Business profile – TechSparx talks to FHL

Crewe business FHL kicks off our new series where we profile regional tech businesses. Andrew Peddie, MD of FHL tells us all you need to know about FHL in one comprehensive interview.

Tell us in one sentence what FHL offers?

“Best in class” cloud business systems.

How is your service different from competitors?

There is an array of cloud providers on the market, however most are small ‘boutique’ outfits that simply don’t have the resources and expertise to provide a quality service.

Some providers also claim to offer “cloud” business systems but these systems aren’t in fact “true cloud”. This means that security will be questionable, they’ll be upgrade issues, poor scalability and unacceptable levels of downtime. On top of this, these so-called “fake cloud” solutions are very expensive to run!

At FHL we provide only “true cloud” solutions built on the NetSuite platform. NetSuite is the world’s most deployed cloud business system and offers first-rate security and scalability, and as it’s paid for via a monthly subscription fee, this makes it highly cost-effective.

And far from being a ‘boutique’ cloud business, over the past 10 years we’ve invested heavily in our team to ensure that our delivery techniques and depth of resource to architect, facilitate and support our clients’ businesses puts FHL a step ahead of the competition. In fact, NetSuite has named FHL European partner of the year five times – more than any other NetSuite provider!

In February, we also scooped two prestigious partner awards from NetSuite for acquiring the greatest number of new customers in 2016 and for generating the highest new customer revenue. Beating over 50 NetSuite partners, these awards strengthen our position as the number one NetSuite partner across EMEA.

What new developments have you got in the pipeline for this year?

Our big focus for this year is expanding our portfolio of NetSuite applications. Latest developments include:

• WineSuite – A state-of-the-art cloud-based solution for the wine industry. As the only solution of its kind, WineSuite has been specifically developed to make operating within the wine trade as hassle-free as possible. Specialist features include multi-currency capabilities, reserves and portfolio management, bonded warehouse management, an en primeur sales module and duty and bond management.

• FirstPOS – A powerful point-of-sale solution for NetSuite. Developed for use with traditional electronic point of sale (EPOS) tills and mobile devices, FirstPOS can be used across all devices for the fast and efficient processing of transactions, discounts, refunds and loyalty schemes, improving the retail experience for both staff and customers.

• SuiteSync Android – This latest app puts the cloud into the palm of your hand by making NetSuite compatible with mobile Android devices. SuiteSync Android can be used offline and when an internet connection is re-established, offline data can be synchronised to NetSuite to allow users to continue working from the cloud.

What sectors do you operate in?

We operate across a wide range of sectors including ecommerce; retail; wholesale and distribution; manufacturing; software and technology; telecommunications; professional services; fine wine; agriculture; medical; and rights management (music & TV). We have also supported many start-up businesses.

Who are your key clients?

We have delivered more than 150 projects from a cross-section of industries. Clients include UK Flooring Direct, Wigan Rugby League Club, Optegra (Fidelity Investments), Semafone (Octopus Investments), Aepona (Intel), Sony Europe, Kainos PLC, Blue Prism PLC, Lafarge, BayWa, Crawford Healthcare, Mr Fothergills Seeds, Isla Bikes, XN Protel and Cineflix.

How do readers get in touch with you?

By phoning us on +44 (0)1270 630300

Contacting us through our website www.fhl.co.uk

Or via social media: Linked IN and Twitter