Case Study - SDL

A customisable platform for SDL with robust accounting software.

SDL work with several of the world’s top brands to help them to create, translate, and deliver content globally, with their unique combination of language services, language technologies, and content technologies. Being such a global business, with 63 offices in 39 countries and 4,500 customers, SDL require to have robust accounting software, which they can rely on as well as customise as necessary.

SDL have been a customer of Nolan Business Solutions since 2006, and over the last 15 years we have provided them with Development, Support and Consultancy services for their Microsoft Dynamics GP software. Our long-standing relationship with SDL has enabled us to provide them a tailored, organised, and trusted service.

The customer:

SDL was founded in 1992, and has its headquarters in Maidenhead, UK. Being a large multinational, multilingual business with 4,300 employees worldwide, SDL offer a wide range of language services to a wide range of customers, including 90 of the top 100 brands in the world.

With such prestigious clients, SDL require use of best-in-class business software to operate at the highest possible standard, with the added ability of being able to tailor that software to suit their specific requirements.

The challenge:

With such a large worldwide client base and offices in 39 countries spanning multiple time zones, a solid accounting solution was key to ensure full control over finances, enabling the business to make informed decisions. The unique and varied nature of the services that SDL provide their clients required them to have business software which is tailored for their needs.

In addition to offering year-round software Support, SDL has recently gone through an upgrade of their Microsoft Dynamics GP software. As there has been a large amount of bespoke development work carried out over the last 15 years, the upgrade required a high level of detail to ensure that it was conducted successfully.

As SDL operates across multiple countries and time-zones, including Australia, Canada, and Portugal, it would be imperative that all the database upgrades were scheduled at the correct time for the corresponding time zone, for minimal disruption across the company.

It was therefore key that an in-depth level of customer and software understanding was required to ensure that the upgrade would run smoothly and with minimal disruption to SDL.

The Solution:

By having a number of vastly experienced Microsoft Dynamics Developers, Consultants, and Support staff available at Nolan Business Solutions, enabled SDL to receive a high level of service. With such experience available, any upgrade work carried out was done efficiently and with little customer downtime. Nolan Business Solutions’ skilled Project Management team were also on hand to oversee the upgrade and certify that the work promised was being delivered in a timely manner, and to the standard expected by the client.

The Outcome:

The upgrade to SDL’s Microsoft Dynamics GP software was carried out on time across all countries and time zones within the agreed budget, with minimal disruption. These upgrades are key as it allows customers to use the most up to date version of software, which allows them to take advantage of any new features included.

With the level of experience, product knowledge, and customer understanding, Nolan Business Solutions are frequently trusted by clients, such as SDL, to be their Microsoft Dynamics GP partner. By providing customers with high quality levels of Support and creating development enhancements to improve SDL’s user experience, the long-term relationship is still strong.

The Microsoft Dynamics GP solution in place for SDL has allowed them to continue to thrive and grow as a company, with the knowledge that the solution, with support from Nolan Business Solutions, has scope for further development if needed.