Data strategy & digital platform immediately increases turnover by 6%

PE-BACKED TIMBER DISTRIBUTION AND PROCESSING GROUP

DATA STRATEGY & DIGITAL PLATFORM IMMEDIATELY INCREASES TURNOVER BY 6%

PE-BACKED TIMBER DISTRIBUTION AND PROCESSING GROUP

DATA STRATEGY & DIGITAL PLATFORM IMMEDIATELY INCREASES TURNOVER BY 6%

A Private Equity backed acquisition strategy resulted in four technologies and processes used by previously disparate companies coming together under one Group. Trading in a market with an immature technology starting point, Panamoure was asked to create and implement a data strategy and digital platform that would provide them with a competitive advantage. Reducing manual effort to a minimum, improving inventory management, creating a paperless environment were the foundations of looking to create sustainable organic growth.

What were the challenges?

One company had no technology basis e.g. punch in / punch out time keeping was still in operation. Manual stock counts and paper delivery manifests were prevalent
There was no single “source of truth” for reporting across the Group
Most of the on-site workforce were not technically savvy in any way – mobile technology was, to some, an anathema
Small centralised IT team had little experience other than desktop support and some in-house system knowledge
Inefficient manual processes were creating a value drag and hindering growth
The Group IT Director had vision, but did not know where to start, being tethered to an ageing ERP
Many of 30+ proposed and in-flight IT projects had not been aligned strategically to the immediate or longer term needs of the business

So, what did we do?

Defined the overall data strategy and digital implementation plan, prioritising the areas that were fastest to market and thereby generating the most rapid ROI
Created Apps to automate Delivery, Stock Counting, Picking and Receipting – mobile based, user friendly, efficient
Defined and built a DataWarehouse / Azure Data Lake with Power Bi reporting across the Group
Redefined processes to minimise manual effort
Introduced ML for stock counting – recognition based straight to inventory
Implemented eCommerce platform, linking to Azure Data Lake and smoothing customer journey
Created a working technological environment more efficient than competitors, reducing overall costs and increasing service levels
Readied IT infrastructure and applications to efficiently integrate with forthcoming acquisitions, anticipating new branch openings and launch of “one stop shop” products and services platform

DO YOU NEED TO DIGITALLY OPTIMISE YOUR BUSINESS?

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IN OUR FIELD

We are experts in what we do. Committed professionals who are at the leading edge of our specialised field.

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What were the challenges?

One company had no technology basis e.g. punch in / punch out time keeping was still in operation. Manual stock counts and paper delivery manifests were prevalent
There was no single “source of truth” for reporting across the Group
Most of the on-site workforce were not technically savvy in any way – mobile technology was, to some, an anathema
Small centralised IT team had little experience other than desktop support and some in-house system knowledge
Inefficient manual processes were creating a value drag and hindering growth
The Group IT Director had vision, but did not know where to start, being tethered to an ageing ERP
Many of 30+ proposed and in-flight IT projects had not been aligned strategically to the immediate or longer term needs of the business

So, what did we do?

Defined the overall data strategy and digital implementation plan, prioritising the areas that were fastest to market and thereby generating the most rapid ROI
Created Apps to automate Delivery, Stock Counting, Picking and Receipting – mobile based, user friendly, efficient
Defined and built a DataWarehouse / Azure Data Lake with Power Bi reporting across the Group
Redefined processes to minimise manual effort
Introduced ML for stock counting – recognition based straight to inventory
Implemented eCommerce platform, linking to Azure Data Lake and smoothing customer journey
Created a working technological environment more efficient than competitors, reducing overall costs and increasing service levels
Readied IT infrastructure and applications to efficiently integrate with forthcoming acquisitions, anticipating new branch openings and launch of “one stop shop” products and services platform

DO YOU NEED TO
DIGITALLY OPTIMISE
YOUR BUSINESS?

We are experts in what we do. Committed professionals who are at the leading edge of our specialised field.

GET IN TOUCH

OTHER EXAMPLES

OF OUR WORK

ALL CASE STUDIES

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER

Panamoure Consulting was approached by a PE fund to perform a pre-acquisition IT Due Diligence review on an upcoming lower mid-cap target who designed and manufactured electronic component boards for the defence, aviation, automotive and energy sectors.

HEALTHCHECK SAVES FIRM FROM POTENTIAL £10M OVERSPEND

PE investors in a global manufacturing and logistics firm were concerned that the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP implementation underway was over budget and underperforming so asked Panamoure to undertake a health check of the implementation.

HEALTH CHECK RECOVERS FAILING ERP PROJECT

A small business carve-out had a transitional service agreement (TSA) to decouple itself from the parent company systems within 6 months of separation. A project manager had been hired to help get the system delivered but 4 months in, the deadline was looming and the Sage 500 ERP project was heading for failure.