Engaging

distribution
Written by Nye Longman Produced by Richard Durrant
Engaging distribution

3
EVO Group is the UK’s largest multi-channel
distributor of supplies and services for businesses
– formed after a seamless merger in 2014, it is now
working hard to increase customer engagement while
maintaining its commitment to next-day delivery

4 April 2016
A
rising from the merger of
two critically positioned UK
distributors in 2014, what
is now known as the EVO Group
quickly became note-worthy for
its ability to deliver and distribute
to businesses across a range of
channels, in the shortest possible
time. Operations General Manager
Phil Allsop explains how the efforts
of all those involved ensures that the
customer remains the focal-point of
all of the company’s operations and
how he and his teams are looking to
further increase engagement across
all channels.
Operations
EVO Group is an entity greater than
the sum of its parts, an accolade
that is all the more impressive given
the scope, scale and size of its
constituent companies: Vasanta
and office2officeplc (o2o). Listed on
the Sunday Times Top Track 250 -
EVO is a leading office equipment
supplier with revenues last year of
almost £660 million. It has a strong
distribution footing in the UK and
ROI. The Group’s specific wholesale
and direct channels deliver
managed procurement, distribution
and supply chain services,
alongside a strong business
supplies offering.
All told, the Group is made up of
specific channels under the brands
of VOW, VOW Retail, Banner,
bokz, Headroom and Truline,
which together give it a footprint
of over 50,000 customers. These
are serviced by a centralised
distribution network supported by
three main distribution centres, as
well as various localised cross-dock
sites and a fleet of over 320 vehicles.
Allsop explains that the Group is
able to target the market through
a range of different channels: “We
have three core businesses that
w w w. e v o - g r o u p . c o . u k 5
EVO GROUP
operate out of EVO Group. We have
a retail section which predominately
covers goods for resale – we will
provide customers with a product
that they will then display for
purchase. We also supply dealer
networks where dealers sell on
to end user, which include offices
and SME enterprises. With the
integration of Office to Office,
we gained the Banner business
which supplies directly into major
accounts.”
Our sales teams are consistently
out there, talking with our customers
and meeting them. I myself spend
a day every two weeks on the
road with the sales teams to help
understand customer needs and
how we can mitigate any potential
challenges.”
He adds: “We have sales teams
operating out of Norwich, Droylsden
in Manchester, Wakefield, and
Lutterworth, while also having sales
6 April 2016
teams in Dublin and Belfast.”
Strategy
EVO Group’s unrivalled position in
the UK is maintained by a combined
effort to increase customer
engagement, aggressively expand
sales, and to optimise its operations
in order to guarantee next day
delivery to its customer base. In
order to achieve this, Allsop is
tasked with ensuring that every
aspect of the company’s supply
chain is in-line with these goals.
He explains: “Next day delivery is
a huge responsibility – we are able
to take orders up until 6:30pm each
evening and get those distributed
by the next day. This ensures
there is a balance between the
distribution centres, mainly based
on geography, but also order size.
“We disseminate the orders
into the right warehouse to ensure
that warehouse is fit for purpose.
 S U P P LY C H A I N

w w w. c o v e s t r o . c o m 7
CO
EVVE
OSG
TR O U P

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8 April 2016

Number of Employees at EVO Group
One example of this would be if I
walked across the despatch area
of Lutterworth and saw a pallet of
paper to go to a single customer
- I question who has ordered this.
Whereas in Normanton, there are
several pallets of paper awaiting
despatch.
“Within Lutterworth, we are
shipping out circa 220,000 items a
day through automation and as you
can imagine it’s a hive of activity
between 6:30pm and 11pm.”
While engagement has certainly
become a buzzword for many in the
distribution industry and beyond,
Allsop describes that the EVO
Group has its own culture and is
2000
self-directed for what it wants to
achieve using this clear identity.
He says: “You will only get ideas to
improve your operations from your
teams. I personally put together
a programme that has worked
particularly well around displaying
initiatives and encouraging people
to come forward. They know their
job. They know the shortcuts in that
job - it’s about how do you evolve
those shortcuts into a process that
is then fit for purpose and within the
boundaries of health and safety.
“As a business, we are always
looking to expand. I think our sales
team are particularly dynamic. They
are always looking for opportunities.
w w w. e v o - g r o u p . c o . u k 9
“ Not only does the employee survey support a culture of ope
within the organisation, it also enables management to work
employees to drive positive, constructive change across the
Saying that, we are pragmatic in Furthermore, we are also working with Ha
implementing new ideas and know look at further efficiencies in our pallet ful
what our capacities are within He also explains that, while the price of
our network and how best to gain an item is obviously important to an office
maximum efficiency.” customer, the service and the accompan
The Group also works with service delivery are of equal, if not superi
external parties where relevant importance. Leveraging its sophisticated
to ensure the service delivered to distribution network in order to fulfil the
customers is constantly enhanced. needs of customers in this way is how
Phil says: “For instance, we work the company has been able to maintain
with Hazel 4D who is the provider its place at the top.
of packaging to EVO for the last
three years. Their Total Packaging Talent management
Management solution means Allsop explains that in order to
that they store our stock in their ensure that the EVO Group is
warehouse for call off. We receive consistently on track to deliver
a daily delivery, and at the end its operational strategies; it
of the month we are only billed needs to have a constantly
for the stock that has been used. motivated and well-trained

10 April 2016
enness
k with
business
azel 4D to
lfilment.”
f
e
nying
ior
d
 workforce who is willing to go the
extra mile. He says: “As a business,
we aim to attract graduates and
commence with an apprenticeship
programme. I’m a great believer
The Warehouse Management in apprentices, particularly within
Specialist operations, I think they are a
A Solution For Every Company In Every Sector
must have for organisations
that operate in logistics.”
“We operate NVQs, as well as
on-site training which we carry out
across the board, from manual
handling all the way through to
the supervisors and warehouse
management systems. As a
company, we also run a number of
www.davantigroup.com internal training and development
info@davantigroup.com
programmes. In addition, we have
a very recently launched mentoring
programme within the business,
combined with our internal awards
programme – all supported with
an annual employee survey.”
Not only does the employee
survey support a culture of

12 April 2016
openness within the organisation,
it also enables management to
work with employees to drive
positive, constructive change
across the business. Even when
it comes to its contingent labour
force, EVO ensures that its agency
takes the time with temporary
workers to ensure that they are
fully aware of the company’s
operations and work ethic.
Having proved with its
successful merger in 2014,
the EVO Group has gone on
to become an essential part
of the UK’s business supplies
network and a model for
others looking to give true
value to their customers. The
company’s dedicated approach
to its operational strategy and its
supporting talent pool shows that
the Group has firmly cemented
its place in the market and is
well-positioned to be a serious
influencer for years to come.
w w w. e v o - g r o u p . c o . u k 13
EVO Business Supplies Limited,
K House, Sheffield Business
Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire,
United Kingdom, S9 1XU

 0114 256 6000

info@evo-group.co.uk
www.evo-group.co.uk