Case studies

SME7 is not some blue sky idea thought up by overpaid creatives, or business coaches with too much time on their hands. No, it has been developed in the real world, in response to questions and requests from real business owners like you, for a set of simple, cost-effective steps to help turn a business around.

One of the people who helped road test the SME7 programme is Tim Lockett of Deliver Net:

Deliver Net – turnover up massively, workload down

Tim Lockett, managing director of Yorkshire-based Deliver Net, is enjoying the benefits of an SME7 transformation of his business. Turnover is up, staff numbers are down, Tim’s personal workload has massively reduced and his business is positioned for further trouble-free growth.

Key changes to the Deliver Net business:
• migrating customers to online ordering, by providing them with an easy to use system
• going from manual to electronic invoicing and payment management
• consolidation of orders to reduce administration
• moving away from tired, PC-based software to an infinitely scalable, cloud-based IT infrastructure
• order-taking staff redeployed into customer support roles
• sales growth of 66% in 4 years – without the business falling over

As long ago as 2001, Tim recognised the future success of Deliver Net would rely heavily on utilising the benefits of web based technologies. He knew an online platform would reduce costs for both his business and critically also help cut overheads for customers.

Initially, web based IT solutions seemed out of reach, appearing too expensive, and too difficult to understand. By discussing his company’s needs with the SME7 team in a language that he and, more importantly, his staff and customers could understand, it was possible to build a solution that now runs his entire organisation online.

Today, the majority of his customers’ transactions use web based procurement systems for activities previously requiring significant administrative support.

Tim is now entering an exciting phase of taking this activity and other stored data to offer new procurement solutions, which he feels could revolutionise traditional purchasing principles and deliver genuine cost reductions.

Tim has lived in near Skipton, North Yorkshire for the past 20 years. Once a keen rugby player, and now a committed supporter, nowadays Tim’s sport is all downhill; he’s an advanced skier who hits the slopes several times a year.

Kan proves the value of replacing an unfit IT system

Based in Hamble, Kan Ltd provides custom promotional products and branding projects for major brands including Esso, Walt Disney, BT, Group 4, Royal Bank of Scotland and Marks & Spencer.

The wide range covers more than 2,000 lines and runs from individual items, such as printed carrier bags, promotional and corporate gifts, to clothing, brochures, leaflets and business stationery, sourced from around the world. Where a specific customer requirement cannot be developed using an existing catalogue product, then the company will design and supply the required solution.

Kan dipped into the SME7 portfolio, with a clear feeling that its current IT infrastructure – a bespoke software set-up – was not delivering the level of support that it should. Catrina Clarke, Kan managing director, knew she needed something better: “For the first time in history the small business has the availability of a software product, designed solely to work over the internet that harnesses the power of IT technology without making us slaves to it.”

Kan operates in a highly aggressive market and one in which the time, cost and quality demands of each customer must be fully satisfied. Therefore maintaining a good working relationship with customers is vital, using regular telephone and face-to-face contact. This reliance on people and the telephone, meant effective communications between customers and suppliers was vital, and relied on good information.

“Managed, hosted solutions such as i-Tr@der can be the best way forward for small companies,” says Catrina. “They reduce the cost of computing and do not impose unnecessary working practices on business owners or staff.

Catrina opted to proceed with the i-Tr@der approach during a busy period, which contained an element of risk. But the solution outweighed the problems of continuing with traditional general purpose software applications, which are functionally rich, but overly complex. With i-Tr@der, Kan had a different way to deploy and use information technology using the internet as Kan’s business network.

All the trading and administrative applications are hosted on a remotely managed server, linked to users via the internet, which immediately resolved several problems with the existing IT systems. Responsibility for day-to-day administration of the system was removed, while data backup and security services were automated. As the monthly rental charge for i- Tr@der incorporates hardware, applications, administration and maintenance, the running costs were significantly reduced, with no hidden surprises.

From implementation, i-Tr@der managed Kan’s key operations: sales, purchasing, customer management and desktop services. Subsequently a new job costing module enables the allocation of expenditure across different areas of operation.

Thanks to the new system, the Kan team are able to view the status of individual sales and purchase orders at anytime, and from anywhere with an internet connection; allowing much tighter management control, and spotting potential problems at an early stage.

In addition, financial control has been simplified, with the company’s accountants given controlled remote access direct to the system, reducing the need for an in-house book keeper. The i-Tr@ader email system has also cut unauthorised access and spam.