Case Study: NQ Cranes achieves cloud flexibility and data-driven insights with Microsoft Power BI

NQ Cranes hoists itself into the cloud, scoring flexibility and risk wins

NQ Cranes, a Mackay, Australia–based crane supplier with about 100 staff servicing 15,000 pieces of equipment, faced risks from a heavily customized, on‑prem Dynamics NAV and a single systems manager handling everything. Manual field‑service paperwork caused billing delays and double data entry. To modernize, NQ Cranes worked with partner Apache to migrate to Microsoft cloud solutions—Azure, Office 365, Dynamics 365 Business Central and Field Service, SharePoint, Teams—and adopted Microsoft Power BI for reporting and analytics.

Working with Apache and Microsoft technologies, NQ Cranes implemented integrated cloud ERP and field‑service workflows, automated live work‑order creation, centralized documents in SharePoint, and rolled out Microsoft Power BI dashboards for management. The move reduced manual entry, sped invoicing, improved security and remote access (letting the systems manager take leave without disruption), and freed staff for higher‑value work. Microsoft Power BI in particular democratized reporting; the transformation delivered measurable returns in under 18 months and attracted government grant support, with further Connected Field Service and Teams Calls rollouts planned.

NQ Cranes

Stephen Goodson

Systems Manager