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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Epicor Benefits Lumber and Building Material (LBM ) Businesses

Are you in the market for Lumber and Building Materials Software for your LBM Business?

Today, running a successful LBM business means managing complex, interconnected operations—purchasing and supplier relationships, inventory control, contract services, product delivery and more—all while keeping costs, manpower, and profit margins in line.

With everyday LBM operations firmly in hand, you'll want to address critical planning and decision-making activities. Epicor lumber and building materials software is there to help with a range of powerful business management software tools. No matter what shape the economy is in, maximum productivity is always the right approach. The full range of LBM software solutions from Epicor can help take you every step of the way, with fundamentals like accounting software, inventory software, and retail point of sale software, as well as professional estimating, dispatch and delivery, millwork, and construction services—all designed specifically for LBM businesses.

Learn more on the Epicor website. 

The new, 2013 Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides, are now available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.


To request these guides, as well as all other materials, visit our website at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx
 

Monday, February 25, 2013

Get Ready for 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 Distribution Software Guide, Manufacturing Software Guide, and Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Software Supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!


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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Webinar: What Every Industrial Distributor Should Know Before The Next ERP Upgrade

Advanced Distribution Software presents Hidden Risk: What Every Industrial Distributor Should Know Before The Next ERP Upgrade.

During this hour-long on-demand webinar, explore surprising facts about the industrial and electrical distributors who are waiting to upgrade or replace their ERP systems, including:

•  50 percent of distributors surveyed said they aren’t on a current release.
•  Difficulty or fear of conversion is the biggest reason keeping distributors from moving to the current ERP version.
•  60 percent said that the cost of the upgrade is also a barrier to change

To learn more and register, visit the Advanced Distribution Software website.

The new, 2013 Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides, are now available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.
 


To request these guides, as well as all other materials, visit our website at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Monday, February 18, 2013

IFS Upgrade Program Brings Greater Value

The aim of IFS Upgrade is to help customers upgrade to the latest version of IFS Applications, thereby quickly taking advantage of new functionality to improve productivity and their competitive edge.

The concept behind IFS Upgrade is to keep the scope as tight as possible. The idea is to upgrade first and do the business improvements afterwards, resulting in a clear project scope from the beginning. Right after the technical upgrade business improvements are initiated and implemented at a pace suitable for the company.

IFS Upgrade is built on two pillars; IFS Technical and IFS Solution. With these processes and tools IFS significantly reduces the time it takes to upgrade, and time means money.

Read more on the IFS blog.

The new, 2013 Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides, are now available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.


To request these guides, as well as all other materials, visit our website at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Friday, February 15, 2013

How Does The Fiscal Cliff Deal Impact Wholesale Distributors?

The fiscal cliff deal could have a big impact on wholesale distributors, especially when it comes to hiring new employees.

An article on the Modern Distribution Management website explains the ins and outs of the deal reached in early January. For starters, wholesale distributors need to face the fact that the payroll tax holiday is over. After a temporary 2 percent reduction, rates have gone back to 6.2 percent.

In spite of the Affordable Care Act and all the talk about reducing healthcare costs, they’re still rising much faster than almost any cost out there. That’s causing distributors to be hesitant about hiring.

The uncertainty surrounding the fiscal cliff was a real killer for businesses. The good news is that with a deal in place there’s a bit more clarity about where the economy is headed in 2013. That allows for businesses to build a more definitive plan.

Read more on the Advanced Distribution Today blog.

The new, 2013 Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides, are now available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.



To request these guides, as well as all other materials, visit our website at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx


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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Rutledge AV Selects Pronto Software

Australian enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence (BI) provider, Pronto Software, recently announced a partnership with Rutledge AV, Australia’s largest audio visual systems provider.

Rutledge AV has selected Pronto Xi as its enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution of choice, following a competitive tender process. Pronto will provide a complete solution that integrates Rutledge AV’s business processes from sales to project execution and service delivery.

According to Rutledge AV Process Improvement Manager, Richard Bakunowicz, the company selected Pronto Software as it was seeking an ERP solution that would improve project visibility across its national sites, as well as simplifying and improving operation efficiencies.

Rutledge AV specialises in the supply, installation and servicing of professional audio visual equipment and employs more than 250 employees around Australia. The company maintains operations in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin. Customers include BHP Billiton, Canberra Airport, NAB, Target and Toyota.

Information and data transparency across projects was also a key component in the selection process. According to Mr Bakunowicz, project teams previously struggled to view essential details relating to projects across the company’s national operations.

Read more about the selection on the Pronto website.

The new, 2013 Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides, are now available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

 

To request these guides, as well as all other materials, visit our website at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

 
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Friday, February 8, 2013

Microsoft Dynamics AX Helps Hunter Douglas Support Its Global Enterprise

Ever since it invented the aluminum window blind in 1946, Hunter Douglas has defined the industry with products that deliver revolutionary style and functionality. Its legacy includes the creation of entirely new categories of award-winning window coverings, such as the first honeycomb shade and a remote-control system for controlling one or more shades at once. Its expertise in customization helps keep its customers at the forefront of design in the home and office.

After considering several ERP solutions, Hunter Douglas Latin America adopted Microsoft Dynamics AX. Currently, 400 people in Chile and Mexico use the manufacturing management software, and implementation is underway in Argentina. These will be followed by sites in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Panama. By early 2016, the single Microsoft AX implementation will have replaced eight separate ERP systems, and virtually everyone at Hunter Douglas Latin America—1,300 people—will use Microsoft Dynamics AX for manufacturing, fulfillment, and tasks related to customer service, accounting, production, sales, operations, logistics, and inventory.

Read more of the case study on the Microsoft Dynamics 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, February 6, 2013

Swissphone Achieves 50% Increases in Time Savings with Acumatica Cloud ERP

When you’re Swissphone, the global market leader for complete alerting solutions for saving lives, it’s no secret that time, reliability and responsiveness are your competitive advantages. When Swissphone’s U.S. subsidiary, which supplies analog and digital paging devices used for emergency events to volunteer fire departments in America began to experience slowdowns an untimely interruptions in their daily routines, it became painfully obvious it was time to select a new ERP system.

Swissphone evaluated several cloud ERP systems, and ultimately chose to go with Acumatica as it needed an entire distribution system in a fully-optimized cloud ERP environment. Swissphone switched over to the new Acumatica ERP system in just under three months. Download the entire Acumatica customer case study on their 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, February 4, 2013

Educational Webinars on Effective Inventory Management

Absolute Value, makers of Addon Demand Forecasting and Replenishment software are offering a series of free webinars on effective inventory management. Select from topics such as Improving Forecast Accuracy, Effectively Analyzing Your Inventory Investment, First Steps to Achieving Effective Inventory Management, and Executing on the Forecast: Why a More Accurate Forecast Alone Cannot Solve Your Inventory Optimization Needs.

Visit the Absolute Value website to learn more and register.

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, February 1, 2013

RM Foods Eating Up the Competition with Sage ERP X3

Sage North America announced today that RM Foods has continued its success by capitalizing on Sage ERP X3 and its expertise in process manufacturing. Starting with a quick implementation of its first phase, Sage ERP X3 has enabled RM Foods to run its business more profitably by increasing data accuracy with more visibility into product and production data.

Sage ERP X3 is a powerful and flexible business management solution from Sage for midsized companies looking to grow a competitive business with limited IT resources. RM Foods, a nearly 50-year-old food and beverage manufacturer and distributor, based in Buena Park, California, has grown from a supplier of the restaurants El Torito and Acapulco to a much larger customer base that now includes companies such as Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club and Whole Foods. With 300 employees operating from three separate locations, RM Foods maintains a bustling operation, which had grown to require an ERP system that was flexible and able to support a growing and complex business.

Read more on the Sage 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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