Technicel

A growing organisation that has more than doubled in size in seven years, Technicel is doing just that. The supplier of innovative system solutions for professional floor installers has grown so much that inventory management has also faced new challenges. The implementation of Slimstock’s supply chain platform offers Technicel a helping hand. ‘We were in real need of support for our inventory management.’

Technicel was founded in 2005 and now, some twenty years later, operates nine stores, a distribution centre and a webshop. From its distribution centre in Westerlo, Technicel mainly supplies B2B customers, such as floorers, contractors and landscapers.

In recent years, a lot of manual work has been replaced by digital solutions to accommodate growth. Slimstock presented the ideal solution.‘We really needed help with our inventory management,’ says Andries Gysen, who oversees daily inventory operations at Technicel. As the organisation grew, Gysen’s tasks became very complex over the years. Encouraged by positive feedback from industry peers, Technicel opted to implement Slimstock’s award-winning supply chain platform, Slim4. ‘We were looking for a forecasting and planning tool, and heard good things about Slimstock. We grew very quickly in a short period of time and needed tools to support that growth.’

Growing product range

Technicel’s product range has expanded significantly in recent years and now includes more than 4,400 SKUs. Conducting daily checks across this portfolio became unmanageable. While ten percent of the range consists of fast-moving items that are easy to track, the remaining stock is more susceptible to wastage. ‘We were holding a lot of obsolete stock and really needed to do something about it. Especially with products such as tile adhesive or grout, which have a limited shelf life, it is important to manage stock properly.’

For a long time, Technicel’s stock was managed entirely manually, but this became unsustainable due to rapid growth. Time off had to be carefully planned, and laptops often travelled along on holidays. ‘We had access to a large amount of data and a strong historical base, but we had to analyse everything manually,’ Gysen recalls. It became increasingly clear that a forecasting and planning tool was necessary.

Gysen was convinced and quickly noticed that a new approach to stock management was going to save him a lot of time. ‘Relying on one person makes your company very vulnerable. We are now shifting responsibilities from individuals to structured procedures and systems. With the arrival of Slim4, this is possible, and it gives us greater peace of mind.’

Better conversations

Working with a single integrated system also ensures that internal departments are more aligned. ‘All data is now widely available within the organisation, allowing Technicel to operate from a unified philosophy. This makes conversations between purchasing and sales a lot easier,’ Gysen explains.

He continues, ‘Our salespeople are our eyes and ears on the market, but they often act on gut instinct, which can result in ordering more stock than necessary. Thanks to Slim4, you can filter out gut feelings when it comes to purchasing decisions. We now use facts and data that cannot be denied. Slim4 is not a crystal ball, but it’s not far off.’

Improved service level, reduced costs

The arrival of Slim4 has been a game-changer for Gysen, who can now point to significant improvements in the inventory process. The results speak for themselves. ‘Our inventory management has evolved and is now much more efficient. We focus more on the right items, which has significantly reduced unnecessary costs. In addition, our service levels have improved significantly. With less manual work required, we’re now free to focus on other priorities. This creates extra room for growth.’