After years of steady growth, one of the nation’s largest K-12 food service providers reached a crossroads. They knew that if they were going to continue to expand their operations and further streamline their production, they would need a new ERP system: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. This would require more than just flipping a switch. The organization would need hands-on assistance to transform their IT infrastructure to accurately monitor the food production lifecycle and other operational data points.
Fortunately, the organization’s long-term partnership with Cubex Group meant they had a ready-made choice to handle their total ERP implementation. With years of experience advising and scaling IT environments for growing enterprises, Dave Rubin and the Cubex Group team could guide the project from planning to execution.
The Solution
The engagement began with a deep dive into the client’s ERP and production requirements. Because the company’s core business revolves around food production and distribution, every aspect of the infrastructure needed to support precise data collection, tracking ingredients, production counts, waste, and inventory in real time.
Dave and his team began by reviewing the facility blueprints and aligning infrastructure needs with the ERP’s data requirements. From network design and device connectivity to hardware selection and environmental planning, Cubex Group developed a comprehensive roadmap to support a successful Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central implementation across all facilities.
“When you’re running a multi-facility production environment, your infrastructure has to be bulletproof,” said Dave. “You’re talking about hundreds of devices—label printers, scanners, sensors—all needing to communicate flawlessly to keep production accurate and efficient.”
Cubex Group’s team designed the IT environment using proven deployment methodologies to scale rapidly across locations. Even when one of the client’s chosen contractors failed to follow Cubex Group’s specifications during a rollout of their largest facility, Dave quickly stepped in to correct the mistakes and stabilize the system. Later installations benefited from this learning experience, ensuring they operated at peak performance from day one.
The client also benefited from Cubex Group’s experience setting up wireless connectivity within cold storage environments. This ensured uninterrupted sensor data flow throughout the warehouse environments.
To unify data across their production lines, Cubex Group worked closely with Appian and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central integrators, facilitating smooth connections between machinery, IoT sensors, and software systems.
The result was a fully integrated ecosystem where the company could measure production efficiency, monitor waste, and make real-time operational decisions—all driven by accurate, automated data collection.
The Results
Since the completion of the infrastructure overhaul and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central implementation, the client now receives real-time metrics that allow them to identify inefficiencies, track waste, and optimize operations with unprecedented accuracy.
“They now have true data visibility,” said Dave. “Instead of guessing, they’re making business decisions based on real numbers.”
Following deployment, Dave and Cubex Group continued to provide fractional CTO support. The team monitors the environment, ensures optimal uptime, and performs semi-annual onsite visits to verify system performance.
This partnership continues to evolve, with Cubex Group advising the client on hardware refreshes, system migrations, and the technology implications of upcoming facility moves.
“Once an infrastructure like this is up and running, it should just work,” said Dave. “But ongoing visibility and proactive maintenance are key. If a device fails, we fix it quickly, and we’re always planning ahead for what’s next.”