Dealers in today’s increasingly competitive workplace supplies industry face mounting challenges – declining sales, cash flow difficulties and resource shortages, to name a few. Success now demands more than just the right products; businesses require a solid infrastructure that supports their operations and frees up time for sales and customer relationship management. This is where Unity Dealer Support steps in, offering a comprehensive platform designed to enhance efficiency, profitability, and growth for dealers.
What is Unity Dealer Support?
At its heart, Unity is a fully integrated operational and fulfilment programme tailor-made for dealers. Built on the expertise of its co-founders – seasoned veterans from the industry themselves [Whittakers Workplace Solutions] – Unity operates as a dedicated support team working behind the scenes, managing everything from order processing and customer service to credit control and logistics. This enables dealers to maintain full independence over their business while outsourcing key operational tasks to Unity, boosting efficiency without relinquishing control.
Sales Director Martyn Hammond explains: “The vision was always clear: to offer a superior solution for dealers that want to maintain control of their branding and operations while benefiting from best-in-class operational support in the background. Unity’s success is rooted in delivering the very highest service levels to its partner’s customers, giving dealers the peace of mind to focus on growing their business.”
A solution for today’s business challenges
In an era of intense competition, where dealers face shrinking margins and the growing influence of the digital marketplace, Unity’s approach is refreshingly straightforward: ‘We don’t compete against you; we support you.’ The Unity model combines the best of technology and human interaction, and because it was created ‘by a dealer for the dealer’, the platform is perfectly suited to address the challenges experienced by most businesses:
- Declining sales and rising competition
- Complex supplier management
- Webstore and product file management issues
- Resource constraints
- Cash flow and purchasing system obstacles
Key benefits
Unity offers a carefully created service offering specifically designed around the needs of a dealer:
1. Operational excellence
Unity can handle the heavy lifting of time-consuming tasks such as order processing, customer service, and credit control, freeing dealers to focus on growth strategies. This includes managing invoicing and cash collection, ensuring dealers no longer need to worry about cash flow or debtor reports. Unity effectively funds all transactions, offering unprecedented peace of mind.
2. Custom e-commerce solutions
In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is essential. Unity equips its partners with a fully configured, best-in-class, branded e-commerce website. This solution allows dealers to build their brand, deliver a seamless shopping experience, and drive sales – without the burden of managing the platform.
3. Pricing and profitability
Unity leverages best-in-class supply chain and buying power to provide dealers with competitive pricing strategies to boost profitability. By managing suppliers and finding innovative ways to improve margins, Unity ensures partners stay ahead of the curve in pricing and product availability.
4. Logistics
Unity’s delivery services provide an unmatched customer experience. This personalised service has become a key differentiator for many Unity partners, enabling dealers to achieve higher order fill rates and build lasting customer relationships.
5. Flexible support system
From managing inbound calls to offering an out-of-office function, Unity provides dealers with a highly adaptable support structure. Whether a hands-on or hands-off approach is required, Unity’s system is designed to meet all business needs, allowing dealers to take breaks without worrying about business.
6. Diversification and growth
By utilising Unity’s category experts, dealers can unlock growth opportunities with existing customers while branching into new areas like furniture and fit-out, educational products, catering supplies, promotional items, PPE and workwear. The latter has proven to have the potential to be transformational for those dealers that embrace it.
7. Branding and marketing support
Unity understands the importance of standing out in a crowded market. With expert brand design and marketing services, dealers can refresh their image and enhance their market presence. From creating marketing materials to regular managed e-marketing campaigns, the Unity platform helps showcase a dealer’s business to its full potential.
Unity marks a transformative shift for dealers, delivering a comprehensive solution to the operational, financial and logistical challenges that often impede growth. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, driving category expansion through expert insights, and offering flexible, hands-on support, Unity enables dealers to redirect their focus to what truly matters: expanding their business and strengthening customer relationships.
As Managing Director Nick Whittaker explains: “Some dealers may use Unity as a stepping stone to grow and eventually forge their own path, while others might find ongoing value in our support. Successful salespeople looking to “go it alone” may also find value in the proposition. Whatever the case, Unity offers the flexibility and resources essential for success.”
Real results
For many resellers, transitioning to Unity has been a game changer:
Ross Edmonds, Managing Director, Oasis Business Supplies
Switching to Unity and working with the team has allowed me to focus on growing my business again. For the first time in years, I finally have the resources I need.
Robin Stoton, Managing Director, Buckingham Office
I’m delighted with how the move to Unity has gone. Unity takes care of our logistics, with next-day deliveries being made to my customers and a regular driver they can build a relationship with. I am more than happy to trust that my customers are being looked after by the team at Unity when I am unavailable. What I really like is the Unity team’s fresh approach and openness to ideas and changes.
Gary Williams, Managing Director, Think Business Supplies
Working with Unity has been a refreshing change. The team has been super supportive and helped us transition over in a very quick and seamless manner. I only wish I had made the move earlier.
For further information, visit: Unitydealersupport.co.uk
