Author Archives: Bright Collie

End of year message from i2i

An end of year message from our MD:

“I can’t quite believe I’m typing this message, only seems like yesterday that we were celebrating the New Year, where has the year gone!?

I hope this finds you, your family and colleagues well, and 2022 has been a healthy and prosperous New Year for you all.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your business again this year and look forward to working with you in 2023. The team and I hope the software is continuing to deliver what you need to run your business, it’s your success and growth that drives the functionality and changes we make.

With the state of the nation, and factors outside of our control, I’m sure the year has not been without it’s challenges, and confident the only constant for you and us has been change. To manage the trials and tribulations of this change, is ensuring the people you work with and for are the people you’d want at your side when the going gets tough, and I can certainly say that between my colleagues and friends here at i2i along with you, our customers (and we definitely have the best customers in the market), for this I’m grateful.

We have seen enormous expansion across our customer base which in turn has led to some exciting developments. Here are a few of our highlights:

  • Move from Parallels to AVD: This was a massive piece of work, and the feedback received is that i2i is now far snappier and quicker to navigate since the change. We have certainly seen a significant reduction in the number of Helpdesk tickets for latency and printing issues.

  • Cross Database Functionality: With the growing demand for group businesses, we now provide the capability for group businesses to manage their inventory across multiple businesses, creating clarity and automation.

  • WMS (Warehouse Management System) run on android mobile computers (very cool Zebra TC21 or Sunmi L2s) with the latest developments including full GRN (Goods Received), Stock picking by SO (Sales Order), WO (Works Order), and Image capture & signature against GRN, WO, Batch Moves and Collection/Delivery, plus a whole lot more

  • Front to back, back to front traceability against batch No and Serial No

  • Shopify App

  • Multiple Courier Integrations and Edi Integrations

  • Exceptions
  • Widespread use of our Qlik Dashboards providing the majority of our customers with real time insights against any data set or metric visualised in any form of graph or chart
  • A powerful EPOS supporting our trade and retail outlets
  • B2B Portal coming in the New Year.

If you have any questions on any of the above, please feel free to get in touch with the team for more information.

I hope you have some time off to look forward to over the festive period, it’s always a good time to reflect and evaluate on the year that’s been.

We will be closed in between Christmas and the New Year returning on Tuesday 3rdJan, but for those of our customers that will be operational during these times, we’ll be here to help.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the team here at i2i, see you on the other side.”

Gareth Holtam,
Managing Director

Milestone Blog: Sachin Kothapalli

Milestone Blog: Sachin Kothapalli

Sachin Kothapalli grew up in Bangalore, the Tech Hub of India. If you believe in fate, you might say he was always destined to be a bit of a techie.

After completing a degree in Computer Science with flying colours, Sachin worked as a Business Developer for a year but couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting a bigger challenge.

He wanted something that would push him out of his comfort zone and offer him the chance to grow into bigger things. So, he relocated to the UK to study an MSc in Artificial Intelligence with Robotics.

He told us:

“Initially it was difficult. I did not know anyone here and it was a bit of a cultural shock – I had never left India before!

Over time, I started adapting. I travelled more, met more people and was constantly learning new things. It was a busy couple of years, but I graduated with an award as one of the best students of my group.

My plan was to go on to pursue a PhD but when the pandemic hit, I could not secure funding for my PhD. Instead of whiling my time away I decided to broaden my knowledge base with the most popular subject in the world at the time, data science and that’ what brought me to Cardiff, pursuing a MSc in Data Science.”

Sachin and Gareth connected through LinkedIn. i2i was growing rapidly and looking to expand the team and Sachin was looking for an industry placement and had a particular interest in start-ups and SME’s where he knew he could make an impact.

“Right from the offset, i2i ticked all the boxes for me. Gareth and Nathan were incredibly welcoming. They understood my situation with the placement and made accommodations and they have been nothing but encouraging since.

As someone who is stepping out after a while in academia, I could not have asked for a better team to have around me to help me acclimatize to the demands of the corporate environment. It’s also not all work. The banter, the music, the lessons through shared experiences, it’s been an incredible start to my life at i2i.” He added.

Sachin joined us in June 2022 as Data Scientist and C# Developer but as a small and agile business, he gets involved in so much more. He’s made a big impact in a short space of time having worked extensively on C# development for our hand-held computers and the EPOS software. He’s been heavily involved with a number of projects including bespoke development for one of our biggest clients. On top of that Sachin has been working on Azure management, SQL Development, and client support.

Sachin said: “The biggest milestone in these 5 months is the progress we have made on the hand-held computers. I have released 25 versions updating them since I joined and each of these versions are filled with new features that have further enamored i2i to our clients.

We have introduced features like GRN and WO image capture, with the ability to edit these pictures on the go, Shop Floor Data Capturing, Sales and Works Order Picking, Warehouse Stock Movement, and most recent inclusion of the GRN module that allows clients to Receive in Goods and Allocate through the devices.”

Sachin has settled into the team with ease and got stuck in from day one. As a small business, it’s critical that our team work dynamically together and that we really understand each other. Not just on a business level, but on a personal one too.

He told us: “What sets i2i apart from my other jobs has definitely been the people. With Gareth, Nathan, Lee and Ceri, I could not have asked for a better team to have around me. They are extremely professional at their jobs, but they also go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and part of the team.

They are empathetic (which is becoming a rarity in employers now) and empower you to learn and improve every single day. Most importantly, they always provide an inclusive atmosphere. These qualities, and so much more, set i2i apart from the rest of the companies in the field.

I couldn’t pick just one favourite thing about working here. Aside from Gareth’s playlist when on the road, it’s probably how much I have been able to learn and develop as a person and professional. I am someone who is obsessed with constantly learning and developing myself. The professional that I am today compared to the professional I was 5 months ago, I have progressed leaps and bounds”

We’d have to agree. It’s been a pleasure having Sachin as part of the team and to see him put his vast amount of knowledge into practice in a real-world setting. We have high hopes for Sachin’s future.

We are always interested in speaking to talented individuals who share our passion for problem solving and delivering excellent service.

If you’re looking to join a fast growing software development team, please contact Gareth@inventory2invoice.com.

 

What is ERP and how can it benefit your business?

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning and put simply, it is a system which consolidates all of the core business processes including manufacturing, HR, finance, procurement, supply chain and more, making it easier to efficiently manage them via one, centralised and integrated system.

This system, in our case i2i business software, enables a business to access all its data in one place meaning all functions of the business can be connected and working from the same information. Crucially, having access to all of this information gives businesses a superpower… accurate, real-time data.

In a data driven world, it is one of the major drivers of growth in any business. Having access to and understanding your data means your business can predict trends, identify opportunities, work collaboratively and have the agility to stay ahead of the competition.

ERP can help businesses of all sizes in a huge range of sectors to operate more efficiently, but not all ERP solutions are the right fit for your business.  Our clients range from retailers, manufacturers, healthcare, logistics, hospitality and more, with a turnover of up to £100m.

Here are 6 key benefits of using ERP:

  1. Enhanced productivity

An ERP system can streamline and automate many of the major business functions, leaving employees to focus on tasks that generate profit. Tasks such as reporting, stock taking, order processing and keeping customers up to date are both time consuming and easily susceptible to human error. By contrast, automating both complex and tedious tasks can free up the time of staff to enable them to utilise their time more productively. Not only does this improve your ROI, but it also boosts employee morale and engagement as they’re more likely to be carrying out meaningful and interesting tasks.

  1. Detailed reporting

Business intelligence is essential in today’s world and an ERP stores huge amounts of data and analytics which can be utilised for key decision making. i2i’s dashboard displays with crucial data, in an easy-to-read format allowing users to access important information at a glance. The customisable dashboards make it easier to generate reports which can be tailored to the end user.

 

  1. Improved customer relationships

Customer expectations are higher than ever, and ERP software is a great tool for improving customer satisfaction. By connecting different aspects of a business and utilising data, organisation’s can not only engage with their customers more efficiently, but they can also tailor their service to each customer’s needs. Enhanced levels of service set businesses ahead of their competitors and encourage repeat business.

  1. Increased agility

Having access to real-time and in-depth information allows business leaders to make informed decisions, both tactically and strategically. This could mean identifying new market trends and being able to act upon them as well as reacting to new opportunities or competition. With an operation running more efficiently and with increased visibility of an operation as a whole, inefficiencies can be identified and eliminated quickly, reducing any long-term impact on a business.

  1. Improves collaboration

An effective ERP system means all of an organisation’s information is in one place making collaboration between locations and departments much easier. Whether a business has sites across several different locations or ships products globally, our software provides complete visibility and traceability. A central point of accurate information allows project planning to be carried out more efficiently and allows c-suite to get quick and easy answers to any critical business questions.

We deliver a first class all in one business management software solution, combining automation, detailed reporting and high-performance functionality expertly integrated to suit your business.

The result – you can grow your business by working more efficiently than ever before and having access to powerful data to shape your decisions. We help digitise the winners of tomorrow.

Find out more: www.inventory2invoice.com

Tech round up – April 2022

i2i Tech Round-up April
April has flown by in a flash! It’s been a busy month at i2i we’ve been onboarding and training new customers, servicing our existing ones and continuing to enhance our product with further updates including the release of a completely new version of i2i, giving our users more functionality and increased performance.
As always, we’ve been keeping our finger on the pulse of the latest tech news and our First Line Support Manager Bradley has summarised his top 3 highlights of the month.

1. The news of Elon Musk buying the social media platform Twitter for an incredible $44bn has to be the top tech news story.
Bradley says: “what interests me most about the buyout is the fact that Musk has stressed his passion for the platform to become one for free speech. He’s also said he’ll completely get rid of Twitter adverts. it will be interesting to see whether either of these things come to fruition especially as the UK and EU have already warned that Twitter must comply with new content rules aiming to prevent hate speech or risk facing sanctions.
Read more about this news here: Elon Musk strikes deal to buy Twitter for $44bn – BBC News
2. The next tech update that caught Bradley’s eye this month was the news that watching television is self-driving cars will be allowed.

“This story stood out for all the wrong reasons, I don’t think it’s a very good idea! The article also states that it will still be illegal to go but watching tv won’t be. It doesn’t make much sense to me but it will be interesting to see how it develops as it is supposed to be implemented by 2025. One positive about the roll out of self-driving cars is the prediction that it will boost the economy and creating over 38,000 jobs.” Bradley said.
Read more: Watching TV in self-driving cars to be allowed – BBC News
3. The third tech highlight is that our EPOS system now has back-order capability.
Bradley explained: “This is a big feature for us and a good excuse to shout about the impressive tills! If a customer wants to add something on as a back order that isn’t in stock, the till will automatically place the order under the customer’s account. Automating this process saves time and improves the sales process. The feature also allows the user to select which warehouse a product will be coming from which makes tracking the order and managing stock levels much simpler and efficient.”
A great tech round-up from Bradley!
If you want to know more about our EPOS system or any other features of our business software get in touch for a no obligation chat.

i2i software – top tech stories – March 2022

It’s no secret that we love all things tech-related.

Technology transforms how we live our lives and with new developments happening so frequently, there’s always something to be inspired by.

Every month, we’ll share a round up of the tech stories that have got us talking in the office in the hopes of inspiring you too!

This month it’s the turn of i2i Account Manager Joseph, to bring you his top tech news…

  1. A Chinese company, Space Transportation, is developing a supersonic jet capable of traveling from New York to China in just one hour.

The jet has been described as being “a rocket with wings.”

Joseph said “These aviation plans are really incredible, and it would be amazing to be able to            travel so far, so quickly. The world is becoming so much more connected.”

Read the full article here: New York – China in 1 hour

2. Rumour has it that the iPhone 15 Pro models will place the Face ID components under the                 display. But the handset will still feature a hole-punch design.

Face ID is the most sophisticated biometric authentication system available on smartphones.              There’s a reason only Apple has it, and that has to do with the complexity of the tech and the              costs related to deploying it.

“As a lover of Apple products I find it fascinating to see how they advance each model and                  remain at the forefront of innovation every time.” Joseph said.

Find out more here: iPhone Face ID

  1. Our customers rely on data to ensure their business is running at optimum efficiency. We regularly roll out new updates and features to enhance our business software and this month we launched a feature which allows customisable searches, delivering more specific reporting.

Users can customise status settings for Quotes, Exceptions, Sales Orders in the global settings          section of the dashboard.

The key benefit of this customisation means users can filter their main searches and narrow              down their reporting, drilling down to specific information that can help drive improvements                  across different areas of the business. Discover the other key features our software delivers.

A Spotlight on i2i’s First Line Support Manager Bradley

Last year we made some key appointments to our team and Bradley, our First Line Support Manager, was one of them.

Bradley joined us at the start of November with a technical background, having worked previously as an IT Technician for a large manufacturer.

His role with i2i was a change of direction, being more customer focused and working within a small, agile team and Bradley has immersed himself in our collaborative, results driven culture from the get-go. He told us:

“The last 4 months have been a steep learning curve, but I’ve enjoyed every second.

I wanted to join i2i because they’re ambitious, innovative and have an all-hands-on deck approach and this has allowed me to develop my skills faster than I could’ve imagined.

There’s such a positive attitude within the team and we’re always encouraged to share our ideas which is really motivating.

My role is primarily focused on customer support, whether its new or old customers. I am constantly using the software and learning more about its capabilities which ensures our customers are getting the best possible experience. I also do a lot behind the scenes, managing our servers and various external applications that we use.

There is so much opportunity to learn and develop here at i2i and in the longer term I’d like to have more involvement in the development side of things and learning the coding language.”

Bradley has made a real impact within the team and we’re looking forward to supporting his development and growth with i2i.

We’re always on the look out for talented individuals who share our passion for problem solving and service.

If you’re looking to join a fast growing, innovative software development team, please contact Gareth for an informal chat: Gareth@inventory2invoice.com

i2i End of Year Round-up

As 2021 draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the year and how it’s been a marker for a number of exciting milestones for our business. 

Ending the year on a high feels particularly meaningful this year, so we wanted to share our top 5 highlights of 2021 to share the positivity and as a reminder of the year it’s been.

We hope you enjoy our i2i 2021 round up! 

  1. Key Appointments

This year we’ve made some key appointments to our team including Office Administration Manager, Sophie, First Line Support Manager, Bradley, Senior IT Manager, Aaron and Account Manager Joseph. In the short space of being part of the i2i team, they’ve all made a hugely positive impact and have helped push our business in the direction of growth. The team is stronger than ever, and we’ve created a culture within the business that fosters innovation, passion and creativity from everyone. 

  1. New Home/Moved into our new office

Like many businesses, we spent lockdown working remotely and this became our norm. However, after making some organisational changes and redefining our roles we decided that a modern, centralised office space would enable us to get the best from our growing team. Moving into our HQ at Cardiff Gate in July was a stand-out moment for us this year and we’ve certainly made the place our own with the i2i logo and strapline “Be Humble, Be Nimble, Be Hungry” emblazoned on the walls, as a daily reminder of what drives us.

  1. Product Development

Throughout the year we’ve continued to develop and enhance our software to ensure we’re at the cutting edge of ERP and supporting our customers as their businesses evolve. We’ve added a number of new features including;

  • Cross Database Functionality for Multi Company Groups, giving total transparency and ease of reporting across multiple companies.
  • Dynamic Min/Max in buying tools
  • Purchase requisitions giving total buying control against all internal requirements
  • Android mobile computers giving a full WMS (Warehouse Management System) and proof of dispatch/collection with photo evidence and signature capture. We recently wrote a blog on the benefits which you can read here.
  • Tutorials on our YouTube channel to provide our customers with a catalogue of useful videos to help them get the most from the software.

We understand there’s been a lot of change and if you feel you would benefit from either a refresh of existing modules or new functions that would help further support your business let u know and we can arrange for either F2F or remote training where required.  We want to ensure you’re getting the very most from the software.

  1. Brand Refresh

As part of refocusing our core vision and values, we gave our branding a refresh in order to reflect them. We launched a new website earlier this year, which is much easier to navigate and we believe it encompasses our philosophy perfectly. We’ve added some new graphics, video testimonials from some of our clients as well as a news and blog section which we’ll continue to update with informative and interesting content. Keep an eye on our social media feeds where we’ll be sharing all our key news and updates.

  1. National and International Expansion

From a growth perspective, this year has been exceptional and is something we’re incredibly proud of.  We’ve always thought of ourselves as one of the best kept secrets in the ERP software market and this year we’ve worked hard to spread that message in our humble way, and it’s led to us growing our customer base nationally and internationally. All our business is based on customer referrals, a badge of honour that we wear with pride as the referrals keep coming, and now, with a strong team in place and a clear vision of where we want to be we’re investing more in growth and are extremely excited to see where the next year will take us.

We’d like to thank all our customers for a fantastic year. After the challenges we all faced through the pandemic it’s been amazing to support our businesses across manufacturing, retail, logistics and 3PL assisting their growth and efficiency through automation using i2i.

We look forward to working even more closely with our community of existing customers, and super excited at welcoming onboard all of those looking to go live during 2022.

If you’re a rapidly expanding business and still getting by on excel or an outdated bespoke solution that is no longer fit for purpose and looking to update and integrate powerful business software into your business, we can help.

For full details on what our software can offer and how it can enhance your organisation visit our website.

How your business can Benefit from the Zebra Warehouse Scanner

We’ve recently rolled out a new product to our customers and the positive feedback has been flying in. Zebra Warehouse Scanners are handheld, wireless devices and they’re a gamechanger in the warehouse environment.

Want to know how? Here are the top 5 benefits…

  1. Streamline your inventory management

Utilising the warehouse scanners puts all your key information in one place, giving you increased visibility over these important processes. From stock counts, locations, order fulfilment dates and more, you’re able to gather accurate information, quickly. The scanners update in real time meaning you can find out the current status and location of all your assets at the click of a button, enhancing both productivity and efficiency.

  1. Faster, more efficient inventory turnover

Manual stock counts and checks can be a thing of the past, allowing you to maximise your staff in other areas of the business and reducing error rates. The devices can help to ensure the correct goods are received and dispatched and give you full visibility over the location of goods at any given time meaning you can provide accurate updates to customers. A connected warehouse also helps you to manage stock control more efficiently as you can see what’s most in demand and what’s not, and order accordingly.

  1. Photo and Signature capability for proof of dispatch

Digitising your warehouse provides you with a full inventory trail from the moment stock leaves your warehouse to point of delivery. The Zebra Warehouse Scanner allows you to add additional layers of security including photograph and signature capability, enhancing the delivery experience and providing easily accessible digital records. In an increasingly dominant e-commerce world, our clients find this feature fantastic when it comes to keeping a digital trace on high volume order fulfilment.

  1. Provides a user-friendly experience in your Warehouse

The warehouse guns are easy to use, wireless devices with full HD display that is easy to read. Our client in the Apparel sector Sophie told us: “The handgun is very simple to use and has made our order collection process a lot more reliable and efficient. It allows us to log all dispatches/collections with a proof of signature in a few minutes, reducing the amount of paperwork and filing. Having a digital record also means anyone in our organisation can check the collection status of an order in moments, regardless of their location.”   

  1. Accurate transaction tracking and audit trail in your i2i database

The Zebra warehouse scanner allows you to log and track all actions undertaken by all users. Not only does this give clear visibility and ownership across your warehouse, but it also enables more collaborative working across different teams. Output and productivity are improved because your workforce has all information they need at their fingertips. Gone are the days of manually inputting data and searching for paperwork, employees are empowered to work more efficiently and can in turn deliver better service to customers.

As a trusted Zebra partner, i2i can help your business benefit from a range of digital warehouse solutions.

We are currently offering our customers two options including a pay monthly contract or a one-time purchase of the scanner.

For more information and tailored solutions, get in touch with us today.

 

Office Admin Manager Sophie reflects on 3 months’ with i2i

Earlier this year, we took on Sophie Adams as Office Administrator Manager.

With our client base growing rapidly as well as moving into new premises at Cardiff Gate, we needed a dedicated person to control all administrative duties, so that we could focus on continuously innovating our software and providing the best service to our clients.

Three months’ on and Sophie has already made a huge impact and streamlined many processes

We caught up with her recently to find out how she’s found her new role and to share a bit about her background so that you can get to know her better!

Before joining the i2i team, Sophie was doing a degree in Film Studies. She graduated with a 2:1 and wanted to gain some experience in the world of work fresh out of university.

She said: “It’s been a good eye opener and has helped a great deal in terms of organisational skills, confidence, working with numbers and communication. 

I’m really enjoying my role so far. The first three months have flown by and in this time, I’ve learnt a great deal! 

The team are so friendly and are always there to answer any questions and guide me along the way. Nathan and Gareth have done very well showing me the ropes so far. 

The main elements of my role include:

    • Clear and sufficient communication between myself and i2i’s customers to ensure that the correct payments through and are paid on time. 
    • Bank reconciling – one-on-one training with i2i’s accountant; providing management accounts and other useful board information
    • Filing, answering phones, invoicing customers and much more.”

It’s been fantastic having Sophie in the team, she’s brought a new dynamic and has so much potential. 

As a business, we continue to grow! Our team is expanding further and looking to recruit a First Line Support Manager as well as an I.T. Manager / ERP Consultant. If you’re looking to join a fast growing, innovative software development team, we want to hear from you.

To discuss either of the roles please contact: Gareth@inventory2invoice.com