Reeds Wantage has chosen an ERP solution from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) to support its future growth and deliver efficiencies to the business.
Reeds was founded in 1972 as a builders’ merchant and ironmongers but has now transitioned away from supplying heavyside materials to focus on paint, tools and hardware. Around two thirds of its customers are reported as trade account holders, the remainder being retail.
Buyer and Operations Manager at Reeds, Euan Mead, explained: “We started to look for new software around 18 months before choosing the KCS solution. We were using a basic accountancy package that was ‘creaking’ as our requirements grew. We needed something that would improve our efficiency, give us better business insights and, because we are looking to add an additional premise, with multi-location functionality.”
Euan said that Reeds had looked at a broad range of options including combining separate accountancy, ePOS and stock management solutions. He commented: “This option had several drawbacks including limited functionality, the complexity involved in getting the solutions to talk to each other effectively and redundant functionality where there was an overlap.”
Steve Page, New Business Sales Executive at KCS, explained the system chosen by Reeds: “One of our solutions has functionality tailored to businesses with up to around 20 users and is ideal for smaller or start up businesses. It’s very easy to learn and use, with limited training required, but has all the functionality and flexibility a business of this type requires. It was a perfect fit for Reeds.”
Euan continued, “We’re looking forward to increased efficiencies such as integrating order processes with our suppliers and faster, easier price maintenance. Also to vastly improved reporting so we can drill down into details such as inventory ratio by supplier, and margin by account, supplier, department and customer type.
“We’re confident we’ve made the right choice and found a solution that will support our short term plans to open a second branch, when we’ll be able to benefit from inter-branch transfers, multiple stock locations and enhanced stock visibility. And, in the mid and long term the capability and flexibility will already be in place to support our future ambitions for eCommerce and computerized delivery management.”
