Aspin providing powerful software solutions for distributors since 1984

Published: 05 January, 2010

You were formed in 1984 as a software and computer supplier with the principle objective of providing complete business solutions. In the early years, what did this involve and how did you expand?

From Aspin’s beginning and until the late 90’s our main product focus was on our AMSolve Accounting and Distribution software developed for the specific processing and reporting requirements of the larger Giftware Trade. Additionally, starting in 1989 we created a specialist application AMSolve module to comprehensively address the stock control and supply-chain replenishment requirements of the Greeting Card Industry.

Our first greeting card customer being Carte Blanche Greetings, who were quickly, followed by other well known greetings card publishers such other as Emotional Rescue, Paper Rose and Paperlink and Images & Editions. By 2000 Aspin had over 75 greeting card customers in the UK, Mainland Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

A majority of those greeting card companies still use and depend on Aspin and AMSolve.

Tell us more about how you identified opportunities in the growing handheld computer sector?

As part of diversifying our IT offering and customer markets, we first developed MiniSell I for Sales Force Automation in 2000/01 which led on the current version of MiniSell II. MiniSell was developed to meet increasing customer demands and respond to competitive pressure, distribution companies are constantly on the lookout for effective ways to reduce costs, generate more sales, and surpass customer expectations. Nevertheless, so many factors – from rising operational costs, to tight credit, to limited resources – stand in the way of their ability to respond to changing conditions and profitably grow their business. By integrating MiniSell field and exhibition sales order capture, direct to retail distribution companies have gained better visibility into back office sales data and information for managing the entire field sales supply chain – from the customer and sales representative to the office admin staff and managers/directors. Aspin delivers information to the sales team when they need it most, at the point of sale.

MiniPick warehouse management software was then added to our product offering in 2005/06. MiniPick WMS is designed to streamline and automate both, dispatch and goods in process, through a straight forward link to the host accounting/stock control application.

Sales and purchases orders/manifests are allocated to the warehouse staff's handheld units either automatically or by the warehouse manager.

The warehouse staff are then guided through the relevant process using a barcode scanner or manual product confirmation. Location confirmation is also supported.

There was a significant addition to the group's UK operations in 2002 wasn't there?

Aspin Interactive Ltd. was created in 2002. This was as a result of an acquisition of Winchester based Internet agency Clear Vision. The company quickly established themselves as experts in e-commerce and went on to develop their own e-commerce system called InterSell. This flexible and easy to use solution gives merchants an effective means of capturing retail and trade web orders. InterSell also helps retailers and distributors become more efficient in their sales process, engaging new customer opportunities online and streamline the fulfilment process. In other words, servicing existing customers faster and more efficiently, while acquiring new customer sales online.

The services you offer would benefit all market sectors within reason, wouldn't they?

Retailers who are still unsure about whether to have a website or not, have to consider that all retailers today have to be 'in it to win it'. E-commerce is a big sales arm! Many people nowadays are used to searching for information on Google, therefore retailers who decide not to have a website immediately put themselves at a disadvantage.

A website doesn't have to cost a fortune, but there is a lot to it, and it can be a daunting challenge. The very same applies to distribution companies selling into retail. E-commerce as a core sales channel can't be ignored any more. Leading brands such as Crabtree & Evelyn, find that InterSell trade increases ordering efficiency. Retailers such as Riverford Organic Vegetables and many other online merchants, large and small, benefit from InterSell's easy to use management interface.

Doug Mendes

Business Development Manager
Aspin Management Systems
www.aspin.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1794 500200
Fax: +44 (0) 1794 500210

email: dougm@aspin.co.uk