Toolstation operate as one of the UK’s largest supplier of DIY and Trade tools, hardware and building materials.
Their digital workplace is critical in servicing their customers and has helped them maintain a 4.6. out of 5 rating on Trustpilot over 500k + reviews
Toolstation has navigated rapid and considerable growth during the past five years. This has stretched the operational delivery of IT assets to its workforce.
Although capable of delivering this internally it absorbed the time of their technical team with labour intensive, low value tasks and wasted resources from a space, labour and cost perspective.
By developing adynamic supply chain partnership with Inspired Toolstation’s IT team were able to save time, money and get back to focussing on the design and implementation of their future IT strategy.
Toolstation has a great internal IT team. However, the time taken receiving equipment, internally recording the equipment information, collating bulk equipment packages and then sending these out to other internal sites was limiting their potential.
Inspired took on Toolstation’s asset tagging and recording of assets in a way that seamlessly integrated with their systems and settings. This allowed the internal IT team to free up resource without having to worry about learning or implementing anything new.
It was business as usual minus the additional workload.
Inspired’s ability to manage, hold and distribute stock on a Just-In-Time basis enabled the management to rely on Inspired to deliver what they needed, when they needed it.
The knowledge that requirements would be fulfilled dissolved any concerns about long waiting times and delays. This has been especially important during periods of supply chain uncertainty.
The Direct Shipping Program allows Toolstation to ship products directly from Inspired to any of its internal sites across the UK.
Once an order has been placed goods can be ready, in the hands of the end user as soon as the next working day rather than weeks. It not only sped up the time taken but also significantly cut costs of double shipping all the equipment.
Not to mention the double handling!
Orders are no longer placed to find that there is no stock and a new item needs to be specified as Inspired maintain a continuity of stock availability. A buffer of equipment is maintained at Inspired which not only enables this but also reduces the requirement for space and storage at the onsite technical facility.
All these factor shave not just driven significant cost and efficiency savings but also increased continuity and the opportunity for the internal IT team to focus on more interesting and more consequential work and endeavours.
All with the safe knowledge that their Digital Workplace will be supplied seamlessly in the background by Inspired their strategic IT partner.
