GUILDFORD, UK – 26 August 2010 – Scotts & Co., the multi-title mail order catalogue specialist, has achieved real-time visibility of its direct despatch supply chain and detailed reporting with Kewill Trade, from Kewill, (LSE: KWL), a leading provider of global solutions for the dynamic supply network.
The solution provides Scotts’ suppliers with a simple, user-friendly system to receive and manage its orders, from initial visibility of purchase orders right through to despatch. The system automatically generating a Scotts branded documentation set for each order. A ‘Whiteboard’ facility allows both Scotts and its suppliers to add comments to a specific order and detailed history provides users with an audit trail of all status changes in the life of the order.
The Kewill system is playing an increasing role in driving forecasting improvements as Scotts continues to work more closely with its suppliers to fine tune the range of products on offer, and the quantity of stock available.
Keith Greasley, Warehouse Operations and Logistics Director at Scotts, said, “The direct despatch project has proved a win-win for Scotts and our suppliers. Kewill has enabled us to increase customer satisfaction while reducing operational costs by providing complete visibility of our fulfilment cycle of 1.7 million per annum direct despatch orders, making it possible for us to operate as a true multi-channel business. Kewill understands the retail supply chain which was evident during the implementation.”
Since the implementation Scotts has conducted a full review of its carrier strategy and introduced a revised roster of approved carriers and a more flexible delivery schedule, delivering progressive savings of 10% of annual carrier costs. Scotts also offer shorter delivery times for customer orders, from 14 to 28 days to 10 to 14 days.
A further project is underway with Kewill to streamline the out of stock process which is followed by Scotts’ suppliers. The system is being developed to recognise the estimated date when out of stock items will be available again, removing the need for suppliers to keep dealing with requests for out of stock items.
Greasley concluded: “Kewill is recognised as the UK’s ‘industry-standard’ process for management of a direct-despatch supplier chain. It has been adopted by a wide range of companies, particularly substantial catalogue and online retail business that use third-party despatch” as a core part of their supply strategy.
Scotts started trading as a single catalogue brand and now operates as a truly multi-channel business. In addition to distributing over 50 million catalogues annually and operating a chain of successful retail stores, its various websites generate over 20% of sales, frequently from customers browsing a catalogue or in-store and subsequently logging on to order.
About Scotts & Co
Scotts & Co. Direct Retailers, the multi-title mail order catalogue specialist, is a company of diverse character, which incorporates nine separate brands as 'partner companies, including the well known brands, Scotts of Stow and The Original Gift Company. Each of the brands or 'partners' is managed and operated separately in order to preserve its own brand identity.
Headed by Chairman, Nigel Swabey, the mail order entrepreneur, the group is now believed to be printing and publishing more specialist mail order catalogues in the UK than even the PLC’s in the sector. Over the past ten years the group's nine catalogues have notched up more catalogue industry awards than any of their competitors. With a highly successful mail order and on-line operation and with flagship stores in Stow-in-the-Wold, the Cotswold based Company’s brands now share the customer service and fulfilment facilities at their hub in Groundwell, Wiltshire.
About Kewill plc
Kewill delivers solutions that simplify global trade and logistics.
Global businesses face ever increasing complexity across their supply chains including decisions on sourcing, customs, compliance, transportation, storage, finance, visibility and connectivity. Inefficiency in any of these areas will lead to supply chain delays and result in increased costs. Kewill has a suite of software solutions that significantly simplify the management of the most complex global supply chains for enterprises and logistics service providers.
With over 35 years experience in global trade management and logistics, and over 600 employees worldwide, Kewill is a long-time innovator of solutions for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, freight forwarders, transport companies, customs brokers, 3PL’s and 4PL’s, as well as other related institutions involved in financing and underwriting global trade such as banks and insurance providers.
Kewill’s solutions are in daily use by more than 40,000 users worldwide and our global customer base which entrusts us with the management of their supply networks includes divisions of 3M, Bayer, Caterpillar, DHL, FedEx, Ford, General Electric, General Motors, H.J. Heinz, Kimberley-Clark, Kraft, Levi Strauss, Mazda, Nestlé, Nike, Palm, Procter & Gamble, Smith & Nephew, Sony, TNT, Unilever, UPS, Vodafone, Yamaha, Xerox.
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