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Since its foundation 40 years ago,Orbit International has grown intoone of the best known wholesalesuppliers of workwear, PPE and

waterproof clothing in the UK and Europe.This longevity is directly attributable toOrbit’s strong market presence, based on itsability to respond quickly to customerrequirements, backed by a comprehensivestock range sourced from a wholly-ownedmanufacturing site in China and key third-party suppliers.

Orbit operates out of 75,000 sq ft premises inBirmingham, consisting of a factory, twowarehouses, offices and a showroom.Approximately £4 million in stock can be held andan average 7,500 garments a day are shippedaround the world. The offices accommodate an ‘inhouse’ design facility along with quality control,customer service, accounts and distributionteams. There are also integrated computer links toits supply chain.

Orbit still maintains a small manufacturingcapability, which is largely used for alterations andgarment decoration but, as with the market ingeneral, the majority of manufacturing now takesplace in China. The difference with Orbit is that itdrew on its vast experience as a UKmanufacturing company to set up its own whollyowned and managed ten-acre purpose-builtfacility CIRS, Shandong Clothing Company Ltd,near Qingdao, Shandong Province, back in 2003.This facility makes products exclusively for Orbitacross the UK and in Europe. In today’s fiercelycompetitive market, maintaining a competitiveedge is increasingly difficult as Ken Elavia, Orbit’ssales and marketing director, explained: “It isessential for companies to have access toaccurate and up-to-date information, if effectivedecisions are to be taken. In our case we werespending too much time preparing information,using spreadsheets to supplement theweaknesses of our existing, and outmoded,business system.

“If a company wants to grow with its existingpartners while attracting new opportunities in ahugely competitive environment, it is increasinglyimportant to provide clients with robust and timelyinformation without spending hours compilingspreadsheets. We needed a system that wouldwork with the business, not against it, so we set

out to find a fullyintegrated businesssolution designed forthe clothing sector,using a centraldatabase.

“Orbit as a businesshad fallen behind thelevel of customerservice required in adynamic market, so theAria system offered anideal solution for Orbit.It also provides us theplatform for certainbusiness disciplinesthat were perhapslacking, as everythingwas done usingspreadsheets createdby individual managerswithout the requiredintegration to provide aco-ordinated approach.

“Since the Aria system implementation, we’vebeen working towards rolling out this platformacross the whole business, to provide the requiredlevels of service demanded by our customers. We accept we still have a way to go but with Ariawe have a solid platform and structure to worktowards.”

Aria Apparel was selected after an evaluationprocess, which included an on-site workshop withOrbit personnel, who were able to examine thesystem’s functionality and understand how simpleit is to master.

Aria’s comprehensive software is ideally suited tothe workwear and corporate clothing sectorsbecause it has been specifically designed for theclothing and footwear industry by people with real-world garment sector experience. As a fullyintegrated system, there’s no need to cobblereports together from spreadsheets and randombits of paper: the system is designed to supportboth the internal information needs of the businessand the need to supply timely and accurate datato customers.

Aria has over 450 customers using the system allover the world, meaning the system has been built

round the requirements of clothing and footwearcompanies working in today’s tough market.Having such an extensive client base meansAria’s staff are aware of industry changes as theyoccur and can respond quickly to add newfeatures as required.

It also allows Aria’s customers to benefit from thecompany’s wide experience in the industry andthis shines through in the robustness and reliabilityof the software itself. The proof that the systemworks can be found in the number of clients whohave built their businesses on the informationfoundation that Aria supplies and who regard it asbeing an essential factor in their continuingsuccess.

Ken Elavia believesthat Aria was theobvious choice forOrbit International aswholesale suppliersto the sector, adding:“Having Aria in Orbitbrings a newfounddiscipline to allaspects of ourbusiness, covering

Orbit Internationalon song thanks to AriaAria’s fully integrated business solution is helping Orbit International to maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace

Aria’s system is designed to support both the internal information needs ofthe business and the need to supply timely and accurate data to customers

It is essential for companies to have access toaccurate and up-to-date information, if effectivedecisions are to be taken

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basic stock keeping, stock forecasting and improved visibility for our telesales team. Once we complete our current stock-take, the information provided to customerswill be based around a factual and exact position covering not only currentavailability but also incoming stock due dates.

“We can more readily identify our stock and service shortcomings and, as we allknow, if you recognise and embrace these weaknesses you can address them.”

The Aria system is also ideal for the sharp end of the market, with the companiesproviding managed workwear and corporate clothing services to end-users. A bolt-on Wardrobe Management Module allows authorised clients access to custominformation allowing them to understand where and how their company clothing isbeing utilised across the whole organisation.

“After the system went live, it allowed us to see new opportunities to change theway the business operates,” Ken says. “These changes will mean that we canstreamline what is currently a paper chase into something far more acceptable toboth our customers and our own operational needs. Having a system that can beused proactively rather than reacting to events will be a significant benefit.” �

For more information on the Aria System and the difference it could make to your business, please contact:

John DriscollARIA Systems, Suite 316/7, East Wing, Sterling House, Langston Road,Loughton, Essex IG10 3TS

Telephone:Office: 020 8502 5553 Mobile: 07971 315050Web: www.ariasystems.co.uk

Aria’s software issuited to the workwearand corporate clothingsectors because it has

been specificallydesigned for the

clothing and footwearindustry by people with

real-world garmentsector experience