UK distributors that buy and sell across borders often find their ERP was built for a simpler business. HB SmartTrade extends Dynamics 365 Business Central to handle international trade properly, from landed costs and multiple currencies to import, export and customs paperwork.
The Problem with Standard ERP for International Distributors
Standard ERP, including Business Central out of the box, is designed mainly around domestic trade. It handles local sales, purchasing, stock and finance well when suppliers are nearby and customers pay in sterling.
International trade adds complexity that a standard setup does not cover well: multiple currencies, trade documents, customs, landed costs and overseas suppliers. Businesses often fill the gaps with manual processes, spreadsheets and bolt-on tools, which create problems of their own. A purpose-built extension is the cleaner fix.
What Is HB SmartTrade?
HB SmartTrade is an extension for Dynamics 365 Business Central, developed by HB Software, for businesses that trade and distribute internationally. It extends Business Central's core functionality to handle cross-border trade without bespoke development or separate third-party systems.
It was designed for international trade from the start, rather than adapted from generic features. It is sold and implemented through authorised partners, including Advantage, which brings UK logistics and distribution experience to each project.
What Does HB SmartTrade Cover?
The extension covers five main areas.
Multi-currency transactions
Invoicing, purchasing, payments and reporting across currencies, all within Business Central. That includes automatic exchange rate handling, tracking of realised and unrealised foreign exchange gains and losses, and consolidated reporting in your base currency. If you buy in dollars or euros and sell in sterling, it takes a large amount of manual reconciliation off the finance team.
Import and export documentation
Cross-border shipments generate a lot of paperwork. HB SmartTrade produces and records commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates of origin inside Business Central, and prepares the data for customs declarations, ready for your customs broker or the Customs Declaration Service. Accurate documents matter most for businesses shipping high volumes, because errors cause delays and costs at the border.
Landed cost calculation
The purchase price is rarely the true cost of imported stock. Freight, insurance, duty, port charges and similar costs all affect the margin on each line. HB SmartTrade calculates these costs and allocates them to stock within Business Central.
Without accurate landed costs, product costs are understated, and margin reports and pricing decisions are often wrong as a result.
International supplier management
Overseas suppliers need visibility of lead times, payment terms, currency exposure and performance. HB SmartTrade adds multi-currency purchase orders, international payment scheduling and supplier performance tracking.
Customs compliance
Post-Brexit customs requirements have created significant extra work for UK distributors trading with Europe. HB SmartTrade keeps documents and declaration data in line with current rules as part of the Business Central workflow, with no separate compliance system or manual check on every shipment.
Who Is HB SmartTrade For?
HB SmartTrade suits UK distributors and wholesalers that meet most or all of these criteria:
- Sources products internationally from several regions
- Deals in more than one currency when buying, selling or both
- Handles import or export documentation regularly
- Relies on accurate landed costs for margin and pricing
- Runs Business Central or is evaluating it
- Wants international trade features without custom development
Businesses that only trade domestically can usually manage with standard Business Central.
How Does HB SmartTrade Compare to Bespoke Development?
The alternative is custom development in Business Central. It is possible, but costly and risky. Custom code has to be retested, and often reworked, after each Business Central update, which adds ongoing cost and can delay upgrades.
HB SmartTrade is maintained by its developer in line with Business Central's release cycle, so customers get the improvements without carrying the maintenance cost.
| Factor | HB SmartTrade | Bespoke development |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation time | Faster: pre-built functionality, configured to your operation | Longer: designed from scratch |
| Ongoing maintenance cost | Covered by the subscription or licence | Carried by your business |
| Business Central update compatibility | Managed by the developer | Needs retesting and rework |
| Functionality depth | Built and refined for international distribution | Only as deep as the original brief |
| Risk | Lower | Higher |
How Advantage Implements HB SmartTrade
Advantage is an authorised HB SmartTrade partner with UK logistics and distribution experience. Every implementation starts by mapping your trade flows before anything is configured, because a food importer and an industrial parts distributor need very different things.
HB SmartTrade can be deployed as part of a wider Dynamics 365 Business Central project or added to an existing environment. Discovery covers your document workflows, currency exposure, supplier structure and customs processes, so the configuration reflects your operation rather than a generic template.
The Advantage Transformation Sprint™ is a good starting point if you are evaluating your options.
Find Out If HB SmartTrade Is Right for Your Business
If you trade internationally and want to see how HB SmartTrade would fit your Business Central environment, talk to our team. See also our wider logistics and distribution solutions.
Contact Advantage today or call 020 3004 4600.
Related Resources
- AI and Technology Solutions for Logistics and Distribution
- Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Supply Chain, Stock and Procurement Control
- Advantage Transformation Sprint™
Frequently Asked Questions
Can HB SmartTrade be added to an existing Business Central environment?
Yes. The scope depends on your current configuration, the quality of your data and any process changes needed.
Does HB SmartTrade handle both import and export?
Yes. It covers both directions, including documents, customs data and multi-currency handling, so businesses that buy and sell internationally can use it across the whole operation.
Is HB SmartTrade relevant post-Brexit?
Particularly so. Trade between the UK and the EU now involves customs requirements that did not apply before, and HB SmartTrade's customs tools help UK businesses meet them when trading with European partners.
What size of business is HB SmartTrade suited to?
It is used by businesses ranging from growing independent distributors to larger wholesalers, and it scales with Business Central. Advantage advises on scope and configuration during the initial assessment.
