Punch

Building a global cybersecurity strategy

The Client

Punch is an independent pub company with a portfolio of 1,300 pubs across the UK. With a bold strategic vision, Punch is investing £80 million over three years to revitalise community pubs and position itself as the UK’s most inspiring start-up investment business.

In 2019, Punch was proud to be a finalist in the ‘Best Pub Company of the Year’ award. The company’s ambition is matched by its commitment to people, customers and sales, backed by initiatives like The Academy - a training facility offering everything from digital marketing to cellar management.

Doing a system change on this sort of scale is always going to have twists and turns, but overall, I couldn’t be happier. Our relationship doesn’t feel like a supplier-customer relationship—it’s very much more a partnership.

Chris Mountjoy

Head of IT at Punch

The Challenge

Punch’s finance system had been in place for 17 years. With a new strategic plan underway and major investments already rolling out, the legacy system was no longer fit for purpose. The business needed a modern, flexible ERP solution that could support its evolving needs, integrate with existing Microsoft tools, and streamline operations across finance, ordering and property management. The goal was to future-proof the business while keeping customisation to a minimum.

The Solution

Punch chose Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018, supported by nHanced 365 modules developed by us. These modules were already tailored to the pub industry, reducing the need for extensive customisation. The decision was driven by cost-effectiveness, speed of implementation, and compatibility with Punch’s existing Microsoft ecosystem.

Chris Mountjoy, Head of IT at Punch, explains: “NAV’s compatibility with our existing Microsoft products, its functionality and the cost to implement made it the right choice.”

Punch selected us as their implementation partner based on previous successful collaboration and our deep experience in the pub sector. Acting ERP Programme Manager, David Moulten-Bark, says: “We’d been thinking of moving to a newer, fresher finance system for some time. It was almost two-and-a-half years in the making to get to the point of going live.”

Our ‘Day in the Life’ scoping sessions helped Punch map out its business processes in detail. Chris adds: “They really got under the skin of our processes. This played a vital role in the implementation.”

Training and data cleansing were key components of the preparation. Finance teams received focused sessions and clear procedure notes to ensure a smooth transition.

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Dynamics NAV

Pub Industry

Finance System Upgrade

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The Results

The migration to Dynamics NAV was completed over a single weekend to align with Punch’s financial calendar. Four go-live scenarios were rehearsed to ensure readiness. By Monday morning, the system was live, with minimal disruption.

David reflects: “The implementation was very successful with a minimal amount of noise. Business users were prepared and adapted well. The training and preparation really helped.”

Becki Hewson, Head of Financial Business Support, says: “We now use Dynamics NAV for absolutely everything. It’s fundamental to our day-to-day operation.”

NAV has simplified Punch’s beer ordering and invoicing processes, integrating seamlessly with its e-commerce platform. The biggest gains have come from workflow improvements using nHanced Forms and nOra modules. Becki notes: “The teams have picked it up and ran with it, as it’s so user-friendly and familiar.”

Add-ons like Continia and Jet Enterprise have been smoothly integrated, and the nHanced Panels and Tiles module has become the go-to homepage for users. David says: “It’s exceptional.”

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The Node4 Difference

Punch’s approach was to keep the system close to default, avoiding heavy bespoke work. This has made the business more agile and self-sufficient. David explains: “We’ll be able to resolve issues ourselves without having to lean on companies like Node4 (formerly TNP). That’s a massive step change.”

Business champions now support strategic projects, combining subject-matter expertise with NAV know-how. Chris says: “We’ve got great owners who are committed to investing in the business—in pubs themselves and also in people and technology.”

Becki sums up the experience: “Node4 (formerly TNP) were fundamental to our implementation programme. I would one hundred percent recommend them. They’ve been brilliant.”

David adds: “Their business knowledge within the pub industry is second to none. Their expertise in Dynamics NAV is exceptional.”

Chris concludes: “Doing a system change on this sort of scale is always going to have twists and turns, but overall, I couldn’t be happier. Our relationship with Node4 (formerly TNP) doesn’t feel like a supplier-customer relationship—it’s very much more a partnership.”