LAMA completed implementation of Columbus Food Retail

In retail network of group "LAMA" transition on ERP- the solution began Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Start of a new system is connected with plans LAMA of opening by 2015 of new shops in Kemerovo, Novosibirsk and Barnaul, the company consultant in the project reported Columbus on June 26, 2013.

Project Tasks

Implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 in LAMA company is caused by several reasons: by the beginning of the project the holding used more than 10 years in a row the industry solution deployed by Columbus company. The project is implemented by integrator in 2003 on the basis of Microsoft Dynamics AX of version 3.0. Further LAMA developed this ERP system by forces of own IT department.

The modified ERP system became the limiting factor of development of the retail LAMA group as it did not allow business to be scaled and did not support new technologies. That is why in the company need to replace the operating IT system ripened. Within the tender the management of LAMA holding considered several known solutions, but finally selected the ERP system of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

"For dynamically growing, customer-oriented companies, such as LAMA, role of an information system to revaluate impracticablly. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 in many respects matches our vision of business development, answers its organization structure and industry specifics, incorporating the most demanded management tools. For example, means of the analytical reporting quite suit us in basic option, - Victor Gornostayev, the head of group of strategic developments of LAMA Group emphasized. – In addition to unique functionality of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 the high-level development environment distinguishes. It allows us not to worry about that, how fast we will be able to rebuild this system in case of changes in business processes".

Project Progress

By this moment a new ERP system supports retail sales, assortment management and pricing, a marketing activity, purchase planning and merchandising, settlement with suppliers, the main transactions of production accounting of LAMA Group. The company cooperates with 700 suppliers from more than 140 countries of the world, also actively develops own production of food. Key tasks within an implementation project of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 are in as much as possible to involve available in the solution of means of purchase planning and production orders, to consider intra holding sales and deliveries, and, of course, to create conditions for an operational registration and processing of the associated documentation. The holding emphasizes that a system copes with these requirements.

LAMA conducts system deployment by mainly own forces. If necessary specialists of Columbus are attracted for the solution of the narrow questions connected with setup of a system under atypical requirements of retail and production divisions of holding, besides, the consulting company supervises issues of interaction with Microsoft.

Project Development

Till 2015 financial department of LAMA Group conducted calculation of retrobonuses on the basis of reports of Microsoft Dynamics AX which were processed manually using spreadsheets. Manual accounting generated the large volume of labor costs and strengthened a role of a human factor that led to errors.

We have more than 1.7 thousand commercial conditions with 5–6 different difficult analysts, i.e. more than 7 thousand points of control. Accounting of such amount of data manually, at the help of spreadsheets — very difficult process. Check correctness of these charges very difficult therefore to us it was extremely important to reduce labor input of process of accounting of retrobonuses and as much as possible to exclude a possibility of errors when accounting non-operating activity. Lilia Gorbunova, senior financial controller of LAMA Group

Opening of shop of network, (2013)

In 2015 the management of LAMA Group made the decision on the tender for development of the external accounting solution. According to the results of tender, implementing solution was charged to consulting company Columbus.

Us and Columbus connect rather long relations, this company initially implemented at us the solution on the Microsoft Dynamics AX platform, this is our tested partner to whom we trust. Now we work at the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 so the solution to use this platform for calculation of retrobonuses quite reasonably. Nikolay Moldovan, Chief information officer of LAMA Group

The project was begun in October, 2015. Specialists of LAMA Group studied the solution Columbus Retail based on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and created tasks of automation of maintaining the reference book of commercial conditions, automation of calculations and charges.

In April, 2016 the project entered a phase of trial operation, in May transition to commercial operation of the solution is planned.

On project deliverables we expect to receive completely automated process of accounting of retrobonuses and generation ready to execution of documents for suppliers. Our responsibles, having complete analytics on retrobonuses, will receive the exhaustive overview of sources of an additional income, and it will give us the chance to increase such income, at the same time remaining in normal vendor relations, it will be transparent, it is clear and managed. Lilia Gorbunova

I as the Chief information officer, always I expect from outsourcing projects not just accomplishment of specific objectives, and cooperation with the outstanding companies capable to make a contribution to our business. Columbus is such company. She is capable to cope with difficult tasks, helping us to develop our IT system and our business. Nikolay Moldovan