PPE supplier’s new management system reduces TCO

Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier Bramhope Health and Safety has introduced holistic solutions to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of PPE and safety items, including its award-winning PPE management system.

Bramhope CEO Isak Marais notes that the system, which provides a powerful cloud-based management platform, “put the company on the map”, as Bramhope was listed in the 2015 Accenture Innovation Index as one of the Top 100 innovative companies.

He notes that the system, designed for effective and efficient PPE management, is a first in the industry. The system accurately determines the selection of PPE by weighing employee profiles against unique workplace risks, specific work areas and user trends.

“It is the only system proven to halve TCO as it controls all aspects of PPE, including issuing, use, application, calibration, training, product versus job specification and stock control,” explains Marais.

It also provides real-time information, with on-demand accurate reporting per item, user, location and job specification.

The system features a built-in global sourcing platform, ensuring secure access and a large, searchable database of suppliers, making it accessible “to any company, in any industry, in any country”.

New Software
Bramhope has also launched free downloadable software for PPE policies and PPE profiling, which is suitable for use in any country.

The software produces accurate data on each job function and provides the graphics of risk profiles through business intelligence dashboards, which allow for more accurate predictions of PPE consumption levels, inventory levels and budgets.

He asserts that, by developing and implementing PPE policies and profiles, one can further reduce the TCO, while simultaneously reducing risk.

Bramhope offers this service at no additional cost, as long as the client commits to capturing the initial data in the PPE policy documentation, and will then initiate the necessary PPE profiling activities using its own specifically designed software.

PPE and the Retail Industry
In the past 15 years, building materials retailers such as Build It, Mica and Buco have been supplying select, fast-moving PPE- and safety-related items to customers.

Marais says there has been increased demand for these products in retail stores, which could be attributed to the convenience factor. “Customers prefer buying all their products from one store without having to shop around,” he points out, adding that retailers are competitive in terms of pricing, as a result of bulk procurement.

However, he believes that most of the retail industry still struggles to improve profit margins, owing to nonconsolidated procurement and competition from smaller suppliers.

Bramhope has been supplying the retail industry with PPE, safety, cleaning and hygiene products since its inception. “During this time, we have gained valuable experience in the retail industry and have learnt how to deal with the industry’s unique challenges and requirements,” says Marais.

The company offers a complete online solution to the retail industry, and customers will soon be able to use screen-interactive displays or hand-held devices to browse and buy from the online catalogue.

Marais adds that the retailer will essentially increase stock and add a few thousand square metres to its shop floor – which is in the cloud – without spending millions of rands on infrastructure, new systems, staff or other items.

Partnership Programme
Established in 2002, Bramhope’s Partnership Programme provides local entrepreneurs with the opportunity to start a business – an option that recently also became available to Bramhope’s employees.

Through the programme, Bramhope provides new partners with a total solution or selective products and services, depending on the partner’s existing infrastructure and capabilities.

“Partners can start small, selling a selected range of Bramhope products, eventually developing the enterprise to become a full-scale business selling the comprehensive range of solutions,” explains Marais, adding that local partnerships have been established in Durban, Nelspruit, Gauteng, Cape Town and George, as well as in Botswana and Namibia.

Internship Programme
Bramhope’s internship programme aims to empower young people seeking to start their own businesses or advance in the corporate world.

Interns receive comprehensive training and support in their selected fields of specialisation, as well as training in general business and administrative duties.

Successful trainees have the option of either staying at the company or starting their own businesses through the partnership programme.