Buttle's long history of computing

Buttle's was one of the first merchants to look at automated processes for the business. Peter Buttle recalls the company's 30 odd years of embracing technology.

Buttle's was one of the first builders' merchants to computerise its business, thanks to the efforts of managing director Peter Buttle. He had always been fascinated by IT; even when he first entered the business he began looking for ways to automate processes such as the payroll.

"It was only very large companies who were using computers to process their payroll in the late 1970s and we were very early adopters of this approach in the merchant industry," Buttle recalls. "Our payroll bureau worked out of a room full of huge and expensive pieces of equipment - massive mainframes, line printers, a huge Xerox machine and two 5MB discs - which were enormous. I wasn't aware of any other merchants doing payroll like that in those days."

The business is a long established family owned merchant business, set up by Buttle's grandfather in 1919. Now operating four sites in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North London, the group employs a total of 58 staff, 30 of which are bisTrack software users.

In the early 1980s, Buttle started looking at ways to computerise transactions on the counter. Over the next ten years, the company implemented a couple of early programs to manage the price list, cash sales and account invoices instead of using paper and 'ready reckoners'. But these early programs fell down when it came to stock management, particularly for timber. By 1991, Buttle went out to tender and short listed half a dozen of the suppliers who were now starting to develop more sophisticated systems for distribution companies. He eventually implemented a Unix system and used it to manage his business until Buttle's implemented bisTrack.

There's still a very proprietary philosophy about some business systems which may have a Winclows 'front end' but then don't like you going anywhere else — and I don't like that attitude.

"We started looking for a Windows-based alternative in 2001. I had been using a PC at home since 1986 and the 'open Windows architecture was a priority for me as I wanted to make sure we could access our data in the system and that we could easily bolt on any functionality not provided by the core system. There's still a very proprietary philosophy about some business systems which may have a Winclows 'front end' but then don't like you going anywhere else — and I don't like that attitude. In 2001, there were only three options I could find based completely on Windows programming."

After a fairly protracted selection process, Buttle signed up with Progressive Solutions in 2003; Buttle's were one of the first merchant businesses to implement bisTrack.

I'm convinced there's no other system that can deliver better what we need. Apart from its Windows architecture and its powerful functionality, it now has ten years of development behind it.

"I'm convinced there's no other system that can deliver better what we need. Apart from its Windows architecture and its powerful functionality, it now has ten years of development behind it. And the team at PSI brought with them many more years of experience from developing earlier systems."

Buttle doesn't use bisTrack on a day-to-day basis but he knows his counter staff can work quickly using the touch screens and search function. He says his whole team appreciate the intuitive nature of bisTrack.

Buttle's IT system was merged as part of a larger project in partnership with another bisTrack merchant last year. The merged system is operated by Building Partners Ltd and the arrangement will enable the system to be shared by other partner merchants in due course. In the meantime, the company about to implement the Web Track customer portal, a bisTrack product which enables customers to access account information, pull up quotations based on their own pricing and download invoices and PODs. "We have daily requests for copy invoices and PODs from customers and my team spend a lot of unproductive time having to deal with them," says Buttle.

Buttle says he is confident he is using the right software and intends to remain with bisTrack for the foreseeable future. "There are other systems of course, but none have had the development time that's behind bisTrack. I still can't believe there's a better system out there."

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Testimonials

"bisTrack is an excellent piece of software and getting better. Their approach to meeting our needs is excellent. eBusiness is not going to be big for another 12 months but PSI are there already, which means we’re ahead. They're very open to ideas and keep getting better at turnaround."

Adam Myers, Beesley & Fildes
"The time was right for a change of software at Alsford's and we selected bisTrack from a shortlist of three. The key criteria was 'business fit'. We wanted a Microsoft Windows, intuitive solution which would best serve our claim to be 'The Timber Experts' in all our 20 branches."

Neil Fuller, MD, Alsford Timber
"The reporting capabilities of bisTrack really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in."

Wayne Abrams, Project Leader, Arbor Forest Products
"We have a responsibility to the environment. That’s why we’re trying to lower our carbon footprint. We introduced e-commerce, cut down on paper receipts & are introducing electronic billing for customers."

Director, building materials supplier
"bisTrack is an excellent piece of software and getting better. Their approach to meeting our needs is excellent. eBusiness is not going to be big for another 12 months but PSI are there already, which means we’re ahead. They're very open to ideas and keep getting better at turnaround."

Adam Myers, Beesley & Fildes
"We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products
"It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"We were drowning in paper and, as a business turning over £2.2 million, the time had come for us to invest in business management software."

David Biddle, MD, Huntingdon Timber & Roofing
"We helped ourselves by getting bisTrack on board quickly and painlessly while business was slow, so we won't have disruption as we start to implement a very aggressive three year strategic plan."

Neil Fuller, Managing Director, Alsford Timber
"With bisTrack we now have real-time information on our profitability, which allows us to continually optimise and make decisions on our business plan."

Stuart Hall, General Manager, Lawcris Panel Products
"bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)
"Stock counting is one of the best facilities in bisTrack ever. Stock counting across multiple locations is effortless with multiple entries of the same product. Entering a count is even easier. Counting 10,000 lines used to take two of us 4 days. This time it was 8 hours."
"We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products
"Implementation was achieved with absolutely no disruption to day-to-day trading. It was a joy! I'm working proactively with the system and having bisTrack doing much of our admin for us."

Scott Anderson, FD, Woodbridge Timber
"Implementation was achieved with absolutely no disruption to day-to-day trading. It was a joy! I'm working proactively with the system and having bisTrack doing much of our admin for us."

Scott Anderson, FD, Woodbridge Timber
“There are other systems of course, but none have had the development time that’s behind bisTrack. I can’t believe there’s a better system out there. I’m convinced there’s nothing that can deliver better what we need.”

Peter Buttle, md, Buttle plc
"We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
"Performance across the system is continuously enhanced too. Since our last release, finding products is now significantly faster ...by up to 30%."

Gary Brookshaw, Product Director, Progressive Solutions
"Implementation was achieved with absolutely no disruption to day-to-day trading. It was a joy! I'm working proactively with the system and having bisTrack doing much of our admin for us."

Scott Anderson, FD, Woodbridge Timber
"I can export information into Excel by right-clicking and manipulate it to my heart's content."
"I'm happy bisTrack will grow with us. If we find we need something which isn't already incorporated, I'm confident Progressive will work with us to fill the gap."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"We spent a long time evaluating several systems and I'm confident that bisTrack is the best available."

Andrew Laver, Arnold Laver Timberworld
"Progressive's experience was important, as was the link with Microsoft. We think that's the way ahead for all merchant systems."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
"The decision to go with bisTrack was based on the relationship we were developing with the Progressive team, a confidence in deliverability and their aggressive approach to overall cost."

Stephen Mulhall, FD, McMahon
"We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products
"It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
"Our staff have margin figures right in front of them now, so they're much more aware of the profit they are making."

Robert Blumsom, Blumsom Fine Timber
"We were drowning in paper and, as a business turning over £2.2 million, the time had come for us to invest in business management software."

David Biddle, MD, Huntingdon Timber & Roofing
"It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

Brian King, Lumber USA
"With bisTrack we now have real-time information on our profitability, which allows us to continually optimise and make decisions on our business plan."

Stuart Hall, General Manager, Lawcris Panel Products
"There’s no doubt that bisTrack is a good tool. We’ve a fantastic record for growth and we’re getting a lot out of bisTrack now, particularly over the control of our business."

Mike MacLellan, MD, GPH Builders Merchant
"Our real differential is not in software features, it's in our relationships with customers. How we work with them and how we can make an effective difference. You need the staff and the expertise to be able to do that."

Arthur Duffy, managing director, Progressive Solutions
"We looked at several systems, but most of them were using the same out-of-date technology as the system we were replacing!"

Rodney Scoles, Director, T Brewer & Co
"Our relationship with PSI has been transformed this year. This is due almost entirely to having an Account Manager as a single point of contact, who knows our system and our business."

Eric Jones, IT Manager, Alsford Timber
"Progressive's experience was important, as was the link with Microsoft. We think that's the way ahead for all merchant systems."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
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"With the time saved we've carried out branch refurbishments and I've taken my first holiday!"

John Cavanagh, MD, Cavanagh Timber
"Our computer system impacts on every aspect of the business. Buying, selling, importing, transport planning, as well as accounts. If you install the wrong software, without the right level of performance or functionality, it will cause significant problems throughout your business."
"We helped ourselves by getting bisTrack on board quickly and painlessly while business was slow, so we won't have disruption as we start to implement a very aggressive three year strategic plan."

Neil Fuller, Managing Director, Alsford Timber
"We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
“Hargeaves are ideally placed to take advantage of the offer – whilst we plan to continue using e-Xact to update our product file we also want much better control over special product sales and purchases."

Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves MD
"I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

Brian King, Lumber USA
"I'm happy bisTrack will grow with us. If we find we need something which isn't already incorporated, I'm confident Progressive will work with us to fill the gap."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)
"bisTrack is an excellent piece of software and getting better. Their approach to meeting our needs is excellent. eBusiness is not going to be big for another 12 months but PSI are there already, which means we’re ahead. They're very open to ideas and keep getting better at turnaround."

Adam Myers, Beesley & Fildes
"We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products
"Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT to back up our staff. bisTrack gives provides an efficient system for dealing with customers. Good management tools enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

David Dunmow, Group FD, James Latham plc
"bisTrack is a terrific system and its potential is incredibly exciting. I have absolutely no regrets over choosing bisTrack and great confidence that we have something we can build on."

David Bryan, Director, Ridgeons
"Our real differential is not in software features, it's in our relationships with customers. How we work with them and how we can make an effective difference. You need the staff and the expertise to be able to do that."

Arthur Duffy, managing director, Progressive Solutions
"The decision to go with bisTrack was based on the relationship we were developing with the Progressive team, a confidence in deliverability and their aggressive approach to overall cost."

Stephen Mulhall, FD, McMahon
"Progressive's experience was important, as was the link with Microsoft. We think that's the way ahead for all merchant systems."

Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty
"I'm happy bisTrack will grow with us. If we find we need something which isn't already incorporated, I'm confident Progressive will work with us to fill the gap."

Operations Director, CF Anderson
"The decision to go with bisTrack was based on the relationship we were developing with the Progressive team, a confidence in deliverability and their aggressive approach to overall cost."

Stephen Mulhall, FD, McMahon
"Once we started building up information we could trust, we started seeing real benefits. If stock accuracy was the main benefit, then quality of management information was next."

Peter Kerr, FD, Palmer Timber
"Our computer system impacts on every aspect of the business. Buying, selling, importing, transport planning, as well as accounts. If you install the wrong software, without the right level of performance or functionality, it will cause significant problems throughout your business."
"One reason we chose Progressive was because their team was so approachable. It wasn’t just because the software was better. We really felt we could work with them.”

Director, Ridgeons
"To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal
"Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT to back up our staff. bisTrack gives provides an efficient system for dealing with customers. Good management tools enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

David Dunmow, Group FD, James Latham plc
"Our staff have margin figures right in front of them now, so they're much more aware of the profit they are making."

Robert Blumsom, Blumsom Fine Timber
“There are other systems of course, but none have had the development time that’s behind bisTrack. I can’t believe there’s a better system out there. I’m convinced there’s nothing that can deliver better what we need.”

Peter Buttle, md, Buttle plc
"Once we started building up information we could trust, we started seeing real benefits. If stock accuracy was the main benefit, then quality of management information was next."

Peter Kerr, FD, Palmer Timber
"I'm convinced there's no other system that can deliver better what we need. Apart from its Windows architecture and its powerful functionality, it now has ten years of development behind it."

Peter Buttle, Buttle plc