ScanSource Communications shuts German warehouse

Centralisation of stock to Liege will benefit UK resellers, distributor claims

ScanSource Communications Europe has completed its stock centralisation drive after shutting its German warehouse.

The 500sqm Cologne hub, a relic of the comms distributor's 2009 acquisition of Algol Europe, served resellers in Germany, Switzerland and parts of France.

As of 1 August, all orders previously handled by Cologne are being dispatched from ScanSource's 12,000sqm central warehouse in Liege.

UK stock was centralised to Leige 14 months ago after the Avaya and Extreme distributor concluded it had outgrown the 200sqm UK warehouse it inherited through its 2008 acquisition of MTV Telecom.

Kim Jennings, sales manager of the Avaya and Extreme Networks distributor, said the addition of the Cologne stock would hand UK partners access to an even wider pool of stock.

"This will give UK partners even more confidence we have the stock they need," she said.

Since the reseller backlash last year, Jennings stressed the time at which UK resellers can make next-day-delivery orders has been extended from 4pm to 5.15pm.

"When you make a big change there are always going to be teething problems, but everything is running smoothly now," she said.

Jennings said flexible financing was another push area for the distributor.

This includes offering resellers' extended terms on specific deals or setting up accounts with the end user in instances where the reseller is unable to obtain credit.

"The key thing is to find a way to win the business," she said.