A South African distributor was struggling with supply chain visibility. Stock levels were inaccurate. Orders were delayed. Suppliers complained. Customers waited.
After partnering with Solbridge, they transformed their supply chain operations. Here is how.
The challenge: blind spots in the supply chain
The business distributed products across multiple regions. They used spreadsheets to track inventory, email to communicate with suppliers, and manual processes to manage orders.
The problems were compounding:
Inventory records were often wrong, leading to stockouts or excess stock
Supplier lead times were unpredictable because no system tracked performance
Orders were delayed because staff could not see what was available
Customers received conflicting information about delivery dates
Month-end reconciliation required days of manual work
The solution: connected systems and real-time visibility
Solbridge was engaged to bring visibility and automation to the supply chain. Our approach focused on three areas.
inventory management system
We implemented a cloud-based inventory management system that replaced spreadsheets. Key features included:
Real-time stock levels across all warehouses
Automated reorder points and purchase order generation
Barcode scanning for receiving and dispatch
Integration with their accounting system
supplier portal
We built a supplier portal that transformed how the business communicated with vendors:
Suppliers log in to see open purchase orders
Suppliers update expected delivery dates in real time
Automated notifications when shipments are delayed
Performance tracking for each supplier
customer visibility
We gave customers visibility into their orders:
Customer portal shows order status and tracking information
Automated email notifications at each stage of fulfillment
Estimated delivery dates updated in real time
The results
Inventory accuracy improved from 65% to 97%
Order fulfillment time reduced by 40%
Supplier lead time variance reduced by 60%
Customer inquiries about order status reduced by 80%
Staff time on manual reconciliation reduced by 25 hours per week
What the client said
“Before Solbridge, our supply chain was held together with spreadsheets and hope. We could not see problems coming until customers started complaining. Solbridge gave us visibility, automation, and control. Now we can focus on growth instead of firefighting.”
How solbridge helps with supply chain management
At Solbridge, we help South African businesses optimise their supply chains through practical technology solutions.
Our services include:
Inventory management systems: Real-time tracking, automated reordering, and integration with your erp
Supplier portals: Centralised communication, performance tracking, and automated notifications
Customer portals: Order tracking, delivery updates, and self-service visibility
Systems integration: Connect your inventory, procurement, accounting, and logistics systems
Data analytics: Forecast demand, identify bottlenecks, and measure supplier performance
Supply chain technology for growing businesses
You do not need an enterprise budget to improve your supply chain. Solbridge works with small and medium-sized businesses to implement practical, affordable solutions that deliver real results.
Ready to fix your supply chain?
Contact Solbridge today for a supply chain assessment. We will identify your biggest bottlenecks and show you how technology can solve them.
