Rutherford Controls International Hits Growth Targets With Blue Link

Rutherford Controls International (“RCI”) focuses on providing architectural hardware, locksmith, and security markets with the best in electric locks, door hardware, and access control products. RCI’s emphasis is on customer service, technical expertise and providing innovative electric locking hardware to the industry.

RCI set out to develop an infrastructure that would position the company for projected rapid growth over the next few years. The first challenge was to implement a distribution and wholesale software management system flexible enough to adapt to many of their unique business processes, which had become their competitive advantages over the years. The solution also had to be scalable in order to handle their growth. Current systems were functioning at an acceptable level, but management realized that if they were going to accomplish their significant growth targets, these systems had to be consolidated into one integrated application to reduce data duplication and human intervention.

RCI purchased Blue Link ERP as its business software management system. A key requirement of RCI was that their historical data had to be transferred to Blue Link. To accomplish this task Blue Link developed a data conversion tool to convert all of their data from their existing application.

Since the implementation of Blue Link ERP, RCI has been a success story and has achieved its growth targets, with Blue Link supporting them through the process. RCI has undergone several additional custom projects to map the system functionality to their changing business processes. RCI has been able to take advantage of new functionality as it is added to Blue Link ERP, completing two version upgrades incorporating their PerfectFit customization.

“Blue Link’s software and professional expertise have been major factors in the success of our company over the past three years. We have come to regard Blue Link as partners in our business.” – Andy McDougall, RCI Solution

Learn more by visiting the Blue Link Newsroom. https://www.bluelinkerp.com/case-studies/

For the 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 2019 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Supp.

Developed through a partnership with 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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Rutherford Controls Prepares For Growth With Blue Link

Rutherford Controls Int’l Corp (“RCI”) provides architectural hardware, locksmith, and security markets with electric locks, door hardware, and access control products.


The Challenge:
RCI set out to develop an infrastructure that would position the company for projected rapid growth over the next few years. The first challenge was to implement a distribution and wholesale software management system flexible enough to adapt to many of their unique business processes, which had become their competitive advantages over the years. The solution also had to be scalable in order to handle their growth. RCI was managing several innovative business processes using separate systems and manual workarounds, as no single distribution or wholesale software was able to handle all these requirements.


In addition, as the business evolved, so did the business processes, rendering a static solution impractical. These disparate systems were functioning at an acceptable level, but management realized that if they were going to accomplish their significant growth targets, these systems had to be consolidated into one integrated application to reduce data duplication and human intervention.


The Solution:
RCI purchased Blue Link ERP as its business software management system. Together with a Blue Link consultant, RCI reviewed their business processes and how they mapped to Blue Link’s processes. Some minor custom changes were made to Blue Link to handle some of RCI’s unique business practices, and within two months RCI was live on their new business management software.


The Results:
Since the implementation of Blue Link ERP, RCI has been a success story and has achieved its growth targets, with Blue Link supporting them through the process. RCI has undergone several additional custom projects to map the system functionality to their changing business processes.


“Blue Link’s software and professional expertise have been major factors in the success of our company over the past three years. We have come to regard Blue Link as partners in our business.” – Andy McDougall, RCI


To learn more, visit the Blue Link 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 2018 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018DSG


For 2018 Manufacturing Software Guide:
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018MFG


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

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Conval-Aid Enhances Accounting With Blue Link

Established in 1976, provides a wide range of quality health-care products and services to customers across Eastern Ontario, Canada. This includes new and used hospital equipment and supplies, and medical and home-care provisions. The company also rents out equipment – from shower-chairs and wheelchairs to walkers, daily living supplies and stair lifts. Conval-Aid has evolved from a two-person endeavor to a family-owned company with more than 20 employees, including a service department and outside sales staff. It operates from a head office in Ottawa, Canada.


Challenge
Conval-Aid's original accounting system was increasingly inefficient, especially as third party billing was becoming complicated, with different components being supplied from companies all over the country; this demanded comprehensive internal tracking and accounting abilities. In addition, internal accounting controls were minimal, and internal security control was becoming an issue. Conval-Aid looked at several systems, mostly in the larger, mid-market range. They quickly realized those systems were not only expensive but, more importantly, didn’t offer the customizable features needed for the growing company.


Solution
Blue Link was recommended by both a business contact in the IT market, and the company accountant. After thoroughly investigating the company and its solutions, Conval-Aid decided to ask Blue Link to install its customizable accounting system. An important factor in the decision was Blue Link’s willingness to customize the solution to Conval-Aid’s needs, and to assist with implementing the new system. The company’s complicated third-party billing system needed particular customization, and the shipping system also presented challenges, for which Blue Link created additional customization. In addition, the invoicing process had to be able handle complicated and detailed invoicing structures. For example, certain percentages of a total invoice might need to be allocated to different companies, such as a percentage of a bill being allocated to the Easter Seals foundation because it had sponsored a particular product.


“There were very few problems. Blue Link took care of all the integration into the new system – it all went very smoothly. And Blue Link also did all the customization, and we really liked that.”
– Merrill Ed, Conval-Aid Healthcare


Read  more on 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 2018 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018DSG


For 2018 Manufacturing Software Guide:
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018MFG


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

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Japan Auto Parts Enhances Customer Experience with Blue Link ERP

Japan Auto Parts is a Canadian importer of used Japanese Engines and Transmissions. The business employs several salespeople, who respond to incoming sales inquiries. Most of these calls are requests for a price on a specific engine or gearbox, together with availability.


Prior to implementing Blue Link ERP, the salespeople would each keep a pad of writing paper handy. Each day, they’d note the date at the top of the next fresh page, and each time when quoting a price they would scribble the person’s name, the part and price quoted. This approach a time-consuming, labor-intensive processes, and on many occasions when the original quote could not be located, they had to honor a price they weren’t 100% certain they had quoted.


Blue Link ERP provided an ideal solution for Japan Auto Parts from strong accounting through serialized inventory tracking and flexible reporting capabilities. In order to tackle the quoting situation, Blue Link utilized its contact manager (CRM) module. Firstly, the CRM maintenance was streamlined so that a salesperson could retrieve an existing contact, or create a new one, in seconds, using the name only. Secondly, a “quick quote” section was added to this screen, in which the salesperson could look up the part then simply type in the quoted price. This “quick quote” was automatically stamped with the date, time and salesperson’s name.


Now, when the prospect calls back, his/her name is punched in and quick quotes issued to that person are displayed immediately. Furthermore, if this is an existing customer, when they accept the quote, clicking one button creates the sales order in its entirety. The writing pads are a thing of the past, and each salesperson is now able to verify quotes issued by any other salesperson at any time.


According to Bruce Wulfsohn, president of Japan Auto Parts, “We are delighted with the service and assistance we receive from Blue Link Solutions. This is especially true of their technical support and customization.”


To learn more, visit the Blue Link 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.

Foundation Distributing Inc. Increases Flexibility, Fulfillment With Blue Link

Foundation Distributing Inc. is a wholesaler of Christian books, gifts and curriculum products in Canada and the U.S. and was faced with the challenge of implementing an accounting and inventory management software system to manage their business. Their key requirements were focused on inventory management and order fulfillment. A sophisticated and flexible inventory system was required to manage advance orders and the multitude of backorders and partial shipments that would result.


FDI needed enterprise inventory management software that could provide unrestricted real-time access to analyse and mine their data. There was a need to provide customers with various analyses of their purchases. In addition, they needed access to detailed inventory movement and history to maintain high fill rates without excess inventory. Bust most importantly, FDI needed an inventory management system that would meet their needs without blowing their budget.


FDI selected Blue Link Solutions as their inventory management software. The addition of order types gave users the ability to flag orders as ship completeor advance orders with a ship date in the future. A routine was developed to automatically fill backorders on a FIFO basis, after taking into consideration the special order types. A new screen was developed to consolidate multiple orders by customer and print a consolidated picking slip for the warehouse. This consolidation cut the picking time for multiple orders by over 70%.


FDI’s Pat Chown says, “Choosing Blue Link Solutions as our core inventory software was definitely the right decision! Blue Link has delivered a solution that allows us to manage our business very efficiently. The modifications to the software were implemented with great precision and have changed the way we do business today. We are able to upgrade to current versions of the software when we want, while retaining our custom modifications."




Learn more about Blue Link by visiting the Case Studies page 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 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.

D’Addario Canada Increases Sales With Blue Link

Established in 1988, D’Addario Canada is an importer and distributor of musical accessories and instruments, with products sold exclusively to retail outlets across Canada.


The company wanted a comprehensive on-line ordering system, to place and receive orders 24/7. D’Addario also wanted to enhance its services by providing a different way to market, and promote items, track purchases, and check on buyer profiles. In considering the company’s needs, the following elements were deemed necessary:


•Fast, efficient reporting/tracking orders and inventory: the company needed a system which would minimize the time between a price change, discount, or special offers in-house, and the reps (and customers online) receiving that amended information.
•Flexibility: The system had to allow for temporary special pricing to assess sales changes, and volume discounts to increase sales.
•Ease of use: with minimal in-house technical staff, D’Addario needed a system that would be easy to set up and administer.


The Solution D’Addario’s existing software package, Blue Link Elite – an integrated accounting, business management and inventory management solution – was originally installed at D’Addario in 1999. Once D’Addario examined Blue Link’s Web.Venture e-commerce solution they realized it served their needs.


The Web.Venture site could be configured to D’Addario’s specific visual and text ‘look’, including layout, colours, labels, and language, without expert web design knowledge. D’Addario product could easily be displayed on the site, together with video and links.


Web.Venture also met the company’s specified needs on a wide range of fronts:
•reps can order online, and get pricing, and specials almost as instantaneously as changes are made on the central database;
•customers have more options – some continue to order by telephone, or through their rep, but they can access product information online prior to making an order;
•information is accessible 24/7 Results •Increases sales: To date 10% of total sales come through Web.Venture, and it is seen as having potential to create extra sales, outside the ones directly generated by the reps or company staff.
•Better tracking: Orders can be tracked in real-time, and customer information is immediately accessible.
•Improved customer service.
•Order tracking: for efficient ordering.


To learn more, visit the Blue Link 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.

Nella Cutlery Streamlines Sales Processes With Blue Link

Founded in 1952, Nella Cutlery Toronto is a distributor of food processing equipment and supplies, provides knife sharpening services, and operates a retail outlet and showroom. Separate systems managed the various parts of the business – some manual, some automated but disconnected. In the absence of integration between these systems, Nella performed a significant amount of duplicate data entry, and had to manually combine reports from the distinct systems in order to evaluate company performance.


Nella wanted a system that would remove the need for duplicate data entry, and would provide quick, easy and accurate access to key business information such as sales history, customer service and financial information. After reviewing several different options, Nella decided on Blue Link Elite as the software solution that could deliver on all their needs, within budget.


Since implementing, Nella has experienced the following benefits:

• Streamlining of the sales process: Nella now processes orders and invoices through a fast, user-friendly interface, saving time and improving the qualitative interaction with customers.
• Elimination of duplicate entry: The time savings realized by eliminating duplicate entry, manual tracking and invoicing, and maintaining separate systems is estimated at several person-days every month.
• Reduced administration time and delays: The ability to quickly recall previous transactions to the screen saves the staff at Nella several hours every week. Information lookups that used to take minutes or, in some cases, hours, now take mere seconds.
• Improved control over receivables and cash flow: The receivables collection process is easier and more effective, because all data necessary to complete a collection call is available in real time.

Additional benefits include:
•More than one user able to do the same activity at one time (order entry, record payment).
•The data entry by code or name reduces the scope for user errors.
•Security is higher with a password protection to different levels in different modules.
•Exporting reports to Excel to be able to fine tune them as needed.
•Technical support is easy to access. Someone is always available.


To read more about the Nella implementation of Blue Link, visit the Blue Link Case Studies page.


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.

Read our Mid-Year Supplements.

(Direct link, 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.

Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Distribution_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016DSG

Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Manufacturing_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016MFG

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

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.

For 2016 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Distribution_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016DSG

For 2016 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Manufacturing_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016MFG

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.

 

Predator Group Increases Savings With Blue Link

Predator Group is a distributor of high-end pool cues located in Jacksonville, FL whose products are used by top-ranked billiard professionals across the United States. Due to changes in their business structure over the years, Predator Group was finding their current software unable to handle their distribution needs. After searching for a new system, Predator Group transitioned to Blue Link.

Challenges:

The company’s customers, which are wholesalers who sell Predator Group cues to retailers nationwide, place orders via the company’s sales department. Staff must then identify which components are required and create the appropriate purchase orders for them. These purchase orders are sent to the various suppliers Predator Group works with, who ship the requested items back to Predator Group to be stored. Staff pull the necessary items for each customer purchase order and ship them to China, where they’re manufactured into the cues themselves. The finished cues are then shipped back to Predator Group to be sent to the customers who ordered them.

Predator Group’s previous system lacked the automation capabilities needed to execute these processes efficiently. Instead, staff had to track all customer orders, purchase orders, inventory and shipping information manually, via spreadsheet. Since nothing was updated automatically, staff had to spend hours each week painstakingly entering new information into these spreadsheets in order to stay on top of everything. Predator Group’s previous system was also on-premises, which made it very difficult for their employees in China and US-based sales staff to log in and work on the system.

The Blue Link Solution:

Before Predator Group transitioned to the new system, Blue Link created a trial version for employees to test out in order to see which features they would be using the most so the system could be modified according to their needs. When the time came to implement the system, members of Blue Link staff arrived at Predator Group facility and spent two weeks training employees and transferring all of Predator Group’s data into the system.

Blue Link’s Inventory Back Order Fill Screen is a key asset to Predator Group. The screen alerts staff to which customer orders should be filled first based on when the orders were placed, which saves the staff and logistics team a minimum of 10 hours per week and allows them to focus on more essential activities.

Blue Link’s sales order review screen is also extremely beneficial, as it allows staff to view the completion percentage of all orders so incomplete orders aren’t pulled before they’re ready.

The new system has helped Predator Group improve their relationship with customers. Customers are automatically emailed their invoice, packing slip and tracking number. This keeps them up to date on the status of their order and alerts them to what it will include when it arrives. It also saves Predator Group staff the hassle of having to manually send out invoices each month.

Blue Link’s strong reporting capabilities have also proven incredibly useful. Predator Group’s CFO uses the system to automatically calculate financials at the end of the month. Additionally, since Blue Link is cloud-based, Predator Group employees can log into the system anywhere they have Internet access, ensuring that they never skip a beat if they’re traveling or out of the office.

Predator Group estimates that Blue Link will save them a minimum of $12,000 per year simply in terms of how much less it costs to run the system as compared to the old software they were using. As the company continues to save countless hours as a result of Blue Link’s automation capabilities and the future modifications to the system that are planned, Predator Group expects to see additional cost savings in the tens of thousands of dollars.

To learn more about Blue Link, visit their Case Studies page.

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 2016 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Distribution_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016DSG

For 2016 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Manufacturing_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016MFG

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.