Case Study: Brewing Operational Excellence at Kerchanshe with Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O

Kerchanshe Trading PLC, Ethiopia’s largest and most reputable coffee exporter, is renowned for sourcing beans from premium regions such as Gelana Gesha, Bale Mountain, Debeka, and Anasore. With a strong global presence and a reputation for high-quality coffee, Kerchanshe faced mounting operational challenges as its business expanded internationally.

Challenges Faced by Kerchanshe

Despite its success, Kerchanshe’s growth was hindered by inefficiencies across its operations:

• Fragmented Business Processes: Disconnected systems across departments delayed financial reporting and logistics coordination.
• Inconsistent Inventory Management: Lack of visibility into warehouses and processing units caused overstocking or shortages.
• Manual Export Documentation: Paper-driven processes slowed shipment clearances and impacted delivery timelines.
• Unreliable Financial Insights: Without real-time dashboards, financial forecasting and cost control were reactive rather than proactive.
• Limited Quality Control Integration: Quality checks were not centrally linked to production and export batches.
• Scalability Limitations: Legacy systems struggled to adapt to growing transaction volumes, vendor networks, and global buyer demands.

These inefficiencies not only slowed Kerchanshe’s operations but also risked its reputation for delivering premium coffee to international markets.

The Solution: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

To overcome these challenges, Trident Information Systems implemented a comprehensive Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O) solution, transforming Kerchanshe’s operations from farm to export.

Key elements of the solution included:

• Unified ERP Deployment: Finance, procurement, inventory, sales, and project management integrated into a single platform.
• Advanced Inventory Control: Real-time stock tracking across farms, warehouses, and export hubs.
• Automated Export Processes: Streamlined documentation for customs, quality certification, and global compliance.
• Finance Automation & Reporting: Automated ledgers, budgeting tools, and real-time P&L dashboards for financial clarity.
• Quality Management Integration: Linking QC processes to every batch and shipment for consistent export-grade standards.
• Scalable Cloud Infrastructure: A system built to handle seasonal fluctuations, supplier diversity, and international trade volumes.

Benefits Realised

The deployment of Dynamics 365 F&O delivered measurable improvements across Kerchanshe’s operations:

• Unified Operations improved cross-department coordination and data integrity.
• Accurate Inventory Planning reduced waste and optimised supply chain efficiency.
• Faster Export Turnaround through digitised documentation and compliance automation.
• Stronger Financial Oversight with real-time reporting and analytics.
• Enhanced Quality Assurance ensuring traceability from farm to shipment.
• Future-Ready Platform equipped for global expansion and evolving trade regulations.

As Kerchanshe’s General Manager noted, “Trident’s deployment of Dynamics 365 F&O helped us bring complete control and clarity to our coffee operations. From managing our harvests to shipping globally, everything now runs with precision and speed.”

Conclusion

Kerchanshe’s journey illustrates how a legacy-bound agricultural exporter can transform into a digitally empowered global player. By partnering with Trident Information Systems and leveraging Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O, Kerchanshe streamlined operations, strengthened quality assurance, and positioned itself for scalable international growth.

For organisations in agriculture and export industries, Kerchanshe’s success story highlights a critical takeaway: embracing digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s the foundation for sustaining excellence and global competitiveness.