The Radiator Company
Overview
The Radiator Company was formed in 1998 and since then has become one of the largest retail distributors in the UK and Ireland, with the most extensive range in the UK of radiators, towel rails, valves and accessories. The company sells mainly to plumber’s merchants and they have between 3500 and 4000 customers managed by a Lakeview accounting system that has been installed since 1999, replacing a Spacescape system.
Challenge
The Radiator Company is currently growing at 35% per annum and the company wanted a system flexible enough to develop and grow with them. They wanted the system to be integral to their business from front to back and enable them to get a lot of information out that would help them to make the right decisions.Solution
David Robinson, Finance Director and General Manager at The Radiator Company, uses the Lakeview system on a day to day basis to see where the company stands on posted invoices or standing orders, general enquiries regarding orders and customers, maintaining stock and checking stock availability, sales analysis and customer and supplier returns. The Radiator Company uses a number of modules – sales, purchasing, stock control, nominal ledger, returns, sales analysis and EDI. According to Robinson, “What I like is the way they all look and work the same way. The Electronic Data Interface module now enables our customers to order from us electronically and us to invoice them in the same way.”
Result
“The returns system, which we have been using regularly over the last year, is very good. It is laid out just like a sales order so it is easy to use because everyone in Sales knows the sales ledger routines. They have made it quick and easy to use without re-entering all the information. You just enter the Invoice number and all the information you need is automatically copied across. Previously, the returns system was manual and you had to enter all the details including addresses, manually create a Credit Note, get it picked up, manually create a credit, manually book it back into stock, manually make a replacement order, re-enter all the information onto an order and then go to another spreadsheet for returning the item to a supplier. Now we can do it all from one system at just the touch of a button, really; so, in my opinion, it’s just excellent. It saves so much time and it has really helped efficiency in the company.”“My impression of Lakeview is very favourable. If you’ve got a problem and you need something, they seem to be able to do it. I think they are very efficient.”
We would welcome an opportunity to talk to you in more detail about how we can directly benefit you and your organisation.
To arrange an on-line demonstration, please call Vickie Goddard on 0845 388 3329 or email vickieg@lakeview.co.uk