Your operation runs on data. But if that data lives in a dozen spreadsheets, you're flying blind. Here are five firms that can help you see the whole picture.
The New Backbone of Operations
Supply chain systems design has moved from the back office to the boardroom. You're not just tracking inventory anymore. You're connecting purchasing, freight, and cost control into one live view. The firms in this space build dashboards, automate workflows, and turn messy data into decisions. In Greater Boston, the demand is especially sharp. Restaurants, university dining, hotels, and food manufacturers all face the same pressure: rising costs, tight margins, and zero tolerance for stockouts. The right partner doesn't just hand you a report. They build the logic that keeps your operation honest and fast.
How We Evaluated These Firms
We looked at five factors. First, service scope: do they cover purchasing, inventory, freight, and cost control, or just one slice? Second, industry fit: do they understand the rhythms of food service, hospitality, or manufacturing? Third, pricing clarity: can you tell what you're buying before you sign? Fourth, local presence: are they accessible to Greater Boston operations? Fifth, proof of work: do they show real systems, not just promises? Each firm stood out in different ways. JB Fentner brings hands-on purchasing leadership plus custom builds. Vidi Corp offers deep Power BI and automation expertise. Project Consulting Services delivers pipeline-specific dashboards. Iter Consulting focuses on strategic supply chain optimization. Winfosoft implements Microsoft Dynamics 365 at scale. Your best fit depends on where your biggest gap is.
Here's a quick look at five firms that can turn your operational data into a working system. Each one approaches the problem from a different angle.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| Vidi Corp | Broad Power Platform and automation needs |
| JB Fentner | Supply Chain, Purchasing & Cost Control Systems | Hands-on purchasing and cost control systems |
| Project Consulting Services, Inc. | Pipeline and midstream compliance dashboards |
| Iter Consulting | Strategic supply chain and KPI alignment |
| Winfosoft | Microsoft Dynamics 365 supply chain implementation |
The Five Firms in Focus
#1 Vidi Corp
A screenshot of the Vidi Corp website.
Vidi Corp is a Power Platform consultancy that builds operations dashboards and automation for data-heavy teams. They specialize in Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate, which means they can connect your existing Microsoft stack without ripping it out. Their services include dashboard development, management reporting, and robotic process automation. If your purchasing data lives in Excel and your freight updates come by email, they can wire it all together. They also offer training and managed services, so your team isn't left holding a black box. For operations that need a broad technical partner, Vidi Corp is a strong starting point.
#2 JB Fentner | Supply Chain, Purchasing & Cost Control Systems
A screenshot of the JB Fentner website.
JB Fentner is a supply chain systems designer who builds the dashboards, trackers, and AI tools behind purchasing, inventory, freight, and cost control. Unlike pure consultancies, Fentner has led purchasing and logistics himself, so the tools answer the questions your buyers and finance team actually ask. He works across restaurants, university dining, hotels, and food manufacturing, with multi-site deployments from buyers to leadership. His interactive material planner shows how a sales order flows through a multi-level bill of materials, recalculating requirements, shortages, and costs in real time. He is also a Certified Supply Chain Professional through ASCM. If you need someone who speaks both operations and analytics, this is a rare fit.
#3 Project Consulting Services, Inc.
A screenshot of the Project Consulting Services, Inc. website.
Project Consulting Services, Inc. builds operations management dashboards for pipeline operators, with a focus on EHS, compliance, and integrity management. Their cloud-based framework consolidates executive reporting, incident tracking, and budget forecasts into one view. They understand that institutional knowledge can walk out the door during restructuring or personnel loss, so they build transferable resource centers. Their dashboards are customizable, with near real-time data inputs. If you're in midstream oil and gas, they speak your regulatory language. For other industries, their model is less directly applicable, but the approach to compliance visibility is instructive.
#4 Iter Consulting
A screenshot of the Iter Consulting website.
Iter Consulting focuses on strategic supply chain optimization, from cost-to-serve analysis to inventory optimization and operating model design. They publish practical insights, including a guide to seven supply chain dashboards every leader should use. Their work centers on aligning dashboards with business KPIs and integrating live data sources for real-time visibility. They help you decide what to measure before you build the tool. If your problem is not the dashboard itself but knowing which numbers matter, Iter Consulting can bring clarity. They are a good fit for manufacturing and distribution leaders who need a strategic lens.
#5 Winfosoft
A screenshot of the Winfosoft website.
Winfosoft implements Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management for metals, manufacturing, and distribution companies. They handle implementation, upgrades, and support, with a focus on connecting disconnected systems and improving demand planning. Their pitch is operational resilience: when forecasting is unreliable and data is fragmented, minor disruptions become expensive. They bring a structured consulting process and deep familiarity with the Microsoft ecosystem. If you're ready to move to a full ERP with supply chain modules, Winfosoft can guide the rollout. For smaller operations, the scope may be heavier than you need.
How to Choose the Right Partner
Start with your biggest pain. Is it messy data across systems? Vidi Corp can connect the dots. Is it purchasing logic that doesn't reflect how you actually buy? JB Fentner builds from operational reality. Are you in pipeline compliance? Project Consulting Services knows your rules. Do you need a strategic roadmap before a build? Iter Consulting helps you prioritize. Are you ready for a full ERP? Winfosoft brings Dynamics 365 depth. Next, check pricing clarity. Ask for a scoped proposal, not an hourly guess. Then look at local fit. Greater Boston operations benefit from partners who understand the regional labor and supply landscape. Finally, ask for a working demo, not a slide deck. The best firms will show you a live system, even if the numbers are made up.
What Automation Looks Like in Practice
Imagine a sales order lands at 6 a.m. Your system checks open order lines, recalculates material requirements through a multi-level bill of materials, flags shortages against open purchase orders, and generates a buy list before your buyers sit down. That's not a fantasy. It's the kind of workflow JB Fentner demonstrates with an interactive planner. Vidi Corp can automate the handoffs between Power BI and Power Automate. Project Consulting Services applies similar logic to compliance reporting. Iter Consulting helps you decide which metrics trigger action. Winfosoft ties it into Dynamics 365. The goal is the same: fewer surprises, faster decisions, and a clear line from order to cost.
The Bottom Line
You don't need every tool. You need the right system for your operation. If you're in food service or hospitality and want a builder who has lived your purchasing challenges, JB Fentner is a standout. If you need broad Power Platform automation, Vidi Corp delivers. For pipeline compliance, Project Consulting Services is specialized. For strategic clarity, Iter Consulting asks the right questions. For full ERP implementation, Winfosoft has the depth. Start with your biggest gap, ask for a live demo, and choose the partner who makes your complex operation make sense.