0:00 / 0:00
Success Story
MR. DIY geared up to deliver better shopping experience cost effectively with Zebra
MR. DIY entered the Turkish market with big goals, a handful of staff, and a strong focus on efficient investment. Being aware of the local complexities, the team took an unconventional approach to deliver quick results and secure continued support from headquarters.
Zebra Success Story: MR. DIY
Overview: Retail Challenge
MR. DIY wanted to deliver scalable, low-friction store and warehouse solutions—freeing teams, empowering customers, and keeping growth smooth and disruption-free.
Benefits / Outcomes
- Consolidated devices to reduce overall quantity
- Reduced spare parts inventory with a single vendor
- Decreased failure rates with high-quality equipment
- Tracked each device precisely with Guardian Cabinets
- Eliminated lost or broken equipment
- Improved warehouse efficiency
- Established a global reference model for other locations
About MR. DIY
Imagine walking into a shop where you can find everything for your home—any day, every day—at consistently low prices. That's MR. DIY. This Malaysian hardware retail giant serves nearly 200 million customers across 4,000 stores throughout Asian and European markets. In 2021, it launched in Turkey to set up stores in convenient locations and create awareness of the brand.
With the opening of four to five new stores monthly, the company needed dependable, long-term collaborators who could maintain its ambitious pace. "In a volatile market like Turkey, our customers are cost-conscious, so we want to honour our 'Always Low Prices' promise," explains Dilara Neyisci Cagli, Country Head, Chief Operating Officer & Board Member at MR. DIY. "Our alliances must reflect this commitment and be able to offer us sustainable and long-term solutions." That’s why, since day one, Zebra has accompanied MR. DIY.
The Challenge
MR. DIY entered the Turkish market with big goals, a handful of staff and a strong focus on efficient investment. Being aware of the local complexities, the team took an unconventional approach to deliver quick results and secure continued support from headquarters.
Rather than adopting the standard solutions from Malaysian headquarters, the Turkish team opted to try alternative technologies that could scale with the business while keeping costs in check. After consulting with Janus Barkod, a Zebra Business Partner specialising in design and labelling services, MR. DIY conducted thorough testing of Zebra products. The successful outcomes shaped its decision and eventually made the Turkish operations a model for global deployments.
“We started in 2021 with TC21 mobile handheld terminals and DS9300 Series scanners. The initial use case was for using the devices at checkout sales counters, conducting inventory counts and making orders in-store,” says Harun Esenturk, IT Manager at MR. DIY. “This small step grew into a trusted association based on proven reliability, minimal failure rates and excellent local support.”
Being more mobile, independent and having access to real-time data updates means fewer handovers, less walking around and faster task switching, ultimately cutting down on manual work. Our warehouse now runs more efficiently than similar facilities.
The Solution
From the moment the first store opened, MR. DIY Turkey aimed to provide a seamless customer experience—minimising delays, errors and inefficiencies. Equipped with TC21 handhelds, store staff could instantly access information at the shelves, eliminating the need to walk back and forth to fixed terminals. This saved valuable time and helped ensure customers weren’t left waiting, especially during peak hours.
However, enhancing staff efficiency was only part of the strategy. MR. DIY also focused on empowering customers with self-service options. After all, what shoppers value most is a clean, well-organised store, accurate pricing and easy access to product information. The Zebra CC6000 kiosks delivered precisely that, giving customers the autonomy to check stock and prices independently while freeing staff to concentrate on store presentation and layout.
“The kiosks are available for customers to access the information they need—like checking stock and prices—all on their own,” says Esenturk. As a result, the shopping experience became faster and more rewarding for both customers and staff. “Customer feedback has been very positive, and we plan to add more kiosks soon,” Esenturk concludes.
At MR. DIY’s fast-paced Istanbul warehouse, the team faced a new set of challenges. Staff use Zebra’s handheld scanners and mobile computers to track and update over 17,000 items in real time, keeping operations efficient. But with continual loading, unloading and restocking, devices are in near-constant motion—being carried around, put down, dropped and squashed. “We used to frequently deal with cracked screens due to devices being accidentally dropped during store operations,” explains Esenturk. “Those issues are now promptly addressed.”
With Zebra’s OneCare Essential maintenance plan, the staff enjoys peace of mind without concerns about accidental damage or device downtime. They can easily send the devices in for repairs, receive security and software updates, and rest assured knowing they have reliable support from Zebra.
Additionally, MR. DIY. needed to know where its devices were and ensure they were fully charged and ready to go at the start of each shift. The company installed four Zebra Guardian Cabinets that helped secure, store, and monitor each Zebra device used by the warehouse staff. Centrally positioned, the cabinets, in combination with Device Guardian Access Management (DGAM), allow them to automatically charge docked mobile computers and display battery charge status to prevent mid-shift power failures. “Guardian Cabinets and DGAM have drastically reduced device loss by ensuring secure storage and tracking device check-ins and check-outs,” describes Esenturk.
Each dock features a sensor that logs an event every time devices are removed or returned, tracking unique IDs linked to staff authentication. This way, managers always know who has each device and where they are and can react when they don’t get back to their dock by the end of the shift. "We receive automated reports at specified times, getting an alert if a device is not returned on time," confirms Esenturk.
Plus, secured in rugged cabinets, the equipment is protected from dust and temperature changes, further reducing replacement and maintenance costs. “Together, these solutions have significantly improved our device management and security,” concludes Esenturk.
The Zebra Difference: Outcome and Benefits
MR. DIY Turkey has relied on Zebra for four years. While cost-effectiveness was a key factor early on, the superior reliability of Zebra’s products also led the team to replace other suppliers over time. That was the case with the printers, which used to have frequent breakdowns. “Every week, we were getting printers returned from the stores,” says Esenturk. “With the Zebra ZD421, it stopped.”
The savings went beyond the purchase price. Using a single vendor has simplified accessories, spare parts and support. Zebra DNA and Zebra OneCare maintenance plans also made setup, device management and troubleshooting easier—lightening the IT load, extending device life and keeping operations running smoothly.
The uniform ecosystem reduces training requirements, with users no longer having to navigate disparate interfaces. Onboarding is much quicker, supported by reliable assistance from Zebra and Janus Barkod.
Warehouse operations have also significantly improved. By combining multiple functions into a single device and integrating with a centralised data system accessible to the entire team, the handhelds enable every floor worker to be more productive. “Being more mobile and independent and having access to real-time data updates means fewer handovers, less walking around and faster task switching. This ultimately cuts down manual work,” Esenturk reveals. “Our warehouse now runs more efficiently than similar facilities.”
Having Zebra’s rugged devices, cabinet protection and maintenance plans that extend device lifespans means the company doesn’t have to keep extensive backup inventory in case of issues that could halt store operations. “Since adopting Zebra’s solutions, we’ve optimised the number of devices,” Esenturk confirms. “With lower failure rates, our inventory turnover has improved, avoiding substantial costs for replacements or spare parts. That’s a significant savings benefit for us."
MR. DIY’s story is one of ambition, long-term commitment and resolve. “We’ve got through tough times—and more might come,” Cagli observes. “Companies that stand by you through thick and thin, like Zebra, earn your loyalty.”
To succeed in a fast-changing, high-pressure market, the team built custom solutions from scratch, combining deep local insight with technical expertise. They knew that to become a model for other countries, they’d need collaborators who could think beyond the standard playbook. Zebra and Janus Barkod rose to the challenge, offering flexible, innovative support without compromising on cost. Instead of switching vendors, MR. DIY doubled down—finding greater value in a single, collaborative relationship. In a complex environment, this association helped them move faster, stay agile and stay focused on growth.
“As the first official employee—number 001, I've seen us grow from the start,” says Cagli. “With Zebra by our side, we get the right solutions to work smarter and stay organised, just as we equip homeowners with tools to transform their homes into spaces they love.”
Featured Products and Solutions
