Case Study: Bri-Stor Systems Limited
fifteengroup.co.uk
Part 1
Hex Signs and Graphics: A Division of Bri-Stor Systems Limited
A Business Transformational System
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The client Hex Signs and Graphics are a division of Bri-Stor Systems Limited and for over 30 years, they have been enhancing the look of vehicles with the highest of quality. Hex Signs and Graphics use cutting edge technology to manufacture, install and apply all types of livery, wraps and signage for large and small fleets of vehicles, accident repair body shops and consumers.
We have a strong relationship with another division of the group, so we welcomed the opportunity to work with Hex Signs and Graphics, as we continue to transform their organisation’s operational efficiency across those individual divisions.
The company portfolio is wide and varied and they are flexible enough to serve a small fleet of vehicles through to large multi-site organisations operating fleets of vehicles across a number of different locations.
It is crucial that they are able to retain their place as market leader in their industry and technology plays an integral part in that aim.
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Objectives Hex Signs and Graphic’s client base includes fleet body shops who need to be able to order livery for their vehicles simply and in an efficient manner. These clients include RAC and British Gas who manage large numbers of vehicles across many different locations.
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A very short turnaround was needed, so our in-house team of software developers had to work around the clock to meet the exact requirements of the company. Their existing system was time consuming and labour intensive. Any risk of human error needed to be eliminated, together with the regular use of spreadsheets, increasing the overall efficiency.
Requirements:
A fully functioning website with: • An individually designed content management system • The ability to create new categories, sub categories and content pages • A customer driven search facility
A fleet customer ordering facility with: • The ability to order replacement graphics for vehicles specific to the make, model and year of manufacture • A fleet customer login area for the bodyshops to access their account.
Fleet login area with the capability of: • Producing a full order receipt • Integrating with the stock inventory system • Accepting payment and arranging a convenient delivery date
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In order for Hex Signs and Graphics to fulfil major tendering contracts with companies such as British Gas and RAC, they needed a system that was going to transform the processes internally as well as simplify and meet the needs of the body shops.
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We created a portal for bodyshops, for access when dealing with damaged vehicles needing repair. This portal meant the user can access:
• Each vehicle based on the make, model and year of manufacture • Graphics for each model selected • The relevant livery where the user can manually go onto hot spot and select the relevant vehicle area • Payment and delivery of items Once a vehicle has been selected, a complete vehicle image of all specific sections is made available, together with part numbers, descriptions, quantities and price, which the user can then add to the basket. The customer is able to view the order before they make payment. Internally, the order process goes through, onto the picking and packing stage and then finally to despatch, resulting in a seamless, efficient and simple end to end solution for both the customer and Hex Signs and Graphics.
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Outcome Hex Signs and Graphics have had a portal created that precisely fits their needs, both from the perspective of internal operations and also a customer. Within an hour of the system going live, orders were being made and the company were benefitting from the efficiency of the solution. It not only creates better functionality for both parties, but it plays an invaluable part in building and maintaining strong relationships between the supplier and the customer. It’s the point of contact and communication between them both, so efficiency and effectiveness is essential. Human error is eliminated due to the limitations in quantities being ordered. Users are only able to order one of each
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product, keeping user error to a minimum, reducing the risk of fraudulent activity whilst enabling the system to reach optimum efficiency. Through the creation of this system, strong collaborative partnerships between Hex Signs and Graphics and its key stakeholders are being built along with the transformation of internal operations. This system is only Phase 1 of our work with Hex Signs and Graphics as we look to moving forward with an e-commerce system and front end development.
Recommendation
We have worked with Fifteen Group since 2016 and knew that when it comes to creating a bespoke system, based on specific criteria, their in-house team would be able to deliver. The Hex Signs and Graphics portal is one element of an overall project that we are working closely together on. With this particular piece of work, Fifteen Group showed us they are able to work to incredibly tight deadlines and still maintain an exceptionally high standard of work. They have exceeded expectation, not only through the quality of the end result, but also with outstanding levels of communication and delivering to the exact specification. As soon as the portal went live, we have been able to benefit from the integrated system of ordering, picking and packing and despatch. Our clients save time and we have access to real data that allows our internal operations to be incredibly efficient. The portal has become a selling tool for the business and we have had interest from a number of multi fleet organisations who can immediately see the enormous value that they could potentially gain from using a system like this in their body shops.� Nick Herbert Commercial Director
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Part 2
Van Supplies: A Division of Bri-Stor Systems Limited
The End to End solution: E-commerce and stock inventory system
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The client Van Supplies are a division of Bri-Stor Systems Limited and for over 35 years, they have been supplying the automotive industry with roof equipment, accessories, internal van racking and security products. The company leads the way in providing the light commercial vehicle market with accessories across a wide variety of industries. The company portfolio is wide and varied and they are flexible enough to serve a small fleet of vehicles through to large multi-site organisations that operate fleets of vehicles across a number of different locations.
Van Supplies have been a client of Fifteen Group since 2016, and we continue to work with them as technology plays a part in ensuring they are able to retain their place as market leader in their industry.
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Objectives Van Supplies were looking to replace their existing website and database. They required the eCommerce elements of the site to work seamlessly with other aspects of the business and lay the groundwork and foundations to a larger and more comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management platform. Around this, we implemented a stock solution that interfaced with the new accounting suite but that would also deliver outstanding customer service solutions. These would support the company’s customer service ethos and further integrate with the chosen courier partners. The total solution that was delivered was to create custom designed and formed the core of the business activities, driving sales and providing a platform on which to build additional segments.
Plan
Analyze
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Automate
Learn
Track
Simplify
Grow
What we did Van Supplies had a system that was: • • • • • •
Underperforming Out of date Inefficient Unable to link to other key areas Manually operated Did not support further growth
We created a centralised system using our inhouse e-commerce system. The features of that system include: • A dashboard with shop statistics at a glance including order numbers, products and customers with links to the relevant sections. A snapshot of the most recent orders can also be viewed. • Orders that have been placed, abandoned and their current status. All details can be viewed and exported. • A full display of the customers which can be added simply and exported for other use. • A full list of products which can be easily added and edited. Full product details can be accessed and a product’s cost price, selling price and tax group can be managed. Products can be manually linked to each other which are integrated with the stock system, meaning that as products are ordered, the stock levels are reduced. • Categories which can be edited and can include products and brands. Individual branches of categories can also be expanded or collapsed.
• Brands which can have logos and descriptions added to them together with custom meta tags for search engine optimisation. They can also be merged together. • Discounts which the user can apply at the checkout when a specific code is entered. Discounts can be applied to all products in specific categories or specific brands. Expiry dates can be easily set. • An unlimited number of content pages that can be easily added with multiple custom screen template support. • Easy online payment for each order placed, adding to the positive customer experience. • An admin menu that features tax groups/ rates, default person titles, countries, set up of users and ability to manage shop wide settings including Google Analytics, terms and conditions, product settings, checkout settings and delivery settings.
Implementing this system, meant that Van Supplies’ customers are now able to select products based on the make, model and year of manufacture, pay for the products ordered and have them delivered to locations throughout the UK. For the Van Supplies operations, every product that is ordered reduces the stock levels and links to invoicing. Once the products in stock reach a certain level, that product is flagged up to be re-ordered. The entire system is also integrated with their chosen courier partners via the picking and packing module.
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Recommendation 14
With the added integration of the stock system, Fifteen Group have delivered for us, the total end to end solution. Nick Herbert Commercial Director
Outcome We created a centralised system that allows the growth and development of the business. Automation is the key to efficiency within any business and technology is the driving factor in automation, keeping costs low as the business expands. Van Supplies have a fully functioning system that provides them with data to gain a full picture of the business sales and operations. They are able to make decisions, harness the key performance indicators and drive performance.
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Communications Systems
info@fifteengroup.co.uk fifteengroup.co.uk
MH2, Park Hall Business Village, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST3 5XA
Information Technology
Software Development