In the ever-evolving world of print production, staying ahead of the curve requires innovation, efficiency, and the right technology. ESP Colour, one of the largest print producers in the UK, has exemplified this with their recent transformation, leveraging GelatoConnect to streamline operations and achieve remarkable growth.
ESP Colour, under the leadership of CEO Simon Smogur, faced a familiar challenge for rapidly growing companies: how to scale operations efficiently without inflating costs or overwhelming existing resources. The company was dealing with fragmented software systems, inefficiencies in procurement and logistics, and a significant amount of capital tied up in inventory. These challenges made it difficult to sustain growth without adding more staff and increasing overhead.
Simon Smogur knew that continuing down the same path wasn't an option if they wanted to maintain their competitive edge. Enter GelatoConnect, a comprehensive software solution designed to unify and optimize operations. Within just 90 days of implementation, ESP Colour saw transformative results.
"We’ve grown 20% this year without adding a single person to our team," Smogur shared in the interview. This level of growth, coupled with a doubling of profit margins, is a testament to the efficiency gains brought by GelatoConnect.
The software's ability to consolidate multiple systems into one platform has been a game-changer. "Having data consistency across systems is vital for good data analytics," Smogur noted. With GelatoConnect, ESP Colour no longer had to juggle six different software platforms. Instead, they could rely on one unified system, resulting in clearer insights and more informed decision-making.
One of the most significant impacts of GelatoConnect has been in reducing costs and optimizing resources. "GelatoConnect's AI-powered procurement module allowed us to reduce our capital tied up in inventory by 20%," said Smogur. This not only freed up capital for other areas of the business but also reduced the need for extensive manual oversight.
Additionally, the logistics module addressed a costly issue that many companies face: returns and redirects due to address errors. "We conducted a study and found that 17% of our carrier costs were due to these issues. GelatoConnect's address validation engine has significantly reduced this expense," Smogur explained.
With the success ESP Colour has already seen, the future looks promising. The company is now better positioned to handle peak seasons with fewer temporary staff, further reducing costs while maintaining high levels of productivity. "We’re expecting to save approximately €100,000 in Q4 alone by reducing the need for temporary staff," Smogur added.
Simon Smogur’s insights provide a deep dive into how GelatoConnect has transformed ESP Colour’s operations. His experiences offer valuable lessons for any company looking to streamline operations, reduce costs, and achieve sustainable growth.
To hear more about ESP Colour’s journey and discover the specific strategies they used, watch the full interview here. Don’t miss out on learning how GelatoConnect can help your print business achieve similar success.