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Direct Heating and Plumbing implement Open ECX to unlock purchase-to-pay efficiencies through digital ways of working.
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The Business:
Direct Heating and Plumbing

With over 35 years of industry experience, Direct Heating and Plumbing are one of the UK’s leading heating and plumbing specialists. Providing an expansive range of boiler spares, heating parts, heating control systems and plumbing and central heating systems, the business has experienced significant growth in recent years, and now operates out of 5 branches nationwide.

Direct Heating and Plumbing recognised that their business growth was increasing the number of supplier invoices and customer orders they were receiving, and through their current manual ways of working, it was creating a significant strain on their internal team. They also recognised that a digital solution would future proof the business, as it could be scaled to grow alongside their business and cope with any influx of transactions

The Requirements:
Remove Inaccuracies

The business used traditional EDI to process a large number of their incoming supplier invoices, but using this technology, it was taking up to two weeks for their branches to process the transactions. SIG identified this as an issue, as it created problems with cash flow and forecasting, ultimately leading to payment delays to suppliers.

SIG also recognised that the complexity of their business through various acquisitions was not well suited for traditional EDI, as those subsidiaries had to be set up as separate entities, creating a level of cost and complexity.

In looking for a new solution, the business also required a seamless integration with its ERP system, Kerridge.

Customers and suppliers wouldn’t even know we use these solutions. It’s so seamless, customers know orders will be processed correctly, and suppliers know invoices will be processed in good time.
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Direct Heating & Plumbing Case Study Solution Image

The Solution:
Electronic Invoicing and Ordering 

Processing their supplier invoices and customer orders electronically through Open ECX has allowed Direct Heating and Plumbing to vastly improve their business efficiencies, removing transaction delays and inaccuracies. Open ECX has provided the business with the high levels of accuracy they required, the benefits of which are being passed onto their suppliers and customers, with invoices consistently paid on time and orders processed correctly.

Through using Open ECX, Direct Heating and Plumbing have saved six hours of time a day for their staff, resulting in considerable cost-savings, and allowing them to focus their efforts on more value-added tasks such as active selling with customers. Another huge benefit for Direct Heating and Plumbing is that, unlike legacy EDI solutions, Open ECX did not require their supply chain to make technical changes.

On top of this, Open ECX are experts at integrating into the majority of back-office systems, and with many customers using Intact, the team delivered a quick and seamless integration.

We’ve saved six hours of staff time a day using Open ECX. The associated cost-savings cover the solution, and we’re able to redeploy staff into more valuable tasks, such as active-selling with our customers.
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