Hoffman Nursery has been supplying ornamental and native grass liners for over 38 years, operating on 135 acres in North Carolina. As the business expanded, balancing supply and demand, meeting seasonal pressures, and preparing for future growth became increasingly difficult. CEO David Hoffman and the team saw the need for a professional software system.

"We needed a system that could keep us efficient, help us grow, and record everything we’ve learned over decades, because it was the best fit for our labor-intensive operations.."

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Hoffman Nursery on Overselling or Underselling

Balancing Supply and Demand: "One of our biggest challenges was making sure we had just the right amount of material on hand to match demand," says Hoffman. Overselling or underselling could create bottlenecks or waste, especially during busy seasons.

Seasonal Pressures: "Peak seasons are intense, and last-minute delivery changes can throw everything off. We were constantly playing catch-up," he adds.

Financial Complexity: With tight profit margins, the nursery needed a clearer picture of costs, including labor, materials, and operational overhead.

Knowledge Retention: With the founder’s retirement, institutional knowledge needed to be preserved in a structured system. "We didn’t want to rely on people remembering how we did things. It needed to be documented and accessible for the future."

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How Agriware ERP Helped

Agriware ERP, built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, provided Hoffman Nursery with tools to streamline inventory management, track costs, and scale for the future.

David Hoffman, CEO: We have a lot of data, but trying to go through it ourselves, on top of all the other work we have, feels like trying to move a mountain. Agriware Business Central helps us make decisions based on data.

‍Inventory Management

By combining production planning with demand reviews, Hoffman Nursery now aligns its stock with customer needs. "As we pair production planning with reviewing demand, hopefully that will increase our ability to be flexible up and down so as to always have the right amount of material on hand to match demand," Hoffman explains.

Key features, like job-ready and expiration dates, allow the team to align availability with customer orders, even during peak seasons.
"The system makes it so easy to cross-reference what’s available and what’s needed, especially when customers want to shift delivery dates.

Agriware’s tools also help the team respond to supply chain disruptions by providing better insights into restocking needs.
"Once we’re using material inventory fully, we’ll have a better grasp on order lead times and restock requirements."

Hoffman is optimistic about future implementation, including grouping similar items to find easy substitutes when stock runs out.

Financial Clarity for Smarter Decisions

Agriware’s advanced costing tools give Hoffman Nursery visibility into production expenses, from labor and materials to overhead like heating and electricity.
"Now we can calculate costs for different scenarios, like producing more in winter versus summer, and plan accordingly," Hoffman says.

These insights help the nursery make smarter decisions about when and how to grow.
"If you have one price for all production rounds, you need to know where the profit lies for each season. Agriware makes that clear."

Scaling for Growth

Agriware’s scalable design makes it easier for Hoffman Nursery to grow and adapt.

The system also serves as a digital record, preserving critical knowledge.
"As our business evolves, it will serve as a record for how and when we produce our plants. People won’t have to ‘remember’ how we did things because there’s a record."

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Talking About Transition: The system also serves as a digital record, preserving critical knowledge.

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The Results

With Agriware ERP, Hoffman Nursery achieved:‍

Optimized Inventory: "Real-time insights ensure we always have what we need, when we need it, without much waste or stockouts."

Better Order Fulfillment: "We’ve minimized delays and errors, especially during peak seasons. Customers appreciate there liability."

Improved Cost Insights: "We now have a detailed view of costs, helping us plan smarter and stay profitable year-round."

Growth-Ready Operations: "We’re ready to take on larger orders and new opportunities. Agriware has given us confidence to scale."

" This industry is about relationships. Working with the team behind the software has been a clear benefit. They know it inside and out, and they’ve shown us best-practices of other plant nurseries to use it. Their support saves us time, which ultimately saves them time too.," David Hoffman says.

Watch the full webinar (45 min)

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‍Hoffman Nursery’s story shows how Agriware ERP empowers teams and horticulture operations, enhances financial clarity, and prepares businesses for future success. Ready to transform your operations? Contact Agriware today.