BVG-Airflo

BVG-Airflo: Growth through clarity

With rapid expansion and a major acquisition a pressing need arose to replace BVG-Airflo's incumbent XAL ERP-system with a solution that could grow along with the company and that could provide management with essential information at the touch of a button. BVG-Airflo turned to Columbus for advice and assistance.

“We view Columbus as a partner not as a supplier”, says Iain Burgess, MD of BVG-Airflo Group. “Columbus has always provided great professional service no matter how large or how small”.

Mail order module

Columbus has enjoyed a working relationship with BVG-Airflo for years through a support agreement on the earlier XAL-solution. For the new solution Columbus proposed a mail order module, designed specifically to handle rapid order entry and provide up to date item availability information to customers. This is supported and fully integrated with Axapta's proven inventory and warehouse management capability. The result is a robust and responsive supply chain solution.

“Columbus took a proactive approach to the project. When going through the business processes the team not only viewed the current process, they constantly looked to improve and enhance what we do. With the efficiency savings we'll make using Axapta I expect to see a return on investment in about 18 months”, says Iain Burgess.

Clarity and confidence

For BVG-Airflo the ability to make the right strategic decisions about which products to trade in a rapidly changing market is, and has been, a key component in their success. The acquisition of competitor Clifford James, which increased the annual turnover by roughly 250%, also increased the need for clarity of information and transparency across the enterprise. With OLAP reporting technology and the Columbus Galaxy integration tool the Axapta solution delivers essential management information swiftly, smoothly and securely which leads to an unprecedented level of confidence for the BVG Airflo management. This all translates to a clear competitive advantage. 

Master planning

Once a new product line has been identified and the orders begin to flood in, BVG-Airflo need to ensure they can maintain their high level of customer service by providing timely information on product availability using inquiries from the mail order module and minimizing stock-out using the Axapta master planning module. Master planning allows the management of minimum stock levels that can vary by season, in addition to showing production planners exactly how much of an item can be produced with the available materials.

Response code

Using Axapta sales order processing as a foundation, Columbus IT Partner developed a bespoke mail order solution for BVG-Airflo. This solution is focused on as much information from the customer as possible and providing maximum information to the customer all within the shortest possible time frame. The process begins with registering the customers address and verifying it through powerful address validation software. This leads to creating an account which is subsequently validated. The customer is then presented with offers and is asked a number of relevant questions and is even encouraged to purchase other products according to a code they are asked to quote when first contacting BVG-Airflo.  This “response code” also determines how the order will behave with regard to picking, shipping and so forth. The solution is also integrated with an external secure payment solution providing end-to-end order processing.

“We are really pleased we chose Columbus IT Partner to guide us through the implementation. Their open, honest and outspoken approach was exactly what was needed to ensure the project was a success”, says Iain Burgess.

“When it comes to successfully implementing IT solutions, knowledge about the clients business is definitely a prerequisite”, says Mary Chromej, Managing Director of Columbus IT Partner UK. “That is why long term relationships like the one we have with BVG-Airflo are so valuable for both parties. To implement new technology and see how it helps to move their business forward and upward is very rewarding”.

About BVG Airflo Group PLC

BVG Airflo Group provides complete mail order and backend solutions for their own and other manufacturer's mail order and e-business operations. The company recently acquired Clifford James and subsequently increased annual turn over from approx. 12 million GBP to more than 32 million GBP.