BWS
From AI curiosity to practical improvement
The Problem
BWS (Blackwood Welding Supplies & Safety Supplies Ltd) began with a 20-minute discovery call with Browning AI Consultancy.
Commercial Director Gavin Evans had been curious about AI and Microsoft Copilot for some time, but wasn’t sure how to take the first step. The conversation also identified a second challenge: purchase approvals were being managed through emails and spreadsheets, creating unnecessary administration.
The Approach
The next step was a 90-minute Productivity Assessment to explore both opportunities in more detail and understand where technology could make a practical difference.
From this, two projects were agreed: Copilot and AI training and the automation of BWS’s purchase approval process.
The Solution
Browning AI Consultancy delivered practical Copilot training, showing how AI can support everyday tasks such as creating PowerPoint presentations, working with data in Excel, drafting Word documents and producing or summarising business communications.
Alongside the training, a new automated purchase approval workflow was implemented, replacing the previous email and spreadsheet-based process with a more structured approach.
“I’d been curious about AI for some time but didn’t really know where to start. Tim made it practical, showing us how Copilot could help with everyday tasks such as PowerPoint presentations, Excel, documents and communications.
The Productivity Assessment also highlighted an opportunity to improve our purchase approval process, which we’d previously managed through emails and spreadsheets.
This feels like the start of a long-term relationship. As AI and technology continue to develop, we want to keep looking for opportunities to improve how we work.”
Commercial Director, BWS
What’s Next
Both businesses see this as the start of a long-term partnership, continually identifying opportunities to use Microsoft 365, Copilot, AI and automation to reduce administration, improve processes and increase productivity.
Could this work for your business?
Tell me the job that eats the most time each week and I'll tell you straight whether it's worth automating.