Bright Horizons: Swift Access to Marketing Materials

Bright Horizons was keen to provide easier access to its marketing communications materials for more than 300 nurseries and preschools through a better ordering process.

The existing process was centralised via the Marketing team, and individual nurseries did not have the autonomy to make their own orders.

The involvement of multiple suppliers gave the Marketing team a significant challenge in keeping track of deliveries and stock levels.

The company also had an objective to rationalise the number of suppliers it used to improve brand consistency, reduce costs, and sustain a strong purchasing position.

Having become a preferred supplier for print management following a successful tender, PDS immediately spotted how they would very quickly be able to improve the control and distribution of marketing materials, print items and merchandise using its bespoke online ordering system, PDS+.

Branded especially for Bright Horizons, PDS+ enables
nurseries and preschools to make orders online, monitor stock levels and produce reports. With the option of next day delivery, the system helps to ensure that they never run out of materials.

As the PDS+ system was launched, every nursery and preschool within the group was issued with a welcome pack and gift, a comprehensive user guide and a training manual. The person responsible for making orders in each location was allocated their own login password.

PDS now also manages the purchase of the full range of Bright Horizons’ merchandise from a rationalised list of suppliers. The PDS logistics team carried out a stock-taking exercise, gathering samples from all UK suppliers. Photographs of all materials were uploaded to the online system, for ease of ordering.

Just four weeks into their PDS journey, Bright Horizons had access to their new stock ordering system. They now find it easy to keep track of all stock. Automation within the system creates an alert when stocks fall to agreed minimum levels to enable replenishment. Nurseries and preschools can take delivery of an online order within 24 hours.

The Bright Horizon’s team benefits from more efficient time management with no need to chase multiple suppliers for orders.

Marketing initiatives can be developed, distributed and implemented within short timescales if required. PDS also manages the simultaneous roll-out of additional items as well as materials that been revised to meet legal compliance.

The relationship has gone from strength to strength with Bright Horizon’s acquisition of Asquith nurseries adding additional outlets to the PDS+ system.