Reach Robotics modernises Defence-aligned manufacturing with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamic Aspect
Customer
Reach Robotics Pty Ltd
Industry
Advanced Manufacturing | Robotics | Defence | Maritime Technology | Mining
Reach Robotics Pty Ltd
Industry
Advanced Manufacturing | Robotics | Defence | Maritime Technology | Mining
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Executive Summary
Reach Robotics Pty Ltd designs and manufactures advanced electric manipulator arms and remotely operated robotic systems used across Defence, maritime infrastructure, underwater inspection, law enforcement, marine science, mining and autonomous robotics environments.
As the organisation expanded into increasingly complex Defence and industrial projects, fragmented systems, spreadsheet-driven processes, and disconnected operational data limited scalability, operational visibility, and financial control.
To support rapid growth and Defence industry alignment, Reach Robotics partnered with Dynamic Aspect to deploy a modern, cloud-based enterprise platform built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The solution unified finance, manufacturing, supply chain, inventory, quality management, project delivery, and reporting into a single integrated platform — creating a real-time operational environment capable of supporting future Defence, maritime, and AUKUS-aligned growth initiatives.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Business Challenge
Reach Robotics required a scalable enterprise platform capable of supporting:
1
Advanced manufacturing operations
2
End-to-end inventory traceability
3
Project-based delivery and cost management
4
Manufacturing planning and scheduling
5
ISO9001-aligned quality management
6
Real-time operational and financial reporting
7
Integration with Microsoft 365
8
Defence industry governance and reporting requirements
Prior to implementation, several operational challenges constrained growth:
1
Reliance on spreadsheets and disconnected systems
2
Limited visibility across manufacturing and projects
3
Manual reporting and reconciliation processes
4
Inefficient production planning and procurement workflows
5
Inconsistent data across finance and operations
6
Reduced agility in responding to changing Defence and industrial project requirements
For a business operating in highly regulated Defence and maritime environments, these limitations created operational risk and restricted scalability.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Solution Overview
Dynamic Aspect designed and delivered a modern ERP and manufacturing platform centred on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, integrated with specialist manufacturing, reporting, planning, and automation solutions.
The deployment followed a phased implementation model, prioritising high-value operational capabilities first and enabling measurable ROI early in the program lifecycle.
The solution integrated:
1
Finance and governance
2
Manufacturing planning and execution
3
Inventory and warehouse management
4
Shop floor data capture
5
Quality assurance and compliance
6
Project management
7
Real-time reporting and analytics
8
Procurement and supply chain coordination
Technologies Implemented
Core Platform
Manufacturing & Planning
- Insight Works Enhanced Planning Pack
- Dime.Scheduler
- Shop Floor Insight MES
Reporting & Automation
- Jet Reports by insightsoftware
- Continia Document Capture
- Drag&Drop by SucceedIT
Capabilities Delivered
Financial Management & Governance
- General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable
- GST and BAS reporting
- Automated banking and payment processing
- Analytical dimensions and financial segmentation
- Real-time financial visibility across projects and manufacturing operations
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
- Bills of Materials (BOMs) and Routings
- Make-to-Order and Make-to-Stock manufacturing models
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Production scheduling optimisation
- Barcode-enabled warehouse and manufacturing processes
- Lot and serial number traceability
Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
The implementation of Shop Floor Insight MES enabled:
- Real-time labour capture
- Production progress tracking
- Barcode-driven manufacturing execution
- Mobile shop floor operations
- Quality and production event recording
Quality Management
- ISO9001-aligned inspection workflows
- Quality assurance checkpoints
- Rework and non-conformance management
- Traceability and audit support
Project Management
- Project cost tracking
- Procurement visibility
- Labour allocation and milestone reporting
- Integrated financial and operational project governance
Reporting & Analytics
Real-time reporting and KPI dashboards delivered visibility into:
- DIFOT (Delivery In Full On Time)
- Production efficiency
- Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
- Warranty and RMA performance
- Manufacturing throughput
- Inventory performance
- Profitability by project and product line
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Measurable Outcomes & Business Impact
The Reach Robotics deployment delivered measurable operational and commercial outcomes across finance, manufacturing, supply chain, and reporting.
Operational Improvements
Reduced Manual Processing by 35–45%
Automation of accounts payable, reporting, and document handling significantly reduced administrative overhead and manual data entry requirements.
Financial Reporting Improved by up to 70%
Automated reporting through Jet Reports reduced spreadsheet consolidation and accelerated reporting cycles from days to hours.
Inventory Optimisation of 15–25%
Integrated planning and procurement workflows reduced excess inventory holdings and improved working capital efficiency.
Faster Manufacturing Coordination
Integrated production planning and scheduling improved manufacturing predictability, operational coordination, and execution reliability.
Single Source of Truth
The organisation replaced fragmented systems with a unified operational platform spanning:
- Finance
- Manufacturing
- Procurement
- Inventory
- Projects
- Reporting
- Quality management
Dynamics 365 Business Central
ROI & Commercial Value
The project was deliberately structured to deliver early operational value during deployment rather than after project completion.
Commercial Outcomes
- Reduced spreadsheet dependency and duplicated systems
- Lower operational overhead
- Improved procurement discipline
- Faster decision-making through real-time reporting
- Improved cash flow through inventory optimisation
- Reduced reporting effort and reconciliation workload
Expected ROI
Industry-aligned benchmarks and implementation outcomes indicate:
- ERP return on investment achievable within 12 months
- Sustainable long-term operational savings
- Reduced reliance on manual administrative processes
- Improved financial governance and operational control
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Defence & AUKUS Alignment
The solution supports Reach Robotics’ contribution to advanced sovereign manufacturing capability and aligns strongly with AUKUS Pillar 2 objectives focused on:
Autonomous systems
Maritime technologies
Undersea capability
Robotics and remote operations
Advanced Defence industry supply chains
Reach Robotics’ remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and manipulator technologies support high-risk intervention and inspection activities in harsh maritime environments, including potential support to naval and underwater operations.
The integrated enterprise platform delivered by Dynamic Aspect strengthens the governance, traceability, operational discipline, and reporting capability increasingly required for participation in Defence industry qualification programs and international supply chain pathways.
Dynamic Aspect has been instrumental in helping Reach Robotics modernise and scale our operational environment to support the next stage of our growth.
As a company operating across advanced manufacturing and Defence-aligned programs, we required far more than a standard ERP deployment. We needed a platform capable of providing accurate, real-time visibility across finance, manufacturing, supply chain, and operational planning while supporting the governance and reporting expectations associated with Defence industry participation.
The Dynamic Aspect team worked closely with our stakeholders to understand the complexity of our business and delivered a solution that genuinely aligns with how we operate. The implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and its integrated solutions has significantly reduced manual processes, improved reporting accuracy, strengthened operational control, and established a single source of truth across the organisation.
What differentiated Dynamic Aspect was their flexibility, responsiveness, and willingness to operate as a true partner rather than simply a software provider. Their understanding of manufacturing, Defence, and business process integration ensured the project delivered meaningful outcomes with minimal disruption to the business.
The result is a scalable, future-ready platform that positions Reach Robotics strongly for continued growth and future opportunities
As a company operating across advanced manufacturing and Defence-aligned programs, we required far more than a standard ERP deployment. We needed a platform capable of providing accurate, real-time visibility across finance, manufacturing, supply chain, and operational planning while supporting the governance and reporting expectations associated with Defence industry participation.
The Dynamic Aspect team worked closely with our stakeholders to understand the complexity of our business and delivered a solution that genuinely aligns with how we operate. The implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and its integrated solutions has significantly reduced manual processes, improved reporting accuracy, strengthened operational control, and established a single source of truth across the organisation.
What differentiated Dynamic Aspect was their flexibility, responsiveness, and willingness to operate as a true partner rather than simply a software provider. Their understanding of manufacturing, Defence, and business process integration ensured the project delivered meaningful outcomes with minimal disruption to the business.
The result is a scalable, future-ready platform that positions Reach Robotics strongly for continued growth and future opportunities
- Nathan King - Head of Operations
Reach Robotics Pty Ltd
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Partner Ecosystem
The project was delivered through collaboration between:
- Insight Works
- Dime Software
- Continia
- SucceedIT
The project was delivered through collaboration between:
- CRM integration
- AI-enabled reporting and operational insights
- Workflow automation
- Advanced document management
- Expense management
- Expanded manufacturing intelligence
- Enhanced Defence compliance and reporting
By modernising operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Reach Robotics has positioned itself for continued growth across advanced manufacturing, Defence, maritime, and autonomous technology sectors.