West Midlands Fasteners adopt ERP from OGL Software and soon see growth boost

West Midlands Fasteners Ltd is actively expanding its inventory of imported industrial fasteners and fixings. This expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to build on recent growth achieved through the implementation of a new software solution. This software has not only reduced administrative time and purchase returns but has also enhanced stock quoting, delivery turnaround times and overall revenue.

Established in 1981, West Midlands Fasteners acquired the Parabolt® Construction Fixings brand in 2004. The company’s widespread distribution and prompt service for special fasteners and security fixings, coupled with close collaborations with major manufacturers like Lindapter® and Rawlplug®, have garnered a global customer base spanning the construction, pipeline and engineering industries. Notably, the company supplied rail clips for a London Underground project and provided fasteners for significant undertakings such as the construction of Amazon distribution centres and the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP) for Sellafield Ltd in the past year.

With a surge in demand for super-fast delivery due to the escalating number of industrial projects across the UK, West Midlands Fasteners is strategically investing in a new range of imported products to maximize sales channels. To meet the growing customer demand, the company has expanded its workforce and recognized the necessity to adopt an alternative software solution for faster quote generation to stay competitive.

After careful consideration, West Midlands Fasteners chose OGL Software’s Profit4 business and stock management software, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed to facilitate digital transformation for merchants engaged in multi-channel selling.

Leon Cunnington, Sales Manager, West Midlands Fasteners, commented: “Stock control on our previous system, Sage 200, was not as quick or as accurate as needed so, due to the office team being stretched with increasing customer demand, we knew we had to switch from Sage to a more efficient software. OGL Software’s Profit4 has been fantastic as we had extensive training on its features and how to use it, but it was so simple to pick up as it is not at all complicated.

“Now, using Profit4, we can identify the exact bin location for individual products, which makes life easier. We use it in the warehouse for stock transfers, which are now done in just a few clicks. Using Profit4, we can check whether the stock item requested is available for same-day delivery if that’s what the customer wants or whether we need to order it in.

“Another great benefit of the stock management feature is that, if there are stock discrepancies, Profit4 enables the stock levels to be quickly adjusted to account for those changes. The trade counter is also faster now with Profit4. It has even sped up the dispatch process as multiple orders can be dispatched in one go, making it easier for us and the drivers, and speeding up routes to ensure delivery to our customers when they expect their order.”

Profit4’s stock management feature has proven invaluable in adjusting stock levels promptly in case of discrepancies, enhancing the efficiency of the trade counter and expediting the dispatch process. The software’s user-friendly interface, tailored to roles and user requirements, has contributed to West Midlands Fasteners’ attainment of ISO9001 accreditation. This accreditation is credited in part to Profit4’s role in customer service improvements and maintaining high-quality management standards throughout the stock-to-shipment and delivery processes.

Overall, Profit4’s modern, intuitive interface, built on future-proof technology, supports West Midlands Fasteners in managing core business processes efficiently and effectively. In addition to ensuring stock is available for same-day delivery if requested, OGL Software offers updates and new features for Profit4 that are based on customer feedback.

Leon concluded: “Our customer service is great now, with quotes provided within minutes, which gives us an edge in a fast-paced industry. This means there is no need for customers to chase. Using Profit4 we can even send automated acknowledgements to customers, so they know when they are getting what they ordered. There are no separate purchase orders needed, so less mistakes, and we can raise queries and mistakes within orders, which helps us identify where things are going wrong and log how they have been put right.”