Bliss Direct boosts order capacity with new ERP system
Bliss Direct has increased its daily order-processing capacity to 300 and cut peak-period sales order administration by up to 25 hours a week after rolling out Forterro's Orderwise enterprise resource planning (ERP) and warehouse management software.
The wholesaler supplies UV tanning lotions and other professional beauty products across the UK and Ireland. It employs 13 people, manages thousands of stock keeping units, and serves more than 2,500 salon customers.
Operational change
Bliss Direct began trading in 1996 as a single-catalogue supplier. As its product range and customer base grew, largely manual processes came under increasing strain.
Handwritten orders, paper-based picking, and dispatch administration created pinch points as volumes rose. Finance-led systems also limited visibility of stock and order status, reducing forecasting accuracy and control as the business expanded.
Mark Tillotson, managing director at Bliss Direct, said Orderwise replaced long-standing working practices across the operation.
"Before Orderwise, everything was manual - handwritten orders, picking by memory and paper-based dispatch admin. It worked when we were small, but as we expanded it became increasingly inefficient," Tillotson said. "Orderwise has given us the tools to automate our processes, save valuable time and continue growing without increasing complexity. During peak periods, we're saving up to 25 hours a week in sales order processing alone and we have increased year-on-year order growth by 5%."
Measured gains
Bliss Direct reports around 5% year-on-year order growth since the pandemic period, which it attributes to greater automation across order processing, forecasting, and stock control.
In addition to saving up to 25 hours a week during peak periods, the business has cut time spent on forecasting by more than two hours a week. The Orderwise deployment has also increased capacity, with the operation now able to process up to 300 orders per day.
ERP platforms typically centralise data across purchasing, inventory, order management, and finance. Warehouse management systems add tools for picking, packing, and dispatch. Wholesalers and distributors often deploy combined systems when paper-driven processes and disconnected software reach their limits.
Warehouse expansion
The rollout comes as Bliss Direct expands its physical footprint, adding 200m2 of warehouse space to increase storage and picking capacity.
The business is also investing further in operational efficiency as it targets continued growth in the UK and Ireland's professional beauty sector. Higher order volumes in this market can put pressure on availability and fulfilment speed, particularly during seasonal peaks.
Forterro positions Orderwise for wholesalers, distributors, and trade-focused retailers. The product combines order processing, inventory management, and warehouse workflows in a single system.
For software suppliers, wins in wholesale distribution often hinge on clear time savings and higher throughput without adding staff. With its order volumes and headcount, Bliss Direct sits in a bracket where incremental gains in picking accuracy and process automation can materially increase capacity.
Carrie Tallett, senior product manager for Orderwise at Forterro, described the rollout as an example of ERP replacing manual work in a growing operation.
"Bliss Direct demonstrates how the right ERP platform can unlock both efficiency and sustainable growth. By replacing manual processes with Orderwise's integrated capabilities, they've created time savings, improved visibility and built a scalable operational foundation," Tallett said.
Forterro sells software to industrial and midmarket firms and supports more than 25,000 businesses. It employs more than 2,500 people across more than 40 office locations, with development and service hubs in multiple regions.
Bliss Direct expects further process improvements as it builds on the system deployment alongside its expanded warehouse operation.