Merseyside Digital Development

ICT Investment Fund is helping a successful Liverpool company improve its operations. Palace Chemicals in Speke make a large range of products for the DIY market under a range of various brand names. They also have large contracts to supply own branded products for national DIY chains.

£25,000 funding from the ICT Investment Fund is helping the company make a total investment in excess of £100K to buy and implement a computer based integrated warehouse management system using bar coding functionality to cover all of their warehouse sites.

Wayne Clapham, Operations Director explains: “The company has been growing consistently over many years. Following a thorough review of the business with our external consultant, Gary Barrett, we drew up a list of actions to take the business further forward and then prioritised them.

“Having a computerised warehouse management system is vital to the business. Our customers are demanding a more complete service and we need to react to this in order to remain competitive. We are one of the largest independent producers of ready mixed tile adhesive in the UK and we have a range of over 280 product lines that we produce here in Liverpool. Our contracts with national customers are demanding and we usually have limited time periods to turn around their large orders.”

Installing the warehouse management system will enable the company to monitor stock levels and locations and therefore utilise the more effective use of warehouse space and staff time. Wayne continued: “This initiative will improve our supply chain processes and utilise new technologies to build on and improve our current systems.

“This is a large investment for the business and the funding assistance from Liverpool Chamber has meant that we have been able to move this project forward more quickly.”

The new £1m fund has been designed to help Merseyside businesses maximise the potential of technology. The scheme is funded by ERDF through the Objective One programme and is being managed by Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. For further information email John Blades or call him on 0151 227 1234