Optimum supports AB World Foods with training workstream of ERP rollout
Global ERP training consultancy Optimum has been selected by AB World Foods to support the company’s global implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365. Optimum supported a training workstream, giving training and coaching, to enable staff to use the new system with confidence.
Founded in 1998, Optimum is an independent ERP training consultancy, specialising in driving the user adoption of ERP software. The firm says it can train on “any business system, whether it’s off-the-shelf, a customised equivalent or an ERP system built specifically” for a business – while its clients include Pfizer, JP Morgan, The Body Shop and Weetabix, among a list of other recognisable brands.
AB World Foods is responsible for a portfolio of household food brands including Patak’s, Blue Dragon, Levi Roots and Capsicana. When the global organisation embarked on ‘Project HALO’ – a global implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365, which replaced two legacy ERP systems with a single, aligned global system – it subsequently turned to Optimum for support.
The programme was designed not only to modernise technology, but also to harmonise business processes and support future growth. Following a fast-paced, staggered go-live approach – with the UK and Poland launching first, followed by Thailand and North America – the compressed deployment schedule required a focused and flexible training strategy to prepare users across all four hubs within a condensed timeframe.
Optimum was tasked with providing specialist end user training development and support across six key workstreams: Prerequisites, reporting, finance, procurement, order to cash and quality. Working collaboratively with the HALO team, Optimum carried out a RapidScope exercise, to define the training curriculum, outputs and delivery approach. A blended learning solution was then designed to meet the needs of AB World Foods’ global user community, combining classroom and virtual training, Digital Self Learn modules, tutorial and concept videos, and step-by-step reference guides.
The training programme supported significant behavioural change, helping users move from legacy green-screen technology and manual spreadsheet-based processes to a modern ERP environment with automated workflows, inter-company functionality and real-time transaction processing. Amid the localised delivery, Optimum also provided finance training on site in Thailand, provided Polish-speaking trainers for delivery in Poland, and localised selected training materials so users could learn in their local language.
Sean Wain, finance lead for Project HALO at AB World Foods, said, “The team at Optimum hit the ground running quickly. They were very flexible around the kick-off (knowledge transfer) sessions, and that really helped us get a great start on the training part of the process. Working with Optimum was excellent, and they really came to our help at our time of need on the project.”
