Business Applications

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Whether you’re looking to streamline business and financial processes, strengthen customer relationships or manage data to improve intelligence and reporting, TSG will identify the most appropriate business applications to help you increase efficiency and improve productivity. We pride ourselves on seamless implementation; the result of working with thousands of SME customers that also allows us to share best practice.

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen

Information Technology Services Technology Services Group

Newcastle upon Tyne

Direct Automotive Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Case Study

The Customer

Direct Automotive are an importer and distributor of crash repair parts to the automotive trade. Distributing to re-sellers and directly through a number of insurer contracts, Direct Automotive supply to approved automotive repair centres. The Customer Objectives Based in Doncaster, the company supplies both nationally and internationally, with a strong export business primarily to countries with right hand drive vehicles.

Direct Automotive started trading in 2005, and has gathered momentum ever since by expanding their client base across the globe. The company has grown considerably in the past two years, increasing the demand to renew business software that evidently could not cope with the business advancements.

The Customer Objectives

Direct Automotive used software which helped the business in its initial stages of development, but soon realised that its functionality did not meet the full requirements of the company as it began to grow and operate worldwide.

Knowing that they needed to invest in new technology, and the latest business software, Direct Automotive requested the services of TSG; chosen as the preferred IT company to assist with the necessary skills and expertise to provide a fully tailored solution which met all of their IT requirements.

The TSG Solution

After reviewing business processes and establishing their requirements, TSG recommended Microsoft Dynamics NAV software to Direct Automotive to handle all core processes and procedures within the business. TSG also implemented their suite of Microsoft SharePoint modules, designed specifically for the SME, to help improve communication and visibility of business critical data around the business.

As part of the IT overhaul TSG also replaced core components of Direct Automotive infrastructure with a new Microsoft SQL Server sitting at the heart of the new system.

Business Development Manager Michael Bourne says: ‘Microsoft Dynamics NAV was chosen as the preferred solution because it has the flexibility and structure to enhance the business processes and ensure a strong and robust platform for the company’s immediate and long term goals.’

With the assistance of the development team at TSG, solutions tailored exactly to these demands will be developed which will further enhance the efficiency of our warehouse, sales and logistics teams.”

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The Benefits to Direct Automotive The business has seen great improvement with the changes that TSG has implemented in the last two years. With the support of TSG experts, Direct Automotive has advanced significantly by way of technology, saving time and increasing staff productivity.

Significant advances have been made in the way of stock management and daily warehouse management. As part of the solution TSG deployed a Mobile Warehouse Management solution which allows warehouse staff the freedom of booking goods in and out of stock, carrying out stock movement and regular stock checks utilising mobile devices with real-time updates to NAV.

Managing cash received from repair centres, proving that deliveries had been made, and ensuring the correct items were delivered, were also a challenge to Direct Automotive. As part of the mobile solution, TSG developed a Proof of Delivery solution which captures the customer’s signature, on Windows SmartPhones, at point of delivery. The time, date and customer signature is then transmitted, real-time to Dynamics NAV back at Direct Automotive’s Head Office. Cash collection is also recorded on the mobile devices which, again updates Dynamics NAV with a record of the cash receipt.

They use their tailor-made software on a daily basis, and have a strong relationship with the TSG team who support Direct Automotive when they need it. ‘I would readily recommend TSG as a business partner. TSG offer a full solution and have the expertise to understand and provide a complete IT software and hardware solution for any business. IT is a powerful business tool and with a solution provided by TSG you can be sure that you have the tools for the business.’

When asked how TSG has helped the business, Michael Bourne answers: ‘Much of our growth in the last few years has been down to being able to provide a full and comprehensive solution to some of the UK’s leading motor insurers. These solutions have been built around

the integration of our Dynamics NAV system with the key estimating systems utilised by the insurance trade. This has seen us deliver seamless solutions to the end users that have made the adoption of these supply schemes straightforward and successful.’

The Future for TSG and Direct Automotive

‘As the business continues and grows, the processes required to manage and control the business will change and these will require tailored and complex solutions. With the assistance of the development team at TSG, solutions tailored exactly to these demands will be developed which will further enhance the efficiency of our warehouse, sales and logistics teams.’