M&S Hire

Sale and Hire of Scaffolding Systems

Construction

Consultancy, Installation, Training, Support, Software Development, Hardware, Software

Reaching new heights in the construction industry

Challenge

M&S Hire specialises in the sales and hire out of aluminium access towers. They have two branches, one at Southampton and the other at Sittingbourne, the latter being Head Office.

When we first met M&S Hire, back in 1996, they had a small network of one fileserver and two workstation PC's. The system being used was not particularly flexible to their needs and was limited in the way it managed stock, the information available and its upgradeability.

The network, being of serial connections, resulted in relatively poor performance and was not practical to add further workstations, should that have been necessary. It was perceived that by taking a strategic look at their business and introducing a new integrated solution they may benefit as follows:

A more efficient and professional appearance to their service.

Easier tracking and analysis of each stage as it progresses.

A database of Supplier and Customer information, easily accessible, to assist with contact details etc.

Better access to on-line management information.

Complete integration with an accounts system

Solution

The Total Package designed, installed and configured a fast Ethernet network of mainly Compaq servers, workstations and portable notebooks at their Sittingbourne Head Office.

ISDN telephone lines were also installed, to provide secure, fast and reliable incoming remote access for authorised personnel, along with outgoing access to the Internet and email for all personnel. The ISDN network was also used as the mechanism to link both sites for a fully integrated operation. Specialist printers and scanners were provided to complement their requirements.

A software application was then developed which managed the entire quotation, order control, delivery control, returns, invoicing, stock and debt control of the business.

The main financial management, including budgeting, sales forecasts, profit & loss and cash flow forecasting, is accomplished using the Sage accounting system which has been fully integrated to their bespoke application.

Benefit

Having complete control over stock between both branches enables M&S Hire to maximise their stock position at all times.

They are now in a position to plan the operation better, especially since their business has been able to develop as a result. Being able to access a fully integrated system means that they have access to all manner of management reports so that better decisions can be made about the growth and development of the business.