Scorchsoft

Supplier Portal - WSH Supply Chain Procurement Portal

The Supplier Search Tool for Westbury Street Holdings (WSH) enhances the process of supplier discovery by allowing users to effortlessly search for approved suppliers based on location and various criteria. This tool improves efficiency and reliability, making it easier to find and connect with trusted suppliers.

The WSH supplier portal on a monitor, laptop and phone: the Find a Supplier map with 53 approved-supplier results beside the Manage Use Existing Supplier Requests screen

Westbury Street Holdings keeps hundreds of approved suppliers on its books, and finding the right one meant working through lists. Scorchsoft built WSH a web application that puts every approved supplier on a searchable map, signs existing users straight in through the login they already have, and turns "I need a supplier" into a request WSH can approve in one place. It runs on Laravel and React, with MariaDB and Apache behind it, and SAML for single sign-on.

Inside the WSH supplier portal

How a food outlet finds an approved supplier, and how WSH keeps that list working: search, single sign-on, the map, the admin tools and the request workflow.

The WSH supplier search map on a laptop, with approved-supplier results listed beside clustered location pins

If a user is trying to find a supplier, they'll often search independently. With our web application, we encourage those same users to search directly through WSH. With easy location searches and approved suppliers, it becomes the best option to find a supplier the user can trust without hassle.

Current Users Have Instant Access

Because WSH already has users with accounts, we needed to make it easy for them to access the new application. The app needed a sign-on process, but we didn't want current users to create new accounts. So, we linked the account information WSH already had and the login systems they were using with the new app. This means that users with an existing login could enter the application instantly and start searching with ease.

The WSH Find a Supplier screen on a phone, with category and subcategory filters, search autocomplete and a map of supplier pins

Multiple Search Criteria Options

The search capabilities of the WSH app had to be competitive with the likes of search engines. We built a range of different search options for users, including a simple name of supplier search. If they don't have a supplier name, they can find one through various criteria, including categories, subcategories, and tags. This allows users to find suppliers that fit their requirements quickly and prevents them from searching through endless lists of suppliers who aren't right for them.

Graphics Map of Suppliers

As the location was a large part of the search criteria for WSH, we incorporated a graphical map of supplier locations. The map is covered in hundreds of pins that can be filtered by proximity to the user's location. Pin grouping technology will update the pins for easy interactive search as the user moves the map and zooms. The map also displays mass supplier data in a format that's easy to understand and filter.

The WSH supplier portal automated chatbot open over the supplier map on a laptop, guiding a user through adding a new supplier

Personalised Recommendations by Admins

Through the backend of the app, we've made it easy for admins to pinpoint certain suppliers. If they know that a supplier suits a food outlet that has an account with WSH, they can highlight that supplier to the user. When the user searches, that specific company will appear in a different colour from the rest, making it easy for the outlet to find a great match quickly.

Reducing Administration Time

The application allows for large data downloads of spreadsheets and an easy upload process. It also allows for the mass editing of records. These steps simplify administration time for WSH and prevent the need for manual updates. We also added an automated chatbot that will be users' first port of call if they have queries. The bot will direct users to the right action depending on their question, and an email copy of the chat will be sent to WSH via the backend.

The Manage Use Existing Supplier Requests screen in the WSH portal on a laptop, listing requests by pending, approved and rejected status

Gives Users Control When Booking a Supplier

The application contains supplier information for the user to view, including a link to their website, delivery windows, and social media platforms (which can all be shared easily). If the food outlet finds a supplier, the onboarding workflow allows them to register to use them. The requests are sent instantly to WSH for approval, and both the food outlet and supplier are updated with automatic emails.

The Technology Stack

As the application was complex and needed multiple functions, we used a large and varied tech stack to meet the client's needs. We used Laravel on the backend, React on the front-end, and MariaDB and Apache for the database and server. The single sign-on capabilities use SAML for fast, secure login.

More of our work

Read more case studies in our portfolio, see our capabilities, or contact Scorchsoft about a supplier, partner or procurement portal of your own.

What Our Clients Say

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