Mid-State Lumber Improves Real-time Data With DMSi

Mid-State Lumber is a family-owned business in Branchburg, NJ that has grown significantly since its founding in 1976, adding multiple locations and expanding into new territories.

DMSi's Agility has proven to be a good fit for Mid-State Lumber. The industry-specific functionality is an asset for the company. “I have worked in every department in the company, and I find that Agility is helpful in every area,” said Maria Hall, Mid-State Lumber’s primary system manager. “Anything that you want to do from quoting, to automated processing, to reporting, to viewers…you name it. Agility does it all. I love the system.”

Agility allows Mid-State Lumber’s departments to coordinate effectively. Because Agility provides real-time data, everyone sees current information. There’s no need for departments to update each other over the phone or email. Real-time data makes it easier for the Mid-State Lumber team to provide excellent service. Employees in every area of operation know information in Agility is current and accurate. There’s no need to double-check that a product is available before placing an order or scheduling a delivery.

Agility also allows Mid-State Lumber to be extremely responsive to customers’ needs. Credit manager Anita Toupin appreciates that results are instant: “I love the way it’s real-time. As soon as a guy enters an order, I have receivables change. If a customer is past due and on credit hold, as soon as we get checks and apply them, it frees up their account.” Agility has also helped Anita reduce the paper trail common in many offices. Agility’s reports and queries pull up all the data she needs in one screen. For instance, she can run a report to find all invoices past due by a certain number of days. Or she can use the A/R Credit Details screen to view an account’s credit information across all branches.

The DMSi team has worked closely with Mid-State Lumber and developed solid relationships with their counterparts. As a veteran employee of a service-based company, Anita is keenly aware of the impact those relationships can have: “DMSi is like a family. It really is. They treat their customers the same way, and that’s a really positive thing.”

Learn more at the DMSi newsroom. 

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For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Allied Fasteners Enhances Inventory Management With Computer Insights

As soon as you come upon Allied Fasteners, Inc.’s 24,000-foot headquarters building in Mc Kinney, TX, you know that this is a very special fastener distributor. The building is brand new and it looks high tech like a technology company rather than a fastener distributor.

Bill Browning, President started Allied Fasteners in 1980, to be a model of efficiency and he has used technology to streamline the operation and eliminate human error. These two actions have enabled him to achieve the enviable position of producing nearly $1,000,000.00 in sales per employee. His $12,000,000 company, with three locations, (one in Texas and two in California), employs only 13 people. The computer system that he uses is The Business Edge, from Computer Insights, Inc.

One thing that Allied does that is quite different from the typical fastener distributor is that they write things off that have not sold for a year. The Business Edge makes this simple through a “Dead Inventory Report” and an automatic write off capability.

Allied also maintains two branches with warehouses in California. The company’s method of stocking their warehouses is complete random stocking. They repackage everything that they receive and when they package them, The Business Edge produces a package label that includes the Part Number, Description Quantity, Lot Number, Location and a single Bar Code that identifies each unique package in the system. From then on, each time the package is handled, the single Bar Code is read to identify it. The Business Edge tells the operator where the next available location of that size container is located. It is printed on the label so the person that is stocking the part simply follows the directions that are right on the package.

The Allied Fasteners formula for success is clear. Manage your inventory tightly. Use technology to eliminate errors and duplication and help your people do their jobs successfully!

Learn More at the Computer Insights website.

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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Blue Microphones Integrates Marketing And Engineering With NetSuite

Founded in 1995 by an American jazz musician and a Latvian recording engineer, Blue Microphones of Westlake, CA underwent rapid growth when sales of its Snowball USB mic, built for use with Apple’s GarageBand, took off. With 30 to 35 percent annual growth, the company quickly outgrew its existing QuickBooks accounting system which couldn’t address the need for multi-currency transactions as well as integration with marketing and engineering systems.

Opportunities and Challenges:
As part of a sale to a private equity firm, Blue Microphones recognized the need to modernize its IT environment. It needed a modern, cloud-based system that could handle multi-currency transactions, inventory management and not only scale with its growth but adapt to changing business conditions.

Real-time visibility and cost savings:
Blue Microphones is saving two full-time employees by converting to NetSuite, an annual savings of $80,000; while its 3PL partners in Amsterdam and Hong Kong now have access to NetSuite through a portal to fulfill orders, which has helped improve accuracy and efficiency. Blue Microphones is now incorporating customer feedback directly into its back office software to improve its products and the company was awarded the prestigious 2016 Manufacturing Leadership (ML) Award in the “Enterprise Leadership” category from Frost and Sullivan’s ML Council.

Learn more on the NetSuite website.

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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Creager Mercantile Increases Sales With Blue Link ERP

Established in 1958, Creager Mercantile is a locally owned and family operated wholesale grocery distributor. Located in Denver, Colorado, the business provides customers nationwide with access to a variety of products including beverages, candy, grocery, Mexican candy and products, vaporizers, tobacco, automotive products, gift shop supply and more.

As a growing business, Creager was stuck trying to automate processes and reduce manual work. The company’s existing software was supported by a single individual, making it difficult to get work done and receive the support required. In addition, Creager was struggling to manage its warehouse operations and adhere to government requirements around selling Tobacco products. Lots of time was spent at the company on manual processes instead of on growing the business.

The solution for Creager Mercantile was to work with Blue Link ERP - not only to address existing inefficiencies, but to also provide new opportunities for company growth and automation. As a result of implementing Blue Link, Creager was able to:

• increase the number of online orders and sales orders (phone and email) by 50%,
• become more accurate and efficient with managing inventory in its warehouse,
• significantly decrease the amount of time processing tax accruals and further automate processes across the company.

Blue Link ERP helped Creager Mercantile automate the calculation of Tobacco tax, manage mix and match inventory quantity pricing and better serve customers with mobile sales tools. “We have increased online orders and sales orders (orders via phone and email) by 50% because we now have the ability with Blue Link to track them.” - Zach Taylor, Vreager Mercantile

Learn more at the Blue Link website.

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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Industrial Distribution Group Optimizes Pricing With SPA

Industrial Distribution Group is a $500 million industrial distributor with 31 sales offices and 10 distribution centers. One segment — the $200 million general distribution business — was underperforming.  IDG partnered with SPA to get help creating the discipline, controls, process and strategy that the business lacked in their pricing, with the hope that this could help deliver acceptable results.

Said Charlie Lingenfelter, CEO "We chose SPA because they offered not only a program, but also a compelling philosophy which made sense to us. Positive results? There have been so many. Our investment in the SPA program has delivered a 6-fold return on investment. Our profitability improved by $3 million in the first year alone. And, we get far fewer customers calling with pricing complaints, which frees up our associates to focus on providing real service to our customers."

Once the IDP associates saw the results and the ease with which their customers responded to the new pricing approach, they were on board and fully supported the effort. Says Lingenfelter, "Working with SPA has given us ideas we’d never have thought of ourselves. I always learn something new, something that makes a difference, every time I’m with them. The relationship has been extremely rewarding, across the board.

Learn more on the SPA website.

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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Adleta Corp. Expands Customer Base with Kerridge CS

Founded in 1922, Adleta has more than 90 years’ experience in distribution and over 40 years’ experience in the flooring industry. They serve 2,500 customers throughout Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Before implementing the Kerridge ecommerce solution, 2,500 customers over 500,000 square miles were having to call into the main distribution center to check stock and pricing, place orders and check the status of orders.

While the implementation of the Kerridge ecommerce solution provided the company with multiple opportunities for improvement with regards to internal processes, the decision to implement an ecommerce solution was driven by the fact that today's retailers and contractors demand an online presence from their vendors.

Gains and benefits

• Customers and sales representatives have 24/7 access to inventory and pricing in real time
• 12% of sales are now placed electronically
• Sales representatives and customers can now print their own price lists
• Increased profits due to decreased costs in processed orders
• Achieved greater order accuracy
• Issuing fewer credits because of miskeyed orders

Learn more about the Kerridge ecommerce system for distributors on their website.

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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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Future Supply Chains Increases Efficiency With Infor

Established in April 2007, Future Supply Chains Solutions Ltd is India's first fully integrated end-to-end supply chain services company. Future Supply Chains had warehouses spread across the country with very little infrastructure. As this range of warehouses operated on a labor-intensive and manpower dependent model, Future Supply Chains found it extremely difficult to keep track of inventory while also managing additional storage. With an ever-increasing number of SKUs and volumes, the company needed a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS).

The volume of retail business handled by Future had increased threefold when compared to the volumes handled a few years back, and as result of this growth, they were facing the challenge of handling a large number of SKUs, spread across many different product categories including fashion, home, food, and furniture and consumer durables.

The company created a team to do the ground work in terms of business logic and strategy and at the same time it started analyzing the best of breed WMS products available in the market that catered to its needs. "We liked Infor as it had better architectural concepts that made it more scalable and reliable," says Samson Samuel, COO and CIO, Future Supply Chains. "However, we selected it not only due to the features and functionalities of the product, but also because Infor had an ecosystem of existing partners and a strong presence across India in terms of manpower, offices, and clients. Infor was associated with us right from the start of our quest for a WMS. All this, coupled with Infor's willingness to provide support, clinched the deal for them. In fact, we rated Infor 5 out of 5 on our requirements."

Seeing results
The benefits of the Infor WMS implementation are now visible across the organization. “A pull system based on actual demand has now replaced a push system that ran on forecasted demand. Shelf management has improved tremendously. In fact, the overall way in which the business and operations now work has improved drastically,” describes Singh.

The Infor WMS has also helped the company rationalize its warehouse structure design decisions. The company is now able to handle a very large number of SKUs and ensure 100% stock accuracy as the stock is totally visible online. It is also possible to do stock corrections in real time since all entries are online. Through Infor WMS, Future Supply Chains can now track and measure what each person is doing or contributing. The Infor WMS solution ensures the company has access to accurate stock measurements, visibility of stocks across the DCs, and tail stock clearance. The shrinkages have gone down. Stock replacement and refill rates have reached an efficiency level of more than 90%.

For Future Supply Chains, it is difficult to visualize operating its warehouse business without Infor’s WMS systems. Due to extensive tracking and measurement capabilities, the company is aware at all times as to what is happening with each SKU in the warehouse. “The Infor WMS is a perfectly running system today. The implementations are now working at 99% efficiency. Some DCs are even working at 100%. It has helped establish a system-based, technology-based, and process-based model of business. It ensures minimum or no shrinkage, high accuracy, very low time and optimum cost to market, security, and on-time distribution to the customer.” concludes Singh.

Learn more on 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 sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

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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