CLIENT:
Sheridan Nurseries
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
INDUSTRY:
Agriculture
ORGANIZATION SIZE:
300 employees, 8 retail locations and more than 900 farmland acres
COUNTRY:
Canada
The Challenge: Modernize During Peak Season
Sheridan Nurseries needed to replace an unsupported ERP. They planned to go live later in the year, but accelerated the timeline putting it right in the middle of their busiest season. Their requirements included:
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Support for complex agricultural operations across wholesale and retail.
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Full visibility into crop production, cost accounting, and post-harvest care.
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Integration with load optimization, transportation management (RealSTEEL) and EDI systems for large national accounts.
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A modern ERP that would unify operations and scale with future growth.
With a tight timeline and implementation planned during their busiest time of year, Sheridan required a partner who could guide them through both technical complexity and organizational change.
We do 70% of our annual volume in about 12 weeks. Going live during that period came with a lot of nervous hands, but Enavate helped us stay on track,” said Liotta.
The Solution: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with Enavate
After evaluating multiple systems and partners, Sheridan Nurseries selected Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for its flexibility and scalability. Enavate stood out for its strong support model and hands-on approach, including early prototyping that helped shape custom crop costing workflows.
“It was clear early on that Enavate’s response times and engagement model would help us succeed,” said Liotta
Sheridan’s key implementation areas focused on some of their most critical business goals, including:
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Unifying sales management, inventory, purchasing, logistics, and financials under one 360-degree view.
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Custom crop management capabilities with predictive forecasting, task scheduling, scrap reporting, and accurate costing for labor and materials.
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Integrating sales order processing with crop allocation and resource planning.
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Seamless EDI integration for order transmission, shipping, and invoicing.
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Direct connections with an order assembly company and RealSTEEL, important business solutions, to optimize load and delivery scheduling
Enavate worked closely with Sheridan Nurseries using an iterative prototyping approach. By showing in-progress workflows, the team gathered feedback in real-time and adjusted quickly as Sheridan’s unique agricultural needs evolved.
.png?width=566&height=846&name=Right%20Side%20(1).png "Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with Enavate")
Sheridan Nurseries selected Enavate for its in-depth ERP expertise. The Microsoft platform was also a perfect match; the tool can be specifically tailored to the needs of agriculture and distribution businesses. The team understood the operational challenges the organization faced and brought targeted solutions aligned with wholesale and retail workflows
Another factor in the decision was Enavate’s flexible, collaborative approach to implementation. Rather than relying on rigid documentation, the team used realtime prototyping to adjust workflows as requirements evolved. This approach helped the Sheridan team stay engaged and responsive throughout the rollout
Enavate also demonstrated a strong grasp of the complexities involved in cost accounting for crop production. Their ability to navigate seasonal demand cycles and specialized financial tracking made them an ideal fit
Even after the project’s official close, Enavate remained involved. Liotta said, “Enavate was there even after the project wrap-up. They remained flexible, responsive, and truly committed to our success.” Enavate’s willingness to provide continued support gave Sheridan Nurseries confidence that the new system would continue to evolve alongside their business.
.png?width=564&height=724&name=Img4%20(1).png "A Collaborative Approach and Partnership Driving Sheridan’s Success")
Sheridan Nurseries Gains a Scalable, IndustryTailored ERP with Enavate’s Ongoing Support
Sheridan Nurseries can now manage core business functions through a single system, which has improved coordination between operational and financial teams. The ERP also brought clearer insight into production costs. With data captured at the crop level, the team can track financial performance and make more informed planning decisions throughout each growing cycle.
Enavate’s key integrations of the Microsoft platform further streamlined Sheridan’s production-driven operations. Connections with an order assembly company and RealSTEEL, a truck scheduling and transportation management partner, facilitated smoother coordination throughout all stages of the production cycle. The integration helped the team move products more efficiently during high-volume periods.
Despite launching during the busiest part of the year, Sheridan Nurseries managed to keep disruptions to a minimum. With Enavate’s support, they limited downtime during system cutover and quickly stabilized core workflows.
The implementation process itself reflected a strong partnership. Frequent collaboration and live feedback sessions helped shape a solution that fit Sheridan’s evolving needs and prepared them for future growth.
.png?width=644&height=748&name=Enavate%20-%20Client%20Success%20Story%20-%20Sheridan%20Nurseries_FINAL%20(2).png "Sheridan Nurseries")
A Partnership they can count on
“One of the things that was unique about our implementation was this idea of crop projects and bringing costing and other elements into the crop management cycle.”
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