Over 15% Costs Saved with New IT System

Customer Profile

• Company: Maplin Electronics
• Industry: Consumer Electronics
• Location: UK & Ireland
• Employees: 2000+

“The Claritas team were extremely diligent in their approach, understanding the inner workings of our business quickly, and set about architecting a solution to ensure our short term requirements were met, but also to implement a system that would allow for the future expansion of our business.”
Mark Smith, IT Director, Maplin

Maplin Electronics is the UK’s biggest and best specialist retailer of consumer electronics. Our national network of 185 stores are a goldmine of useful consumer technologies and gadgets.

The Maplin product range covers cables, communication, components, computing, home & car, music, power, Sat Nav, tools and TV & Satellite.

As the specialists in consumer electronics, Maplin Electronics is proud to offer the best and most informed customer advice on the high street. Its team of over 2,000 customer service staff help thousands of customers make informed choices about technology purchases each and every day; from technology enthusiasts, to complete novices.

Launched by two technology enthusiasts in 1972 who were frustrated by the lack of good quality electronics components, Maplin Electronics quickly became the experts’ choice, with a reputation for the best product range and expertise. Though the company has grown massively since launching over thirty years ago, its reputation as the UK’s only true experts in consumer electronics is still at the heart of Maplin Electronics today.

Seamless application ensures no interruption to normal service

Claritas were appointed to design and implement a new system to support Maplin’s expanding E-Commerce activity and to deliver an ultra efficient inter-office telephony system following the acquisition of a new 200,000 sq. ft. office and distribution centre. The new centre provided Maplin with scope to achieve its planned growth and business plan, its IT systems had to match and accommodate this evolution.

Claritas became the IT partner of choice for Maplin, it provided the highest level of quality, professional guidance, excellent implementation, and ensured the requirements of the business were future proofed. Claritas took an active role within Maplin’s project team, with the outcome being a successful implementation of a core network and telephone infrastructure via this close working relationship.

As a result Claritas and Maplin developed a strategic business partnership allowing them to build and successfully deliver a next generation E-Commerce platform to support Maplin’s aggressive growth plans.

The Challenge

Maplin’s existing e-commerce structure was inadequate to host both the current level of activity and that planned for the future. Its data storage was uneconomic and would not meet the demands of the future, and the access to all systems was proving problematic.

The Solution

Claritas worked in close partnership with Maplin’s own IT and Internet teams. It introduced and oversaw seamless migration to a new tailor made E-Commerce website, including security testing, which included a load balanced resilient solution, ensuring it was completed with no interruption to Maplin’s critical services. The new system is fully managed 24/7 by Claritas. Meticulous planning throughout the project ensured all objectives were met, and exceeded within the agreed time frame.

“We have been absolutely delighted with the quality of the work, the accurate timescales and the real grasp of our business requirements that Claritas has. It has been a very successful partnership.”Mark Smith, IT Director, Maplin

The Benefits

The new E-Commerce system allows Maplin to maintain its premier position in a highly competitive marketplace by presenting this efficient website for both consumer and trade purchases. The solid and scalable platform installed evens out previous seasonal peaks. It has reduced operational costs by over 15%

“Our aim is always to give our customers a workable, efficient and ultimately perfect IT solution that completely meets current requirements and takes full account of future plans and growth. Both the Maplin solutions have been met with considerable praise and, even better, an impressive reduction in costs for them.”
Kevin Edwards, Sales Director, Claritas Solutions

Why Claritas Solutions?

Claritas has a wealth of experience which has been accumulated over its years in business and an unrivalled ‘knowledge bank’ amassed by its long serving, specialist staff. Claritas prides itself on its interpretation of each client’s individual needs and ability to produce tailored solutions which perfectly answer requirements and which are most commercially advantageous.

Claritas establish long term, strategic relationships with its customers through which we are able to work jointly and successfully in implementing solutions that provide demonstrable, competitive advantage. The goal is to use proven technology to support and enhance business objectives.