For many businesses, exporting to Switzerland and other European markets is the logical next step. The challenge is often not the shipment itself, but the processes behind it. This article explains why we at OTE decided to focus on this area and how an integrated solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central emerged from real customer requirements.
A Challenge We Encounter Time and Again
Some topics come up repeatedly in ERP projects. Export processes are definitely one of them.
As companies grow on a stable Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central platform, they eventually reach a point where new markets become relevant. Switzerland is often the first step. It is geographically close, economically attractive, and for many businesses the first expansion beyond their domestic market.
Over the years, we have seen very similar situations again and again.
When a Well-Functioning System Reaches Its Limits
At first glance, everything appears to be running smoothly. The ERP system is stable, domestic processes work, and the organization is familiar with the setup. Then exports enter the picture. Suddenly, new requirements arise: customs documents must be created, export declarations submitted correctly, tax regulations taken into account, and shipping paperwork completed. By the time the first returns arrive from abroad, it becomes clear that the existing process cannot simply be extended.
In practice, this often leads to a second world being built alongside the ERP system. Data is transferred between systems, documents are created or edited manually, and many processes depend on individual employees knowing exactly how everything fits together. In project after project, we have seen how much effort is created at this point—not because the systems are poor, but because they simply do not work together effectively where it matters most.
What Companies Really Want
When we discuss these situations with customers, their expectations are remarkably consistent.
Nobody wants additional tools, complex side processes, or dependencies on individual people. What businesses really want is for shipping to run directly from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, for customs processing to be automated and reliable, and for returns to be managed within the system in a clear and traceable way.
In other words, exactly what you would expect from a modern ERP platform. Yet in many cases, achieving this still required considerable effort.
Our Approach at OTE
Based on these experiences, we eventually asked ourselves a simple question at OTE: Why is this so complicated—and more importantly, how can we make this step easier for our customers?
For us, it became clear that the answer was not another standalone system or additional process layers. The solution had to start where the work already happens: directly inside Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Together with Exporto
To bring this approach to life, we deliberately chose to work with Exporto. Exporto brings exactly the expertise that is critical in international trade. Cross-border shipping, customs processes, regulatory requirements, and cross-border returns are part of their day-to-day business.
Our task was to integrate this logic into Business Central in a way that feels like a natural part of the existing process—not an additional step. The result is the Exporto Connector for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The Difference Becomes Visible in Daily Operations
The real impact is not something you see in a presentation—it becomes clear in everyday work.
Users stay within their familiar system environment. Shipping is initiated directly from the sales order, the required data is transferred automatically, and customs documents are created and submitted in the background. At the same time, data is validated before errors can occur. Even returns, which often create additional complexity in international business, can be managed in a structured and traceable way.
What used to require multiple individual steps becomes one connected process. And that is exactly where many businesses gain the most value: a workflow that simply works.
A Practical Example from Our Work with Gepp’s
One project that clearly demonstrated the impact of this approach was our collaboration with Gepp’s Food GmbH.
The starting point was typical. The goal was clear: enable fast and reliable exports from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to Switzerland while extending the existing processes accordingly. With our Exporto Connector, we were able to establish the technical foundation within just a few hours. The system was essentially ready for export operations.
This highlights an important point that is often underestimated in ERP projects. In cases like this, technology is rarely the bottleneck. The real effort lies in master data, product information, customs tariff numbers, and clearly defined processes. Once this information is maintained correctly in the ERP system, it can be transferred automatically into export workflows through the application. That is where the real value emerges. Data no longer needs to be maintained multiple times—it flows directly from the system into downstream processes.
From that point on, what was once a complex challenge becomes a clearly structured process that works reliably in day-to-day operations.
A Solution That Grows with Your Business
International trade never stands still. New markets emerge, regulations change, and business requirements continue to evolve. That is why, from the very beginning, we knew we did not want to build a rigid solution. We wanted a solution that could evolve alongside our customers—and that is exactly what happens in practice.
With every new customer, every new use case, and every new requirement, we continue to develop the Exporto Connector. Each business brings its own processes, challenges, and questions, which we incorporate into the solution. As a result, the application grows not only technically, but also through real-world operational experience.
For our customers, this means they do not have to start from scratch. Instead, they benefit from experience and proven solutions developed across multiple projects. Over time, this creates a solution that not only works—but keeps getting better.
Final thoughts
Export processes do not become easier by avoiding them. They become easier when they are properly integrated. That was our goal at OTE: to create a solution that works for our customers in everyday operations—without detours and without unnecessary complexity.
Read the full success story here.
OTE. We make it happen.
