Client Overview

Flamingo Group International is a leading supplier of high-quality plants and flowers, recognised for their innovative approach to new product development in the horticultural industry. Managing complex product launches requires careful coordination of resources, costing and timelines. For the Plants division, Flamingo Flowers needed a solution that could simplify and automate their new product development process, from initial concept through to market launch. To achieve this, they partnered with PSP to design a bespoke Windows-based application that would bring efficiency, accuracy and visibility to their operations.

Challenge

Flamingo’s existing process for managing product development was largely manual, relying on spreadsheets and disparate tools to track and calculate costs. This approach made it difficult to maintain accurate costing and created significant administrative overheads. The manual entry of key data points, such as manufacturing, labour, materials and shipping costs, increased the risk of errors and slowed down the entire product launch timeline. Flamingo required an integrated system that could centralise all aspects of the product development lifecycle, automatically calculate all associated costs and provide a clear overview of the project status at any given time.

Solution

PSP’s business analysts began the project by conducting a thorough analysis of Flamingo's existing workflows, working closely with stakeholders to map out the entire new product development process. Our business analysts collaborated with the Flamingo team to understand every step, from initial concept creation and costing to final launch, ensuring that all critical requirements were captured. This analysis formed the foundation for a comprehensive technical specification that outlined how the application would function, including all necessary integrations and automated calculations.

Based on this specification, our software developers developed a custom Windows-based application designed specifically for the Plants side of Flamingo's business. The system centralised all data related to new product development and integrated automated cost calculations for every stage of the process. From manufacturing and materials to labour, packaging and shipping, every cost component is now calculated in real-time, allowing product managers to see a complete breakdown of expenses and profitability projections instantly. This streamlined approach enables teams to make informed decisions quickly, reducing the time required to bring new products to market.

The application’s intuitive interface also provides a clear, step-by-step workflow for managing each product’s journey, ensuring that nothing is overlooked. With built-in approval processes and project tracking features, the system has transformed the way Flamingo manages their product pipeline, providing greater visibility and control over the entire development lifecycle.

Results

The implementation of the new application has revolutionised Flamingo’s new product development process, eliminating manual spreadsheets and significantly reducing administrative workloads. Automated cost calculations ensure that all financial elements are accurately tracked, giving teams a clear picture of product viability at every stage. The streamlined process has not only improved data accuracy but also reduced the time required to develop and launch new products, enabling Flamingo Flowers to respond more rapidly to market demands.

The system has provided greater transparency across departments, allowing stakeholders to collaborate more effectively and make decisions based on real-time data. This enhanced efficiency has empowered Flamingo to focus on innovation and creativity, confident that the financial and logistical details are being handled seamlessly by the application.

Conclusion

PSP’s development of a custom Windows-based application for Flamingo has transformed their new product development for the Plants division, delivering a solution that centralises data, automates costing and streamlines workflows. By translating complex processes into an easy-to-use application, PSP has enabled Flamingo to optimise their product launches, reduce costs and improve overall operational efficiency. This project showcases PSP’s ability to deliver bespoke software solutions that address specific business challenges, driving productivity and supporting strategic growth.