Toolstream Case Study
IT support and solutions for a tool retailer and distributor
Owtanet has been a trusted IT partner for Toolstream for nearly 20 years providing IT support and solutions that have grown with their business. The partnership began with hosting infrastructure in‑house before later supporting the change of their hosting environment as requirements grew, including migration to modern cloud platforms such as AWS.
Throughout this time, we have continuously designed, implemented, and managed Toolstream’s B2B e-commerce system, involving multi-currency and multilingual transactions interfacing with their existing customer and warehouse management systems. We provided transactional services to support mobile applications, created an online catalogue of assets/resources to support their customer network and provided an API for customers to query product data, stock availability and pricing updates.
In addition to the development work, Owtanet also supported several areas of IT operations, including a review of Cloudflare and deployment of Microsoft’s Azure Local, along with the migration of the existing system from VMWare onto Azure.
Alongside this, Owtanet optimised Cloudflare security, supported PCI DSS compliance, and refined e‑commerce and API integrations, ensuring Toolstream’s IT environment remained robust and secure.
Services Provided
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IT Consultancy
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Shopify Platform Development
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Cloud Hosting & Migration
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API & Systems Integration
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Security & PCI Compliance
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Managed IT Support
Key Outcomes
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Multi‑brand ecommerce platforms
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Improved system integration and data flow
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Reduced operational complexity
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Enhanced security and PCI
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More reliable customer transactions
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Platforms able to evolve with the business
Background
Toolstream launched in 2009 and over time grew a strong reputation for offering quality products, developing a multi‑brand distribution model serving customers and distributors across Europe. During this time, the business continued to expand its product range to attract new customers and stockists.
The Challenge
Toolstream’s growth brought a mix of technical and operational difficulties, which resulted in the following challenges:
Scalable e-commerce platform: Their e-commerce platform needed to handle multiple brands and currencies, while cutting down on manual work
Outdated infrastructure: Toolstream’s existing VMware environment was becoming less sustainable due to changes in licensing models and the need for modern, cost-efficient alternative services.
Data and integration issues: Keeping customer, warehouse, and pricing systems in sync was a constant juggle, with manual work draining resources.
Security and compliance: Balancing PCI requirements, Cloudflare optimisations, and disaster recovery while keeping operations running smoothly.
The Solution
In order to combat the issues we addressed each challenge with a combination of custom development, strategic migrations and ongoing support
E-commerce and APIs
Ensured smooth multi-currency/multilingual transactions which integrated with their warehouse and customer systems.
Built a custom API for real-time product data, stock, and pricing, so their team and customers always had up-to-date information.
Shopify Customisation: Developed bespoke Shopify templates and app integrations, including custom promo setups and multi-brand ebook management, to enhance user experience and operational efficiency.
Infrastructure upgrade
Cost-Effective Migration: Migrated from VMware to Microsoft Azure Local, reducing costs and simplifying management for cloud and on-premises systems under a single platform.
Smooth Transition: Used Azure Migrate for a seamless switch, with only one system requiring a custom adjustment to ensure everything ran perfectly.
Disaster Recovery: Implementing Azure Site Recovery to minimise downtime and ensure business continuity.
Security & Performance
Optimised Cloudflare: Enhanced site speed and security, delivering a faster, more secure experience for customers.
PCI Compliance: Maintained rigorous PCI compliance standards, allowing Toolstream to focus on growth without worrying about audits or vulnerabilities.
I have had the pleasure of working with Owtanet for close to two decades, during which time they have consistently demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and deep technical expertise. Their team are a trusted partner across a wide range of IT initiatives, always delivering solutions that are both innovative and robust. Their long-term collaboration has made them an invaluable asset to our organisation.
Neville Mapstone, Head of IT
Results
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Faster, more reliable e-commerce operations, with automated processes cutting manual work
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Enhanced security and compliance, achieving PCI readiness and reducing vulnerabilities.
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True multi-brand management, enabling Toolstream to onboard new brands and promotions without technical hurdles.
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Improved customer experience, with fewer payment failures, accurate order emails, and a streamlined checkout process.
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Looking for a long‑term IT partner?
If your business is growing, operating across multiple territories, or relying on business‑critical digital platforms, Owtanet can help. We work closely with organisations to design, build, and support practical IT solutions that scale with the business, without adding unnecessary complexity or overhead.