VTech extends contract with supply chain specialist iForce

Outbound-to-rebound experts, iForce, has had their current contract extended by educational toy brand Vtech for all retail deliveries, online orders, stock storage and returns logistics

May 2015 VTech, the world’s leading manufacturer of educational toys, has extended its contract with logistics specialist iForce, maintaining a partnership in place since 2002. iForce’s technology and proprietary systems carry out out a variety of activities for VTech’s distribution business in the UK, including the management of retail orders, stock control and returns management. The new deal extension follows one of the busiest month’s ever for VTech, over Peak, when £2m worth of toys was sent out on a single Monday, illustrating the growth of online demand for toys.

iForce, whose client list also includes the likes of John Lewis, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose Cellar, supplies a complete outsourced solution to VTech’s delivery and returns logistics needs from its Milton Park site. All of VTech’s supply chain needs are managed through its bespoke technology and experienced team. VTech’s stock, imported from Hong Kong, is stored, and then individual orders are built and distributed to customers with bulk orders sent directly to retailers for sell-on. Each bulk order for stores is specially configured, packaged and labeled to enable immediate sale

Paul Holding, Operations Director for Vtech (UK) said: “iForce has built up an excellent understanding of Vtech’s customers warehousing and logistical needs.  I am pleased that we have come to an agreement to continue our relationship.”

Brian Gaunt, CEO for iForce said: “iForce’s relationship with VTech spans over thirteen years and the diversity of VTech’s business needs has been a fantastic opportunity to utilise our flexibility and system capability. We are delighted to continue this working partnership with VTech”.

May 2015

iForce

iForce is the award-winning outbound-to-rebound retail and manufacturing logistics specialist in UK and Europe, offering three core logistics services, each underpinned by their dedicated software technology; SMART for omnichannel fulfilment, RESCU for innovative Returns Processing and Route Genie for carriage management. Founded in 1998, iForce has worked with top retail brands and its current client list includes John Lewis, Paperchase, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose Cellar. iForce’s systems, allied with their operational know-how, provide benefits to their clients that off-the-shelf IT software cannot. www.iforcegroup.com

iForce’s intelligent carrier management software system, Route Genie, comes to the retail marketplace following 10 years of development, multi million pound investment, and the robustness that comes from routing millions of parcels a year for clients like Waitrose Cellar, Paperchase, Cath Kidston and Fortnum & Mason. Route Genie is designed and implemented from a retailer’s point of view, providing real operational efficiencies and exceptional customer experience. Based on a highly extensible architecture that copes with any volume or requirement, Route Genie is designed, both now and in the future, to allow retailer choice and reduce the overall cost of parcel delivery. www.routegenie.co.uk

VTech
V Tech has created Electronic Learning Products (ELP) for over 30 years and is a world leader of age-appropriate learning toys.

Since 1976, VTech has been developing high-quality, innovative educational products for children from birth to pre-teen that deliver “smart-play” through the combination of entertaining electronic formats and engaging, age-appropriate content that help children learn while having fun.

VTech is a name that families can always trust for excellent quality standards. All VTech toys are designed with quality in mind to give long lasting, safe play with specially tailored educational values to develop young minds.