Thistle Corners the Market!

If you want to know how be voted UK top installer for six years running, then ask Nick Robson, Managing Director of Thistle Windows and Conservatories of Aberdeen! Being voted the people's choice in the annual survey by Network VEKA (of which Thistle is a member), is even more of an accolade, and according to Nick, without the Adminbase system in place, this achievement could not have been possible! 'It's through hard work and the most efficient service, and for that purpose, we use the Adminbase management system from Ab Initio Software,' he explains. 'With over 120 employees serving the Grampian region of Scotland, it is crucial to have an intelligent management system to deal with the administration, and this is where Adminbase has become totally invaluable!'

Having used the system for over five years, Nick readily admits that it has become the core of the company's activities and a crucial element in its continuing success, enabling the company to continuously perform to the highest possible standards of service to its customer base. The system is commonly heralded for its ability to provide a comprehensive database for sales, leads and enquiries, but for Thistle, Adminbase offers a far broader function than just a database!

'Adminbase is used by every single person in the company to access customer records so that we can offer a unique and comprehensive customer service,' he continues. 'Every single detail of a customer's installation is available on the system - from cost, to the time taken installing, to the profit margins, to any issues that might have arisen on the job! Nothing is left out! And at the click of a mouse, all that information is immediately available! It doesn't matter if the client hasn't contacted us for a number of years, we still have a permanent record of every transaction and this is where we score over our competitors! Our staff constantly updates the records, adding relevant details so that effectively, we know everything we need about every single customer!'

Thistle is a leading installer of high quality doors, windows and conservatories, and has gained a reputation based on offering unsurpassable quality of products, installation, customer service and value for money.   With a turnover of around £8.5m per annum, Thistle has got the market in the North East of Scotland cornered and Nick cannot over-emphasise enough the vital role that Adminbase plays in the company's success. 'We looked at a number of systems before specifying Adminbase for its ease of use, availability of upgrades and the fact that the Ab Initio people were keen to work with us to devise the best possible solution for our requirements,' he concludes. 'Everybody at Thistle is encouraged to use the system on a daily basis and it has streamlined the way that our installation procedure operates. Simply we wouldn't be without it!'