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Friday, August 23, 2013

Attend the PTDA Industry Summit in October

Join us at the PTDA Industry Summit, October 3-5, 2013 at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs, in Palm Desert, California.

This is a leading event for the year with more than 550 delegates—including the industry’s top executives representing 240 companies. In addition to being a cost-efficient and powerful connection hub, the emphasis on current events and economic trends can provide you with the net you need to be more secure in your plans for your business moving into 2014 and beyond.

Highlights of the Industry Summit include:
• A who’s who of C-suite level attendees from leading distribution and manufacturing companies
• Educational workshops on industry issues with respected industry experts
• Peer networking forums for distributors and manufacturers
• One-on-one meetings with current and potential business partners as part of the Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange (MD-IDEX)
• Informal networking at enjoyable social events
• Optional golf outing benefiting the PTDA Foundation

Learn more and register at the PTDA website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

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




You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx



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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

South Asian Manufacturer Selects IFS Applications 8

IFS, a global enterprise applications company, recently announced that APEX Adelchi Footwear Ltd., the largest shoe manufacturer, exporter and leading leather product retailer in Bangladesh, has selected and deployed IFS Applications 8™.

Founded in 1983, IFS develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications, a component-based extended ERP suite. IFS focuses on industries where management of any of the following four core processes is strategic: service & asset, manufacturing, supply chain, and projects.

The APEX Adelchi IFS solution supports 174 retail stores and the entire value chain, from manufacturing to retail. Covering retail, manufacturing, financials, distribution, and human resources, the entire implemented across the company's organization was completed in only 12 months. The company hopes to see immediate benefits in reducing present stock level and improving the replenishment performance for over 15,000 SKUs.

To read more, visit the IFS website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

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



You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx


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Monday, August 19, 2013

iS5 Communications Selects Sage ERP X3

IS 5 Communications of Mississauga, Ontario, a young company which designs, manufactures, installs and services network routing equipment for use in harsh environments, such as those encountered in the utility, transportation, industrial, military and surveillance industries, has selected Sage ERP X3. Sage Group is a global provider of business management software to small and medium sized companies, helping businesses establish the systems flexibility needed for them to succeed.

The broad functionality of Sage ERP X3 appealed to IS 5 as each product is custom built to customer requirements, and the product configurator tool in Sage ERP X3 greatly simplifies this task. Sales personnel can walk customers through the various product options and then produce a quote detailing the price and configuration. When the order is approved, the software automatically produces a work order to build the equipment. Sage ERP X3 even offers shipping and manifesting capabilities that enable iS5 to get completed orders out the door and on their way quickly and efficiently.

To learn more about Sage ERP X3 and the IS 5 Communications implementation, visit the Sage Newsroom.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

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

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx
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Friday, August 16, 2013

TDBBS Picks Acumatica’s Cloud ERP For Enhanced Customization

TDBBS, a leading natural pet products manufacturer located in Richmond, VA, has a large, and growing, fan base of animal lovers seeking all-natural products for dogs and cats.

Because of the growth the company has been experiencing, a flexible solution outside of the traditional, license-based ERP solutions was needed. After evaluating several different options, TDBBS decided upon the Acumatica product, Dynamic Tech Services, with the JAMS Manufacturing advanced manufacturing software module for its operations.

Since Acumatica is an asp.NET based solution, it installed quickly on TDBBS’ server and allowed the company immediate full control to customize business processes within the system.  

Founded in 2007, Acumatica is a provider of highly customizable, cloud-based ERP applications for small and midsized businesses, offering financial management, distribution, CRM, and project accounting suites.

To read more about the implementation and Acumatica's suite of products, visit the Acumatica News Blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Join Us For September's EPTDA Convention

Join the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group and over 350 distributors and manufacturers at Europe's leading PT/MC event for the industry's key-decision makers!

EPTDA’s annual conventions are highly acclaimed by PT/MC professionals as being a leading event in the industry, providing unparalleled time- and cost-saving solutions for expanding business networks and enhancing knowledge.
This professional industry summit is hosted annually, generally at the end of September, and is open to both members and non-members. It offers supreme, tangible benefits, including:
  • A premier connection hub for global PT/MC distributors and manufacturers
  • The only executive networking event gathering over 300 PT/MC key decision-makers in one place at one time
  • Powerful and cost-efficient B2B meeting platform for distributors and manufacturers
  • Inspiring, leading-edge educational program featuring prominent business leaders as keynote speakers
  • Exclusive local company visits – real-life business examples of forward-thinking strategies
  • Extensive opportunities to discuss business issues, best practices and innovative ideas both formally and informally
  • An enticing social program for partners and spouses
  • The opportunity to meet in one of the most sought-after destinations in the world
EPTDA’s next annual convention will take place on 18-20 September 2013 in Venice, Italy, and will celebrate the Association's 15th Anniversary

Learn more and register online at the EPTDA's website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx
 
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Monday, August 12, 2013

Current Trends Impacting Distribution Strategy

Four key trends have played a significant role in influencing distribution strategy through the first half of 2013 - and are helping to turn around the distribution industry after uncertainty plagued businesses in 2012.

A recent article on the Modern Distribution Management website outlines those trends, which include: 

1) Human resources must become a focal point for hiring and training, even for smaller businesses.

2) Paying more attention to data and how to use it to implement changes and improve margins.

3) Looking for ways to increase growth by adding lines of business and new products.

4) Mergers and acquisitions remain popular and consolidation is changing how distributors use technology and the type of products they offer.

To read more, visit the Advanced Distribution Today blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Friday, August 9, 2013

Simplify Supply Chain Demand Planning with Infor

Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, recently announced Infor Demand Planning version 6.6.

Infor Demand Planning 6.6 features enhanced promotion management, real-time demand sense and respond, advanced shelf life management, and intelligent baseline forecasting. The new version places a greater emphasis on accuracy and agility to improve the capabilities of supply chain forecasting tools. The solution is equipped with advancements in periodic item forecasting and intelligent baseline forecasting, helping to greatly reduce the manual planning effort and smooth the impact of one-off events and sporadic demand.

Highlights include: Data Series Modeling, Periodic Item Forecasting, Intelligent Baseline Forecasting, Promotion Management Workbench, Demand Sense and Respond, and Automated Interpolation Vectors.

To read more, visit the Infor website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Petitti Garden Centers Increase Efficiency with Epicor

Petitti Garden Center, a nine-store independent garden center in operation since 1971, is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. They set themselves apart from other garden centers by exceeding the needs of customers and offering the highest quality products, services, and plant materials. Growing for their retail stores is done at a production facility in Columbia Station, Ohio and 1,300-acres of nursery in Madison, Ohio.

When searching for a new software vendor, they inquired with numerous national and regional lawn and garden companies and many were using the Epicor Eagle system. For Petitti, the challenges included the need to maintain and accurate, seasonal inventory that would not prove to be too cumbersome and incapable of growing with the business.

Petitti Garden Center chose to implement Epicor Eagle,  Epicor Eagle Loyalty, and Epicor Eagle Mobile Manager and the results included real-time, precise seasonal inventory management, a powerful analytics tool to enable accurate decision making and a seamlessly integrated customer loyalty program.

To read more about the implementation, visit the Epicor website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Monday, August 5, 2013

Planning for a Supply Chain Management Crises

Not planning for potential crises can be costly in supply chain management, as all 50 states have gone through some type of disaster in the last two years.

A "crises" can be split into two categories: the ones that affect the general population and the ones that are specific to a particular distributor. For general disasters, regional distributors have an advantage because their branches can help one another out. However, the destruction of a central distribution center, one which maintains all telecommunications or information systems can be fatal.

Businesses without an adequate crisis plan usually never reopen after experiencing a disaster. Additionally, between 40 and 50 percent will shut down for good within two years of the disaster.

Visit the Advanced Distribution Today blog to read more and get suggestions for establishing a successful crisis plan in supply chain management.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

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Friday, August 2, 2013

Attending September's EPTDA Convention?

Join the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group and over 350 distributors and manufacturers at Europe's leading PT/MC event for the industry's key-decision makers!

EPTDA’s annual conventions are highly acclaimed by PT/MC professionals as being a leading event in the industry, providing unparalleled time- and cost-saving solutions for expanding business networks and enhancing knowledge.
This professional industry summit is hosted annually, generally at the end of September, and is open to both members and non-members. It offers supreme, tangible benefits, including:
  • A premier connection hub for global PT/MC distributors and manufacturers
  • The only executive networking event gathering over 300 PT/MC key decision-makers in one place at one time
  • Powerful and cost-efficient B2B meeting platform for distributors and manufacturers
  • Inspiring, leading-edge educational program featuring prominent business leaders as keynote speakers
  • Exclusive local company visits – real-life business examples of forward-thinking strategies
  • Extensive opportunities to discuss business issues, best practices and innovative ideas both formally and informally
  • An enticing social program for partners and spouses
  • The opportunity to meet in one of the most sought-after destinations in the world
EPTDA’s next annual convention will take place on 18-20 September 2013 in Venice, Italy, and will celebrate the Association's 15th Anniversary

Learn more and register online at the EPTDA's website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx
 
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