Case Study
How Big Earth Transformed with Zoku’s Unified Commerce Platform
About Big Earth Landscape Supply
Big Earth Landscape Supply has been a trusted provider of landscape materials for over 40 years, serving both wholesale (B2B) and retail (B2C) customers. Established in 1983, the company has grown from humble beginnings to operate five locations across the Tampa Bay area—Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, Tampa, and Lakewood Ranch—while delivering products to customers all over the United States.
Big Earth offers a comprehensive range of landscape supplies, including mulch, rock, fertilizer, sod, gravel, soil, flagstone, shell, compost, and tools. With a commitment to quality and service, the company continues to be a go-to source for landscaping professionals and homeowners nationwide.
Executive Summary:
In the dynamic landscape supply industry, operational efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction are paramount. Zoku, a NetSuite POS and Unified Commerce Platform and NetSuite SDN Partner, offers a unified commerce platform designed to address the unique challenges faced by businesses like Big Earth, a leading landscape materials provider. This white paper explores how Zoku’s solutions, particularly its Point of Sale (POS) and Inventory Management modules, have transformed Big Earth’s operations, streamlining processes, enhancing safety, and improving customer experiences. Discover how Zoku’s expertise in unified commerce can empower your business to navigate growth and ensure operational excellence.
Introduction
The landscape supply industry, characterized by its complex logistics and diverse product offerings, demands agile and efficient operations. Zoku understands these complexities and provides innovative solutions that empower businesses to thrive. With a wealth of experience in software, consulting, and business development, Zoku delivers a unified commerce platform that seamlessly integrates with leading technologies like Oracle NetSuite and Microsoft Azure. This paper examines how Zoku’s solutions have addressed the specific challenges faced by Big Earth, showcasing the power of unified commerce in a specialized industry.
Operational Challenges in Landscape Supply (From a Technology Perspective):
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Inventory Management and Material Variability:
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Customer Service and Communication:
Zoku’s Unified Commerce Solution for Landscape Supply:
- Zoku’s Platform Overview:
Big Earth Case Study: Transforming POS and Inventory Management
The Challenge: Legacy System Limitations
Zoku’s Solution:
A Unified Approach
Key Features and Customizations:
- B2B Account Management – Zoku’s POS enables B2B customers to make deposits and manage accounts, streamlining transactions.
- B2C Omnichannel Commerce Integration – Seamlessly manage sales across multiple channels, including eCommerce, marketplaces, and in-store POS, all within a unified NetSuite environment.
- NetSuite Price Level Integration – Accurate pricing for retail and wholesale transactions is ensured through seamless NetSuite price level integration.
- Receipt Management – Users can conveniently email receipts and print them on thermal or desktop printers, enhancing customer service.
- Custom Tax Management – Zoku implemented a custom solution to handle Florida’s county-specific sales tax, including:
- The system also allows for tax overrides when needed.
- Customization on Deposits / Bank Reconciliation – Post-go-live, Zoku customized the bank reconciliation process to organize payments by register, payment method, and date, simplifying the Match Bank Data Screen and deposit generation.
Quantifiable Benefits:
- Big Earth experienced streamlined operations, reduced errors, and improved transaction speed.
- The bank reconciliation customization significantly reduced the time spent on manual tasks.
Implementation and Integration:
- The implementation process was seamless, with minimal disruption to Big Earth’s operations.
- Zoku’s platform integrated seamlessly with NetSuite, providing a unified view of data.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real-Time Inventory Management – Zoku’s live inventory updates prevent stockouts and overstocking, ensuring accurate product availability across multiple locations. It streamlines replenishment by automatically triggering restock alerts based on pre-set thresholds.
- Integrated POS and WMS – The system unifies retail and warehouse operations, offering real-time visibility into sales, inventory, and fulfillment. This reduces manual errors and accelerates order processing.
- Automated Delivery Scheduling and Communication – Zoku optimizes delivery routes and automates dispatch notifications. Customers receive real-time updates on their orders, enhancing transparency and satisfaction.
- Data Analytics and Reporting – The platform provides customizable dashboards with sales trends, operational metrics, and customer insights. Businesses can make data-driven decisions for improved efficiency.
- CRM Capabilities – Zoku’s built-in CRM enables customer segmentation, targeted marketing, and personalized service. It tracks order history and preferences to enhance customer loyalty.
How Zoku Integrates with Existing Tech:
- Built For NetSuite Certified – Zoku seamlessly integrates with NetSuite ERP, ensuring smooth data flow and unified operations.
- Zoku Sync for Platform Integration – Supports integration with Microsoft Azure and other third-party platforms, allowing flexibility and scalability.
The Future of Landscape Supply: Leveraging Technology for Growth
The landscape supply industry is poised for further growth, driven by technological advancements and evolving customer expectations. Zoku’s unified commerce platform provides the foundation for businesses to embrace digital transformation, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Data-driven decision-making, automated processes, and seamless integration will be key drivers of success.
By leveraging NetSuite ERP and Zoku, businesses can maintain centralized control over sales and inventory management, ensuring real-time visibility across multiple locations. This enables better demand forecasting, optimized stock levels, and improved order fulfillment, allowing companies to scale efficiently while maintaining exceptional service for both retail and wholesale customers.
Challenge
Big Earth’s legacy Sage system created inefficiencies in B2B account management, pricing, tax compliance, and financial operations. Managing customer accounts was cumbersome, with limited tools for tracking order histories, credit limits, and special pricing agreements, leading to delays and frustration. Pricing inconsistencies arose due to the system’s inability to support dynamic pricing and volume-based discounts, causing frequent errors.
Financial management was equally challenging. Manual tax calculations increased compliance risks, while the slow, error-prone bank reconciliation process hindered financial accuracy and reporting. These inefficiencies not only impacted day-to-day operations but also limited Big Earth’s ability to scale and deliver a seamless customer experience.
Solution
To address Big Earth’s operational challenges, Zoku implemented its POS and Inventory Management applications, seamlessly integrating them with NetSuite. This unified commerce platform provided a scalable and efficient solution tailored to Big Earth’s needs. Key features included:
With these enhancements, Big Earth transitioned from an inefficient legacy system to a modern, data-driven commerce platform, improving both internal operations and the customer experience.
Results
The implementation of Zoku’s unified commerce platform resulted in significant improvements across Big Earth’s business operations:
- Enhanced Operational Efficiency – Automated processes reduced manual workload, allowing staff to focus on strategic tasks.
- Reduced Errors & Increased Transaction Speed – Pricing, tax calculations, and reconciliation were streamlined, minimizing costly mistakes and accelerating order processing.
- Simplified Financial Management – Automated bank reconciliation improved financial accuracy, making audits and reporting more efficient.
- Improved Customer Experience – B2B customers benefited from faster service, transparent pricing, and a seamless purchasing process, leading to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Conclusion
Zoku’s unified commerce solutions have fundamentally transformed Big Earth’s operations, establishing a scalable and resilient foundation for long-term growth. By integrating POS, WMS, and inventory management into a single platform, Zoku streamlined complex processes, reduced manual errors, and accelerated financial operations.
Big Earth now benefits from real-time inventory accuracy, automated delivery scheduling, and simplified tax compliance. The platform’s NetSuite integration ensures seamless data flow, while enhanced B2B account management and consistent pricing improve customer satisfaction.
Zoku’s expertise enables landscape supply businesses to navigate industry challenges, improve safety standards, and drive sustainable growth through operational efficiency and customer-centric service.
Next Step
Contact Zoku today for a consultation to discover how their unified commerce platform can optimize your operations, enhance safety, and deliver lasting business success.
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