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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Join US at PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution

Join Brown Smith Wallace at PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution from March 10-13, 2013 at the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visit the University of Industrial Distribution website for details, accreditation and CEU information, and to register. This program historically sells out—registration will close on February 22 or when the program is full.

Recognized for its excellence in education, the PTDA-sponsored University of Industrial Distribution (UID), in cooperation with both Indiana University and Purdue University, is a concentrated, continuing-education program focused on the unique needs of the industrial distribution industry. The four-day program allows attendees to build a custom curriculum from 30 courses on the key functional disciplines relevant to industrial distribution. Participants earn credits toward their Certificate in Industrial Distribution from Purdue University.

Who should attend: • CEOs • Branch managers • Sales and marketing managers • Purchasing managers • Human resources directors • Operations managers • Inventory managers • Training managers • Manufacturer personnel in regional sales, distribution sales and marketing management

You’ll learn how to: • Differentiate your distribution company for your specific and unique market environment • Improve your bottom line profitability by effectively managing the negotiation process • Develop a pricing strategy and a plan for executing that strategy • Manage operations and branches efficiently and profitably • Create a marketing plan that wins new business • Motivate employees through your personal leadership style • Hire and keep the right salespeople

Hope to see you there!

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Monday, January 28, 2013

City of Boise Saves Millions by Implementing Infor Software

Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, recently announced The City of Boise significantly improved operational efficiencies with Infor software. City leaders deployed the Infor Enwisen Human Resource Management, Infor Lawson Enterprise Financial Management and Infor Supply Chain Management software suites, thereby creating $3.8 million in savings over the next 10 years and improving service to the city's 211,000 residents.

Read more about the implementation and cost-savings on the Yahoo! Finance blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Friday, January 25, 2013

Epicor Introduces New CRM to Support Retailers

Epicor Software Corporation, a global leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations, today introduced Epicor Retail CRM 7.0, the newest retail customer engagement tool in the market leader's product portfolio that offers streamlined customer views and robust loyalty functionality for simpler, more automated customer relationship management (CRM) program management.

Completely redesigned, Epicor Retail CRM 7.0 allows retailers to leverage customer data and loyalty program-generated content and simplifies CRM tasks for all retail personnel -- from the executive suite to the selling floor. The newly revamped Epicor Retail CRM 7.0 solution boasts comprehensive loyalty program automation, sophisticated query tools, and support for the needs of today's multidivisional retail enterprise.

Read more about the features included in Epicor Retail CRM 7.0 on the Contact Centre blog. 

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Competing in Time: 5 Targets for a Distributor's Hit List Educational Webcast

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 10:00am ET and 7:00am PT for one hour.  Featured Speakers are Steve Epner-Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, Brian Lombardo-Infor Distribution, and Anna Wells-Industrial Distribution.

Speed is the best competitive differentiator for distributors. The faster you obtain relevant information, the better you are able to offer the best level of service to your customers and suppliers. Competing by price has its challenges, but competing in time is an area where every distributor has a chance to succeed.
According to Steve Epner, CSP, Brown Smith and Wallace Consulting Group in the whitepaper, Competing in Time, there are 5 key time management targets that distributors should consider to help them gain efficiencies and increase service levels. The question is how do you gain the benefits of time?
Consider all your business processes. Do you know exactly how much time it takes:
• From order entry to fulfillment?
• From printing a pick ticket to packing is complete?
• From shipping confirmation to invoicing?
• From receipt of a complaint to resolution?
Attend this webinar featuring Steve Epner, CSP, Brown Smith and Wallace Consulting Group, and Brian Lombardo, Industry Solutions Director, Infor Distribution, as they take a closer look at the 5 targets and apply real world examples of how you can gain the benefits of time, how you can improve your processes, and how your ERP can help facilitate these objectives.
You'll have the opportunity to pose questions to the expert panel via email at the conclusion of this webcast.
Register Free

Sage ERP X3 Recognized as a Leader by Nucleus Research

Sage North America recently announced its inclusion in the Nucleus Research 2012 second half Technology Value Matrix for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with Sage ERP X3 named a Leader. Sage ERP X3 is a powerful and flexible business management solution for mid-market companies and subsidiaries of large groups looking to grow a competitive business with limited IT resources.

Sage is a leading global supplier of business management software and services for small and midsized businesses. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs more than 13,500 people and supports more than 6 million customers worldwide. Nucleus Research is a global provider of investigative, case-based technology research and advisory services that provide real-world insight into maximizing technology value.

To read more about Sage's inclusion in the Nucleus Research Technology Value Matrix, visit the Sage blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Monday, January 21, 2013

Microsoft Dynamics Business Analyzer Windows 8 app released

The latest app from Microsoft is called the Microsoft Dynamics Business Analyzer and it's designed to show stats and information for businesses that use Microsoft Dynamics ERP-based software.

Specifically, the app can connect to a server running SQL Reporting Services and display reports that have been created by Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 FP1.

Businesses with employees that have a enterprise-oriented Windows 8 tablet could use Microsoft Dynamics Business Analyzer to check to see if, for example, their budget is in line with their product sales. The app also allows users to open the Lync version of Windows 8 in order to start up a chat with someone else about a report that's displayed on the Dynamics Business Analyzer. The launch of this new app shows that Microsoft is expanding its Windows 8 software products beyond just consumer oriented apps and it's likely we will see even more apps like this in the future.

Take a look at the app on the Neowin blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Friday, January 18, 2013

What Every Industrial Distributor Should Know Before The Next ERP Upgrade

Hidden Risk: What Every Industrial Distributor Should Know Before The Next ERP Upgrade is a FREE upcoming webinar that will discuss the results of a new survey from Advanced Distribution Software.

In the survey, many industrial and electrical distributors responded that they are waiting to upgrade or replace their ERP systems. Fifty percent of distributors surveyed indicated they are not on a current release of their software. Difficulty or fear of conversion is the biggest reason keeping distributors from moving to the current ERP version. To learn more and register for the webinar, visit the Advanced Distribution Software website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Big Data Analysis Could Bring Supply Chain Insights

In a recent article from The Electrical Distributor magazine, James Cooke explains how unanalyzed data can provide a treasure trove of information. Advances in computer hardware and software now make it possible to pour through those heaps of data, both structured (residing in conventional databases) and unstructured (which lies in information repositories such as email accounts or social media networks). A number of software vendors, from big names like IBM to smaller, specialized companies, have begun developing special applications that can sift through “big data” to spot patterns and find hidden cause-and-effect relationships.

Although big data analysis can be applied to all functions of the business from marketing to finance, it’s particularly promising for the supply chain. For starters, this type of analysis could be used to make connections between other aspects of their business that impact transportation and warehouse operations. For example, sifting through shipping records might discover a link between a particular type of packaging and product damage that occurs during shipping. To read more, visit the TED website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Monday, January 14, 2013

Webinar: Strategic Planning for Distributors

Join Brent R. Grover, nationally recognized distribution industry consultant, speaker and author of six NAW books, as he debuts his newest book, “The Little Black Book of Strategic Planning for Distributors.”

During this hour-long webinar, Grover discusses how you can use strategic planning to shift your mindset from thinking only about today to instead focusing on putting together a realistic and executable plan for your company’s future, including these key steps:

  • Organize a strategic planning project
  • Gather the needed information
  • Build a one-page plan
  • Execute your plan
  • Create a system to monitor results
  • Take corrective action

  • This insightful webinar will give you the tools you need to take your distribution business to the next level!  Visit the Advanced Distribution Software website to register and learn more.

    The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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    Friday, January 11, 2013

    Reynolds Catering Supplies and Infor M3

    Supporting the food and catering industries means providing supplies in their freshest state. But there is the problem of serving a high volume of customers without becoming impersonal. New approaches to data – and giving customers more visibility into that data – can help.

    In a video interview with Reynolds Catering Supplies CEO Tony Reynolds, Reynolds describes the challenges of combining personal customer support with an ever-growing client base and their accompanying needs. Making the decision to utilize Infor M3 helped him win the logistics wars.

    Watch the complete interview on YouTube.

    The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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    Wednesday, January 9, 2013

    9 Business Principles For Distributors That Never Go Out Of Style

    “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” It’s an old saying that illustrates an important business truth: While old and proven principles of sound business management are often wrapped in new clothes and offered as fresh discoveries, careful examination usually reveals the reality that the most important doctrines of successful business management have been around for a long time.

    In this informational article from The Electrical Distributor magazine, nine of those reliable management principles that are essential to business are explained and described in detail. Visit the TED website to read more.

    The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

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    Monday, January 7, 2013

    How Can Distributors Stay Current In A Tech-Driven Market?

    In a fast-paced, tech-driven world, your customers want their information easily accessible and they want it now. If your website is slow, your online product catalogue is old or your site mobile is inefficient, you’re losing customers.

    If you’re resistant to adaptation and all of its pain points, it’s important to remember that adaptation is less painful than becoming irrelevant. These days, it’s much harder for distributors to stay relevant because customers have so many options. Product lines are becoming blurred. Mass distributors such as Amazon can provide everything customers need in one place, a major benefit for the customer looking for convenience.

    Read more on the Advanced Distribution Today blog.

    The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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    Friday, January 4, 2013

    SAP Brings the Power of Dashboards to Mobile Devices

    SAP recently announced the latest version of the SAP® BusinessObjects™ Mobile mobile app. The newest release allows users to visualize, explore, collaborate from within the app and share business performance through personalized and simple views in a secure environment designed natively for iPad.

    Updates to SAP BusinessObjects Mobile allow for:
    • Highly interactive dashboard capabilities, including native iPad gestures, such as the ability to pinch, zoom, share and collaborate.
    • One mobile app for all BI content, including SAP® BusinessObjects™ Web Intelligence® software, SAP® BusinessObjects™ Dashboards software, SAP® Crystal Reports® software and SAP® BusinessObjects™ Design Studio.
    • Powerful and consistent functionality, including geo-spatial and location analytics, text annotation, such as draw, crop or blurring of sensitive numbers, as well as online and offline use and integration with the SAP® BusinessObjects™ Business Intelligence platform and SAP® Mobile Platform
    To learn more, visit the SAP Newsroom blog.

    The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

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    Wednesday, January 2, 2013

    Epicor's MPR Software Solutions

    Built using a true service-oriented architecture (SOA), Epicor production management and MPR software solutions enable continuous performance initiatives, real-time connectivity, and intuitive business intelligence—from the shop floor all the way through to your supply-chain partners—to provide greater business agility in pursuit of perfect customer service.

    Learn more about the options available including MRP Software for Discrete Manufacturers, MRP Software for Process Manufacturers, MES Software for Manufacturers, MRP Software and Manufacturing Software, and Comprehensive Manufacturing Production Software, visit the Epicor website to download specifications and white papers outlining the necessary planning and roll-out process.

    The Brown Smith Wallace 2012 Mid-Year Supplements are available. Visit our website to download your copy!


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