How a Global Engineering Firm Built on Its aec360 Investment
Replacing a legacy ERP was the start. Here's what came after go-live — and why support turned out to be the more important decision.
Overview
With its legacy ERP approaching end of life, this global engineering firm chose HSO's aec360 solution to modernize core operations — inventory, customer management, communications, and the business processes connecting them.
Going live was the milestone. But a new platform only pays off if it keeps getting better, and that required something beyond a support line.
The Business Challenge
A major ERP replacement is the kind of investment a firm makes once in a decade. The value doesn't come from the go-live date. It comes from everything after it — the refinements, the adoption, the process improvements that take years to fully land.
That's also where most firms lose momentum. The project team disperses. Attention moves on. The platform stays where it was at go-live while the business keeps changing around it, and the gap widens quietly.
This firm wanted to avoid that. They needed guidance on what to improve next, a structure for making those decisions, and a plan for staying current with Microsoft's releases — not just someone to call when something broke.
The Solution
HSO built an ongoing managed services framework around the aec360 environment, covering support and forward planning together.
The engagement included:
Dynamics 365 application support
One Version update planning and testing
Continuous improvement initiatives
Strategic roadmap planning
Recurring business reviews and service governance
The roadmap is the piece that matters most. It keeps the platform moving in a deliberate direction instead of drifting between tickets.
The Business Impact
The firm moved from reactive support to a planned operating model.
There's a roadmap for the platform, so improvement is a decision rather than an accident
Microsoft updates are planned and tested in advance instead of absorbed as they arrive
Leaders can see where adoption is strong and where it needs attention
Enhancement priorities are set in recurring reviews, with business input
The aec360 investment keeps compounding rather than settling at its go-live state
The firm continues getting more out of the platform each year rather than less.
Looking Ahead
At HSO, managed services is about more than support: it’s about partnership. We continue to work closely with our clients to ensure their solutions remain aligned with business goals, providing ongoing expertise, recommendations, and support as their organizations grow. Whether it’s adopting new capabilities, improving processes, or preparing for future transformation initiatives, HSO remains a trusted advisor every step of the way.
