Validated cloud ERP at Sanity: Automated processes for greater transparency

For a long time, introducing enterprise resource planning in the public cloud was unthinkable in a regulated environment and still raises doubts today. Is it even possible? Is it secure? What happens with updates? Justified questions - to which there are appropriate answers. The ERP project with the Berlin-based cannabis company Sanity Group proves that a validated SaaS project is not only feasible by hook or by crook, but also with aplomb.

The Sanity Group, headquartered in Berlin, was founded in 2018 and has made it its mission to help people with medicinal cannabis. The more than 120 employees of the start-up want to help everyone lead a healthy and balanced life and rely on the positive mechanisms of action of cannabis. With research, educational work and its own brands, the company brings the active ingredient to the market sensibly and carefully. When the workload became too great and the Excel lists too long, the company started looking for a suitable ERP solution.

The contact between the Sanity Group and Yaveon was established via an ERP selection consultant. After several meetings focusing on the benefits of both Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and the Yaveon industry solution for the pharmaceutical industry, the project was launched.

The goal: an introduction in the public cloud.

Over the course of the project, it became clear that the potential of the public cloud is attractive. However, as a pharmaceutical company, Vayamed GmbH, a subsidiary of the Sanity Group, is subject to strict regulations and is therefore obliged to validate its own processes and computerized systems. Are there any concerns as to whether it is even possible to introduce the SaaS solution BC Online in a validated manner? Certainly, some questions and tasks had to be clarified together with the Yaveon validation team. However, the benefits of a SaaS solution completely convinced the Sanity Group team and they quickly decided to go full throttle into the public cloud!

In order to validate in the public cloud, a number of framework conditions must be adhered to. Yaveon offers validation templates that fully prepare the validation process and supports the implementation of comprehensive update management. Why? The explanation is simple: Microsoft solutions such as BC Online are kept up to date twice a year with a major update and monthly with minor updates. If software is to be introduced in a validated manner, the company must ensure that this is done in a structured and documented way. Such an ERP update can be compared to updates on a smartphone: As a rule, this runs through smoothly and the functionality of an app remains intact once the update is complete. However, instead of simply accepting this state, validated solutions are subject to documentation and verification requirements. To ensure this, all product-related changes are fully tested during Yaveon product development. Update lists, which can be used to identify the affected functions, enable the customer to assess the impact of an update on their system and take appropriate measures before it is implemented.

With Yaveon, the Sanity Group relies on an industry-specific ERP solution that transforms the proven standard ERP Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central into an industry-specific special solution.

• Fully integrated into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Particularly suitable for small and medium-sized companies
• Industry-optimized special solution for the pharmaceutical industry
• Can be flexibly expanded thanks to its modular structure

The Sanity Group uses the following modules:

• Production/Manufacturing
• Purchasing & Sales/Sales & Purchase
• Joint production
• Batch Management/Lot Management
• Quality Control/Quality Assurance
• Calculation/Costing

Since the Sanity Group has been using the software, the company's processes have changed. Automated processes and time savings make the team's work easier.

• Full insight: Thanks to the Yaveon industry solution, users can keep an eye on the company's highly complex payment processes and clearly see which costs are actually incurred.
• Overview and transparency: Because the ERP solution maps all work steps digitally and comprehensibly, the Sanity Group now benefits from a better overview and transparency in its day-to-day work.
• Responsiveness: Thanks to batch management, the individual product components can be viewed at any time. This allows the Sanity Group to react quickly if necessary and provides greater security.

Looking back, it can be said that the introduction of the software solution went according to plan. Together with the Yaveon consultants, the Sanity Group team implemented all the necessary steps with determination - even when it came to the computer system validation processes. With the necessary coolness, aplomb and a little courage, the project participants managed the entire process smoothly. A big compliment to the team: it was great fun working with you!