When entering order lines, if the active depot free stock is below the required quantity the line will display a stock warning: No Stock - there is not enough physical stock to satisfy this order Over Allocated - there is sufficient physical stock, but current allocations means there is not enough free stock With a stock warning there is also a display of the next future order (purchase, forward contract, mill order) that will replenish stock levels.

What can we do to help? In light of the unprecedented global health situation, we find ourselves wanting to do more to help. What we’re less sure of is what help looks like at the moment. We have the technology and tools to be able to develop “quick fix” tools for your business at this point, perhaps a “lite” version of our full cloud trading system, but we would love to get your feedback as to which business functions you’d find most useful. What can we do to help YOU? Quick apps for specific business functions For example, there might be parts of your operations that you’d like to automate or simplify, or which could reduce the need for face-to-face interaction between your colleagues, customers or suppliers.  These can be relatively small changes, using a browser based ‘app’ that could be used remotely and would run alongside your existing systems, without the need for lengthy implementation schedules and large-scale disruption. One example might be a transport planning tool, that has drivers taking out tablets to make deliveries, cutting out handling of paperwork.  Maybe a link that your customer can select where to drop the materials, down to a 3m x 3m location on-site.  Would a simple CRM database with quote generation help make the most of sales opportunities, or some online analytical tools to understand any shifting trends? You might need something to cope with stock management, but not necessarily with all the trading functions of the full system. It’s all possible, but we’d like your input. If you have anything you think would be useful as a piece of technology to improve the operations of the business, we would love to know.  If there is good interest for a useful new tool, we can build it from the UT400 system, and have it ready to use in the coming weeks. This is an opportunity for us all to really think about what we need in any given situation to continue being able to supply our respective customers with the things they most need, so I really do appreciate you taking the time to read this. The quickest, simplest, fully browser-based trading system on the market UT400 is faster and easier to learn than traditional trading systems. It’s cloud-based so is always up to date without endless upgrades, and it’s accessible 24/7 on any smart device. At a time like this we don’t need to spell out what those benefits mean, but what we did want to remind you of is that this is also a pretty easy system to learn, and depending on the complexity of your business, it is also a lot quicker to install than traditional systems. So if you’re thinking now is a good time to take stock (pun very much intended) of your operations and business management systems, we would love to talk to you. Customers have been bowled over by the simplicity and capacity of UT400, and we’re offering totally free online trials of it so you can find out for yourself how intuitive and easy it is to use. We are more than happy to use our skills and expertise in whatever way will be of most use to you at this point in time. Obviously we will continue to provide service and software for our customers, but we are keen to reach beyond that and see if there are others we can help as well. If you would like to find out more or arrange a demo, either call us on 01202 861606 or click here to request login details. We’re in this together, so let us know what you need to get by in this very challenging time. Thanks. We’re in this together, so let us help however we can

What do YOU call yours? – ERP system? Trading system? Stock control system? Inventory management system? Business management system? EPOS system? Supply chain software? Logistics software? Commercial system? What’s in a name? Ever since the dawn of time (well, the dawn of Ten-25 anyway, which was quite some time ago now), there has been a marked lack of consistency in the language used to describe the very products (software systems) that we create. It’s very difficult, therefore, to succinctly describe what it is that we do. Yes, we make timber merchant software, builders’ merchant software, and so on and so forth – but getting that across fast? Not so simple. Different terminology has different connotations and none of it is 100% spot on. Larger companies tend to use “ERP system” quite commonly, whereas a different company might call it a stock management or trading system, or more broadly the commercial system or commercial software. While you may not think it matters too much what people choose to call it, it makes a big difference when you’re trying to tell people about it, or when a customer is trying to establish if it’s the right software solution for them. The truth is, UT400 is all of these things. It helps you buy, stock and sell, of course; as a stock control system it’s absolutely brilliant. But it’s more than that as well. It has elements of a CRM system, allowing you instant access to customer credit history, transaction records and notes – but we wouldn’t describe it solely as a CRM system. It integrates with leading online accounting software, and enables the simple, automated creation, processing and deployment of invoices and receipts – but we wouldn’t describe it solely as an accounting system. The trade counter can make retail sales, but it isn’t an EPOS system. It’s 100% cloud-based, accessible via any web browser on any smart device, any time of day or night – but talking about it as SAAS isn’t going to mean a lot to most people. So what do we do? Well, for starters, we’d love to know from you what YOU call yours. What makes sense to you? What terminology do YOU commonly hear when it comes to software to manage your business? (Because we bet it’s not “business management software,” is it?!) When it comes to software, there’s not much consistency when it comes to terminology Whatever you’d like to call it, we don’t mind. But we DO want you to try it out and see how it could transform your business. If you’d like to take it out for a spin, just email info@ten-25.co.uk and we’ll set you up with some login details. And if you don’t think it’s right for you? Well, that’s entirely up to you. But don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it – whatever you choose to call it.

We’ve been out and about a lot recently, showing off our brand-new cloud trading system for merchants, UT400 . We’ve also been sending out a lot of login details – because (ICYMI) we now offer an online demo tool so you can try the system out for yourself, without a sales person lurking over your shoulder Stop digging for data – use a system that lets you find what you need, when you need it It was a big decision, offering free access to the system to let people try it out for themselves. How will people see everything it has to offer? How can we be sure they’ll know how to use it? Won’t they need a bit more hand-holding? But then we thought about it. And actually, while it was definitely a big decision, it wasn’t a hard one. Because we absolutely believe in this system. We have worked incredibly hard to make it genuinely simple to use – we even brought in a games designer to make sure the interface was as simple and engaging as possible. So we trust it. We’re still here, on the phone, or available to pop in to help you out if you need it. But our job is to provide our customers with the tools they need to do their jobs to the very best of their abilities – and to do that, they won’t want us hanging around all the time. That’s why we’ve made a system that’s so ridiculously easy to use, we’ll let people play with it entirely by themselves. But don’t take our word for it. Here are just a few of the things customers and prospective customers have said to us over the last few months when trialling the system. “The user interface is incredible – it absolutely blew our socks off. It’s so easy to use!” “On our currently system we’d have to go digging around for ages to get to that information – it’s amazing how simple this is!” “It’s easy, obvious and so clear to use.” “I can’t believe how easy it is. It’s going to save us a massive amount of time.” “Everyone picked it up straight away. It’s just so obvious how to use it.” “It makes all our old software feel really clunky and complicated. It’s really simple and straightforward. Absolutely love it.” “It will cut down the implementation and training time significantly because it’s so simple to learn.” Fancy giving it a go? Just email info@ten-25.co.uk or click here to request your login details. If you’ve got the right tools for the job, it makes everyday tasks a LOT easier

After 14th January 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide updated or support for the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. We’re aware that a lot of PCs (upwards of 30% in fact) still use Windows 7, so we wanted to make sure you’re aware that, if you’re still using it, you will need to take action. Windows 7 goes end of life on 14th January 2020 – are you ready? You may have installed the KB4493132 (catchy name) update to Windows 7 recently, which will issue reminders to users to upgrade to Windows 10 before the end of life date. While those reminders might be annoying, it really is important to realise that this operating system is coming to an end and it will become necessary for all users to move on from it before long. Windows 7 has actually been in a period of “extended support” since January 2015, meaning that all warranty periods came to an end and Microsoft stopped adding new features; but the extended support meant that bugs and glitches have been fixed (or at least patched) However, after 14th January 2020, that will no longer happen so it makes sense to find an alternative. You’ll still be able to use it, in theory, but there won’t be any Microsoft support available should anything go wrong. Some tech sources also speculate that, if large numbers of people keep using it without any support, it could become a target for hackers. There is an option for business users to extend the support from Microsoft but there will be a cost attached to it – around £20 per licence / device for the first year, which will double the year after. The clear intention is to phase out Windows 7 altogether so it’s probably worth making the jump now, rather than pushing the problem further down the line and incurring cost in the process. So what next? Which route will suit you best? The most obvious course of action is to upgrade to Windows 10. This probably involves the least disruption and gives you the most familiar operating system replacement, and makes a lot more sense than going for Windows 8, which will also be phased out in the near future we would imagine. You should even be able to keep most of your files (though we would always recommend a full back-up before you upgrade, just in case!) However, it will involve spending some money on new licences, and it also won’t necessarily run on older computers, so it’s important to check the specs of your hardware and make sure it’s compatible up front. If your existing computers aren’t up to it, you could be looking at investing in newer hardware as well, or potentially upgrading your existing machines which might be more cost effective but isn’t always a long term solution. Microsoft lists the Windows 10 minimum hardware requirements as: Processor : 1  gigahertz  ( GHz ) or faster  processor  or SoC. RAM: 1  gigabyte  (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit. Hard disk space : 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS. Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver. Display: 800×600. While these are the minimum specs, it’s probably safer to aim a little higher for optimum performance – maybe a 2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM (more if you can) and a 160GB hard drive. What if I don’t want to use Windows 10? If you are looking for an alternative to Windows that is a lot more cost-effective you might want to consider switching to Linux as an operating system, which is an open-source operating system run by a community of developers so it’s regularly patched and updated. There are loads of different versions available (known as distributions or distros) – TechRadar has a good overview of some of the more popular ones here.  It can be a good solution, particularly if you’re already familiar with Linux, but do bear in mind that it’s completely different to Windows so if you’re using Office programmes like Word, Excel etc, they won’t be compatible. There are usually free alternative options available but just spare a thought for how much you’re sharing files outside your own network, and whether compatibility is likely to be an issue. You might also consider moving to a Mac system – as with many Apple options though, it’s not likely to be the cheapest option so make sure you weigh up the costs fully before committing to any particular route. It’s also worth noting that this is only really an option if you’re already using UT400 ; Unitrade 360 users would need to opt for Windows 10 or Linux, as there is no client version of the UT360 software for Macs. If you need any guidance on how to use Windows 10, feel free to get in touch with us, or there are lots of guides around online – for a good overview, we like this one from TechRadar. Keeping on top of your business tech can be a complex business but in an increasingly digital environment, it’s incredibly important. You could be missing out on great new advances and features, so it really is worth keeping up to date. If you have any questions, please do get in touch !

Whatever filing system you have, finding the right paperwork takes time Are you fed up of rifling through filing cabinets to find the right test certificates for each batch of steel you’re sending out? How much time is spent photocopying all the relevant certificates and stapling them together? Have you ever thought that there must be a simpler way to deal with steel certification? If so, you’ll be very glad to hear that with the arrival of our new cloud merchant business management system UT400 , there is. Every batch of steel is unique, so the paperwork gets complicated Steel certification, for those of you who might not know, is notoriously complex. With certification requirements varying depending on intended usage and specific product types to ensure adequate levels of stability, mechanical resistance, serviceability and durability, it’s no surprise that providing the relevant paperwork – which must be provided for every batch of steel produced – is something of a headache. Of course, this rigorous quality assurance is a necessary part of the steel supply chain, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy ride. Everyone involved in the construction process from suppliers to engineers needs to be confident in the materials they are using for any given project. And managing the amount of paperwork involved is a time-consuming and laborious task. We’ve listened to our steel customers telling us how the usual process works – filing certification documents, then searching through the filing cabinet for the relevant documentations each time a dispatch is required, photocopying the relevant ones per batch, stapling it all together and attaching it to the delivery in question (which of course will sometimes comprise multiple stock types each requiring multiple certifications). As you can imagine, this not only takes a lot of time and physical resource, but is also open to human error, omission and even loss in transit, rendering the products unusable if the correct certification cannot be provided. We’ve listened, and we’ve created something to help. Enter UT400 and its test certificate scanning feature. Do away with paperwork and stapling and let digital techology help The idea is simple: just scan the original documents when they’re first received or created, and the Heat / Cast numbers are read using OCR. Then each time any steel is dispatched from a Lot / Batch, the associated test certificates are attached to the dispatch note automatically, saving a lot of manual labour, complication and materials. It’s has huge time saving benefits and reduces the risk of error, as well as the amount of paper required.  And of course it works just as well for any other product (timber merchants, take note!) which requires certification – thankfully most aren’t as complex as steel but as businesses move to a more flexible, digitised way of working, every time saving, automated feature helps (as the saying almost goes). Of course, as an end-to-end business management system, there are masses of other features which will help to simplify and improve processes and help your business to run more efficiently (and profitably). Take a look at the system in more depth here. And remember, we offer a totally free, no risk opportunity to demo the system in the comfort of your own office (or armchair if you prefer – since it works from any smart device) and tiered pricing that makes it feasible to unlock the potential of your entire workforce – not just the management team. If you’d like to talk to us about our software and how it could benefit your business, please do get in touch. You can either call us on 01202 861606 or just email www.ten-25.co.uk . We’d love to have a chat about how we can help.

If you’re sick and tired of paying through the nose for your IT company to tailor documents to be suitable for your business, or fed up of long lead times while you’re waiting for new formats to be designed, you might be interested in what we’ve been up to. You want to run your business, your way. We get that. You want the freedom to do things how you want them done, the flexibility to make changes as you see fit and control over the costs and timings of what gets done. It’s incredibly frustrating when it’s costing you time and money waiting for someone else to do something that you should be able to do yourself. UT400: with freedom built in So that’s what we’ve done. Thanks to a nifty piece of software called Aspose.Words that we are integrating with UT400 , our new subscription-based cloud system for merchant businesses, you will be able to design, and make changes to, your business documentation. Which might not sound like a big deal – unless you’ve ever been in a situation where that’s not been possible before. Or where there’s a bill attached to it, or a six week wait. Part of running your business is ensuring consistent, high quality branding and messaging across all your documentation. So being able to create branded business documents which are consistent across every area of your operations, and which reflect your brand accurately and positively at all times, in-house, as part of your trading software system, is a big step forward. It isn’t something that’s possible in all industry specific systems, so we’re very proud to be able to offer it to our customers at no extra charge. We use Aspose.Words to design document templates in MS Word; but our UT400 customers don’t even need Word to be able to produce smart, professional documents themselves. It gives our customers the scope to produce or update the look of these documents using a tool they’re already comfortable using. It means they’re not paying for us to have to do customised amendments, or wait while we do it. It lets us do exactly what we always try to do: empower customers by providing the best tools for them to get their jobs done – better, faster, and more efficiently. Sample order form design Sample PDF Order Confirmation template One of the brilliant advantages of Aspose.Words is its compatibility with so many other software packages. It is extremely accessible and allows us to create templates which our customers can use and modify easily, without requiring any additional software themselves. We have chosen to invest in it in order to provide our customers with greater flexibility and control, to save them time, effort and money by making one of those frustrating little jobs into something they can easily manage themselves. (Naturally we’re still on hand and happy to help – but we doubt we’ll need to!) Time waits for no merchant business – and now that our customers have the freedom to modify and create documents themselves with a slick, easy to use interface and no additional software requirements, it really doesn’t have to.

We’re a pretty technical bunch here at Ten-25. We make trading software. We spend a lot of time – really, a lot – developing new software features, functions and capabilities. And because we specifically make software for timber merchants , builders’ merchants , steel stockholders , plumbing merchants  and so on (you get the idea), we have to be very good at what we do, or the trading software we make just won’t be up to the job. Peaceful above the surface and working hard below it – just like great trading software However, we know that not everyone loves software as much as we do. In fact, we’re aware that to many people, software is something of a necessary evil. Our customers don’t really want to deal with software – they just want to run their businesses as simply as possible, with the least possible friction from either technology or staff complaints. And that’s why we have to work so hard – because anything that looks easy from the outside invariably takes a lot of work behind the scenes. We design fit-for-purpose software We have spent many years (nearly 40, in fact) working with merchant businesses just like yours to design and build software systems that do what you need them to do. Our latest system UT400 , is something we are very proud of. It does everything our previous systems have done, and a whole lot more – but the thing we are possibly the most proud of is how simple it is to use. Don’t be fooled, it is immensely powerful and can do anything and everything you would need it to do, whether you’re a start-up merchant just switching from manual to your first digital system, or a multi-site, international corporation. But it’s deliberately simple to learn and to operate. We design fit-for-everyone software When we say fit for everyone, we don’t mean it’s a one size fits all, off the shelf solution. Far from it. What we mean is that everyone who uses the system can use it at a level that is most suitable for them. So if you’re a delivery driver, you can access the logistics module and update orders as they’re delivered, either scanning delivery notes or taking a digital signature, which is all instantly integrated with the system from wherever you are. Simple. But if you’re the CEO, you get a holistic overview of how the business is doing, with the functionality to drill down into the numbers from any angle you need to see them from. Financial controllers can see (and crucially, set) the credit limits and profit margin protections in place, assess individual customer transactions and order history and identify potential issues simply. And of course you’re only paying for the modules you need, thanks to our flexible pick and mix packages. The dashboard can be customised by user, so you see the information that you need to up front, without having to search through the stuff that’s not relevant to you first. A personalised, unique user experience is the norm for most people these days – your social media timeline is tailored just for you, and we believe your business software should be too. Automatic colour coding gives you an instant picture of where you’re at versus your targets, whether those are based on sales, logistics or profits. It’s your business, and UT400 is a tool for you to use as you need to, to help you get your job done faster, better, and less stressfully. Business owner dashboard example Trade counter user example of customised KPI tiles by user role Credit Controller dashboard example of customised KPI tiles by user role We design easy-to-use software It’s a bold claim, but we genuinely believe we have created the most usable business system available for merchant businesses. We even brought in an experienced games designer to help us perfect the user interface and make it as engaging and motivating as possible. When staff are wasting less time working out how to use a system, and spending more time doing their jobs, with gaps and opportunities made clear, it’s no surprise that performance and productivity will skyrocket. UT400 is not just a tool to help you do your job. It actively helps you do it better – and then shows you how well you’re doing. When we say we put our customers first, we mean it. That’s why we’ve consulted our customers at every stage of development to make sure we’re designing the system they want, and we have gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure we have designed a system that truly puts the user at the centre of the experience. We’ve made our software better, to help you build better business more simply. Fancy a demo? You can choose from a range of demo options including video, remote video conference, offline system trial and face to face. To select the option that suits you best, call us on 01202 861606 or email info@ten-25.co.uk

Halloween Horrors (when it comes to computers) Everyone has horror stories to share when it comes to computing issues so, it being Halloween, we thought we’d have a quick recap of the top 10 terrifying trials of technology! A recent survey* suggests that one in eight UK adults has actually broken a gadget or tech device in a fit of rage because they’re not working properly, while 40 per cent of the population has been left unable to work following problems with IT equipment – and we want to stop you from joining those statistics! Top 10 Tech Horrors for Halloween Viruses / malware Security is a hot topic and it’s no surprise that people have concerns about software security. We work with all our clients to ensure their security set-up is optimised for the safest and most secure system experience. You also get the peace of mind of having a team of tech experts on call to help with whatever you need. Losing work We’ve all been there, finalising a complex purchase order, entering a multi-line sale or compiling the financial reports, only to find that you forgot to click “save” and all that hard work gets lots. Thanks to UT400 being Cloud-based and automatically backed up, your work is saved live, so you can rely on it being there next time you log in. Not being able to find stuff when you need it Software can cause a great deal of frustration. All too often, things simply don’t work how you want them to, and it’s time consuming and irritating trying to second guess the seemingly random storage system. It can be tricky finding what you’re looking for With UT400, we have collaborated with our customers to build the system and the interface that works the way they want it to work. We’ve made it the most accessible, intuitive system available anywhere, so you can get to whatever information you need faster, and more simply. We even brought in a games designer to make sure it was incredibly user-friendly and easy to operate. Painstaking duplication of effort Anything that takes more time than it needs to is annoying. Having to decipher the scrawls of delivery notes to add it to the system, staple together the ninth set of certification documents or manually input the stock take data is a painstaking process that also leaves plenty of room for human error. UT400 allows everyone in your workforce to access the system from wherever they are. That means delivery drivers can update delivered orders instantly, yard workers can update stock levels live, and managers can see at a glance how everything is working. Thanks to automated features, a huge amount of admin time can be saved with things like auto-generated POs and invoices, credit reminders and certification record attributions. Every process is streamlined, saving everyone in your business time – and a lot of frustration. Needing a computing degree to log in remotely It just shouldn’t be that difficult, should it? Having to configure complex network requirements to gain access to your work software system, and then only getting a slowed down, laggy version of it, is an increasing issue for many, especially as flexible and remote working becomes more commonplace. UT400 is cloud-based and has been designed to run on any smart device. All you need is your log-in and password (and no, you don’t need to be a mastermind to meet the password criteria either!) and you can access the all singing, all dancing system from anywhere in the world. (Just don’t blame us when you get into trouble on your family holiday for not leaving work “in the office!”) Stock taking disruption Admittedly this one is pretty specific to merchant businesses, but traditionally it’s an absolute pain in the proverbial slogging through a stock take. It’s one thing our customers have spoken about at some length, and so we’ve spent a lot of time refining and streamlining the process, combined with ongoing stock management capability, to make it as pain-free as possible, Traditionally there are often delays in the stocktaking process, from counting the stock and entering it on the system.  That can result in things being missed, when in the fast-moving world of merchant business, stock can be received or dispatched while waiting to update or could mean keeping the business closed longer while it happens.  With UT400 you can either do a paper count and account for the movements since the count was done, or count there and then in the yard, shop floor or warehouse, on a tablet, which updates live, meaning that whichever method you choose to use, there is less disruption to the business, less margin for error, and less wasted time. Broadband issues / Crashing / lagging Ugh. It’s just so sloooooooooow. Ever felt like you wanted to hurl your computer out of the window because it’s just so rage-inducingly slow? Yep, we’ve all been there. When tech goes wrong, you can be waiting a while…. We understand the frustrations and so we have gone to great lengths to ease the pain as much as is humanly – and technologically – possible. By using a Cloud-based system like UT400, your computer has to hold and process much less data itself, freeing up more processing space and effort to just keep working. We work with broadband and network specialists to ensure you have the optimum set up for your scale of system and we have made sure that, should there be an issue with broadband for some reason, you can still access the system via 4G. It works on any smart device, so you get the ultimate accessibility, and because it auto-saves every time you add something to a field, you won’t lose any work even if it does crash. We’ve tested our systems to within an inch of their lives so we’re confident that downtime is at the absolute minimum, and we’ve optimised every function to make it run as seamlessly and fast as possible. Changing to a new system Yes, we know, it’s a right royal hassle changing to a new software system. We get it. That’s why we have worked so hard over the last 35+ years to offer the very best onboarding, training and data migration service. We can’t promise it will be 100% pain free – no-one can – but we can give you our assurance that we’ll have you up and running with as little disruption to your business as we possibly can. We make sure every user is completely confident before we leave you to it, and we are always at the end of the phone to help. It’s just so damn complicated We hear this a lot and, having seen a lot of trading software systems in our time, we completely get where you’re coming from. These systems are traditionally complex, hard to learn and not very user friendly. Which is exactly why we have turned all that on its head and created the most user-friendly, accessible trading system for merchants in existence. Well, to the best of our collective knowledge, anyway. Not only have we made it the most straightforward, engaging interface possible, we also offer full training and onboarding, and are there for our customers at the end of the phone whenever you need us. We can happily arrange additional advanced training down the line, but we always make sure every user is happy and confident before we leave you to it. And to top off the ten most terrifying traits of tricky tech, we have the unrivalled unhelpfulness of…. PRINTERS! Yep, the trusty (or untrusty, as the case more likely is) printer seems to be the biggest bugbear when it comes to office tech. From chewing up paper to running out of toner at the last helpful moment, to simply refusing to recognise the network connection 10 minutes before a massive order is dispatched, printers top the list for the most frustrating, time-wasting piece of office tech equipment. Add to that the environmental issues of lots of printing, and it’s a clear cut winner. While we can’t promise to fix printers forever (which is a bit like trying to cure the common cold – not going to happen in our lifetimes), we can provide you with flexible, modern digital software that removes a great deal of the need to print anything at all and automates a lot of the manual processes involved. Invoicing, POs, delivery notes, certification documents – you name it, we can digitise and automate it, saving you time, effort and – when it comes to printers – a lot less heartache. Have a happier halloween without the stress of tech terror! *The survey was commissioned by online mobile and tech supporter Wiztek and sought the opinions of 2000 UK adults.

This time last week, we (or some of us!) were in a beautifully sunny London to celebrate the annual Timber Trades Journal (TTJ) Awards. It wouldn’t be very British of us not to comment on the weather, but it really was a glorious day – a fitting tribute to such a highlight of the timber industry calendar. We were delighted to sponsor the post-awards drinks and it was a genuine pleasure to see so many of you there; we really do work in a hugely welcoming, friendly industry. MD Ian Oldrey and Head of Marketing Alison Folwell at the post-award drinks London looking the part for the TTJ Awards It’s a wonderful thing, sitting in a huge room full of people all so committed to their industry. The UK, as you know, is in a state of turmoil, yet the optimism and resilience on display was very evident, which was a heartening reminder of the strength (and unshakeable humour) of this great trade. A few themes recurred throughout the day; the ongoing and urgent need for focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing (and disposal) of materials; an unquenchable thirst for innovation; the need to continue supporting equality and diversity; and the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health across the timber and wider construction sectors. Fairness, open-mindedness and plain simple kindness go a long way in any industry and it’s enlightening to see these subjects addressed openly and honestly. It was also great to see so many women in attendance – not always widely represented in the timber trade, but it’s good to see more and more thriving in the sector. The awards sponsor wall Huge congratulations must of course go to all the worthy winners, but also to every nominee; it’s no small honour to be recognised by peers, customers, suppliers and independent judges as leading lights of your respective fields, and is a deserved reflection of the hard work and dedication that every person in the room, and back at each office, yard or mill, puts into the industry as a whole. At Ten-25 we are big believers in the importance of the compound effect; the small steps for individuals, for processes or for details, that add up to huge leaps for businesses, economies and countries. We appreciate that the economic climate is uncertain at best, and outright tough in places, and we want to reiterate our support, and our intention to continue working our collective socks off to give each and every business in this great trade the competitive advantage it needs to succeed. Live social media streaming made for some amusing entertainment Worthy category winners Dale Joinery and Brooks Bros – congratulations!

Is “because everyone else is doing it” enough of a reason? Perhaps so – but there are plenty more. Digital Transformation has become an accelerating priority for merchants and suppliers for many reasons and none of those reasons are going away any time soon. Statistics suggest that, while lockdown may have caused a huge leap forward, it was an acceleration of existing trends, rather than a whole new direction. Anecdotally, merchanting is second only to agriculture in its adoption of digital up to this point in time. Traditional business models, traditional customer bases and traditional industries have historically not needed to embrace modern technologies. But the times are changing, and they’re changing fast, and digital transformation is not something any business can afford to ignore for long. 1. Customer expectations are changing Digital solutions are becoming a baseline expectation for an increasing proportion of your customer base. You may have some customers who prefer the traditional way of doing things but with new generation of digital natives representing a growing proportion of the market, that number is shrinking. Online shopping has become the norm and consumer expectations are rapidly spilling over into the merchanting sector whether you’re talking trade or private customers. So if you want to deliver the customer experience and customer service to win repeat business, you're going to need a digital offering. 2. Scalable and flexible to allow growth Digital is more agile than traditional processing methods, enabling you to keep pace with change more easily. As your business scales up, digital can keep pace without increasing demand for more admin staff to manage it, and it can do it more accurately and effectively. That doesn’t mean human value is lost – far from it. It simply lets technology bear the brunt of the volume of work, allowing your people to add value where people matter most – strategy, relationships, direction, leadership, customer service and so on. 3. Efficient and productive Digital systems help you spot patterns, automate repetitive tasks and set alerts, so it’s easier to find more efficient processes to drive productivity in every department. Stock optimisation is much easier and more manageable with a good digital system, allowing you to deliver perpetual inventory management more easily and unlock hidden value from your stockholding. It can also help with forecasting, credit control and much, much more, reducing the time required for repetitive admin tasks and increasing staff productivity through streamlines process efficiencies and enhanced integration and communication. 4. Accessibility A cloud system is accessible 24/7 from wherever you are, so you can control your business remotely when you need to without restriction. That means up to date info from sales reps ad delivery drivers on the road, it means easier facilitation of flexible and remote working for your workforce, and it means being able to access and control your business information from wherever you need to be. 5. Enables processing of large amounts of data . Simply put, digital systems can process more data more quickly and accurately than manual systems. Whether that’s a certification trail for product safety auditing or hundreds of thousands of product lines, digital is the only practical way to cope with the increasing volume of administration in a growing business. 6. It’s more profitable Yes, digital requires investment, but it can also earn its keep with increased efficiency, improved processes and enhanced productivity. Ecommerce will also usually generate a significantly higher margin than in-branch sales (roughly 40% on average, vs 24% in-branch). Better forecasting can help enhance availability, better stock control can help optimise value and increase turnover across your entire stockholding and inform a more profitable stock profile. The analytical power of good digital ERP system has enormous benefits for your business, both in terms of time and commercial value. 7. Attract and retain talent It’s not just customer expectations that are shifting – a new generation entering the workforce will be looking for forward-thinking employers with modern working practices so if you want to attract the best people, you need to invest in your own infrastructure. 8. Maintain relevance in a changing market . The market is changing with threat from online retailers as well as shifting customer demand and shopping habits. Digital is becoming the norm rapidly and if merchants fall behind, they may not be able to catch up again. You only have to look at the proportion of website traffic on mobile phones to realise that behaviours are changing fast, and if you’re not being found by the people looking, you won’t be able to compete. 9. Sustainability Zero carbon emission targets are going to be a huge stretch and it’s going to take a lot of commitment across all industries to get there. But digital systems can help drive sustainability in so many ways, it really deserves its own post (like this one !) From accurate audit and certification trails for responsible sourcing to efficient stock management, reduced travel from more efficient logistics management to enhanced product information (and that’s without even mentioning the reduction in hardware itself), digital systems can massively improve sustainability processes in every business. 10. Future-proofing Sustainability isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s also about ensuring your business is able to survive in an increasingly competitive market. It’s about making sure you’re equipped to have the latest version of ERP system without 6 months of hassle updating it; it’s about ensuring your staff enjoy working for you that little bit more; it’s about ensuring your business has the tools it needs to adapt and thrive as the world evolves. Modern ERP systems offer a greater degree of flex, allowing you to integrate with best-in-class external applications and platforms to deliver unrivalled usability and service, adding value to your offering and user experience at every step and enabling you to keep pace with the evolution of technology more easily. Flexibility and agility are crucial – and that’s where digital systems can really shine. If you’d like to have a chat about going digital or would like to try the online demo of our easy-to-use digital ERP system, Merchanter, please register here or drop us a line – info@ten-25.co.uk

Raising our game: applying the principles of gaming to transform merchant software Games are fun to play, right? Well, the successful ones are – and deliberately so. It’s no accident that people get so addicted to particular games, and why gaming is such a massive industry worldwide. So what can we learn from games that will help your business? Games designers are a very, very clever bunch, and they are in many ways experts in human behaviours and psychology. In short, they know how to get you hooked and coming back for more, constantly trying to beat your best score (or someone else’s) and telling all your friends about this great new game you’ve discovered. Here at Ten-25 we love a computer game. As you might expect, our team includes many keen gamers. And that got us thinking. What if we could take some of the principles of game design and apply them to the software we make for our customers? Could we effectively gamify ERP software? And more importantly – why would we want to? The principles of gaming There are a few different theories around the core principles of gaming but effectively they boil down to: - Make it easy to learn, fun to master - Measure and celebrate achievements - Have a good story holding it together So how does each of those tie in with ERP software? And why did we think it was a good idea to invest in a games designer for business software? Make it easy to learn and fun to master When you learn a new game, you want to be able to dive in and start playing as quickly as possible. You can learn the more advanced controls as you go, but really what you want is just to get playing. Same with business software. You don’t want to have months of training just to be able to raise a PO or quote. So simple, intuitive use was an absolute imperative from day one of design. ERP software is traditionally clunky and complex. We have changed all that with a fresh, clean interface that puts all the information where you’d expect to find it. You can start using it for the basics almost straight away, but there’s enough substance to support the most complex business functions, from flexible margin control and stock optimisation metrics to advanced reporting and analytics. This is no one dimensional point and click – but it’s super easy to use. Not only does being easy to learn minimise the disruption of implementation, it also removes stress and frustration, boosts engagement and productivity, and frees up enormous amounts of time on a daily basis, leading ultimately to a more fulfilled and happy workforce. Measure and celebrate achievements If you’re playing a game for hours and don’t seem to be getting anywhere, have no idea how much further – or in which direction - you have to go and never seem to collect any bonuses along the way, chances are you’re going to get bored pretty fast. Same with business software. If your targets and objectives aren’t clear, how can you hit them? If you have no idea of your progress, how can you take the right action to improve performance? And if your results aren’t visible or trackable, how will you know you’re doing a good job? These were all principles we applied in designing Merchanter. Research has categorically proven that when targets are in plain sight, and your progress towards them is clearly visible, you are more likely to hit those targets. Worst case, at least you know exactly how big the gap is going to be so you can take steps to mitigate risk. Encouraging healthy competition can be incredibly motivating (obviously within reason.) Having a transparent and instant overview of sales performance, stock management, margins and other business metrics is a great way for teams to get motivated and strive to achieve more. You might not want an actual leader board on show – but you never know! It’s human nature – and celebrating the successes is much easier when they’re visible. It also allows you to spot changes in performance more easily and potentially nip issues in the bud, both organisationally and on a more human level with individual people. Net result: greater satisfaction, productivity and performance across the whole workforce. Have a good "story" holding it all together You might not really be that invested in whether the hero of your game triumphs or care too deeply about the back story in MarioKart, but the consistency, world-integrations and and engaging scenarios of the most popular games keep players loyally coming back for more, time after time. Basically, if it's got a great central principle holding it all up, you're probably onto a winner. Same with business software. OK, bear with us. If you are working in isolation without a more holistic view of the whys and whats of your business, chances are you are going to get confused, demotivated or thoroughly fed up. Integrated business software that connects the dots and allows you to see how all the different parts of the business are working and performing, with up to date, accurate metrics for every department and a consistent user interface that encourages engagement and participation, will help you see the full story. You can see how the buying and selling cycles affect stock, how pricing fluctuations are impacting profitability, when logistics planning is likely to run into difficulty. Being able to easily see all the moving parts of the business in a straightforward and consistent way is enormously powerful. Control, measurability, consistency and great tools are key. Fast, fun, effective and easy to use. Just like a computer game. That’s why we invested in a games designer for our interface, and it’s why we get the feedback we do from our customers, telling us just how much difference it’s making every day. And that makes us pretty glad we bothered. Fancy a play? Just register here for the demo system and discover the beautiful simplicity of Merchanter for yourself.