With 230 Aveve stores across Belgium, Arvesta has established a strong national presence. In 2018, the company expanded its reach by acquiring the Eurotuin chain, one of the largest garden centers in East Flanders.
Business case
Previously, Eurotuin used an ERP system that relied heavily on customization and had several limitations. “Many steps were quite complicated, making adjustments was difficult, and we had insufficient insight into processes," says Annelien Vierstraete, Manager at Eurotuin. “At the same time, the lack of checks within the system increased the risk of errors.”
Eurotuin started looking for a new ERP solution that would streamline their processes, reduce errors, and integrate seamlessly with the systems used by Aveve stores. Their main goal was to have a system to enhance operational efficiency and provide a superior customer experience across all locations.
Solution
The company looked at several options and selected LS Central, LS Retail’s comprehensive retail management software solution built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP. Arvesta had already been using the LS Retail solution in the Aveve stores for many years and was very satisfied with how it supported their business operations. Most processes at Eurotuin were very similar to those at Aveve, which influenced the decision to adopt the same software solution. “What is precisely needed for development and sales often doesn't differ much across various branches of retail,” says Vierstraete. “Additionally, using the same POS and ERP solution across the entire Arvesta Group offers significant advantages in terms of integration across business units," says Vierstraete.
The next step was to find the right partner for developing, implementing, and adopting the new ERP solution. Choosing TCOG was a natural decision as they had already partnered for previous implementations. "TCOG had already managed the rollout at Aveve and was familiar with our group, and our IT teams at Aveve were very satisfied with the collaboration,” says Vierstraete. TCOG was closely involved in the Eurotuin project from the start. They attended the kickoff meeting and visited Eurotuin to gain a thorough understanding of their stores and internal processes. “They quickly proposed solutions for unique processes within Eurotuin that differ from those at Aveve, such as handling digital gift cards,” says Vierstraete.
The implementation of LS Central at Eurotuin went smoothly, with the stores going live in January 2024. Given the busy season for the garden center, test cases and training sessions started in mid-November. "We found that learning by doing was highly effective,” says Vierstraete. “Along with that extra bit of awareness, we managed to get people on board quickly, highlight the clear benefits of the new system, and start using it effectively."
Benefits
Implementing LS Central involved several changes to Eurotuin's operations, including new cash register operations, new scanning equipment, and adjustments to the ordering process. “Despite all these changes, the new way of working quickly became familiar,” says Vierstraete. “Everything is intuitive, and many tasks and process steps are easier than they were in the old system.” As an example, Vierstraete mentions the user-friendly interface in LS Central, which features larger buttons with clear color-coding. “This makes it difficult to go wrong," says Vierstraete.
Eurotuin now experiences numerous benefits with the solution, including:
- Streamlined control over operations – Many follow-up steps, actions, or approvals now require secondary approval in the back office, resulting in fewer errors. For instance, LS Central automatically verifies whether the Franco or free shipping threshold has been met, improving order accuracy.
- Accurate inventory management – The system instantly highlights any discrepancies between ordered and received quantities of goods, even for small amounts, and automatically transfers this information to the back office. “With the old system, it could take weeks or months for Eurotuin to notice and adjust minor differences in the back office, while now it happens instantly,” says Vierstraete.
- Improved cash handling – LS Central helps Eurotuin accurately handle cash by automatically calculating the amounts that need to be transferred between the cash drawers and the safe at the start and end of each day, avoiding errors that could cause issues with reports later on.
Eurotuin is not only pleased with the results achieved by the implementation, but also deeply values the collaboration with local LS Retail partner TCOG. "It's a significant advantage that TCOG visited our site and took the effort to understand our processes thoroughly,” says Vierstraete. “Their weekly status meetings have kept us informed about the developmental progress continuously. This approach allows us to create solutions that align much more easily with daily work practices and the specific challenges that employees face.”
Eurotuin felt they could always reach out to TCOG with questions and receive thorough training and refresher sessions to help everyone adapt to the new solution. They also appreciated TCOG's use of dedicated teams, which allowed them to consistently work with the same people and avoid repeatedly explaining things to new individuals.
By improving processes, optimizing inventory management, and offering enhanced personalization and data insights, TCOG and LS Retail have empowered Eurotuin to elevate their customer service and maximize sales opportunities.
