Tadhg O'Connor Ltd

Supplying foundations to furnishings from Ireland's west coast 

Tadhg O’Connor Ltd, one of the larger stores in the Topline group based in Limerick, is confidently set to implement a new ERP system provided by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). As a family-owned business, Tadhg O’Connor Ltd runs two builders’ merchant branches and a furniture store, and the new system is expected to help streamline their operations and improve their overall customer service.

Half of the business comes from trade customers, with more than 600 trade accounts providing a healthy level of repeat business.

'We’re successful because our staff offer excellent service, and our customers know they can rely on us having the right stock delivered in a timely fashion in perfect condition and at a good value,' says Eoin O'Connor, Managing Director at Tadhg O'Connor Ltd.

However, despite their history of success, Eoin and his team knew that the company's 12-year-old computer system lacked the necessary functionality to meet their business needs.

'One of our guiding principles is to make our customers’ lives easier, and we want to be able to provide them with an ecommerce platform where, not only can they log in and place orders online and get the same prices they would at the trade counter, but also have the ability to access their invoices, proof of deliveries, open quotations and standard orders,' he explained.

Eoin required enhanced stock visibility, seamless sales processing, superior accuracy in purchasing, and more stringent margin control.

We wanted a system that allows some flexibility over what level of discount can be given so we can manage our margin better and increase profitability. Once we’re live on the system I believe K8 may help us achieve up to a 1-2% increase.

Eoin O’Connor - Managing Director at Tadhg O’Connor Ltd

K8 was also chosen because the sales team liked its look and feel. 'We also felt that KCS was delivering a more bespoke solution with the potential to give us more flexibility than some of the more widely used systems in our industry,' Eoin said.

The field sales team will be able to access the entire system remotely, and an ePOD module will allow Eoin’s drivers to capture proof of delivery signatures ‘on glass’. A fully integrated report suite will automatically deliver the most critical KPIs to the staff who need them.  

'We were able to ensure continuity and the system’s capability in terms of audit and full traceability means that controls are much tighter now,' Eoin explained, 'particularly if an issue occurs. We are much more proactive than reactive to situations as they occur.'

K8 Manufacturing is only but one part of the story. Fundamental to their strategy is how KCS are continuing to partner alongside Techflow Flexibles in their use of the system as the business evolves.

'Six months after we go live we plan to start online trading, and our goal is for 20% of business to come through that channel within 12 months,' Eoin said, 'Our builder/plumber customers will be able to place orders in the evening rather than having to stop work an hour early to come and see us.'

With K8 not only will we have better functionality around sales, stock control, purchasing and credit control, the potential of having an online platform is also now within our reach.

Eoin O’Connor - Managing Director at Tadhg O’Connor Ltd

Client Focus

• One of the larger stores in the Topline group
• Business is split 50/50 between trade and retail customers
• The family-owned business operates two builders’ merchant branches and a furniture store