How DC Print unlocked European suppliers and saved a full day weekly with mobile-first Procurement

For DC Print, a family-owned print service provider in Dublin, stocktaking wasn't just tedious—it consumed an entire day each week. Excel spreadsheets tracked inventory. Phone calls chased supplier pricing. Manual counts determined what was in stock.

Then they implemented GelatoConnect Procurement.

Within weeks, the 25-year-old business transformed its procurement operation. Manual stocktaking disappeared. Material costs dropped by up to 70%. And most importantly, every team member—from management to print floor staff—gained real-time visibility into inventory.

Here's how they did it, and what other PSPs can learn from their experience.

DC Print operates across multiple product categories - digital printing, signage, promotional products and apparel. Managing inventory across this breadth created significant pain points.

Stephen from DC Print explains the old reality: "It was very manual, very time-consuming. We had Excel sheets, price lists, and manual stock takes. You could take a day to do a full stock take."

The lack of visibility created stress beyond just lost time. "Countless times we've gone in and said, 'The customer ordered 5,000 flyers,' and then realized, 'We're short 500 sheets.' You're letting customers down."

Procurement knowledge lived with just one or two people. Chasing suppliers for pricing consumed hours. The team needed a better way.

DC Print chose GelatoConnect Procurement after speaking with other PSPs in the Gelato network. The decision came down to three factors: mobile accessibility, automated inventory tracking, and centralized supplier management.

Implementation took just a few weeks - a fraction of the time traditional systems require. Stephen credits their phased training approach: "We trained people as we went, step by step. Everybody bought into it from the beginning, and that's a key thing for anybody coming on to GelatoConnect - get the staff to buy into it."

The mobile app became the game-changer. Every team member received training and scanner access on mobile devices. Now, when staff notice inventory running low, they scan the barcode, see exact stock levels, and place orders directly - no need to ask management or check spreadsheets.

One day per week recovered

The most immediate impact? "It's freed up a person a full day's work of stocktaking—which is amazing," Stephen says. Instead of dedicated stocktaking sessions, the team maintains inventory through continuous scanning during production.

Supplier network expansion

As an Irish PSP, DC Print previously relied on limited local suppliers. GelatoConnect opened access to competitive European vendors. "We would have never thought of reaching out to suppliers in Europe before," Stephen says. "It's opened up a whole new market for us."

Up to 70% cost savings on materials

Access to European suppliers through GelatoConnect's network has created opportunities for dramatic cost reductions:

- Canvas bars: Up to 70% cheaper

- Tote bags: 30% cheaper  

- Photo paper: 30% cheaper

For a business that goes through significant material volumes, these savings compound quickly. "Even the smallest saving can add up," Stephen notes.

Real-time visibility reduces stress

Automated alerts notify the team when inventory drops below minimum thresholds. This proactive approach eliminates the panic of discovering shortages mid-production.

"There’s less stress because everything is in stock," Stephen explains. "You're avoiding all that customer disappointment."

DC Print's successful rollout offers lessons for other PSPs considering procurement automation:

Week 1: Data preparation and CSV uploads

The onboarding team worked with existing suppliers to gather pricing data in spreadsheet format. GelatoConnect's CSV upload tool made importing this data straightforward.

Weeks 2-3: Gradual team training

Rather than overwhelming staff with all features at once, DC Print trained team members incrementally as new capabilities went live. This built confidence and ensured adoption.

Ongoing: Continuous optimization

The team continues adding suppliers and refining minimum stock levels based on production patterns. The system grows with their needs.

With procurement delivering strong ROI, DC Print is now onboarding GelatoConnect Workflow for digital production and expanding into apparel. "We can see huge opportunities," Stephen says. "It's going to be exciting for us."

They anticipate even greater savings as they connect procurement data with production workflows and automated logistics.

When asked what he'd tell other PSPs considering GelatoConnect Procurement, Stephen's response is immediate: "100%. Come on board. You're going to see massive savings in cost, massive savings in time."

His advice? Focus on team adoption from day one. "Get the staff to buy into it because that's where you're going to see the benefits."

DC Print's experience demonstrates how mobile-first procurement automation transforms daily operations. By replacing manual processes with real-time visibility and automated workflows, they've freed up time, reduced costs, and positioned themselves for continued growth.

The old way—spreadsheets, phone calls, manual counts—still works. But as Stephen discovered, the new way works better.

Want to see how GelatoConnect Procurement can transform your operation?