Manufacturers are no strangers to innovation, but in today’s fast-moving market, innovation isn’t just about what you make; it’s about how you work. That’s where Microsoft Dynamics 365 and AI-powered Copilot features come in.
At ANS, we’ve seen how manufacturers are using these tools to streamline operations, boost sales performance, and unlock serious ROI.
Here’s how two global manufacturers — O’Neal Steel and Victrex — are transforming their business with Dynamics 365.
O’Neal Steel: £106m revenue growth and 5 days faster lead response.
O’Neal Steel, one of the largest family-owned metal service centres in the U.S., partnered with ANS to modernise its sales operations.
The results?
- £106 million revenue growth in the first year
- 5-day reduction in lead response times
- £100,000 saved annually in sales admin effort
By using D365 to manage their manufacturing sales process, O’Neal Steel empowered teams with AI-driven insights, automated workflows, and faster access to customer data — all of which helped them close deals faster and more efficiently.
The implementation also brought greater visibility across five divisions, enabling leadership to make faster, more informed decisions. Sales teams were able to prioritise high-value leads, reduce manual admin, and respond to customer enquiries with
greater speed and accuracy.
This shift not only improved internal efficiency but also enhanced the customer experience — a key differentiator in a competitive market.
“ANS provided one of the most comprehensive consulting and technical delivery services I’ve experienced to date.”
— David Goff, Sales and Marketing Manager, O’Neal Steel
Victrex: 47% higher win rate and £23m in new pipeline.
Victrex, a global leader in high-performance polymers, rolled out Microsoft Dynamics 365 for manufacturing processes across its international operations with a clear goal: improve lead conversion and sales performance.
The impact was immediate:
- 47% increase in win rate
- £23 million additional pipeline in the first 12 months
- 25,000 hours saved in sales admin effort
- 19.1% increase in sales pursuits
The global rollout of Dynamics 365 allowed Victrex to centralise its CRM strategy while still supporting regional teams with tailored insights and peer collaboration.
AI-powered Copilot features helped sales reps identify the most promising opportunities, automate follow-ups, and track pipeline health in real time. The result? A more proactive, data-driven sales culture that’s driving measurable growth across
markets.
Beyond sales, the deployment also streamlined IT support and admin, freeing up resources to focus on strategic initiatives. With ANS acting as an extension of their project team, the implementation was smooth, scalable, and aligned with long-term business goals.
“This has been the best CRM deployment I have ever been involved in.”
— James Fleming, Group IT Director, Victrex
How AI and Copilot are changing the game for manufacturers.
These results aren’t outliers — they’re part of a growing trend. Manufacturers are turning to Dynamics 365 and AI to:
- Automate manual tasks like data entry, follow-ups, and reporting
- Predict customer needs and recommend next-best actions
- Gain real-time visibility into sales performance and customer behaviour
- Enhance collaboration across departments and geographies
AI-powered Copilot features are helping manufacturers move from reactive to predictive operations. Whether it’s surfacing insights from customer interactions, generating tailored email responses, or forecasting demand, Copilot is enabling teams to work smarter and faster.
Also, because it’s built into the Microsoft ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with tools like Teams, Outlook, and Power BI — making adoption intuitive and impactful.
Ready to see what’s possible?
At ANS, we help manufacturers unlock the full potential of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for manufacturing processes— from strategy and deployment to ongoing optimisation.
If you’re ready to transform your operations, we’re here to help.