Sector
Retail
Employees
5,000+
Invoices Processed
350,000 per year
System Integration
Unit4 Financials
Customer Since
2005
How Proactis Helped
“Despite invoice volumes growing substantially, we have managed to transform AP by streamlining people, process and technology to support best practice. With Proactis, we are achieving over £100,000 efficiency and productivity savings per annum.”
Director of Operational Finance, Screwfix
Delivered over £100,000 in annual AP efficiency and productivity savings, exceeding original objectives
Absorbed a 35% increase in invoice processing volumes with no additional headcount
Eliminated paper-based invoice handling, reducing complexity and administrative burden across the AP function
Delivered compliance levels not previously achievable through automated controls and transparent processing
Streamlined invoice receipt, approval, and exception handling through end-to-end automation
Integrated seamlessly with Unit4 Financials as a fully managed service, minimising IT overhead
Extended document management benefits to the HR team for employee record management
Established a scalable, best-practice AP platform with the flexibility to support further process improvements across the business
Overview
Screwfix is the UK's largest supplier of tools, accessories, and hardware, with over 500 stores and more than 5,000 employees, established over 30 years ago. Facing growing invoice volumes and the need to process paper and electronic invoices through a single, integrated platform, Screwfix implemented Proactis Invoice Capture as a managed service, integrated with Unit4 Financials. The result exceeded all objectives: over £100,000 in annual AP savings, a 35% increase in invoice volumes handled with no additional headcount, and compliance levels not previously achievable.
Challenge
Screwfix is the UK's largest supplier of tools, accessories, and hardware, operating over 500 stores and employing more than 5,000 people. The business had experienced more complex back-office operations as it grew, and needed a way to keep pace with a rapidly expanding flow of supplier invoices without adding AP resource.
The organisation also wanted a single solution provider for both paper and electronic invoices - delivering 100% electronic processing from the point of receipt into the AP team - to drive cost savings and productivity improvements. The existing approach was failing to scale with business growth and was generating unnecessary complexity across the AP function.
The ultimate objective was to tackle these inefficiencies by transforming the AP process end to end, introducing best practices and automation, and ensuring the solution integrated seamlessly with the Unit4 Financials system.
Solution
Provided as a managed service, Proactis introduced a single, standardised, and integrated AP automation solution with seamless integration to Unit4 Financials. The implementation applied the right level of process automation to drive efficiency and assurance whilst supporting Screwfix's ongoing business growth.
Invoice receipt, approval, and exception handling are now automated and streamlined to minimise errors and achieve productivity gains. Paper invoices are rapidly converted and stored as electronic images, increasing visibility and transparency across the AP function. A dedicated query desk addresses all invoice-related queries in a structured and controlled way.
The capabilities of the platform have also been extended beyond Finance: the Human Resources team now uses the document management functionality for employee records - a further demonstration of the solution's value across the wider business.
About us
Proactis has worked with finance and procurement teams for 30 years. We know what the problems look like - and what it takes to fix them.
Partners
We work with a network of trusted ERP partners who help you get Proactis running alongside your existing systems - and make sure it keeps working as your organisation evolves.
Customers
From day one through to long-term use, our team works alongside yours to make sure you get real value from the platform - not just a successful go-live.
Not sure where to start? Let's talk
You don't need a brief to speak to us. Tell us what's frustrating you right now and we'll have an honest conversation about how we can help.