Howies
Retail ERP Software Case Study
Finding a Perfect-Fit
Increasing online orders for Howies– who make jeans, t-shirts, and merino base layers – prompted the urgent need for a more robust business management system. Kinspeed developed a tailored, scalable, and fully integrated Sage 200 ERP solution to cope with higher warehouse needs and deliver a perfect fit.
Carmarthen-based outdoor clothing retailer Howies have produced high-quality clothing using ethically sourced materials since 1995. Ahead of the environmental curve, this employee-owned retailer produces clothes which last longer, often using recycled fibres. Howies are a leading online retailer with a loyal customer base who share their eco-conscious ethos.
The Challenges of Multichannel Retail
Combining e-commerce with a high street store in Cardigan Bay, Wales, involved processes which needed manual intervention to support seamless order fulfilment from receipt through delivery. With the bar set high by retailers like Amazon, Howies knew their existing business management system was not the best fit for online retail growth.
Howies’ wish-list featured a range of functions not available in an off-the-shelf software product and enlisted Kinspeed to implement retail ERP software, with add ons designed to deliver excellent customer experience.
Product attribute and
style management
Fast, error-free despatch
processes
Automated website
order receipt
EPOS to link multiple
sales channels
Integrated Retail ERP Software
Howies’ core business management system was upgraded to Sage 200, robust ERP software capable of processing high order volumes and multichannel retail.
Kinspeed integrated their RetailExtra software with Sage 200 to support product matrix management and allow for styles and SKUs to be controlled within a stock hierarchy.
WebExtra software automatically pulls orders from Howies’ e-commerce site into the Sage 200 ERP system. Manual data entry is eradicated and guarantees no ‘out of office hours’ delay in order fulfilment.
EPOS software synchronised Howies’ suppliers, customer transactions, inventory, and products, in real-time linking online with in-store transactions.
An integrated inventory management system, FastDespatch, uses handheld scanners to pick and pack customer orders. Incorrect stock picks trigger a warning, eradicating the margin for error. Inventory is updated in real-time with traceability data collated from order receipt through to delivery. Kinspeed integrate third-party logistics software to remove the manual, error-prone process of entering courier information to print a despatch label.
Future-Proofed Business Management
The results are impressive. Warehouse efficiency has increased dramatically. Howies comfortably handle double the volume of orders using the same number of staff. Customer satisfaction has improved as order fulfilment errors have reduced.
A new, autonomous returns function is the next step, which will further improve customer experience and warehouse efficiency.
Kinspeed continue to support Howies bespoke Sage 200 integration, developing functionality and user configuration, as business and customer needs evolve.
