Indigo Lighthouse appoints Chelford SAP as technology partner to support major European expansion

  • Leading UK supply chain outsourcer selects Chelford SAP to optimise operations and deliver new technology including RF handsets
  • To support Indigo Lighthouse's growing distribution network for top companies across Europe, including Amazon

LONDON - 30 January, 2007 - Chelford SAP Solutions, a Chelford Group company and provider of specialist ERP and supply chain management solutions for regulated industries, has been appointed as technology partner to Indigo Lighthouse, a leading UK supply chain and call centre outsourcing organisation. Chelford SAP will enable Indigo Lighthouse to extend and enhance the functionality of its existing SAP-based ERP system, so it can support its rapid expansion. Indigo Lighthouse has significantly developed its business since its establishment in 1998, which has resulted in an increase to the number of distribution fulfilments - including service fulfilment as a distributor for Amazon.

Indigo Lighthouse has rapidly developed from a home delivery operation to a supply chain outsourcer providing end-to-end order process and fulfilment - from call centre to delivery - across mainland Europe. The company underwent a bespoke SAP deployment five years ago, but its growth needs required enhanced functionality from the solution that would enable it to fully support its entire supply chain. Chelford SAP will initially extend warehouse management functionality in Indigo Lighthouse's Jersey-based distribution warehouse, which will include the introduction of a new SKU-number system and RF controlled handsets for floor operators. The company's investment in a dependable SAP solution will play a fundamental part in providing the infrastructure for its future business growth.

"We chose Chelford because of their expertise in warehousing and logistics," commented Albert King, Operations Manager IT at Indigo Lighthouse. "We are always taking on new clients both in the UK and across Europe, which demands more and more productivity from our supply chain. Indigo Lighthouse is now the main European distributor for Amazon - in 2006 we handled over 150 million Euros worth of sales, and dealt with over two million enquiries in nine different languages. Whilst the old SAP system fulfilled our needs when it was first installed, company growth has meant that we now demand significantly greater functionality from our ERP system.

"Indigo Lighthouse has got where it is today because it has invested in growth throughout its corporate life," Albert King added. "This is why we decided to build our infrastructure on an SAP platform. We believe that establishing a technology partnership with a company like Chelford will ensure we are able to get the most out the platform in years to come. Rather than simply rolling out a universal SAP solution with features we wouldn't use, the Chelford solution will provide us with exactly the right functionality we will need to continue developing our business."

As well as enhancing the current warehouse and goods shipping processes, Chelford has been signed up as Indigo Lighthouse's long-term technology partner to ensure the company's business model and infrastructure can continue to develop.

Chelford SAP will provide Indigo Lighthouse with the unique combination of software, technology, experience, services and future-proofing that will help ensure a seamless transition to greater and enhanced automation of purchasing and supply chain management. The platform gives each user easy access to the organisation’s information in a controlled manner - reports can be rapidly produced, trends can be analysed, and comprehensive information can be obtained to support decision making at all points in the supply chain.

About Indigo Lighthouse
Indigo Lighthouse is a privately owned Scottish-based company that provides innovative and dynamic solutions. It delivers the complete outsourcing platform for customer relationship management - building profitable and sustainable databases of loyal customers for its clients. Established in 1998, the company has grown from 5 to 250 employees. Indigo Lighthouse's headquarters are situated in the heart of Glasgow city centre, with its main distribution centre in St Helier, Jersey and a satellite distribution site in Glasgow.

Indigo Lighthouse provides a variety of flexible services for its clients and their customers, ensuring maximum customer loyalty, profitability and convenience. Its distribution centre in Jersey dispatches over 2 million individual packages a year to client's customers across Europe. Supporting 14 languages, Indigo Lighthouse's teams of customer service professionals are dedicated to delivering service excellence to its clients and their customers.

About Chelford SAP Solutions
Chelford SAP Solutions specialises in delivering SAP solutions to the Consumer Packaged Goods, Wholesale & Distribution and Apparel & Footwear industries. We provide complete life-cycle management of SAP business solutions for our customers. This includes strategy and planning services, implementation and support services, ranging from a help desk and straightforward maintenance to managed services.

Chelford has developed a suite of certified my SAP All-in-One solutions for the Wholesale & Distribution and Food industries called Smartstart. The solutions are developed from SAP's Business Suite of software, but tailored for these industry companies.

About The Chelford Group
Chelford provides solutions in supply chain, ERP, manufacturing, warehousing & distribution, automated data capture and Microsoft technology based applications. Chelford solutions are supported with services in systems strategy, project management, business process change management, systems integration, managed services and facilities management. Chelford Group companies include: Strategic Systems International Limited (SSI) www.ssi-world.com ;.Chelford SAP Solutions Limited www.chelfordsolutions.com ; Agility Systems Limited www.agilitysystems.co.uk; Chelford Solutions For Microsoft Limited www.chelford-sfm.com and RFID Solutions Centre Limited www.rfidsc.co.uk. Chelford Group has offices in Basingstoke, Darlington and Glasgow.

For More Information, please contact:
Neville Merritt
Group Marketing Director
Chelford Group
01256 685296
Neville.Merritt@chelfordgroup.com

Duncan Burford
The Press Office
PR for The Chelford Group
Tel: 01780 721433
dburford.pressoffice@targetwire.com

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