Running a complex cooperative with over 1,000 core employees, field contractors, and seasonal workers using paper forms and phone calls eventually hits a hard ceiling. For over 25 years, Irish enterprise cooperative FRS Co-Op relied on Microsoft Great Plains to manage its operations across farm relief, fencing, recruitment, and training services. But when Great Plains reached end-of-life, FRS Co-Op faced a major crossroads: core processes remained heavily manual, paper onboarding was slowing down branches, and disconnected tracking created daily administrative bottlenecks.
To modernize their digital backbone, FRS Co-Op set out to migrate to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Selecting TEKenable: A Partnership Built on Thoroughness
Replacing a 25-year-old, heavily customized ERP system across a multi-entity cooperative structure is a high-stakes overhaul. When evaluating technology partners, FRS Co-Op selected TEKenable because of their deep engagement from day one.
A founder-led Irish technology consultancy with over 200 experts across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, TEKenable brings dual-power expertise as both a Microsoft Solutions Partner and a Salesforce Crest Partner. Recognized with three Microsoft Partner of the Year awards across Business Central, Business Applications, and Building with AI, they specialize in converting complex legacy IT infrastructure into agile, cloud-native architectures.
Rather than pitching a quick software fix, TEKenable proved they cared about the long-term operational outcome. In early conversations, their senior solution architects dug into FRS Co-Op’s complex business model, taking the time to understand how branch managers, field operators, and administrative teams actually worked on the ground.
Uncovering the HR Bottleneck in “Sprint Zero”
Before implementing any software, TEKenable led FRS Co-Op through a process-focused “Sprint Zero” discovery phase. As senior solution architects mapped out every operational workflow, a major bottleneck surfaced: while finance and supply chain processes were slated for Business Central, People Operations remained fragmented and manual.
Managing hundreds of temporary and seasonal farm relief workers required speed, skill tracking, and compliance. Native ERP modules would have been overly rigid—like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. TEKenable realized this was a prime opportunity to centralize FRS Co-Op’s workforce data, advising them to extend Business Central with a specialist Independent Software Vendor (ISV).
Why Factorial Was the Right Fit
To fill the HR gap, TEKenable recommended Factorial as the core People Operations platform. Because Factorial was an unfamiliar name to FRS Co-Op at the time, TEKenable’s endorsement and proven credibility made the decision straightforward.
Factorial stood out for three core reasons:
- Microsoft Ecosystem Validation: As a Microsoft-approved ISV available on Microsoft Marketplace, Factorial guaranteed seamless API connectivity and compliance with twice-yearly cloud updates.
- Flexible OpEx Licensing: Traditional per-user monthly SaaS pricing penalizes businesses with seasonal headcount spikes. Factorial provided a flexible licensing package designed around fluctuating temporary staffing levels.
- Rapid Time-to-Value: Full ERP migrations take time. Factorial deployed quickly in parallel, allowing FRS Co-Op to digitize HR operations and secure immediate ROI long before the main Business Central project wrapped up.
| Operational Dimension | Legacy State (Microsoft Great Plains) | Transformed State (TEKenable + Factorial + Business Central) |
| System Architecture | On-premise legacy ERP with 25 years of custom code | Cloud stack: Factorial HRIS + D365 Business Central + Salesforce |
| Workforce Admin | Manual paper onboarding, physical receipts, phone calls | Automated joiner/mover/leaver workflows and mobile self-service |
| Licensing Model | Rigid per-user costs penalizing fluctuating headcount | Flexible OpEx model accommodating seasonal headcount spikes |
| Time to Value | Years of locked-in development before go-live | Rapid parallel HR deployment delivering immediate operational ROI |
A Fully Synced Ecosystem: Factorial, Salesforce, and Business Central
Instead of isolated software silos, TEKenable engineered an integrated data pipeline that connects employee onboarding directly to field scheduling and financial reporting:
- Workforce Onboarding (Factorial): New hires, contractors, and seasonal workers are set up in Factorial, removing manual paperwork and centralizing employee records, skills certifications, and document compliance.
- Field Scheduling (Salesforce): Worker profile data and skill matrices sync automatically from Factorial into Salesforce, allowing branch managers to instantly match and dispatch qualified operators to local farm relief jobs.
- Financials & Payroll (Business Central): Completed field hours pass back into Salesforce and directly into Business Central and payroll software, fully automating time logging, billing, and compensation.
Realized Value and Continued Expansion
The proof of a successful implementation lies in what happens after go-live. Rather than pulling back, FRS Co-Op renewed and expanded its Factorial deployment, adding ATS Recruitment, Trust Channel, and AI Analytics to their stack.
By eliminating paper entry and centralizing workforce visibility, branch managers gained back hours previously lost to admin, giving them more time to serve local farming communities.
Planning a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central migration? Discover how Factorial integrates natively with your ERP to streamline People Operations – book a personalized demo with our team today.
