Hammond IT Integration
"We've taken a quantum leap forward since the early days of ordering by phone. The link to Richmond's database followed by the integration of our IT systems has without doubt nurtured growth, harmony and efficiency between our businesses. It's allowed us to get on with the job of growing & packing and Richmond to get on with sales & marketing. It's driven costs out of our business and been hugely beneficial for both of us."
Jon Hammond
Director
Hammond Produce Ltd
Hammond IT Integration
The Approach
Our software house developed an ingenious system that would scan our database specifically for Hammond's orders at hourly intervals. These orders would then be automatically wrapped up in a PDF and auto-emailed directly to a computer in Hammond's office. It took months to develop and fine tune this system but it worked a treat. However, having seen the potential, it soon became clear that we could take this further. The next step was to supply Hammond’s with the information on demand. We achieved this by a direct link from our Nationwide servers at Southport Head Office to Hammond’s. Our IT team and software developers visited Hammond's to establish the connection and run tests. Once the direct link was established it soon became clear that we could use the system to carry out other tasks than collating orders. For example, all delivery/collection notes are printed off the system. Furthermore, we now have two terminals in Hammond's packhouse and one in the loading bay. These terminals are on auto-refresh providing accurate up-to-date order information for Hammond's production and loading-bay staff. They work in much the same way as airport destination screens. Next we turned our attention towards accounts. We started by Hammond's checking and then printing off their own invoices to Richmond from our system. The next stage was to develop an interface whereby Hammond's could transfer the orders on our system directly into their own IT system. This would cut out the requirement for Hammond's to print off our orders from our system and then hand input them into their own system - it has also reduced human-error in the process.