Case Histories › Thomas Sanderson

Sales force reacts to supply and demand with instant information on products, prices and offers

Portsmouth-based Thomas Sanderson manufactures and sells pleated blinds for conservatories and supplies and sells garden and patio awnings throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. With a national work force of 300 self-employed sales and installation designers, efficient and reliable communications are all-important.

Problem

"We used to send messages to the sales staff via fax or email and urgent messages would go via mobile phone," Head of IT Dave Hirst says. "The problem with faxes and emails is that our designers, who are out on the road, could only pick up their messages once they returned home, and to keep using mobiles was time-consuming and expensive. If the designer was with a customer, his 'phone would be switched off and that would mean leaving a message asking them to return the call."

Solution

Now with an Autopage system with file importer installed, staff at the Portsmouth headquarters can type in messages and send them to the entire sales force within ten seconds. The new system also allows Thomas Sanderson to react immediately to supply and demand for its products. With a wide range of designs in its portfolio, it can alert staff instantly to the availability of particular fabrics, price changes and special offers, or other product and company information.

Autopage's messaging system is also used to pass on customer queries to individual sales staff and it acts as a back-up for the IT department itself when it experiences technical problems.

"The system is fantastic," Mr Hirst said. "We sent over 177,000 text messages in the first three years of operating it and it's cheaper than using phones or faxes. We've also been very impressed with Autopage's service. They helped tailor the system specifically to meet our needs and are there to help whatever."