Running a warehouse stocked with over 5,000 industrial and commercial products is no walk in the park. For Kingfisher Direct, rapid growth meant balancing stock management, meeting customer demands, and keeping operations smooth, all while scaling their output.
Mark Chapnell, Warehouse Manager at Kingfisher Direct, knows this all too well. Based in Retford, Nottinghamshire, he’s at the helm of their primary distribution centre, where speed, accuracy, and visibility are everything.
Who is Kingfisher Direct? They’re a leading supplier of industrial and commercial products, working with industries like construction, agriculture, and engineering. “Basically, what your company needs, we can get it when you need it,” says Mark. From their Retford distribution centre, Kingfisher makes procurement painless, ensuring customers can receive key products within one or two days.
“Our goal is to be the one-stop shop for our customers,” Mark explains. “We want to take the pain of procurement away so that everything they need is either a click or a phone call away.”
The Challenges: Meeting Demand and Scaling with Confidence
Before MinsterWMS, Kingfisher Direct recognised that their growing business required a system that could keep pace with its ambitions.
With no listed locations for stock, staff relied on memory. “We had no listed locations where SKUs are within the building, which meant staff had to know where everything was.” Their existing paper-based methods were a legacy approach that couldn’t scale with their growth – and it was time for change.Why MinsterWMS? A Partner That Truly Gets Warehousing
When Kingfisher Direct decided to upgrade, they needed more than just software – they needed a partner.
MinsterWMS fit the bill.
“From the first time I spoke to them, it was clear they understand warehousing,” Mark says. “They’re not just a software provider that just created a product and try and sell you that generic product that you need to adapt your business processes to suit.”
Instead, MinsterWMS took the time to build a relationship. “They wanted to build a personal relationship, really good rapport, got to know what we do and why we do things a certain way, and then advised us on how Minster could fit in and help us achieve and enhance those operations.”
How MinsterWMS Changed Everything: From Barcodes to Real-Time Control
The implementation of MinsterWMS marked a turning point for Kingfisher Direct’s operations. From the outset, the changes were practical, impactful, and, most importantly, easy to adopt.
At the core of the transformation was the introduction of barcode scanning technology. Mark describes it as a complete game-changer: “We’ve now got a barcode scanner-based solution; it tracks everything live so we know where every piece of stock is.” This real-time visibility meant no more guesswork and significantly faster operations. With just a couple of clicks, urgent orders could be prioritised and sent straight to the top of the queue.
But it wasn’t just about speed. The move to a paperless system eliminated a major inefficiency. “No paper, definitely a big bonus… no trees to cut down and waste,” Mark notes. Beyond the environmental benefits, the switch offered something even more valuable: control. “I could, in theory, manage my warehouse from a beach in Spain if I needed to. I know who’s doing what, who has done what, when they’re going to do it.”
Integrating MinsterWMS with other systems, like Shipster for courier bookings, brought further efficiencies. “That’s saving hours of manual data entry and error-prone data entry,” Mark explains.
Crucially, the process was supported every step of the way by Minster’s team. “Marco, our project implementer, was fantastic. He clearly knows every inch of the system,” says Mark, highlighting how the training and implementation were made straightforward. Even when unexpected challenges cropped up, Minster tackled them with determination. “It’s hard to call anything problems because the team just fixed it straight away every single time.”
Results That Matter: Faster Picks, Accurate Stock, and Paper-Free Processes
The impact of MinsterWMS on Kingfisher Direct’s operations has been nothing short of transformative. With the system fully operational, every stage of the process is faster, smarter, and more accurate.
Picking efficiency has skyrocketed. What once took minutes now takes mere moments. “We’ve got a higher output because picks take moments rather than minutes,” says Mark. The use of barcode scanning has also dramatically reduced errors. “Items have to be scanned to verify they’re correct… less mistakes,” he adds.
Stock management has also seen a remarkable overhaul. The team now has complete oversight of inventory at all times. “We’ve got full visibility of everything,” Mark explains. By requiring quantities to be entered directly into handheld terminals, misreads and inaccuracies have become a thing of the past. “There’s less chance of misreading numbers.”
Beyond speed and accuracy, the gains in efficiency have brought unexpected environmental benefits. “No paper to buy, no shredding to have to do afterwards,” Mark points out.
Perhaps most importantly, MinsterWMS has given Kingfisher unprecedented control over their operations. Tasks can be reassigned with a few clicks, no calls required. “I can reassign work from a desk without needing to pick up the phone… I just look and think, oh, I need that doing now and put it next in the queue.”
The Human Touch: MinsterWMS’s Ongoing Support and Care
What truly sets MinsterWMS apart isn’t just the software – it’s the people behind it.
From the start, their personal approach has stood out, and it’s a difference that continues to make an impact.
“It’s the personal touch,” says Mark. “Even now, our account manager… I can just jump on Teams and ping him a message anytime.” The accessibility of the support team has been just as impressive. “I know all the support team, I can talk to them, they resolve things… low-priority tickets in the time they claim they’ll do high-priority tickets,” he adds.
This level of care isn’t just convenient – it’s integral to the relationship. Unlike companies that hand over generic solutions and walk away, Minster’s approach is hands-on and supportive. “They’re not just handing you an off-the-shelf system and saying, here you go,” Mark explains. Instead, they ensure every step is clear and straightforward. “They walk you through the process. They make everything so easy… even for your biggest technophobe in the company.”
Why Kingfisher Recommends MinsterWMS: Big Features Without the Big Price
For Mark, recommending MinsterWMS is a no-brainer. “Absolutely, I would,” he affirms. With nearly two decades in logistics, he’s encountered numerous warehouse management systems, many with hefty price tags. Yet, MinsterWMS stands out. “I’ve worked in logistics for nearly 20 years… countless different warehouse management systems that cost several times what Minster costs, but Minster has most, if not all, of the features that those systems have got.”
The exceptional value of MinsterWMS left Mark both impressed and curious. “I said, ‘How are you doing this so cheap? How have you put all these features in that blow everyone else out of the market?’” The combination of comprehensive features and affordability has earned Kingfisher Direct’s trust and praise. “They just make everything so easy. It’s fantastic. I would recommend it to everyone.”
MinsterWMS offers a bespoke, flexible warehouse management solution tailored to individual business needs, integrating seamlessly with existing systems to enhance efficiency and profitability.
Experience the transformation that MinsterWMS can bring to your operations. Book a no-obligation demonstration today to see how their comprehensive warehouse management solutions can streamline your processes and drive success.
