Norbain

Challenge

Norbain SD is one of Europe’s most successful distributors of CCTV, IP video, access control and intruder detection equipment. Based in Reading, the company employs around 300 staff throughout the UK in its sales offices and at distribution centre in Manchester. Each year, Norbain SD distributes products into more than 70 countries across five continents.

Following the completion of a strategic planning process, Norbain SD identified the need to improve its warehousing and delivery functions - the hub of its business. Doing so would enable the company to achieve its current and future targets, and to meet the anticipated increased demand for high-level logistics. Norbain SD required a supply chain management system manage its stock and customer demands efficiently, and be flexible enough to support future opportunities.

Gains and benefits

• Greater efficiency in its business processes has enabled headcount to be maintained while increasing its turnover by 30 to 40 per cent
• By integrating with courier systems orders can be taken much later in the day and still maintain a same-day service – a real competitive advantage
• Staff are able to focus more time on supporting customers and meeting their requirements - a real plus for customer retention in a competitive market
• Product returns handled more efficiently – including collection arrangements and credit note issues
• Significant capacity gains as a result of efficient use of IT across all supply chain processes – including stock planning

We attribute a considerable amount of Norbain’s business success to its use of IT.

Alun John - Managing Director