The Consortium Chooses ToolsGroup for Integrated Business Planning

LONDON, January 15, 2014 – Leading independent supplier to the education and care markets, The Consortium, has chosen ToolsGroup’s SO99+ supply chain software to enable its new Integrated Business Planning processes.

The Consortium provides organisations with all the supplies and services they need to deliver the curriculum, care for their residents and to operate their premises. Via its catalogues and website, it offers more than 40,000 products, ranging from learning resources to cleaning products, including well-known brands and its own brand and value ranges.

Central to The Consortium’s success is the business’s promise to provide customers with the highest quality service. It has been recognised as Supplier of the Year at the Education Resource Awards in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Its award-winning services include free delivery, bulk buy discounts, next-day delivery on stock items and advice on getting the best value.

To ensure these high standards are maintained and improved, The Consortium is implementing Integrated Business Planning and will use ToolsGroup’s SO99+ solution to release working capital and improve customer service.

Jan Steenberg, The Consortium’s supply chain director, said: “Our customers depend on us to deliver: we have high standards to maintain and ambitious plans to drive forward further improvements. We chose SO99+ because of its successful track record in demand planning, inventory optimisation and replenishment. We are pleased to be working with ToolsGroup, whose flexible staff has shown a real understanding of the challenges we face.”

Managing Director of ToolsGroup UK, Martin Woodward, said: “We understand organisations like The Consortium whose success depends on their ability to consistently deliver high standards of customer service. We are delighted to be able to support them as they put their plans for supply chain improvements into action.”