Rolled out to 180 stores nationwide – Stock control improvements achieved
Cybertill has secured its second national charity win; a contract from the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA.
After a lengthy evaluation process during which Cybertill conducted a number of workshops with PDSA staff, its software solution was deemed to be the best fit for the charity’s current and future needs. The contract was won in competitive tender.
The Cybertill application is now providing comprehensive back-office functionality to all of PDSA’s 180 stores, located from south-west England to north-west Scotland.
In common with most charities, whilst the majority of store income is generated from donated goods, there are many valuable new goods opportunities.
As Andrew Holl, Director of Business Services at PDSA, explains: “Prior to selecting Cybertill, we relied upon manual stock management processes. That left us with little visibility of stock holding and sales across our stores.”
PDSA is now able to maximise the sale of new goods and manage stock more efficiently by understanding precisely where products are held.
Continues Andrew Holl: “Whilst we don’t have shareholders, we have Trustees and donors, and they expect us to look after our finances, in particular keeping tight control of the money we have tied up in stock.”
Prior to Christmas 2008, the new system was installed in 37 stores. PDSA was keen to optimise its sale of new, seasonal goods and derive the management information it needed to guide its purchase of Christmas 2009 stock.
“Thanks to having Cybertill installed in these stores, we have better insight into the sales and profit that we make on seasonal items. As we are now starting to plan stock for next Christmas, the insight that Cybertill has given us is driving better buying decisions,” Andrew Holl concludes.
Adds Robert Finley, Cybertill’s Business Development Director: “Having recently been selected as the EPoS solution supplier to British Red Cross, this second contract from a major national charity is testimony to the time and energy we’ve devoted to understanding the charity sector and its retail challenges around gift aid.”
About PDSA www.pdsa.org.uk
In 2009, PDSA celebrates 92 years of providing free veterinary treatment for the sick and injured pets of people in need. It is proud of the heritage, achievements and values that have made it the UK’s leading veterinary charity. It is non-campaigning, and non-political and cares for more than 350,000 pet patients a year.
