BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS GOOD FOR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS

By Visdata Limited
schedule17th Jun 15

Working together to prosper in business

Two thriving Midlands businesses are championing the case for keeping it local by continuing to work together to support each other’s growth.

For the past 20 years, Aldridge-based JL Float Ltd has been working with neighbouring software solutions provider Visdata to continually enhance its workflow and production capabilities.

JL Float, which manufactures metal presswork, welded assemblies and copper and steel ball floats, first started working with Burton-on-Trent-based Visdata over two decades ago when it invested in new costing, stock control and purchase and sales ordering software.

Christina Overton, Financial Director at JL Float, said: “At the time of starting to work with Visdata, we knew that as a business we needed to change the way that we operated if we were to keep pace with the rest of our competitors. We were an established business of over 50 years, but we needed to look at how we could improve speed and accuracy to provide an enhanced service to our customers while remaining competitive.

“Visdata was challenged to come up with a solution, which it did, and we saw some fantastic results. From then on we had every confidence in Visdata’s ability to look closely at our business and make changes which would enhance how we work and make us a far more efficient business.”

Since that first installation, JL Float has introduced multiple other software programmes, including a shop floor data capture solution which provides real-time production information and helps the business monitor the progress of each order from its initial booking right through to despatch.

Christina added: “There’s a lot to be said for being able to view a plan of the factory floor which shows us, in detail, what jobs are in progress and what’s due to be completed. Not only does it help with the job planning process, it helps us to identify any areas which are causing delays or where we could work more efficiently.

“Having the ability to view where a job is at any given time also helps us to set and meet our customers’ expectations and give accurate delivery details, leading to an enhanced experience for them and a reputation for reliability for us.”

Matt Benfield, Managing Director at Visdata, is proud of its partnership with its fellow Made in the Midlands member. He said: “It is always good to work with local companies and we are particularly proud of the long relationship we have enjoyed with J L Float. We’ve both been through organisational changes over the years and we’ve both had to adapt the way we work to remain competitive, but our partnership has remained strong.”

Visdata supplies software solutions to companies to help increase productivity, reduce costs and inventory while increasing throughput and profits. It creates bespoke solutions for each individual client, be it to produce estimates, control production, aid despatch or look at the entire production process to identify any areas where improvements and efficiencies can be made.

Matt added: “What I’m particularly pleased about is JL Float’s continued confidence in our ability to deliver solutions that work and help them adapt and improve the business to remain profitable.

“It’s great that the company shares the same ethos as we do about making the most of the local expertise and working together as a business community to really support each other and help other businesses in the region to prosper.”

JL Float Ltd has grown from a small company in Birmingham producing ball floats from various metals to a multi-million pound company producing and supplying presswork and welded assemblies to a vast array of businesses. It can supply anything from a single ball float to medium volume presswork and welded assemblies.

Charles Addison, Chief Operating Officer for  Made in the Midlands said: “Made in the Midlands wholeheartedly supports, and indeed encourages, local businesses to work together, and it’s great to see this happening on such a scale with members, JL Float and Visdata. The region has a huge pool of talent and expertise across a wide range of sectors, and by making the most of this, both businesses continue to thrive.”