In 2003, Crimsonwing was commissioned to implement an easy-to-manage Microsoft Dynamics Nav platform, an Enterprise Resource Planning system which would support VNU’s business operations. Today, VNU is part of Incisive Media.

Background & Requirements

Because it lacked standardised reporting processes, the global media company found collating reports from its European companies to be a time-consuming, manual process. Its European operations relied on Oracle Financials to create reports, which was both expensive to support and difficult to integrate with Hyperion – the business intelligence solution used by VNU’s New York headquarters.

The Solution

We at Crimsonwing analysed that the disparate network invited data inaccuracies. To meet the company’s needs across Europe. We recommended an easy-to-manage Microsoft Dynamics NAV system, complemented with a scalable SQL Server infrastructure and a Citrix network.

Business Benefits

The benefits following implementation have been substantial, with clear access to information for all employees and with additional advantage for IT staff, who have found the solution to be far more cost-effective and easy to support – in particular when considering upgrades and when scaling up for new employees. Mike Donlan, VNU’s European Project Manager said: "The cost of ownership with Oracle, particularly around IT support, counted against it. We now have the easy-to-manage Microsoft Dynamics NAV, complemented with a scalable SQL Server infrastructure and a Citrix network to support a thin-client deployment of a feature-rich application across Europe. Centralisation means that the total cost of ownership is greatly reduced and our IT support is far more cost-effective".