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About the Booksellers Association

The Booksellers Association (BA) is the leading trade association for the book industry in the UK and Ireland, representing over 90% of booksellers. Its mission is to help members sell more books through a range of initiatives and services. The BA operates three main companies:

• National Book Tokens – A unique gift card redeemable at any member bookshop, driving footfall and sales. ‍
• Batch – Provides online IT services to streamline operations for booksellers. ‍
• Booksellers Association Services – Supporting members with resources, advocacy, and industry development.

The Challenge

The BA had been running its operations on legacy systems, including DOS-based Sage and later Microsoft NAV on-premise. As the business evolved—moving from paper tokens to electronic gift cards and expanding its digital services—the need for a modern, cloud-based solution became critical. The goal was to migrate to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and integrate with their Dynamics CRM system, ensuring scalability, security, and efficiency.

The Solution

Creative Computing Solutions (CCS) partnered with the BA to deliver a seamless migration from on-premise NAV to Business Central in the cloud. This was a complex project due to the bespoke nature of BA’s systems, requiring significant custom development and data migration.

CCS provided:

• Expert planning and consultancy to map out the migration process. ‍
• Custom development to replicate and enhance bespoke functionality. ‍
• Integration with Dynamics CRM for unified data management. ‍
• Ongoing support and training to ensure smooth adoption.

The Results

• Successful migration to Business Central Cloud, enabling remote access and improved performance.
• Full integration with Dynamics CRM, streamlining customer and member management.
• Enhanced operational efficiency and future-proof IT infrastructure.
• Continued support for BA’s evolving needs, including electronic gift card systems.

Why Creative?

• Deep understanding of BA’s business model and complexity.
• Proven track record of delivering tailored solutions.
• Long-standing partnership built on trust and reliability.

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