TEAM Systems celebrates 21-years in business
TEAM Systems, the tyre and fast fit software specialist has double cause for celebration this month, celebrating 21-years in business and its 200th installation in Ireland. Managing Director, Steve Greatrex gave John Loughran the low down on the company’s continued success.
TEAM Systems is celebrating 21-years in business this month, a feat that not many companies in the IT sector can claim, and one that Steve and the team (no pun intended) are rightlly proud of. Steve is equally proud of the fact that the company has just installed its 200th IT system for the (Irish) tyre trade.
At the time or writng Team Systems was putting the final touches to its 200th installation at Donegal Tyres, run by well-known industry figure, Don Monaghan and his brothers, Barry and Marcus.
Steve says installing the latest version of TEAM’s bespoke software at Donegal Tyres, brought back memories of the company’s first three installations, with Michael McGrath of Safeway Tyres in Ennis, Thomas Heffernan of Heffernan Tyres in Kildare Town (and Eamonn Murphy of Portarlington Tyres) back in February 1998.
Steve has clocked up tens of thousands of miles, on his monthly visits to Ireland, since those first three installations. It is testament to the quality of the company’s software and back up service that Safeway Tyres, Heffernan Tyres and Portarlington Tyres are still using TEAM System’s IT solution for the tyre trade.
Over the years, Steve says, sales in Ireland have been driven by “personal recommendation” and “word of mouth”. Despite challenging economic times, tyre retailers are looking at their IT solutions, to drive their business forward.
In that light, TEAM Systems is getting more and more enquiries from the Irish tyre wholesale and retail trade looking to give their company a competitive edge.
Steve, a keen supporter if the Irish Tyre Industry Association, was keen to show his appreciation to his clients and said: “On behalf of our team at TEAM Systems, I wish to thank all our customers for their on-going support, feedback and encouragement over the past 21 years. We couldn’t have done it on our own – our clients have helped us to develop and enhance our systems so as to deliver ‘continuous improvement’.
“We have a very modern (32bit Windows) product, which is TRACS and WRM compliant, meets all legislative requirements such as tyre labelling, is very easy to use and is designed specifically for the tyre and fast fit industry”
“The package is designed as a sales aid and as a point of sale support and accounting system. It is designed specifically to help the wholesaler and retailer sell product,” he affirmed.
“The system gives the retailer access to data on stock, pricing, customer history and vehicle history, customer complaints and warranty issues etc. at the point of sale,” Steve added.
In addition to Tyre, Exhaust and fastfit Centres, many of Ireland’s independent tyre wholesalers are using TEAM’s solutions and sofware, including its B2B Virtual Warehouse. (TEAM) has built virtual warehouse solutions for its wholesale customers. These bespoke warehouse solutions allow wholesalers to display their stock to their customers via the Internet.
This system comes into its own, when a retailer dealing with a customer discovers the required product isn’t in stock. The idea behind the virtual warehouse is that it gives the retailer instant access to the wholesaler’s stock in real time at the point of sale.
It saves the retailer having to ring up the wholesaler to find out if they have a particular tyre in stock and then making that embarrassing mark up calculation in front of the customer. The virtual warehouse can show if the tyre is in stock and can display both a cost and an agreed retail price to enable the retailer to close the sale.
TEAM Systems’ offering can include hardware (computer, TFT screen and printer) as well as the software, installation and onsite training at a highly competitive price.
TEAM’s support cost is widely reported to be the lowest in the industry but with a level of service that is probably the highest (in the industry).
Steve closed by affirming that he is always willing to discuss dealer’s requirements and provide honest and professional advice. This counsel is based on 30 years experience in the IT industry; 21 of which have been dedicated to the Tyre and Fast Fit trade.