Black Gold Farms Moves from Dynamics GP to Business Central for a Modern, Connected Future
Black Gold Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned agricultural business, has long been committed to growing high-quality, responsibly produced potatoes for communities across the United States. As a leading supplier of chip and sweet potatoes, the company is nationally recognized for its innovation in potato production and handling technology.
As the company’s operations expanded and technology evolved, they recognized the need for a more modern, flexible ERP system that could support their growth, improve efficiency, and provide better visibility across their business.
Black Gold Farms wasn’t just looking for a software upgrade— they wanted a partner who understood the unique demands of agriculture and had the proven experience to guide their transition from Microsoft Dynamics GP to the cloud. Black Gold Farms turned to Stoneridge Software, a trusted Microsoft partner with deep roots in the agriculture industry and a strong track record in successful Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central cloud migration projects.
Business Challenges: Breaking Through Operational Barriers
Black Gold Farms had outgrown its legacy on-premise ERP system, Microsoft Dynamics GP. As they evaluated their current systems and future business goals, several core challenges emerged that were limiting efficiency and growth.
Key challenges:
- Manual inventory processes with no integrations in GP
- Limited integration capabilities and outdated technology
- Lack of defined procurement processes and purchase order management
- On-premises infrastructure that didn’t support remote access or scalability
- A need for a partner with agriculture expertise and a collaborative approach
By choosing to move to Dynamics 365 Business Central, the organization took a proactive step toward modernizing its operations and building a more agile, connected business, while leveraging their investment in Microsoft business technologies.
The Solution: A Collaborative Path to the Cloud
Working closely with the Black Gold Farms team, Stoneridge Software implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, delivering a cloud-based ERP solution tailored to the needs of a modern agricultural business. The project was a true partnership, with both teams contributing their expertise to ensure a smooth and successful outcome.
Key highlights:
- Inventory Integration: Implemented inventory management in Business Central for the first time, replacing manual summaries with tracked inventory quantities
- Integration Readiness: Scoped and designed integrations with key ag systems, leveraging Business Central’s modern API capabilities
- Approval Workflows: Configured tiered approval processes for purchasing and payables, enhancing financial oversight and control
- Client Enablement: Redesigned imports to give the team full visibility and autonomy over their data and integrations
- ISV Solutions: Installed and configured third-party tools like Celigo (Order Management Application Integration) and Continia (OCR and Approvals) to extend Business Central’s capabilities
Results: A More Efficient and Scalable Operation
The transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central has empowered the potato producer to streamline operations, improve visibility, and lay the groundwork for continued innovation. With general ledger capabilities, cloud-based access, and a scalable platform, they’re now better equipped to manage business complexity and support future growth.
Key outcomes:
- Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Robust purchase order management functionality replaced manually tracked procurement documents
- Consolidated Financial Management: Integrated reporting tools and consolidated financial data across three legal entities providing leadership with faster, more accurate insights
- Improved Inventory Tracking: Real-time visibility into inventory and procurement processes enabling better planning and reduced reliance on spreadsheets
- Stronger Integration Capabilities: Modern APIs and scoped integrations with ag-specific systems positioning the business for seamless data flow
- Client Autonomy: Redesigned data processes gave Black Gold Farms greater visibility into their transactions and enabled self-service, allowing them to take more ownership of their technology
- Scalability for Future Growth: A flexible, cloud-based system ensures Black Gold Farms can adapt and expand without being limited by legacy infrastructure
This project not only addressed critical operational challenges but also established a modern foundation for long-term success, ensuring Black Gold Farms has the tools and insights needed to remain competitive in an evolving agricultural landscape.
Technologies used:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Microsoft Power Platform (integration readiness and workflows)
- Celigo – Order Management Application Integration
- Continia – OCR and Approvals
