Firstkind Medical

Rapid growth and compliance and Dynamics NAV

The Client

Firstkind is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sky Medical Technology, a UK-based company operating in High Wycombe and Daresbury.

Specialising in medical and sports sectors, Firstkind manufactures devices using OnPulse™, Sky Medical’s proprietary neuromuscular electro-stimulation technology. Their flagship product, firefly™, is a British innovation developed through a three-year research programme with St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and Queen Mary, University of London. It’s backed by published clinical studies and designed to enhance lower limb blood circulation.

We are poised for major growth, the systems are all set, and in Node4 we have experience and depth of knowledge of the way our business runs to support us. They have a stable, low staff turnover, which means I can speak to the same people each time I call, and they understand our business architecture. This is a key consideration for us, as we need strong partners to achieve our planned growth.

Mark Whalley

Firstkind Medical

The Challenge

In early 2013, Mark Whalley joined Firstkind to support the launch of the firefly™ device into the sports recovery market. Mark needed a system that could handle order-to-cash logistics and scale quickly as the business expanded into new sectors and territories. Operating in a highly regulated medical environment, Firstkind also required full visibility of stock throughout the supply and fulfilment lifecycle, from manufacturing to the hospital or consumer.

The Solution

We implemented Microsoft Dynamics NAV as Firstkind’s ERP solution, enabling the business to run its entire operation from one integrated system. The setup allows Sky Medical Technology to add new trading companies with ease, supporting rapid growth.

Finance processes are fully managed in Dynamics NAV, including consolidated accounts for both Firstkind and its parent company. Purchasing is streamlined with every transaction, from manufacturer orders to incidental expenses, covered by a purchase order. This pre-approval process gives the accounts team a clear view of commitments and simplifies reconciliation.

Stock management is critical in the medical sector. Dynamics NAV provides full traceability, with lot control and expiry tracking built in. Mark and his team can instantly see inventory across manufacturing partners, fulfilment centres and even field-based sales staff.

Sales processes vary across markets. In sports recovery, most orders come via fireflyrecovery.com, built on Magento. NAV Connect links Magento to Dynamics NAV, translating customer and transaction data in real time. The system intelligently unbundles pre-configured product bundles, saving time and eliminating re-keying errors.

Orders placed through customer service or sales reps are entered directly into the system. Sales staff can fulfil orders on the spot if they have stock, with invoices issued immediately. Export and distribution partners place bulk orders, which are fulfilled by manufacturing partners and invoiced through Firstkind.

CRM and Dynamics NAV are aligned in real time. As Mark explains: “For anything soft and relationship based CRM is the master record, for anything hard and financial it’s Dynamics NAV.” This integration allows sales teams to view up-to-date customer records, generate quotes, trigger credit checks and set up sales orders—all in real time.

Business intelligence is powered by Jet Reports, an Excel-based tool for Dynamics NAV. It delivers everything from sales analysis to weekly stock reports, with real-time data updates at the click of a button.

Start your journey with us today

Medical Logistics

ERP Integration

Sports Technology

Tell us your story arrow_right_alt

The Results

Firstkind has achieved significant operational efficiencies. Dynamics NAV ensures compliance with traceability and expiry tracking, streamlining audits thanks to its off-the-shelf reliability. The system also provides a scalable platform for growth, allowing Firstkind to expand into new markets and regions without the usual growing pains.

As Mark puts it: “We are poised for major growth, the systems are all set, and in Node4 (formerly TNP) we have experience and depth of knowledge of the way our business runs to support us. They have a stable, low staff turnover, which means I can speak to the same people each time I call, and they understand our business architecture. This is a key consideration for us, as we need strong partners to achieve our planned growth.”

Restore Your IT Performance

Get in touch Read more stories

The Node4 Difference

By making sure our systems work for your business, we helped Firstkind, deliver a solution that supports compliance, enables growth and simplifies operations. Our team’s stability and deep understanding of Firstkind’s business architecture means we’re always ready to support their next move.

As Mark said, “In Node4 (formerly TNP) we have experience and depth of knowledge.”

Looking ahead, Firstkind plans to automate document production using Spindle, a Dynamics NAV add-on. This will streamline workflows and improve customer communications with automated order confirmations and tracking updates.