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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tuesday Morning Expands Capacity With Interlink Technologies WMS

Tuesday Morning, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a close-out retailer with more than 850 stores across the United States. Tuesday Morning is a nationally recognized company that began in 1974, specializing in deeply discounted, upscale home furnishings, housewares, gifts and related items. Tuesday Morning's distribution center encompasses over one million square feet, 45 shipping docks, 300 storage trailers and 400 carrier haulers. Operations are spread over 4 warehouse locations with over 100,000 new SKUs each year.


Tuesday Morning used a paper-driven WMS developed internally which used spreadsheets to manage all warehouse activities. Tuesday Morning was experiencing data entry delays, lost paperwork and misplaced product which caused processing delays.


Tuesday Morning selected Interlink Technologies as their WMS provider based on Interlink's flexibility, integration and customization capabilities as well as excellent references and price fit. Interlink's WMS solution interfaced with the automated material handling systems.


Tuesday Morning recorded the following results one year after the successful implementation:

•Doubled product flow through the warehouse
•Achieved 50% labor reduction
•Reduced cycle count time by 93%
•Realized a 6 month return on investment •Increased productivity 400%
•Reduced physical inventory from 40 hours to 4 hours


WHSe-LINK® provides Tuesday Morning real-time tools to manage their inventory and perform critical-path functions: manage then receive inbound loads and product, schedule and run production processing with real-time price tickets and packaging for store distribution, and direct group-route product aggregation and consolidation for efficient outbound shipments. Additional implementations at Tuesday Morning have included integrations with a new ERP/accounting system, pack-to-Light system, pick-to-Light system, allocation system, and e-Commerce.




To learn more, visit the Interlink WMS website.


New Software Research Guides Available
Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software?
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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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_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, January 24, 2018

Polyclinic Reduces Costs, Maintains Optimal Inventory Levels With Tribridge

The Polyclinic had a manual materials management process, and managing and minimizing supply chain costs was paramount. Access to the right supplies when and where they were needed was challenging, but essential to providing safe, high-quality healthcare. “We trusted the staff to order supplies based on perception versus actuality, and it was never precise,” explains Jeff Wall, Materials Manager at The Polyclinic. “Add to that seasonal illnesses such as cold or flu, and we would run out of supplies. It led to hoarding in some of the clinics, which meant we were overstocked for some materials.”


Leadership at The Polyclinic knew they had to make a change and improve medical supply replenishment. Additionally, The Polyclinic wanted to:
• Reduce involvement of clinical staff in logistical activities such as reordering, unpacking, and storing supplies to increase available time with patients
• Reduce stock-outs, the fear of which led clinical staff to hoard supplies, forage for supplies from other procedure rooms, and reorder in excessive quantities
• Reduce inventory levels to decrease costs, decrease likelihood of expired supplies, and reduce storage space requirements
• Rationalize the number of SKUs maintained by each practice to avoid tracking very infrequently used or obsolete supplies


Tribridge assisted The Polyclinic in deploying an innovative, lean manufacturing process commonly used outside the healthcare industry for its materials management.


Results: The Polyclinic streamlined its supply chain and reduced inventory turns, carrying cost, and waste from expired materials. By achieving a 99% fill-rate at the onset, end user confidence in the new replenishment approach was high from the start. “We have experienced savings on the clinical side of our business, and the new materials management system has improved morale in general,” says Wall.


Through the use of Tribridge’s Materials Management solution, “The Polyclinic was able to roll out a flexible medical supply chain that keeps inventory low while providing the right product at the right time in the right amount,” says Wall. “It’s a risk to operate in such a lean manner, but even if we run out of something, we now have meaningful data to review, determine why, and fix the problem.”


To learn more, visit the Tribridge 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_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, January 17, 2018

Bennett Auto and Phocas Set New Business Metrics

Bennett Auto Supply is a 34-store retail and distribution business serving individual customers and service centers around Florida with 60,000+ automotive parts and supplies. Sharp data insights and up-to-date reports are helping it set new metrics and standards, says Justin Bennett, general counsel.


Q: What convinced you to go with Phocas?

Justin: We have a lot of reporting in our industry and it’s frustrating when you can’t take a report like payroll and cross it over to sales and see how it’s relating until accountants have handled it. Having something that’s up-to-date will be awesome. Phocas is going to greatly fill that void.

Q: Phocas lets you cross query your payroll and sales data. How is that useful?

Justin: For example, if a store has $100,000 in sales and 1000 man hours, they’re averaging $100 a man hour. Whereas another store might do $100,000 in sales but only have 400 man hours. Things start to jump off the page.

Q: How does Phocas help monitor recruitment costs?

Justin: We’re integrating our telephone usage database with our MAM software so we can relate directly back to store performance. We’re going to be able to ascertain the phone numbers calling in, find out how many times a customer calls and how that translates into sales and orders. Combining that with payroll, you’ll see a store’s sales are $120,000 a year, the phone calls they average, the number of people working there and work out how much they need to make to employ more or less people.

Q: How will Phocas help you improve operations costs?

Justin: We also want to bring in our fuel usage database to work out our fuel spend per delivery compared to revenue per customer.



To learn more about business intelligence for the automotive industry 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.

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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_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.

Follow Us on Twitter







Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Food Logistics Magazine Recognizes SYSPRO for Innovative Technology Solutions

SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built ERP software, has been placed on the Food Logistics Magazine FL100+ List, the publication’s annual listing of the “leading 100-plus software and technology providers to the food and beverage industry.”


SYSPRO has more than 15,000 licensed companies in over 60 countries across six continents and offers comprehensive, flexible and industry-specific functionalities that enable food companies to gain complete control over the planning and management of all facets of the organization. SYSPRO’s capabilities in end-to-end traceability, trade promotion management, specification management, quality assurance and control as well as change management, provides food and beverage manufacturers with the technology needed to detect and address exceptions at any stage in their operations.


In addition, SYSPRO ERP Software helps food and beverage companies to:
•Satisfy FDA compliance and regulatory responsibilities, including inspections and recalls
•Access real-time information, and gain full visibility throughout the entire supply chain
•Effectively track inventory levels and movements across physical or virtual locations
•Improve customer satisfaction by enhancing order accuracy and shortening lead time
•Increase profits with flexible unit-of-measure costing and monitoring of production
•Optimize inventory management and control raw materials for accurate scheduling and planning of production
•Maximize financial performance and control costs


Companies on this year’s 2017 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list are profiled in the November/December 2017 issue of Food Logistics, as well as online at www.foodlogistics.com. To learn more, visit 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_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, January 3, 2018

Imperial Bag & Paper Centralizes Systems With VAI S2K

Imperial Bag & Paper is a large independent distributor of food service disposables and janitorial supplies. Originally founded in 1935, since 2007, the business had acquired six companies and has three distribution centers, requiring it to manage its operations from its headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The acquisitions left the business with multiple software systems and no central view or control point. Imperial Bag & Paper selected VAI S2K Enterprise in order to accommodate its multiple acquisitions under one enterprise resource planning (ERP) package through VAI's unlimited user licensing. Imperial also selected VAI S2K for additional reasons including:
  • S2K ERP was compatible with its existing infrastructure and equipment. 
  • S2K ERP could enable Imperial to consolidate all systems onto a single platform and access data in real time. 
  • S2K ERP has a reliable reputation and could provide the flexibility needed for Imperial’s continued growth.
Deploying S2K ERP enabled Imperial to achieve a number of benefits including: 
  • Integration in real-time of all applications. 
  • Consolidated staff from multiple sites reducing overlap and personnel costs. 
  • Improved delivery times and efficiency. 
The application provides Imperial with a trackable audit trail and provides information for more efficient deployment of staff. Additionally, it has reduced transportation expenses, warehouse carry costs, and the frequency of inventory transfers. The S2K ERP system has increased efficiency in accounting, and has requiring fewer personnel to manage Imperial’s accounts. 


To learn more, visit the VAI Newsroom. http://www.vai.net/company/success-stories.html




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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_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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