Furniture Awards 2023 celebrate Oxford-based Sci-Net among ‘game-changing’ suppliers
A best-of-breed system to help retailers become more efficient, reduce costs and maximise profit has earned business solution experts Sci-Net a prestigious award for its ‘Superior Service’.
The company, a Tier-1 Microsoft Gold Partner, was named winner in the newly-established category at the January Furniture Show last week, which attracted hundreds of big ticket retailers from across the sector.
The win was thanks to Sci-Net’s game-changing tool called ERP>Retail – a platform channelling the company’s 30-plus years of software expertise, that allows retailers to futureproof their operations.
Certified for Microsoft Dynamics (CFMD), it is built within the world-leading mid-market ERP Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It has been designed from the ground up for high value, omni-channel and internet retailers across luxury, flooring, furniture, specialist, brand owners and fashion retailers.
Sci-Net managing director, Duncan Fergusson, explains: “We understand that retail businesses are facing challenges amid a fast-moving landscape that has seen the cost of doing business soar, and consumer spending habits curtailed. Big-ticket retailers are particularly exposed, with furniture reported as among the purchases falling out of favour with consumers, amid rising inflation.
“As an industry-specific tool, we know ERP>Retail can help navigate this landscape, so it’s fantastic to be given the recognition of an award win for the service we’re able to offer with this solution.”
One customer already taking advantage of ERP>Retail is Tapi Carpets, which launched its first store in April 2015, and has grown to a 160-store, 800-staff operation in just seven years. Chief Information Officer Jason Turner described the results of the partnership with Sci-Net as ‘outstanding,’ allowing the retailer to up-scale steadily and potentially saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in infrastructure costs, and around 4,500 hours of admin in 40 days.
As a result of increased demand for its services, Sci-Net has experienced rapid growth, acquiring another business’s Microsoft Dynamics division and opening new premises in Southampton with an additional 30 employees.
These milestones have led Sci-Net to forecast an impressive 25% year-on-year growth over the next five years – after already adding 30% each year for the past three years.
Fergusson adds: “We know our solutions mean retailers are best equipped to weather this period and put them on track to where they want to be in 2023, and beyond. It’s been an exciting time for Sci-Net, and an award win for ‘Superior Service’ is the icing on the cake. It’s testament to the hard work of our dedicated team, and to our clients who trust us to add value to their businesses.”
Furniture News’ Paul Farley, awards’ co-ordinator, concludes: “Each year, the awards set out to identify the show’s most inspiring suppliers. It’s great to see so many examples of businesses that are not just surviving, but thriving. Well done to this year’s very deserving winners. “
If you would like to learn more about our award-winning software, contact the team here
