling after the fact, CGI’s teams can now interrogate the data directly and act on opportunities and risks as they emerge.Risks and Cautions
While CGI’s migration presents a highly positive case, it would be remiss not to flag the enduring risks that come with such ambitious transitions. Independent studies warn of:- Underestimating Customization Complexity: Even modern platforms like Business Central require thoughtful configuration to avoid project overruns—a risk mitigated here by Braintree’s experience.
- Security Concerns: Migrating sensitive industrial data to the cloud heightens the need for rigorous access controls, monitoring, and compliance auditing. Microsoft’s security credentials are among the strongest, but ultimate responsibility lies with the implementing organization.
- Vendor Lock-In: Reliance on a single vendor ecosystem can limit future flexibility. Organizations should remain vigilant, reviewing contractual terms and exit strategies.
- Downtime Risks: While CGI succeeded in a single-weekend cutover, contingency testing and parallel run planning are vital for organizations with even more complex footprints.
Microsoft Business Central in Context
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central continues to gain traction as a cloud-first ERP solution for mid-sized industrial and wholesale firms, largely due to its modularity, rich integration options (including native ties to Office 365, Power BI, and Azure), and scalability. Recent upgrades—verified by independent analysts—have reduced total cost of ownership, sped deployment cycles, and grown its market share in sectors requiring supply chain visibility and process automation.Braintree’s established expertise and prior successful deployments position it as a trusted partner. For CGI, the successful migration is not just a technology story but a testament to the potential of cloud ERP done right.
The Path Forward: Future-Proofing and Continuous Improvement
The implementation is not the end, but an ongoing evolution. CGI’s teams and Braintree continue to collaborate on further customizations and automations, refining warehousing, delivery, and process information flows. This iterative approach is essential for ensuring the ERP system grows in lockstep with the company’s ambitions.Looking ahead, CGI’s journey offers a roadmap for others in industrial sectors facing similar inflection points:
- Embrace the inevitability of transformation: Postponement only compounds risk and cost. Early adoption, paired with diligent planning and trusted guidance, pays dividends.
- Prioritize usability and user training: Digital transformation succeeds when employees—from the C-suite to the shop floor—see personal and professional value.
- Insist on data quality and integration: The richness of business insight is determined by fidelity and accessibility of information.
- Leverage partner expertise, but maintain strategic oversight: Collaboration with skilled system integrators drives success, but ultimate responsibility remains with business leadership.
Conclusion
The partnership between Controlgear Instramac and Braintree in their migration to Microsoft Business Central demonstrates not just a successful project delivery, but an industry-leading example of what agile, technology-driven transformation can achieve. With improved data visibility, streamlined workflows, and a platform primed for future digital initiatives, CGI is now positioned for sustainable growth and resilience.In an age where industrial competitiveness hinges on digital dexterity, CGI’s pragmatic, well-executed ERP migration underscores the value of preparation, partnership, and continuous innovation. For industrial businesses at the crossroads of transformation, this case study stands as both a blueprint and a motivator—showing that bold moves, made with care and expertise, can unlock extraordinary new opportunities.
Source: Intelligent CIO Braintree simplifies Microsoft ERP implementation for Controlgear Instramac – Intelligent CIO Africa