NetDespatch helps music instruments retailer to hit the right notes

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: NetDespatch helps music instruments retailer to hit the right notes.

Musical instrument retailer, Instruments4music, has orchestrated significant time and cost savings after introducing an order-to-despatch solution from NetDespatch. The system manages orders placed via the company's own website, as well as their Amazon and eBay marketplaces, speeding fulfilment through seamless integration with Royal Mail.

Instruments4music wanted to deliver their customers the best possible ecommerce experience, and was therefore keen to ensure its internal operations were as streamlined as possible. The seamless integration NetDespatch provides between the company's Cyrane Systems order management software and Royal Mail eliminates the unnecessary manual processes which were slowing down its operations.

Online selling and operating a completely streamlined fulfilment and despatch process were crucial elements in the company's business plan. "Technology, such as NetDespatch, made it possible," admitted Christina Heaton, General Manager, Instruments4music. "If we hadn't been able to operate like this, we would definitely not have started the business."

The company operates a small shop, but more than 95 per cent of its musical instruments and accessories, audio equipment, and stage lighting and equipment are sold online, with products delivered to musicians and associated professionals throughout the UK and Europe.

Initially, Instruments4music's despatching was a manual process, with staff inputting details for around 50 orders per day into the system, but they quickly identified that they needed to eliminate this labour intensive and potentially error-prone practice. "NetDespatch saves us at least two hours per day, and it has certainly taken the pressure off our warehouse staff," said Heaton.

The growing ecommerce market in the UK has meant more opportunities for SME retailers to expand and operate without the overheads of a high street location. NetDespatch's solution, which offers seamless integration with carriers such as Royal Mail, ensures that retailers are able to fulfil their orders as soon as possible and deliver the highest level of customer service in an increasingly competitive marketplace, without any additional costs to their business.

NetDespatch enables more than 130,000 businesses to streamline their shipping processes through seamless integration with parcel carriers such as APC Overnight, Royal Mail, Yodel and UK Mail. There is no cost for the retailer for the NetDespatch element, yet the integrated solution offers added value and saves time.