Transforming timber into IT
A leading national timber merchant is combating the difficult economic climate with its cutting edge approach to electronic commerce (e-commerce).
Arnold Laver Timber World, based in Sheffield, has made major developments to its modern communications and information technology over the last two years, with state-of-the-art computer systems and the integration of modern web based facilities.
Through an innovative online portal customers can view live account information, order details, real-time stocks, management information and product literature.
The portal is currently used by more than 80 clients, including major national construction companies such as Laing O'Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine and Kier.
Laing O'Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine both have an additional facility whereby their computers are directly linked to Arnold Laver enabling business documents, such as orders and invoices, to be automatically processed.
All of the new developments have been overseen by Arnold Laver's Corporate Systems Director Colin Dean.
Mr Dean, 44, from Newcastle, is highly regarded in the field of e-commerce and has been invited to talk at a number of IT communications lectures and conferences, including several Microsoft sponsored events in America.
Mr Dean explains the important role e-commerce is now playing at Arnold Laver. He said: "E-commerce is now an integral part of the way we present ourselves to potential clients and is one of our most prominent unique selling points as a modern timber company. Clients are now coming to us because of our e-commerce system.
"As a company we are constantly trying to offer added-value to our customers. The developments we have made recently with our modern communications systems are geared towards making the customer’s experience with Arnold Laver as efficient and user friendly as possible.
"Before we implemented the e-commerce system, the traditional purchasing procedure was paper-heavy and had the potential for human error. Now that process has been steam-lined to help save considerable time, eliminate risk of human error and ultimately increase bottom-line profitability.
"Obviously this new system is also very cost-effective, but this is simply a bi-product of our drive to improve the unique commercial experience we offer our client-base.
"The facility also allows us to constantly review our own performance and make sure we are consistently meeting customer demands and company best practice."
Arnold Laver uses the standard application business system, bisTrack, from Progressive Solutions International Ltd, for its e-commerce system and has worked with e-commerce partners COINS and CAUSEWAY for the construction of the site.
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