Case studies
We have clients of all types and sizes, from roofing contractors, to care homes, to plumbers and charities, and to golf clubs such as the world famous Carnoustie links club. We also provide system solutions to large multi national businesses such as Mamas & Papas and Shark Ninja. Here are a just a few case histories.
Sinclair Group
With a reputation for excellence, The Sinclair Group, operational since 1945, are the largest motor retailer in South Wales with 20 branches offering 9 new vehicle manufacturers brands as well as a wide range of used cars. In 2019 Sinclair took the decision to source a Purchase Order software solution, to replace more manual driven purchasing practices, in order to have greater approval controls and reporting.
The YMCA (client since 2013)
The YMCA is the largest and oldest youth charity in the world. Starting in London in 1844, the YMCA now has 121 branches in England, with some 45 million members in 119 countries.
A change in structure brought together Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds and Lowestoft branches in East Anglia, as the Suffolk YMCA. These changes gave the opportunity to review the use of systems across the 3 branches, to look at gaining any possible efficiencies. One area that stood out was the need to co-ordinate the purchasing function across the locations. The paper based PO system of using spread sheets was slow in terms of getting approvals for orders, and not always up to date. Add to this the fact that as many as 50 people may need to raise purchase orders in the 3 locations, meant a new system would need to account for a number of challenges.
Lilian Faithfull (client since 2013)
Lilian Faithfull Homes has been meeting the needs of elderly people who require care for over 65 years. And with that wealth and breadth of experience, currently operate 4 separate homes, based in elegant heritage buildings, within 1.5 miles of the centre of Cheltenham. The Company’s philosophy is all based around people-centred care, extended to supporting the families of residents.
Running 4 separate homes has it’s challenges, and back in the Autumn of 2013, Martin Hughes (then Head of Finance and IT)- who’s department was awarded Finance Team of the Year 2013 (public sector and voluntary)- felt that a full electronic Purchase Order system would add an additional layer of control and speed to the successful running of the operation in each of the homes.
Shark Ninja (client since 2015)
Shark Ninja, formerly Euro-Pro Operating LLC (established 1993) is the maker of class-leading Shark® vacuums and the innovative line of Ninja® kitchen appliances, with the goal of giving today’s busy consumer better and more efficient products that fit their lifestyle. Since launching in 1993, offices now stretch over the United States, Canada, the UK and China, with the ever increasing product range stocked by major retailers around the globe.
Back in the Autumn of 2014, Liz Kaplan (then divisional financial controller) was looking to instigate a new way of creating and handling both Purchasing and Supplier Invoices for their fast developing business. Having found DOL’s Cloud based Purchase Order and Supplier invoice system via the internet, a series of remote GoTo Meeting sessions convinced Liz that the core system, with development, would meet the company’s needs.
CGLMC Ltd – Carnoustie (client since 2017)
The game of golf has been played in Carnoustie for well over four centuries. The first indication that the game was being played in the Angus town can be found in the Parish Records of 1560 when the game of ‘gowff’ was mentioned and there is every indication that the game has played an important part in the town’s life ever since.
Carnoustie’s Championship course has become regarded as one of Britain’s finest, and most challenging, tests of golf. It is, in short, it compares with anything found elsewhere in the world.
For CGLMC Ltd, running a major golfing venue like Carnoustie, requires a range of financial controls, and at the end of 2016, the Finance Department contacted Cloud B2B solutions with a view to installing an electronic cloud based Purchase Order and Supplier invoice system. With 3 courses and 4 departments spread across the site, previous paper based systems were no longer practical for the organisation.
R&S Building Services Engineers (client since 2016)
R&S, founded in 1986 provides a wide range of engineering services for commerce and industry from their headquarters in Staverton, Gloucestershire. The company primarily serves commercial and industrial clients around the South West and South Wales but have travelled the world for clients, many of which are ‘blue chip’ organisations. The Company currently employees some 36 staff, including senior engineers, who have a wide range of expertise in building services, petrochemical, process, mechanical and electrical engineering.
Project work varies in size and nature, ranging from the installation of one-off air conditioning units to designing and installing complete factory facilities infrastructures. The largest project to date had a value of c. £2.5m.
Back in early 2016, Alex Norton (R&S Director) contacted Cloud B2B, with regard to introducing an on screen Purchase Order and Supplier invoice system, to replace a paper based system. After a number of discussions and demos, Alex opted for the full Purchase Order and Supplier Invoice system, using the concurrent user licence model, to ensure all relevant staff had access to the system.
Stagecoach Rail (client since 2017)
International public transport group Stagecoach Rail has become an early adopter of a new cloud-based system to automate its purchase invoice approval process. By adopting a cloud based product from Cloud B2B the Stagecoach Rail Business Development (SRBD) team has been able to reduce supplier payment delays by allowing invoice approval anytime and from any location.
Additional benefits include more efficient invoice processing, with better traceability and auditability.
Branston Golf & Country Club (client since 2016)
Branston Golf & Country Club first opened in 1975 opposite Drakelow Hall, and is recognised as one of the leading golf clubs in Staffordshire. Overlooking the picturesque River Trent, the club has continued to develop over the years, with the most recent addition being The Pavilion which opened in 2005, to add to the wide range of facilities such as the gym, pool, and spa and impressive Club House.
Offering a wide range of function options, as well as charitable events, the running of the courses and the Clubhouse with all it’s facilities, puts pressure on having the correct procurement process. In 2016, Branston’s Financial Controller Kevin Atton, contracted with Cloud B2B to supply a comprehensive cloud based Purchase Order and Supplier Invoice system.
Barnsley Football Club (client since 2018)
Barnsley F.C. currently play in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed "the Tykes" (as well as The Reds) the club holds a record of having played over 70 seasons in the second division. The Club was founded in 1887 by Reverend Tiverton Preedy, under the name Barnsley St. Peter's and their home ground since 1888 has been Oakwell, now a multi-purpose sports venue.
The name 'Oakwell', originates from the well and oak tree that were on the stadium site when first built, but also generally refers to neighbouring venues which form the breadth of the Clubs facilities. With a capacity of 23,287 in an all-seater stadia, it is often termed a 'classic' football stadium and one of the few remaining grounds to have its floodlights on corner pylons. It was also the first stadium in English football to have a designated stand for disabled supporters
The club also has a very active charity arm -Reds in the Community- involving supporters and the wider community.
Innovative solutions available for all organisations
At Cloud B2B solutions we pride ourselves at being able to offer practical low cost systems that meet individual client requirements. Whilst the core generic products have evolved through practical use and cater for many organisations needs, we are happy to come up with new ways of helping businesses meet the ever changing challenges they face.