heritage-store-house.jpgA bespoke order processing and delivery software package has enabled timber garden products manufacturer Forest Garden to double the number of home deliveries, with capacity for yet further growth. Designed by software specialist MBRIT, its Symphony software has brought hours of paperwork down to a couple of minutes, cut delivery lead times and is currently hitting a 97% delivery success rate. Sam Smith, Forest Garden’s Corporate Customer Services and Projects Manager, explained how the new software has transformed their business. “Customers place orders either through catalogues or our partner retailers’ websites, such as Argos and B & Q. Sales over the past few years have rapidly grown, reaching 30,000 units last year and rising. We decided it was the right time to review our order management systems to ensure we could continue to handle further growth.”

“With the introduction of the new software in early 2007 we are easily coping with volumes that we confidently expect to double in the current fiscal year. As home delivery sales are a big growth sector the new software will have a powerful and positive impact on our business long term.

While we had the vision of what we hoped to achieve, MBRIT supplied the technical expertise and turned our vision into reality. The system bedded in quickly with very few hitches and their input has proved invaluable.”

MBRIT’s software calculates product availability and delivery date from the customer’s post-code and sends a confirmation in the mail the day the order is received. Most deliveries are carried out by CPL Distribution through its network of 14 depots. As a result, deliveries have fallen from 21 days to 12 days, with 97% first-time success. Following the success of the new system, CPL will soon be installing MBRIT’s software in all its 14 depots.

Forest Garden’s Sam Smith concluded “As well as giving us the capacity to expand, we have extra flexibility to cope with a highly seasonal market, with much of our business coming in over Easter and the early summer.”

Established in 1974, Forest Garden is the UK’s leading manufacturer of garden timber products including arches, arbours, decking, trellis, garden storage, gazebos and summerhouses. For further information see the company’s website at www.forestgarden.co.uk.

MBRIT IT Solutions
Jenny Wilcox
Tel: 01908 410110
www.mbrit.com

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