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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Tradeware Leverages Distribution Data With Phocas BI

As a hardware distributor, Tradeware needs to ensure that orders can be met on time without excess stock sitting in the warehouse for extended periods of time. “We import a range of products from overseas”, says Chris Rath, Operations Manager for Tradeware, “where we need to order them months in advance."

Reliable, timely information from Phocas BI allows Tradeware to supply top quality products and customer service. Says Rath, "The great thing about Phocas is that it not only keeps us up to date on what's currently happening, but helps us understand where we were a year ago as well as plan and forecast what's coming up in the next few months in terms of products and promotions."

With Phocas, Tradeware staff are able to drill down to the individual product level or sales rep and see how they are performing across different territories and customers. “In an instant we can go back three months to see which customers have dropped off or compare sales this year to the same period last year, identifying issues we may have missed." says Rath. All of the sales force use Phocas BI in the field and by having all their sales and historical data stored in the system, Tradeware doesn’t lose vital information about a customer when they need to replace a sales rep. It’s simply a matter of giving the new rep access to the information and they can drill down to see what has been happening in their territory and with their customers.

To learn more about Phocas BI and read additional case studies, visit the Phocas Newsroom.

New Software Research Guides Available Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.


Coming in August 2016:
Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, our 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

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Wednesday, August 24, 2016

International Apparel Federation Endorses Infor M3 Analytics for Fashion 11.0

Infor recently announced that Infor M3 Analytics for Fashion 11.0 has been endorsed by the International Apparel Federation (IAF) as a tool that has been developed with strong user input from both apparel brands and apparel manufacturers. The IAF has become the world's leading federation for apparel manufacturers, their associations, apparel retailers and the supporting industry, through its national and regional industry associations on all continents. IAF's membership now includes apparel associations from nearly 40 countries representing over 150,000 companies that provide products and services to the apparel industry. It advocates continuous improvements in the operation of the supply chain, reducing waste and improving the overall performance of the industry, including profitability, corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Infor Analytics for Fashion, part of Infor CloudSuite Fashion, together with Infor business intelligence tools deliver industry-specific analytics, reporting capabilities and specific key performance indicators through personalized dashboards that can be accessed from desktop or mobile devices. With Infor, organizations are able to transform information into actionable insights, get a real-time view of performance across the business, speed decision making, and unlock the potential of siloed data within enterprise applications.

"The fashion industry is a large, global value chain that is constantly changing based on the economy and fluctuating consumer tastes. This creates a mass repository of data that, if collected and analyzed properly, can improve efficiency and streamline operations," said Erick Rowe, vice president, Infor Retail. "Infor is committed to delivering innovative, scalable applications with industry-specific capabilities that can be utilized in the cloud, and this endorsement from the IAF is a testament to our success in that area."

To read more, visit the Infor Newsroom.

New Software Research Guides Available Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.


Coming in August 2016:
Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, our 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016

VAI's Robust MRP Solution Elevates Aiphone's Business Operations

Aiphone Corp. USA, the Japan-based intercom systems manufacturer, has recently announced that it is optimizing its core business functions with VAI’s Material Requirements Planning (MRP) solution. Based in Nagoya, Japan, Aiphone exports to over 60 countries with its marketing and sales distribution center near Seattle, Washington. Aiphone products range from simple do-it-yourself door answering units to sophisticated video entry security systems, complex microprocessor-based commercial systems, and luxury condo/apartment security and communication systems.  

As the company's business grew into more complex markets, Aiphone Corp. USA needed an IT solution that would be able to predict interruptions, dissect data in real time and streamline the sales process. With VAI’s MRP solution, Aiphone Corp. USA is now able to respond to changes in supply and demand more quickly while maintaining a deeper view into production analytics. Aiphone Corp. USA has experienced a significant increase in business productivity, sales and performance after installing and implementing VAI’s full MRP solution.

VAI is an independent mid-market ERP software developer renowned for its flexible solutions and ability to automate critical business functions for the distribution, manufacturing, specialty retail and service sectors. An IBM Premier Business Partner, VAI is the 2012 IBM Beacon Award Winner for Outstanding Solutions for Midsize Businesses. To learn more about the implementation, VAI's MRP solutions, and other products, visit the VAI Newsroom.

New Software Research Guides Available Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.


Coming in August 2016:
Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, our 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.
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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Southern Implants Goes Global With Blue Link ERP

Established in 2002, Southern Implants develops, manufactures and markets dental implants and related components. Its dental implants are sold direct to implant surgeons and restorative dentists in the USA and Canada. The company also sells through distributors in Chile, Columbia, Guatemala, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Middle East. Southern Implants has evolved from a one-person office in Fairfax, Virginia to a global, investor-backed business based in California, which supports a manufacturing operation and more than 10 sales agents in North America.

Rapid company expansion meant that the accounting system would need to handle multiple users; track lot numbers; deal with multiple stock locations (consignments) and geographically dispersed users; provide multiple languages for products and terms; and control manufacturing and user access rights. In addition, hiring Canadian sales representatives meant the system would have to deal with multiple currencies and provide real-time product, trend and customer account information through a multi-server system allowing multiple and simultaneous user login.

Product tracking, using lot control, would need to track sales by lots in the event of a recall of product; with dental products, every batch produced must carry its individual batch number. As a multi-location company, Southern Implants needed a user-friendly system, providing accurate, detailed and speedy delivery of business information.

Blue Link was selected as it met Southern Implants "must-have" criteria:

• multi currency
• multi warehouse to accommodate consignments, representatives’ car stock, and additional company locations
• departmental tracking of revenue, costs of sale, and expenses for each sales territory • open item or balance forward methods for individual customers
• ability to deal with instances of temporary negative stock and
• efficient back-order tracking of both purchasing and selling sides.

In addition, Blue Link's system was able to generate the financial and operations reports, enable report modification with relative ease, handle budget data, and keep legacy data open for access by report writing programs.

To read more about the Southern Implants implementation of Blue Link, visit the Blue Link Case Studies Blog.

New Software Research Guides Available Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.


Coming in August 2016:
Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, our 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.
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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Lindemann Chimney Streamlines Operations With NetSuite

Chimney services and supply company Lindemann Chimney recently announced that it has implemented NetSuite to fuel its omnichannel business spanning direct telesales, B2B and B2C ecommerce and Amazon distribution. Lindemann is utilizing NetSuite to run its end-to-end ERP, ecommerce, manufacturing, order management and inventory management systems to enable its expansion from a local services company to a national, omnichannel manufacturer and distributor.

What started as a one-man, part-time chimney services company in Chicago has grown into a brand with 90,000 local service customers and boasts 8,000 B2B clients. Lindemann’s legacy systems and outdated software could no longer support its growing operations with order, inventory and customer data inaccuracies and costly, manual and error-prone processes to move data from one siloed system to another. The company required a scalable solution to manage, grow and unify its existing B2B channels that include its website, Amazon distribution and sales representatives, while cost-effectively launching its new B2C channel.

Lindemann chose NetSuite’s cloud-based platform to consolidate systems, streamline operations and help enable its transformation into a true omnichannel business. Lindemann also wanted to minimize integrations from its online storefront to its back office systems. For ERP, NetSuite replaced Lindemann’s legacy financial software. With centralized order and inventory management, Lindemann gains real-time inventory visibility across all of its distribution centers for better forecasting, lower shipping costs and an improved order experience for customers.

With NetSuite, Lindemann has gained the following benefits:
  • Omnichannel brand experiences
  • One website for B2B and B2C
  • Self-service account management
  • Enriched online experience
  • Single view of every customer
  • Data-driven decisions
  • Native cloud solution
To learn more about the Lindemann implementation and NetSuite's business solutions, visit the NetSuite News Room.

New Software Research Guides Available Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.


Coming in August 2016:
Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, our 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.
Follow Us on Twitter 

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