About the Client
The client is a leading distributor of packaging, foodservice disposables, and janitorial supplies, built through a strong acquisition-led growth strategy. With multiple regional brands operating under their umbrella, the company combines local market expertise with enterprise-scale reach.
Goals
Each of the client’s associated brands have operational independence, including their own ERP systems and processes, enabling individual agility while contributing to a broader national network. As part of its growth strategy, the company launched a Distributor Drop Ship (DDS) program that allows one regional brand to fulfill orders on behalf of another. The goal of this new model was to improve customer proximity, reduce delivery time, and maximize inventory utilization across regions.
However, because each brand operates on separate ERP systems:
- Order tracking lacked real-time visibility
- Inventory across brands was not centrally viewable
- Revenue sharing between brands lacked consolidated reporting
- Customer updates were delayed due to disconnected systems
The goal was to create a unified, near real-time data foundation that would enable enterprise-wide visibility for DDS, without disrupting existing systems or local autonomy.
Solution
To strengthen their DDS model, the company established a unified data integration framework built on Microsoft Fabric. Bridgenext supported the implementation by connecting data from their on-premise systems and Microsoft Dynamics 365 environments into a centralized platform.
Data from each regional brand was securely connected and organized in a structured, layered approach. Raw data from their individual systems is captured every 15 minutes, ensuring up-to-date information. It is then standardized and aligned using common business rules, creating a consolidated and consistent enterprise view of orders, inventory, and revenue.
The architecture was designed to be scalable, reusable, and easy to configure. New brand onboarding and system changes can be accommodated quickly, ensuring their DDS model can support future growth and acquisitions. Business insights and dashboards are delivered through Microsoft Power BI, providing leadership and operational teams with a single, reliable source of truth.
Results
As a result of this initiative, the company significantly strengthened the operational backbone of its DDS program:
- Transitioning from isolated daily or twice-daily data pulls to 15-minute refresh cycles
- Centralizing visibility into cross-brand DDS order tracking
- Gaining a unified inventory view across participating regional brands
- Standardizing revenue tracking across distributed fulfillment models
