Evonet software helps Burbage make the switch from retail to trade

Five years ago, Hinckley-based Burbage Custom Windows was predominantly a retail fabricator supplying customers in and around Leicestershire. Now, with the help of Business Micros’ EvoNET business management software, it has transformed itself into a trade specialist manufacturing around 600 PVC-U windows a week and supplying customers nationwide via a fleet of 7 delivery trucks. Director James Meah says that EvoNET has been fundamental to this successful transformation and has helped the business expand dramatically without a dramatic increase in staff. James says that EvoNET is now a ‘virtual factory manager’ at Burbage Custom Windows, managing every aspect of production right through from receipt of the order all the way to despatch.

He says that the business made the decision to commit 100% to the EvoNET system and now uses virtually all the modules available to automate its entire operation and increase productivity. This has been crucial as the shift from retail to trade has taken place, particularly because EvoNET allows the operations team to see instant updates of business performance any time via a simple dashboard viewer.

As well as setting up EvoNET scanning points throughout the factory which have enabled Burbage to switch to efficient paperless production, the business has also installed large screens which display the required output for each day and help to motivate the shopfloor team by counting down that total as each frame is completed. James Meah says that everything from importing online orders to tracking service calls is now managed within EvoNET, with almost every department within Burbage operating at optimum efficiency as a result. He says: “From order inputting to after sales service, we don’t waste time on unnecessary tasks or paperwork and we don’t lose time to human error. Instead, EvoNET enables us to provide a consistently seamless service which makes it easy for trade customers to do business with us. It has been a considerable investment, but, in terms of how it has enabled us to upscale, it is paying huge dividends.”

While some fabricators might be cautious about putting so much of their operation through one software system, Burbage Custom Windows has no such concerns. James adds: “When you choose EvoNET, you are essentially becoming a Business Micros partner. The team there have ensured that the software works in exactly the way we want it to, as well as providing impressive levels of support so that we never feel exposed by our reliance on it. EvoNET is also very simple and intuitive to use so, after the initial training phase, all our staff have embraced the technology with very impressive results.”