OGL Software supports Derby family business expand team and provide more services for customers

Derby-based family business Anderson Electrical Trade Ltd has implemented software from Stourport-on-Severn’s OGL Software, to boost its business and help its plans to boost its business and simplify the purchase of electrical spares,  accessories and cleaning products, using OGL Software’s Profit4 ERP solution.

In response to increasing interest and orders from replacement spare parts as consumers and businesses alike tighten their belts, and the continuing demand for cleaning products post pandemic, Anderson Electrical is finalising plans to launch a new purchase portal for customers’ use and a hire service option in Q1, 2024.

Anderson Electrical Trade is a family-run business, which has been a wholesale, distribution and service company for the supply of cleaning machines and spare parts since the early 1960s. Over the past three years, the company’s business has grown both in the UK and internationally, with customers in America, Canada and across Europe.

Anderson Electrical had identified the need for the new purchase portal and hire service offerings after implementing an ERP software solution, Profit4, which highlighted ongoing changes in customer orders. Profit4 also collected data from various business processes in the company, and the team at Anderson Electrical realised that with a continuing increase in orders, purchasing and delivery processes required optimisation.

James Anderson, Managing Director, recognised that while the right technology was in place, a dedicated team member was needed to review changes to the business while maintaining existing customer relationships, so hired new Marketing Manager, Joe Peatfield.

James said: “We have a busy trade counter, with a high level of repeat business from local authorities and various cleaning companies, not just here in the UK but because of our expertise, internationally too. Having been in this business for so long, our reputation precedes us, which is great news as we enjoy delivering the very best repairs and cleaning products and supplies to all of our customers. And, thanks to having a software solution from our technology partner, OGL Software, we can easily streamline orders and process deliveries without the manual effort previously required.”

After achieving a record year with turnover up by 40% in 2021, Andersons now has a product line of over 2000 items, 50% of which are ordered online. Its 4,000 square foot commercial premises include a dedicated trade counter, showroom, offices and main warehouse in Coleman’s Yard, Alfreton Road, just outside Derby city centre.

Using OGL Software’s Profit4 ERP solution, Andersons has benefited from an 80% reduction in time wasted, as James Anderson explains: “The amount of time we were manually spending on orders and inputting information was consuming. Thanks to having an ERP solution like Profit4 we are around 8 hours a day better off as a team, which we are now spending on making up orders quicker so our customers wait even less time after ordering for delivery. We are also now able to allocate repairs for customers that need maintenance on previously purchased products, so everyone can keep their offices clean, which is important after the pandemic.”

Andersons is also planning to launch a customer portal to make reviewing previous purchases easier, and a new hire service for businesses looking to cut costs by renting instead of buying.

James concluded: “We wouldn’t have been able to facilitate that growth without Profit4. Profit4 provides us with powerful information, all in one place. It connects all areas of our business to make it more fool proof and gives us the confidence that nothing will be missed because there’s less human involvement.”