Client
Hammel Plast
Industry
Production
Year
2025
Services
Microsoft 365
Hammel Plast
When external regulatory and technological requirements made a system change inevitable, Hammel Plast faced a familiar 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 close collaboration with KOLLAB. Together, Hammel Plast carried out 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 retaining all historical data. The result is a modern, future-proof ERP platform that builds on what already worked.
Challenge: Hammel Plast needed to modernize a well-functioning ERP system due to external requirements without disrupting daily operations during the transition.
A well-functioning ERP setup in need of modernization
For many years, Hammel Plast had been working with an older NAV solution that was stable, well-structured, and deeply rooted in the organization's workflows. The system was used consistently, and the business was not affected by manual workarounds or system limitations.
The need for change did not arise internally, but externally in the form of legislative and technological requirements that made it necessary to modernize the ERP platform. CEO of Hammel Plast, Maja Oxholm, explains: "We probably wouldn't have done it at that point if there hadn't been legislative pressure."
This placed one key requirement on the project: the transition must not disrupt a business that was already functioning.
A controlled 1:1 upgrade
In discussions with Hammel Plast, it quickly became clear that there was no need for process changes or business experiments. KOLLAB therefore recommended a pure 1:1 upgrade from NAV to Business Central Online.
All key settings, workflows, and structures were carried over, and historical data was migrated securely to maintain continuity and documentation. Maja Oxholm elaborates: "What we used NAV for and what we use Business Central for is basically the same, and that was entirely intentional."
Early in the process, a thorough alignment 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 handle many of the tasks themselves going forward.
The implementation was therefore tailored specifically to Hammel Plast's needs, with the framework for training, testing, coordination, and progress being customized rather than following a standardized model. This created a clear, predictable project process with clear roles and responsibilities.
A transition that went exactly as planned
The implementation itself was completed without any unpleasant surprises. Hammel Plast deliberately prioritized extra resources during the transition phase, which ensured a smooth and controlled transition to Business Central Online and a system change that was perceived as both manageable and uncomplicated:
“The implementation went very much as we had expected. It was a close collaboration between our own employees and KOLLAB, with a clear structure and momentum throughout. This gave us a great sense of 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 joint responsibility. KOLLAB had overall responsibility for the process, structure, and framework, while Hammel Plast's employees assumed significant responsibility for internal deliveries.
Hammel Plast played a crucial role, particularly during the testing and validation phase. The solution was thoroughly reviewed, which was essential to ensuring that commissioning could be carried out without any problems.
A collaboration based on understanding and flexibility
Hammel Plast is an organization with few key people involved in the ERP system. Therefore, it was crucial that the collaboration was adapted to reality and not a standardized project model.
KOLLAB understood this and organized the collaboration with short decision-making processes, direct dialogue, and a single point of entry to the project:
“We are a small team, so it made perfect sense for KOLLAB to work closely with us and make the collaboration more direct and flexible. This made it easy to make decisions and maintain an overview throughout the process,” she explains .
At the same time, Hammel Plast's employees showed great commitment and clear ownership of the project's success. They are an organization with a high level of professionalism and clear attitudes, who took responsibility for the tasks, but also actively sought sparring and knowledge from KOLLAB. This combination created a strong collaborative dynamic and a trusting project process.
Targeted training without unnecessary complexity
The training in Business Central was tailored to Hammel Plast's specific level and needs. As the organization already had a solid knowledge of NAV, KOLLAB took the existing setup as its starting point and focused the training on differences, improvements, and practical application scenarios rather than basic system understanding. As Maja Oxholm describes it:
“KOLLAB was quick to understand how we worked and what level we were at. The teaching was tailored to our needs instead of just running through a standard course, and that made a big difference to us.”
The aim was also to strengthen Hammel Plast's own capacity so that, after go-live, the organization could continue to work independently with the system without unnecessary dependence on external support.
Stable operation and full continuity after go-live
Since its launch, Business Central Online has run smoothly from day one, and the need for subsequent support has been extremely limited. For Hammel Plast, this is a clear mark of quality and a sign that the upgrade has been carried out thoroughly and correctly in collaboration with KOLLAB:
“When there is not much need for help afterwards, it is a sign that the work has been done properly. KOLLAB delivered a solution that worked from the start and that we could continue to work with ourselves. We are very keen to learn the system ourselves and try it out, and here it was crucial that the solution was set up correctly from the beginning," she concludes .
At the same time, all historical data has been preserved and is fully accessible in the new system. This ensures both documentation and traceability, and provides management with a coherent and continuous basis for decision-making across time and reporting.
The result: Modern ERP without disrupting 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 seamless 1:1 upgrade
- secure migration of historical data
- high level of involvement and ownership within the organization
- stable operation from day one
- a collaboration characterized by trust, flexibility, and shared responsibility
Upgrade Business Central Online
Companies currently working with Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Business Central On-prem are facing 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 tried-and-tested process, it will be the world's easiest upgrade to Business Central Online.