Modernizing Sales and R&D with D365 & Power Platform | Manufacturing

Modernizing Sales & R&D for a Chemical Manufacturer with D365 & Power Platform

Industry & Challenge

A chemical manufacturing company struggled with poor CRM adoption, outdated systems, and an inefficient R&D process. Their sales team lacked visibility into historical data, and their product development team relied on a costly third-party project management tool that operated in isolation from their sales and ERP data. Additionally, they needed to migrate to the cloud for better scalability and cost efficiency.

Solution Provided

Using our TrellisPoint Strategic Framework (TPSF), we deployed Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE) – Sales and Power Platform, delivering a tailored solution that:

• Revamped CRM adoption by aligning the system with real sales workflows.
• Integrated product development into Dynamics 365, eliminating the need for a third-party project management tool.
• Enabled seamless R&D collaboration by linking requests to Accounts and Opportunities.
• Connected ERP sales history, allowing sales teams to make data-driven forecasts based on past trends.

This strategic cloud migration improved efficiency, enhanced collaboration between sales and R&D, and reduced costs by eliminating redundant software.

Results & Impact

• Increased CRM adoption: Sales teams embraced the system thanks to workflow improvements.
• Eliminated third-party PM tool: Reduced costs and simplified project tracking.
• Integrated R&D with sales: Teams can now interact and trigger R&D requests within their CRM.
• Improved forecasting: Sales teams leverage ERP history for better pipeline visibility.
• Cloud migration success: The company now benefits from a scalable, cost-effective Microsoft ecosystem.

Lessons & Takeaways

• CRM adoption improves when the system aligns with real business processes instead of forcing teams to adapt to rigid technology.
• Integrating R&D with CRM eliminates silos and improves collaboration between departments.
• Migrating to a unified Microsoft ecosystem simplifies IT management and reduces costs.

By modernizing both sales and R&D workflows, TrellisPoint helped this chemical manufacturer unlock efficiency, reduce software costs, and create a more connected organization.

Migrating CRM and R&D Processes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 FAQ

Why wasn’t the company’s previous CRM working?

The existing CRM lacked alignment with sales workflows, had poor adoption, and did not integrate with other key business processes like R&D and ERP sales history.

How did TrellisPoint increase CRM adoption?

We customized Dynamics 365 CE – Sales to match the way the sales team actually worked, making it more intuitive and valuable in their daily operations.

How did eliminating the third-party project management tool benefit the company?

• Lower costs by removing unnecessary licensing fees.
• Improved collaboration by managing R&D within Dynamics 365 instead of a separate system.
• Streamlined data flow between sales and product development.

How does integrating R&D into Dynamics 365 improve efficiency?

Now, R&D teams can:

• Trigger new product development requests directly from Accounts and Opportunities.
• Track sales history to prioritize R&D efforts.
• Collaborate more effectively with sales, ensuring product development aligns with market needs.

What benefits did the company gain from cloud migration?

• Scalability: Easily supports future growth.
• Cost Savings: No longer maintaining outdated on-premise infrastructure.
• Security & Compliance: Microsoft’s cloud provides enterprise-grade security and compliance with industry regulations.

Can this approach work for other industries beyond chemical manufacturing?

Absolutely! Any industry that struggles with CRM adoption, disconnected R&D processes, or third-party project management tools can benefit from this integrated approach.