How Dynamics 365 ERP Can Streamline Financial Reporting for Food Companies
Financial reporting in the food industry has plenty of challenges, especially if companies rely on spreadsheets and legacy systems.
Modern food and beverage ERP software can unify financial data, get real-time visibility into profitability, and generate timely, accurate financial statements. And while implementing an ERP system may sound daunting, partnering with the experts at Stoneridge Software makes it a seamless, personalized process.
Unify Financial Data Across the Business
One of the biggest obstacles to accurate financial reporting in food companies is disconnected systems. Financial data may be scattered across Excel spreadsheets, accounting software, procurement platforms, or outdated food manufacturer ERP systems. This results in manual consolidation, inconsistent formats, and a lack of trust in the numbers. It can also take up to 2-3 weeks for a company to compile all the necessary data, analyze it, and find what they are looking for. Clients often tell us that this is one of their main issues with siloed data: by the time they are done assessing it, the information is outdated, and they feel they are one step behind.
This can make it harder for you to make the best decision for your business.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP eliminates these silos by creating a centralized platform for all financial transactions, including:
- Revenue from multiple sales channels
- Vendor and ingredient purchasing costs
- Production expenses and labor
- Overhead allocations and cost of goods sold
- Fixed assets and depreciation
- Tax and regulatory liabilities
By pulling data from every department into a single source, Dynamics 365 enables fast, accurate reporting—no more hunting for numbers or reconciling conflicting spreadsheets.
Automate Reporting and Period Closings
Manual reporting is not only slow but also prone to errors. In the food industry, where margins are tight and speed matters, clients often tell us that delayed or inaccurate financials often lead to poor decisions and missed opportunities.
With Dynamics 365 ERP, companies can:
- Automate monthly, quarterly, and year-end closings
- Set up recurring journal entries for standard costs or accruals
- Generate consolidated financials for multiple entities or divisions
- Track budget vs. actual performance in real time
- Create custom financial statements that meet industry needs
You can also configure workflows for approvals and variance alerts—reducing bottlenecks and keeping your finance team focused on analysis, not data entry.
Leverage Microsoft 365 Tools for Collaboration and Analysis
One of D365's biggest advantages is its native integration with Microsoft 365 (Office 365). Your team doesn’t have to learn entirely new tools—they can keep using the platforms they know, now powered by ERP data. This level of integration creates a modern, collaborative financial environment that empowers your team and eliminates the barriers between data, systems, and insights.
Here’s how it helps your financial reporting:
- Excel: Export live financial data into Excel with one click for ad hoc analysis or presentations. Changes in Dynamics are automatically reflected in linked workbooks.
- Power BI: Visualize performance metrics with interactive dashboards to track profitability by product, customer, or region.
- Outlook and Teams: Finance team members can collaborate on reports, share links to transactions or documents, and communicate decisions—all within Outlook or Teams.
- SharePoint: Store audit trails, invoices, tax documents, and financial statements securely and access them from anywhere.
Real-Time Visibility into Profitability and Costs
Margins in the food industry can shift rapidly—ingredient costs rise, demand fluctuates, or production yields drop. Financial leaders need real-time insights to stay ahead.
Dynamics 365 provides profitability tracking and forecasting tools that are specifically valuable in the food sector, including:
- Cost accounting by SKU, location, or recipe
- Dynamic pricing models tied to market inputs or production costs
- Cash flow forecasting based on real sales and vendor terms
- Inventory valuation across multiple locations and methods (FIFO, LIFO, weighted average)
With built-in financial intelligence, your team can proactively adjust budgets, identify cost-saving opportunities, and confidently guide the company’s financial strategy.
Scalable for Growth and Multi-Entity Operations
Food businesses often operate across multiple facilities, brands, or business units. Dynamics 365 is built to support this complexity, offering:
- Multi-entity consolidation and eliminations
- Currency and tax localization for international operations
- Intercompany transactions and reporting
- Role-based security to ensure financial data integrity
Whether you're a growing organic brand or an established processor with multiple plants, Dynamics 365 scales with you—and keeps your financial reporting accurate across the board.
Implementation Made Easy With Stoneridge Software
For many food company leaders, the biggest hesitation about moving to a new ERP is the implementation process. That’s why working with a trusted partner like Stoneridge Software makes all the difference.
Stoneridge’s consultants specialize in Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementations tailored to the food industry. Our team works closely with you to:
- Map your existing workflows and financial processes
- Implement a purpose-built food and beverage ERP system that fits your exact needs
- Migrate your data from legacy systems like Dynamics GP, NAV, AX, or QuickBooks onto cloud hosting with Microsoft Azure
- Train your team and onboard users across departments
- Provide ongoing support via our Client Support Portal
Our expertise and partnership ensure that you get the right system, configured the right way, at the right pace for your business. Contact the experts at Stoneridge Software today to get started!
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