Timber merchants | News

On the right track

Microsoft Windows-based ‘bisTrack’, developed by Progressive Solutions, is a highly versatile business management system which offers far reaching functionality to all types and sizes of timber companies. Now with more than 50 user companies in the UK, the software has delivered specific commercial benefits to each of the three users described below, as well as the speed and accuracy enjoyed by bisTrack users throughout the UK and beyond.

For example, C Blumsom Ltd, one of the largest timber importers in London, is enjoying a 2% rise in margin since the implementation of bisTrack software earlier this year. BisTrack manages sales order processing and stock control as well as purchasing – including importing, transport and works orders for manufacturing. The most important benefit however, according to managing director, Robert Blumsom, is the improved margin control. He believes the 2% increase is down to bisTrack keeping staff aware of cost prices and alerting them if they’re selling below the required margin. He explains, “Staff could have worked margins out before, but now they have the figures right in front of them and so they’re much more aware of the profit they are making.” Robert believes this has led to greater responsibility for earning the best possible margin by staff and at the same time has improved accuracy throughout the sales department.

Howarth Timber (Importers) installed bisTrack earlier this year at its 75-acre site on the southern banks of the river Humber, where over 340,000m² of timber arrives each year. Howarth’s project leader, Wayne Abrams, said, “An immediate benefit was increased efficiency – and therefore time saving – across every department. The reporting capabilities of bisTrack are impressive and really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries from customers accurately and immediately. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in. They can also check up on what goods are being processed but not available yet. A typical order might be for say, 40 packs of machined goods, and they can instantly check up on milling schedules. Another big change for us was to get our purchasing computerised. Now we have a lot more information at our finger tips from a whole raft of new reports bisTrack give us – which we used to have to put together manually.”

Timber tallies are fully supported throughout the software, as is the ability to handle timber in packs which was especially important to Howarths. Also important was the ability of bisTrack to handle timber being further processed, since such large volumes are involved. Works orders and production schedules are in place to handle these volumes, and tables behind the scenes automatically increase the value of the product dependent on the processes involved.

At Victoria Sawmills, a two-branch Devon timber merchant, bisTrack has reduced debtor days by 50% – as well as giving them far greater control over their business. The software initially impressed Victoria’s team by its potential for integration with other business software – and the fact it had been developed by a company that obviously understood the complexities of buying and selling timber.

Following implementation, the staff had no difficulty getting used to the new system. “It’s user friendly and intuitive”, said manager, Martyn Hill, “and when we did encounter any problems, we just called the PSI support team, they were always there and they always answered our problems.”

Key benefits since bisTrack was installed include the instant reporting the company wanted. Using the old system, a stock valuation report took nearly two hours to produce. With bisTrack the same report can be produced in four minutes. The report can then be manipulated, negative stocks pulled out for example, and be presented in any way Mr Hill wants. Sage Line 50 was integrated with bisTrack from the start and is automatically synchronised with the software.

The team has found that cashing up and other daily routines can be completed much faster than before, credit control is easier and the reduction of debtor days from 70 to 45 has been a real tangible benefit to the business. “This has happened simply because the information is right there in front of us all the time,” explained Mr Hill.

Progressive Solutions holds regular seminars around the country where bisTrack is demonstrated to anyone considering new software for their business. For details of dates and venues, please call Progressive Solutions on 01928 592200.

© 2006. Kindly reproduced courtesy of Timber Trades Journal.