Modernizing for Growth: Inside House of Raeford Farms’ Digital Transformation with TrueCommerce EDI and Microsoft Dynamics 365 

The Objective 

Faced with an aging, hard-to-maintain ERP system and growing concerns around security and scalability, House of Raeford Farms set out to modernize its technology stack—prioritizing a cloud-based ERP with native EDI integration. Along the way, the team also made the strategic decision to pivot from their VAN EDI provider and find a new partner that could better meet their technical needs, timeline, and long-term goals. 

The Solution 

House of Raeford Farms partnered with TrueCommerce to implement a secure, cloud-based EDI solution seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management (FSCM). By leveraging TrueCommerce’s native FSCM EDI module, they replaced batch-based delays with a streamlined, embedded approach—eliminating manual entry, improving data accuracy, and strengthening enterprise-grade security across their supply chain operations. 

The Results 

• Successfully transitioned from batch-based EDI processing to a modern, native FSCM EDI module — eliminating manual entry, increasing data accuracy, and keeping users within their ERP environment. 
• Achieved more rapid implementation and onboarding with TrueCommerce after a failed start with another EDI provider 
• Enhanced overall data security with a modern, cloud-based ERP and EDI platform – offering advanced protection, continuous monitoring, and reduced vulnerability to system disruptions 
• Enhanced cash flow with customers using EDI consistently paying within terms 
• Streamlined operations through automated order processing

About House of Raeford Farms 

House of Raeford Farms is a family-owned and operated company that supplies fresh and processed poultry products to retail, food service, and export markets. House of Raeford’s family of products includes several brands of frozen and ready-to-cook products, premium deli meats, and fully cooked chicken products, including House of Raeford, Speedy Bird, and Filet of Chicken. Headquartered in Rose Hill, North Carolina, the company operates poultry grow-out operations and processing facilities in in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.

The Challenge: Outdated Processes, Mounting Penalties, and a Need for Speed and Accuracy 

Before TrueCommerce, House of Raeford Farms was using an aging ERP system with no integrated EDI capabilities, forcing the team to rely on manual, traditional methods—phone calls, faxes, and emails—to manage orders from major retail customers. They were sending batch files with limited automation and no real tracking, which led to frequent issues: duplicate orders, poor communication about upcoming shipments, and costly daily chargebacks due to non-compliant invoices. 

When a security incident highlighted the risk of staying with their outdated system, House of Raeford Farms chose to upgrade their ERP to a more modern, cloud-based platform. With that decision came the opportunity to reevaluate the rest of their technology stack—starting with EDI. 

“Our high-volume customers were transitioning to EDI and encouraged us to make the move as well,” recalls Norman Adkins, Information Systems Analyst. “We knew that adopting EDI was essential to continuing and strengthening those partnerships.” 

However, their initial attempt to implement EDI with another provider proved frustrating. The project stalled during setup, and the provider’s slow response time couldn’t keep pace with House of Raeford’s urgent timelines. “We needed to start processing orders quickly—and we weren’t seeing the progress we expected,” said Adkins. That’s when the team decided to cut their losses and find a new partner. 

They turned to TrueCommerce—a provider that could quickly onboard their first 10 trading partners, meet critical deadlines, and support their long-term growth goals. From there, the transformation began. 

The Seamless Path to Modernization 

Once House of Raeford Farms partnered with TrueCommerce, the implementation process kicked off with precision and momentum. The team held consistent weekly meetings with TrueCommerce to ensure every phase of the rollout stayed on track. From day one, they could measure real progress. 

What stood out most to the team was the visibility and control they gained with TrueCommerce. “If something went wrong, we didn’t have to guess,” said Adkins. “The system immediately flagged the error, explained it clearly, and helped us fix it without wasting time. That was a big shift from what we were used to.” 

Unlike past experiences with other systems that were hard to navigate and maintain, TrueCommerce proved to be intuitive and highly responsive. “It’s just a lot smoother than anything else we’ve worked with,” Adkins added. “If something went sideways, I could easily reach out to the team and get it resolved quickly. I didn’t feel like I was left to figure things out on my own.” 

The implementation team’s communication and technical expertise also made a lasting impression. “They were incredibly knowledgeable and proactive,” Adkins recalled. “If there was an issue, they didn’t just tell us what to fix—they worked alongside us to get it done. The whole experience was just very collaborative and smooth.” 

A key factor in House of Raeford Farm’s satisfaction was TrueCommerce’s ability to accommodate the poultry industry’s unique complexities—like managing variable case weights and nuanced pricing structures. 

“We work in an industry where no two shipments are exactly the same,” Adkins explained. “Most EDI systems struggle with that level of variability. But TrueCommerce didn’t try to force us into a box—they built a solution around how we actually operate. That flexibility made all the difference.” 

Driving Real Business Results with Automation 

The implementation of TrueCommerce’s EDI solution marked a pivotal shift for House of Raeford Farms, transforming how the company transacts with its retail partners and manages internal operations. What started as a critical step in their digital transformation quickly proved to be a catalyst for operational improvement across departments. From automating data exchange and eliminating costly manual processes to enhancing customer communication and payment cycles, TrueCommerce has helped House of Raeford Farms achieve tangible, measurable gains. 

One of the most immediate impacts was the elimination of chargebacks that had previously cost the company hundreds of dollars per day. Prior to working with TrueCommerce, House of Raeford Farms regularly incurred penalties due to non-compliant or late invoices. “Before TrueCommerce, we were losing hundreds of dollars a day in chargebacks just because our invoices weren’t EDI-compliant,” said Adkins. “Once we went live, those penalties disappeared almost overnight. It paid for itself.” With invoices now being delivered accurately and on time, the company no longer faces disputes, delays, or the need for follow-up calls with their retail partners. 

The financial impact extended further, as customers began to pay within agreed-upon terms thanks to faster, automated invoice delivery. This meant improved cash flow for House of Raeford Farms and less time spent chasing down payments. “Now that our invoices go out automatically and error-free, our customers are paying on time, every time,” explained Adkins. “We’ve been able to cut out the back-and-forth completely. It’s saved us an incredible amount of time.”

Internally, the shift to automation significantly lightened the workload for the accounts receivable team. With fewer errors to correct and less manual entry required, the team was able to redirect focus to higher-value tasks, improving overall productivity across divisions. 

Operational efficiency also extended to the shipping department, where the company is preparing to automate Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs) to further enhance visibility and speed. “ASNs are going to take us to the next level,” Adkins shared. “Our team will be able to pack and ship faster with fewer errors. Customers will know exactly when their deliveries are arriving—no more guessing, no more follow-ups. It’s a game changer.” With more accurate shipment data being shared automatically, House of Raeford Farms anticipates a smoother shipping experience for both their team and their customers. 

To take full advantage of their EDI investment, House of Raeford Farms implemented TrueCommerce Scheduler™, a tool that automates transaction timing and error monitoring with minimal human touch. Scheduler integrates directly with their Microsoft Dynamics 365 system to manage the entire EDI process in the background. “Scheduler is like having an extra team member who never sleeps,” said Adkins. “It automatically pulls transactions in, sends invoices out, and flags any issues instantly. I don’t even have to think about it anymore—it just works.” The added visibility into EDI processes helps The House of Raeford Farms team catch and correct potential issues—like missing product data or price mismatches—before they reach the customer, preventing delays and enhancing trust. 

For House of Raeford Farms, TrueCommerce has been more than just a technology provider—it’s become a critical business partner. The solution has improved customer relationships, boosted speed and accuracy across departments, and helped the company scale with confidence. “We didn’t just get an EDI solution—we got a strategic partner,” Adkins concluded. “TrueCommerce has made our business faster, smarter, and more resilient.” 

Why There’s No Going Back to Pen and Paper 

Though House of Raeford Farms didn’t consider itself a technology-driven organization when it first adopted EDI, that mindset has changed dramatically. After implementing TrueCommerce and experiencing the value of a fully automated EDI system – native to Dynamics and seamlessly embedded within their workflow, the benefits became undeniable. . As Adkins put it, “We’re not a tech-heavy company—but after seeing what EDI automation has done for our business, there’s no way we’re going back to the old ways.”  

With operations stretching from Louisiana to Georgia and up into North Carolina—and multiple plants handling different processes—managing orders manually is simply no longer feasible. The company processes such high volumes of transactions that trying to rely on manual entry would be overwhelming, error-prone, and inefficient. “The man hours can only take you so far,” Adkins explains. “If an order comes in twice, we catch it immediately now. Before, we’d accidentally duplicate it with a new PO and send the same shipment twice. That just doesn’t happen anymore.”  

Thanks to TrueCommerce’s EDI solution, House of Raeford Farms now enjoys real-time error detection, improved order accuracy, and faster, cleaner processes across its entire operation. Automation has dramatically reduced the risk of costly mistakes, while also freeing up staff to focus on higher-value work. “With the scale we’re operating at today, going back to pen and paper would be almost crazy,” says Adkins. “TrueCommerce has helped us control growing pains and eliminate a lot of the issues we used to face. There’s just no desire to go back.”  

The success of their EDI transformation has been so impactful that House of Raeford Farms is now expanding its use of EDI across its entire customer base. “Our corporate plan is to convert every customer to EDI,” Adkins shares. “It’s the direction we’re going—100%.”  

Looking ahead, House of Raeford Farms plans to continue building on this momentum, leveraging TrueCommerce’s capabilities alongside Microsoft Dynamics 365 to drive greater efficiency, visibility, and long-term growth. “TrueCommerce hasn’t just provided us with software,” Adkins concludes. “They’ve helped us modernize while still working the way we want to work—and that’s been huge for our bottom line.”