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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Lfplaza Group Scales Its Hong Kong Business With NetSuite

Lfplaza Group, a wholesale distributor of luxury and designer fashion clothing, bags, shoes and accessories, has scaled its business dramatically since deploying NetSuite OneWorld shortly after its launch in 2012.


Based in Hong Kong, the company utilizes NetSuite for financials, inventory management, CRM and marketing, as well as multi-subsidiary and multi-currency management for the Hong Kong, Australian and U.S. dollars, Chinese renminbi, British pound, Japanese yen, New Taiwan dollar and the Euro. NetSuite’s platform has given Lfplaza scalability and agility as its business has soared from the startup phase to $300 million HKD (about $38.4 million USD) in revenue in just five years.


Starting out, Lfplaza had in place an entry-level accounting system. After evaluating several solutions, Lfplaza quickly settled on NetSuite OneWorld as an ideal fit for its objectives of an integrated system that could support rapid growth.


“We’ve been able to scale dramatically without adding too many staff. We’re very glad we started early with NetSuite as it gave us room to grow,” said Jack Tsao, Lfplaza CEO.
Benefits that Lfplaza has realised with NetSuite include:
  • Real-time inventory management. NetSuite gives Lfplaza real-time visibility into tens of thousands of SKUs, particularly important as new products are constantly added.
  • Business reporting. Lfplaza makes extensive use of NetSuite’s reporting and analytics capabilities to track revenue and product sales by brand, type of goods, gender, regions and other dimensions.
  • Agility in a fast-paced market. NetSuite has helped Lfplaza optimise inventory and pricing in the fast-paced and rapidly changing luxury fashion market.
  • Multi-currency, multi-subsidiary management.
  • CRM capabilities. NetSuite CRM gives Lfplaza sales staff a unified record of all customer account, interaction and order history information.
“The fashion inventory moves very fast, with increasing velocity and sophistication every year,” Tsao said. “With NetSuite OneWorld, it's very easy to adapt, customise processes and stay current, exploring all the business channels and marketing opportunities out there so we can continue to scale.”




For more information, visit the NetSuite Newsroom



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For 2017 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017MFG 

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services<http://www.software4distributors.com/> and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard<http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx>.
 
Also, read our 2016 Mid-Year Supplements.<http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2016_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf>

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 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, September 20, 2017

Vanns Spices Optimizes Inventory With Syspro USA

Vanns Spices Ltd., a family-owned company based in Baltimore, Maryland, manufactures spices, spice blends, heirloom beans, grains and rice, and flavorings. The majority of the firm’s business is directed at developing and producing private label spice lines for markets, restaurants and web sites. Vanns acquires spices from around the globe and then processes and blends at the firm’s Baltimore manufacturing facility where strict quality controls are enforced.

The Challenge
Vanns was using outdated software and many new clients were requiring lot tracking functionality. Vanns also needed to improve their inventory tracking and integrate their manufacturing and customer service software.

The Solution
Vanns selected SYSPRO as it easily enabled the customization their business required. “In addition to various spices and spice blends, some customers want glass bottles with red caps, some want glass bottles with green caps and there are others that want plastic bottles with green caps. However, using the SYSPRO inventory future free report and trial-kitting functionalities, we can easily determine if we have the inventory on hand sufficient to full the orders and, if not, what we must order,” said Mick Whitlock, President, Vanns Spices.


Whitlock also mentions the other reasons why SYSPRO was Vanns’ choice. While the easy path would have been to upgrade the firm’s incumbent software, the realization was that it would still fail to fulfill all the company’s software requirements. “We wanted to tie our manufacturing software into customer service software, so the SYSPRO Customer Relationship Management software was as attractive as the other SYSPRO features, such as lot tracking. SYSPRO seemed a perfect fit all the way around from Accounting to Manufacturing to Traceability features.”

The Results
The company’s choice of SYSPRO has been validated many times over, says Whitlock. “The software’s reporting functionality, linked into Crystal reports, is phenomenal,” he says. “I can now show our board what products we sell the most of, which products are our most profitable and so on. The reports give us an in-depth picture of our company at any point in time.”

Additional benefits include:
  • Accurate lot tracking and costing
  • Custom-shop type manufacturing
  • Stringent inventory controls
  • Greater competitive edge
  • Enhanced procurement capability





Read more about SYSPRO and the Vanns implementation at the SYSPRO 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.

For 2017 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017DSG 

For 2017 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017MFG 

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services<http://www.software4distributors.com/> and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard<http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx>.
 
Also, read our 2016 Mid-Year Supplements.<http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2016_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf>

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 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, September 13, 2017

Emirates Metallic Industries Selects Epicor To Improve Manufacturing

Emirates Metallic Industries Company Limited (EMIC), a manufacturer of metal packaging solutions in the UAE, has selected its global enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, Epicor ERP. Epicor ERP will allow EMIC to increase visibility, transparency and information exchange across the organization, automate manufacturing processes, improve inventory control and minimize human error in reporting.


The functionality offered in Epicor ERP will also enable the organization to meet the requirements of the international quality management standard, ISO 9001:2015, and the soon to be introduced VAT regulations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. With Epicor ERP serving as the backbone of the business, EMIC now also has the confidence to update its ISO certification from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015.


“As more and more small-to-medium size manufacturing organizations in the UAE look to grow their businesses and expand into new regions, they are choosing to replace their legacy systems with modern ERP solutions. EMIC is the perfect example of this,” said Monzer Tohme, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa, Epicor Software. “With over 27 years of experience providing solutions to metal packaging companies across the world, I am confident that Epicor ERP will enable EMIC to reap operational benefits, respond to continual pressures to keep up with strict quality standards, and ensure they meet the demands of their customers on time, every time.”


For more information, visit the Epicor 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.

For 2017 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017DSG 

For 2017 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017MFG 

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services<http://www.software4distributors.com/> and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard<http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx>.
 
Also, read our 2016 Mid-Year Supplements.<http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2016_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf>

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 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, September 6, 2017

Impact Products Boosts Warehouse Potential With Interlink

Impact Products, LLC, based in Toledo, Ohio, is an international marketer of branded and private-label non-chemical commercial cleaning, maintenance and safety products. Impact's products includes a full line of microfiber, cleaning/dusting/mopping equipment, receptacles, washroom, dispensing, material handling, gloves, and safety products. Impact utilizes multiple channels of distribution to reach the end user in the sanitary maintenance, food service, safety and industrial markets.


Impact's distribution facility operated in a paper driven environment. Warehouse transactions were not real-time, labor intensive, prone to error and inhibited multi-shift operations. Impact decided improving and automating the warehouse processes with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) would allow for continued growth in the existing facility. Interlink's software, Warehouse-LINK®, offered Impact a warehouse operations solution through the use of desktop applications and Radio Frequency (RF) devices. 


Interlink also developed an order planning function, which enables the user to quickly organize order information in a user customized format. This process affords the user the ability to plan over a future time horizon, direct pick location replenishment and release order processing by individual pick modules - all at the click of a mouse.


The most immediate improvement Impact experienced was the real time processing of transactions within Warehouse-LINK®. The visibility to the entire operation by the management staff has significantly reduced decision making time. The management team is now in more control of the order process and shipping. The shipping team can now see all order details and status of each item throughout the picking process. The ability to seamlessly transition to a multiple shift operation is another significant key feature. Warehouse-LINK® software has eliminated non-value added activities from the legacy system. This resulted in a 17% reduction in warehouse labor. Recent order processing volumes have increased 13% over the same period in the previous year. Said Brian Paul, Vice President of Operations at Impact Products, "Our partnership with Interlink has enabled growth and efficiency that we would not have otherwise been able to accomplish."


To learn more about the Impact Products implementation, visit the Interlink 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.

For 2017 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017DSG 

For 2017 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017MFG 

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services&lt;http://www.software4distributors.com/> and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard&lt;http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx>.
 
Also, read our 2016 Mid-Year Supplements.&lt;http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2016_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf>

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 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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