Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM for Crate&Barrel’s first UAE store

Crate&Barrel engaged Awara IT to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM to support its first retail store in the UAE while maintaining operational consistency with existing stores. The project covered finance, procurement and warehouse processes, integration with the POS app used by shop assistants on tablets, and real-time cash control at store POS terminals.

The deployment delivered a single source of financial truth across geographies, streamlined purchase-to-retail flows, and ensured local tax and payment compliance in the UAE. Awara IT led the integration with the retailer’s existing Microsoft stack so the new store could operate immediately within Crate&Barrel’s global retail and reporting model.

Müşteri / Sektör / Ülke

Crate&Barrel is an international furniture and home decor retail chain opening its first UAE store. As a mid-to-large retail brand with established stores in other countries, the company required a solution that aligned local UAE operations with its global Microsoft-based retail ecosystem.

İş zorluğu

Opening the first store in the UAE introduced several operational and compliance challenges. Inventory and procurement processes had to be synchronized with Crate&Barrel’s global catalog and ERP (existing Microsoft Dynamics AX), while local store processes — including cash POS control and mobile-assisted selling on tablets — needed to integrate seamlessly. The retailer required reliable stock visibility, fast purchase order processing for regional suppliers, and accurate retail reporting for headquarters.

On the compliance side, the UAE VAT regime, Arabic language considerations at the point of sale, multicurrency pricing (USD/AED) and local fiscal reporting created additional requirements. Technical constraints included integrating a modern POS app with legacy AX data, enabling real-time transaction sync, and maintaining secure authentication for store users. The project also needed to minimize downtime during launch and provide rapid training for store staff.

Neden Dynamics 365 seçildi

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM was selected because it offered integrated finance, procurement and warehouse capabilities that align with Crate&Barrel’s Microsoft-centric IT landscape. The platform supports retail-scale inventory management, multi-company consolidation and extension through Power Platform — enabling centralized reporting and future rollouts across the Middle East.

Dynamics 365 also simplified integration with the existing POS app and Microsoft Dynamics AX data during migration, and it provided standard tools for localization (tax engine, multicurrency) and security (Azure AD). Awara IT was chosen as the implementation partner for its proven experience on Dynamics F&O projects and its ability to coordinate cross-functional rollouts involving retail operations, finance and IT stakeholders.

Uygulanan modüller

• General Ledger and Financial Reporting
• Accounts Payable / Receivable
• Procurement and Sourcing
• Inventory Management
• Warehouse Management (WMS)
• Retail POS integration (tablet POS app)
• Cash and Bank Management
• Tax and VAT configuration (UAE)
• Power BI operational dashboards
• Azure AD and security configuration

Entegrasyonlar

• Tablet POS app (real-time sales and payments)
• Data migration from Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Payment gateway and merchant acquiring bank
• Local tax reporting/filing interface (UAE FTA readiness)
• Barcode scanners and POS peripherals
• Azure AD for user authentication and SSO
• 3PL / logistics provider API for inbound shipments

Yerelleştirme ve uyumluluk

The implementation included UAE-specific tax configuration (5% VAT) and preparation for electronic invoicing and tax reporting requirements as per UAE guidelines. Price books and receipt templates were adapted for AED and USD usage where needed, and POS receipts were localized with Arabic labels where required by store operations.

Awara IT validated workflows against local fiscal rules and worked with Crate&Barrel’s local advisors to ensure that cash control, refund processes and tax reporting met UAE compliance expectations prior to go-live.

İş değeri

The Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM implementation enabled Crate&Barrel to open its UAE store with finance and retail processes fully aligned to the global model. Centralized procurement and inventory management reduced stock discrepancies and accelerated replenishment, while improved cash controls and integrated POS reduced reconciliation time and exposure to errors.

Operational reporting moved from batch consolidation to near real-time dashboards, enabling finance and retail teams to make faster decisions. The project also established a repeatable blueprint for future store openings across the Middle East, reducing rollout risk and time to revenue for subsequent locations.