How Efficient Tech Helps Global Manufacturing Business

For nearly 40 years, manufacturing business AAK has been producing clothing for high street names such as M&S, John Lewis and Next.

A Lifeline IT client for around 15 years, the business has grown to employ 20 people operating in hubs across the world.

We speak to AAK Managing Director Nathan Helfgott about the company and why IT is important to their global manufacturing operation.

What is AAK?
We’re an integrated clothing supplier that designs, sources and manufactures product for retailers such as M&S, John Lewis, Next, Matalan, White Stuff and many others, including ones internationally.

Our main product focus is menswear, although we do make some kidswear and womenswear. We are a truly global business – our showroom is in central London and we manufacture internationally.

We were founded in 1986, and I joined the company in 1995, although I had known AAK for some time as they were a supplier when I was working in the buying team at M&S. The founder, Maurice Kindler, asked me to come and join them and I’ve been here nearly 30 years now.

How important is IT to AAK?
IT is vital to our business – the smooth running of our day-to-day operations is completely reliant on IT. As an international business with hubs in China and Bangladesh, having a joined-up integrated system is key. No matter where our teams are in the world, we have a central, secure database that we can all access, from whatever device we are working on.

How has your industry changed in the past five years?
I’d say firstly there’s been a rationalisation of retailers – there are companies that were around five years ago who are no longer here. And secondly the biggest change is the acceleration of online – 40% of sales now come from online.

How has IT changed during this time?
As with many companies, Covid changed everything and the move to doing business virtually has been huge, allowing us to do more with less people. A meeting that previously took a day or longer with travel has now become 40 minutes. The one downside though is that you can’t showcase product as well, which is why online showrooms and the software to show product in 3D is vital. IT has been essential in allowing us to do this.

Another thing that has changed in the past five years is the consolidation of all our data into one central place that’s available to everyone all the time, which has all been down to Lifeline IT.

How important is your relationship with Lifeline IT?
Lifeline IT are essential to our business – they look after all our hardware and software and make sure we’re all connected up and allow us to run smoothly.

They’re also very good at advising on new solutions and systems and making sure these are right for our business. They not only understand IT, but also our industry and what our tech needs are.