Mission-driven retailer powered by Dynamics 365 and Sunrise

A nonprofit retail organization based in Austin, TX, provides job skills training, in-demand professional certifications, and job placement opportunities to people facing obstacles to employment. Founded in 1958, the organization serves Austin and the surrounding area through its network of donation centers, retail stores, and career centers. Their programs help over 13,000 people annually, making them one of the largest nonprofit franchise operations in their industry.

 

SITUATION

The organization faced several operational challenges that hindered efficiency and scalability. Their legacy ERP system relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets, making data entry and tracking a slow, manual, and error-prone process. As a donation-based retailer, they also grappled with the unpredictable nature of inventory—employees had no control over the types of goods received, requiring a system that could seamlessly process new products while optimizing pricing. Another requirement was a very common feature in retail stores—allowing customers to round up their total to make a donation, a capability that demanded a custom-built solution to integrate smoothly into their existing operations.

 

SOLUTION

To modernize operations and address these challenges, Sunrise implemented Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain, and Commerce, consolidating the organization’s business processes onto a single platform. To streamline inventory management, a custom pricing and tagging engine was developed, allowing employees to efficiently assign price points to donated items, with the flexibility to make dynamic adjustments when needed. A suite of Power BI reports provided real-time insights into item quantities, sales trends, and workforce performance, empowering better decision-making. At the point of sale, custom donation logic enabled cashiers to seamlessly process charitable contributions, whether rounding up purchases, applying a fixed donation amount, or adding standalone gifts. Additional enhancements included integrations with legacy floor scales for weight-based pricing at outlet stores and robust grant tracking and project accounting, ensuring financial compliance and optimized budget management.

 

OUTCOME

With a modern Dynamics 365 platform, the organization has transformed its operations, eliminating inefficiencies and positioning itself for long-term growth. Automated processes replaced manual data entry, reducing errors and saving valuable time. The custom pricing and tagging engine ensures that donated goods are quickly and accurately processed, maximizing product value. Power BI insights empower leadership with real-time data for better decision-making. The seamless donation processing solution has enhanced customer engagement, making it easier to support the organization’s mission at checkout. With these improvements, the organization now has a scalable foundation to expand its retail footprint, open more stores, and extend its impact in the communities it serves. So pleased with the results, they have shared Sunrise’s solutions as a blueprint for other nonprofit franchises across the country, ensuring even greater industry-wide transformation.