Sci‑Net, a part of ANS helps MarineGuard Modernise Its Operations and Prepare for Multi‑Company Expansion
Background
MarineGuard is a global leader in superyacht security, delivering advanced surveillance, access control, intruder detection, and specialist technologies to shipyards and yacht owners worldwide. With complex, multi‑year projects and more than 600,000 stock items to manage, the business required a modern system that could support long‑term growth and enable its teams to operate with greater accuracy and control.
Challenge
Emma says: “We used to go over budget all the time, it was painful. That just doesn’t happen now. The systems we have in place have made us grow up as a business over the past five years and has created a far more professional way of running the business. Specifically, the jobs module we use has transformed how we do things.”
MarineGuard needed an ERP solution that could:
- Provide accurate, real‑time financial reporting
- Manage multi‑year, multimillion‑pound projects more effectively
- Deliver full stock visibility across more than 600,000 items
- Improve purchasing efficiency
- Strengthen budgeting, forecasting, and cash‑flow control
- Support future expansion, including new business units and acquisitions
Before our involvement, MarineGuard struggled with budgets frequently overrunning, manual processes slowing project delivery, and limited insight into stock and financials.
Solution
Sci-Net, a part of ANS’ Tim Barker, who works closely with the maritime security provider said: “Our approach to getting the best for our customer is to challenge them on what they want to achieve in the short, medium and long term. Our objective was to understand this for MarineGuard, so we can make sure that we’re mapping the abilities of Sci-Net, a part of ANS and Microsoft to meet their expectations and plans going forward. We add value by proposing ideas that can allow them to expand their business capabilities and behind that, their profitability. Ultimately, delivering profit and success for MarineGuard is what it’s all about.
Taking all of this into consideration, we implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, tailored specifically to MarineGuard’s operational needs. Key enhancements included:
- A fully integrated jobs and project management module to support projects lasting up to three years
- Real‑time budgeting, forecasting, and cash‑flow visibility
- Comprehensive inventory management to track over 600,000 stock items
- Streamlined purchasing processes that enabled bulk buying
- A scalable ERP foundation that MarineGuard can replicate across new business units
Sci‑Net, a part of ANS continued to work in close partnership with MarineGuard, ensuring the solution evolved in line with the company’s long‑term goals.
Result
The transformation delivered significant operational and financial benefits:
- £45,000 saved in purchase discounts within one year thanks to bulk‑buy efficiencies
- No more budget overruns, with accurate forecasting and tighter project control
- Full visibility of stock and improved supply‑chain efficiency
- A more professional, structured way of working across the business
- A fully scalable system ready to support upcoming company expansions and acquisitions
- Deep, ongoing partnership with Sci‑Net, with the team knowing MarineGuard’s system “inside out”
MarineGuard’s CFO described the impact of the ERP implementation and partnership as “transformational.”
Conclusion
Through Dynamics 365 Business Central and Sci‑Net, a part of ANS’s specialist expertise, MarineGuard has evolved from manual, reactive processes to a streamlined, scalable, and data‑driven operation. The business is now equipped with the systems, insight, and operational discipline needed to fuel its next phase of growth—including new business units, acquisitions, and continued global expansion.
The partnership between MarineGuard and Sci‑Net, a part of ANS continues to drive long‑term success, demonstrating the value of a tailored ERP solution and a trusted, proactive technology partner.
The business is scalable now. We wouldn’t have been able to make these strides beforehand. We can copy the success of our model into the other companies, and replicate the model of a MarineGuard superyacht project into other projects within the company. The Sci-Net team know my system, which is invaluable. It’s more of a partnership rather than a client and provider relationship. Sci-Net knows what we need and can help us.
Emma Hills
Chief Financial Officer