Customer
Hammel Plastic
Industry
Production
Year
2025
Services
Microsoft 365
Hammel Plastic
As external regulatory and technological requirements made a system change inevitable, Hammel Plast faced a well-known strategic choice: should the company continue to invest in an older ERP system with uncertain future support or take the step towards a more future-proof platform?
The answer was a close collaboration with KOLLAB. Together, Hammel Plast completed a controlled and smooth 1:1 upgrade from a NAV2016 version to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Online – exactly as planned. The transition took place at the agreed time, without operational disruptions and without unnecessary complexity, while at the same time preserving all historical data. The result is a modern, future-proof ERP platform that builds on what already worked.
Challenge: Hammel Plast had to modernize a well-functioning ERP system as a result of external requirements without disrupting day-to-day operations in the transition.
A well-functioning ERP setup in need of modernisation
For many years, Hammel Plast had worked in an older NAV solution, which was stable, well-structured and deeply rooted in the organisation's workflows. The system was applied consistently and the business was not characterized by manual workarounds or system limitations.
The need for a shift arose not from within but from without in the form of regulatory and technological requirements which made it necessary to modernise the ERP platform. CEO of Hammel Plast, Maja Oxholm, explains: “We probably wouldn't have done it at the time if there hadn't been legislative pressure.”
It made one very central demand on the project: the transition must not create unrest in a business that was already functioning.
A controlled 1:1 upgrade
In the dialogue with Hammel Plast, it quickly became clear that there was no need for process changes or business experiments. KOLLAB therefore recommended a clean 1:1 upgrade from NAV to Business Central Online.
All key setups, workflows and structures were continued and historical data was safely migrated to preserve continuity and documentation – Maja Oxholm elaborates: “What we used NAV for and what we use Business Central for are basically the same, and it was completely deliberate.”
Early in the process, a thorough reconciliation of expectations was carried out. Hammel Plast made it clear that they wanted a high degree of involvement and responsibility in the project, both during implementation and after go-live. The goal was not only to get a new system, but also to be well equipped to be able to handle many of the tasks themselves going forward.
The implementation was therefore organized specifically according to Hammel Plast's needs, where the framework for teaching, testing, coordination and progress was tailored rather than following a standardized model. It created a clear, predictable project process with clear roles and responsibilities.
A transition that went exactly as planned
The actual implementation was carried out without unpleasant surprises. Hammel Plast deliberately prioritized extra resources in the transition phase, which ensured a safe and controlled transition to Business Central Online and a system change that was experienced as both manageable and uncomplicated:
“Implementation was very close to what we expected. It was a close collaboration between our own employees and KOLLAB, where there was clear structure and progress throughout. It gave us great security and ensured that the transition could be completed without affecting day-to-day operations,” explains Maja Oxholm.
The project was carried out as a shared responsibility. KOLLAB had overall responsibility for process, structure and framework, while Hammel Plast’ employees assumed significant responsibility for the internal deliveries.
Especially in the test and validation phase, Hammel Plast played a decisive role. Here, the solution was thoroughly worked out, which was absolutely essential for commissioning to be carried out without problems.
A collaboration based on understanding and flexibility
Hammel Plast is an organization with few key people involved around the ERP system. Therefore, it was crucial that the collaboration was adapted to reality and not a standardized project model.
KOLLAB showed an understanding of this and organized the collaboration with short decision-making paths, direct dialogue and one clear entrance to the project:
“We are a small team, and therefore it made perfect sense that KOLLAB worked closely with us and made the collaboration more direct and flexible. It made it easy to make decisions and keep an overview all the way,” she says.
At the same time, Hammel Plast's employees showed great commitment and clear ownership of the project's success. They are an organization with high professionalism and clear attitudes, which took responsibility for the tasks, but also actively sought out sparring and knowledge at KOLLAB. That combination created a strong collaboration dynamic and a trusting project process.
Targeted training without unnecessary complexity
The training in Business Central was adapted to Hammel Plast's concrete level and needs. As the organization already had a solid knowledge of NAV, KOLLAB took the existing setup as a starting point and focused the teaching on differences, improvements and practical application scenarios rather than basic system understanding. As Maja Oxholm describes it:
“KOLLAB were quick to understand how we worked and what level we were at. The teaching was adapted to our needs instead of just running through a standard course, and it made a big difference to us.”
The purpose was at the same time to strengthen Hammel Plast's own capacity, so that the organization could continue to work independently with the system after go-live without undue dependence on external support.
Stable operation and full continuity after go-live
After commissioning, Business Central Online has run stably from day one, and the need for subsequent support has been extremely limited. For Hammel Plast, it is a clear seal of quality and a sign that the upgrade has been carried out thoroughly and correctly in collaboration with KOLLAB:
“When there is not a need for very much help afterwards, it is a sign that the work has been done properly. KOLLAB delivered a solution that worked from the start and with which we ourselves could continue to work. We are very keen to get to know the system ourselves and try our hand at it, and here it was crucial that the solution was set up correctly from the beginning,” she concludes.
At the same time, all historical data is preserved and fully available in the new system. It ensures both documentation and traceability, and provides management with a coherent and continuous decision-making basis across time and reporting.
The result: Modern ERP without disturbing the business
With Business Central Online, Hammel Plast has gained a future-proof ERP platform that meets today's requirements without changing the way the company works. The collaboration with KOLLAB has ensured:
- a smooth 1:1 upgrade
- secure migration of historical data
- high involvement and ownership of the organization
- stable operation from day one
- a collaboration characterized by trust, flexibility and shared responsibility
UPGRADE BUSINESS CENTRAL ONLINE
Companies that today work with Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Business Central On-prem face an obvious opportunity: the transition to Business Central Online. With a modern, cloud-based platform, you not only get a more user-friendly solution, but also mobility, scalability and full access to Microsoft's ecosystem.
The transition is a strategic investment in future-proof ERP – and with our well-tested process it will be the world's easiest upgrade to Business Central Online.