Implementing a new ERP system is often an opportunity to rethink an organization’s entire technology environment. For GURU Organic Energy, adopting a cloud-based ERP sparked a broader reflection on its cloud infrastructure and the partner that would support this transformation.

Beyond technology, GURU was looking for a solution that could meet three essential criteria: trust, accessibility, and the quality of the partnership. The company also wanted to keep its data in Canada and work with a provider that understands its reality.

That is why GURU chose Edwin, R2i’s Canadian sovereign cloud.

A New ERP as the Starting Point

The transformation began with the implementation of a new cloud-hosted ERP system. This change led GURU to evaluate the best way to evolve its technology environment.

As Ingy Sarraf, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at GURU Beverage, explains: “The triggering event was really the implementation of a new ERP. Since it was a cloud ERP, we decided to migrate to a cloud solution, and we chose Edwin.”

However, this decision was not based solely on technical criteria. For GURU, selecting a cloud provider also meant considering the relationship with the team responsible for managing the environment.

Trust as the Top Priority

When an organization entrusts a significant part of its operations to a cloud provider, trust becomes essential. It must be able to rely not only on a robust infrastructure but also on a team that understands its challenges and can step in when needed.

For GURU, this was the number one criterion.

“Trust was the number one criterion. I wanted to make sure I could sleep well at night.”

This peace of mind comes from the provider’s ability to support the organization day to day, anticipate its needs, and respond quickly when issues arise.

Edwin is designed to provide organizations with a secure, flexible cloud environment tailored to their needs. Data is hosted, operated, and managed in Canada by R2i’s Canadian teams.

Being Able to Reach the Right Person Quickly

The second key criterion for GURU was accessibility.

With some large cloud providers, obtaining personalized support can be challenging. Organizations sometimes have to navigate multiple levels of support before reaching someone who truly understands their environment.

GURU was looking for a more direct relationship.

“I wanted to make sure that when there is a problem, someone is available. With Edwin, when I call, I speak to someone. I’m not just a number.”

This proximity helps reduce communication delays and facilitates decision-making. It also creates stronger continuity between the client’s teams and the provider’s teams.

R2i experts are available around the clock to support organizations, answer questions, and intervene in their environments. Support is provided locally, in both French and English.

Data Sovereignty as Part of the Decision

As a publicly traded Canadian company, GURU also had to consider data governance and sovereignty.

Choosing a Canadian provider allowed the company to align its technology strategy with its responsibilities and values.

“Data sovereignty was part of our decision-making process. It’s also consistent for a Canadian brand to support another Canadian company.”

However, the physical location of data is only one aspect of digital sovereignty. Organizations must also consider provider ownership, the jurisdiction under which it operates, the location of the teams administering the environment, and who can access the data.

With Edwin, data is hosted in Canada within infrastructure owned by a Canadian company and operated by teams located across the country. This approach enables organizations to maintain greater control over their environments while reducing dependence on foreign providers.

More Than a Provider, a True Partner

The third criterion for GURU was the quality of the relationship.

The company was not simply looking to purchase computing capacity. It wanted a partner capable of working alongside its teams, understanding its priorities, and evolving the solution as its needs changed.

“We wanted to feel that it was truly a partnership, that the team was thinking about GURU the way we do, and that we were working together toward the solution.”

This collaborative approach is especially important during periods of transformation. Technology needs evolve, applications change, and business priorities can shift quickly. A cloud solution must therefore be able to adapt without imposing a rigid model on the organization.

Edwin’s tailored approach makes it possible to build an environment around the real needs of each business. Resources, service levels, and security measures can evolve as the organization grows.

Edwin in One Word: Partner

For GURU, Edwin’s value goes far beyond data hosting or infrastructure performance.

It is rooted in trust in the people managing the environment, the ability to obtain support quickly, and a long-term collaborative relationship.

“If I had to summarize Edwin in one sentence, I would say that it is truly a partner. We work together.”