Johnson Plastics Stays Ahead Of The Competition With VAI

Founded in 1970, Johnson Plastics, a family-owned company, distributes plastic engraving materials, sign supplies and products for personalization throughout the U.S. and to over 40 countries worldwide. Today, the business owns and operates eight warehouse facilities in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas and serves over 20,000 customers.




Johnson was operating on an outdated ERP system that no longer fit its growing business. The company required a software vendor that could easily implement its products and merge each of the Johnson warehouse facilities into one seamless operation, visible on a single computer screen. Because Johnson stocks product in various warehouse facilities, often times, the distributor must coordinate shipping for the entire order from separate warehouses—a complex and cumbersome process without the right software solution.


The ability to deliver products quickly and correctly was among the company’s chief concern in purchasing a new ERP system. Johnson needed a way for staff, no matter which warehouse facility they were based out of, to easily locate and track product, and get it shipped to customers on time.


After a year of research, Johnson found everything it needed—and more—with VAI's S2K Enterprise for Distribution. Since Johnson preferred a software vendor that could also serve as an outsourced IT department and respond quickly to any technical needs that might occur, VAI was the perfect choice. S2K was able to meet Johnson’s precise warehousing needs, and it corrected the distributor’s biggest source of inaccuracy—locating products in the warehouse and shipping them in a timely manner. S2K also provided Johnson with support and integration for all of the company’s software applications including its Web site, credit card, fax and email server. In addition, S2K worked easily with UPS WorldShip™, the system that Johnson uses to ship orders—automatically recording shipping prices and weight, sending the information automatically to UPS, and adjusting Johnson’s records in one fluid process.


Ron Caucutt, Business Analyst, Johnson Plastics, stated, “We’ve doubled our sales since implementing VAI’s S2K. Not only have we added another location, but we are also shipping 40 to 50 percent more orders with the same amount of people, while continuing to increase our customer service levels. The VAI team has access to numerous resources and their response time is exceptional. I was very impressed with how well VAI handled our implementation.”






To learn more, visit the VAI Newsroom.


New Software Research Guides Available

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

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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 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.

Misco Selects NetSuite OneWorld For Business Transformation

Oracle NetSuite, a leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP, HR, Professional Services Automation (PSA) and omnichannel commerce software suites, recently announced that Misco, a European B2B reseller of IT products and services has selected NetSuite OneWorld to modernize and transform its business.

Founded more than 30 years ago, the Wellingborough, UK-based company offers 40,000 different technology products and has been steadily growing its services business across Europe. Misco selected NetSuite OneWorld for its multi-language and multi-currency capabilities to manage international operations in the UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden, as well as a shared services center in Hungary.

The Misco management team, led by CEO Alan Cantwell, chose NetSuite OneWorld for its broad range of functionality, rapid deployment and ease of implementation. With support for 190 currencies, 20 languages, automated tax calculation and reporting in more than 100 countries and transactions in more than 200 countries, NetSuite OneWorld will provide the following benefits to Misco:
◾Rapid implementation.
◾360-degree customer view.
◾Unified order-to-billing-to-revenue.
◾Significant savings in IT costs and complexity.
◾Real-time visibility.
◾Data-driven decisions.
◾A broad range of robust international capabilities.

Learn more about Oracle NetSuite Global Business on the Newsroom 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 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.

 

Standing Up in a Down Economy:Six Strategies for Improving Operations and Profits

By Steve Epner

These are difficult and unprecedented economic times. For the vast majority of businesses, the economic downturn will be painful, but not fatal. Success will depend on being able to respond proactively to the many regulatory and market changes that are coming. It will require the ability to take successful practices from the past and adjust them for new realities. The successful distributor of tomorrow will need to build on what has worked, be willing to shed things that no longer work, and be open to new ways of doing everything.

The good news is that there are a number of techniques that a distributor can use to increase productivity and lay the foundation for a more profitable future. These "fixes" are not untested or unproved. Some are from other industries and some have been around but unused. In high growth times, many opportunities for efficiency may have been delayed or overlooked as not necessary or of a high enough priority to allocate resources. Now the world has changed and it is a good time to consider how some of these capabilities may be used to improve operations.

Consider the current downturn as an opportunity to change the way things are done. Customers and suppliers are all open to new ideas and are willing to try new things. The leaders in each industry will take advantage of the environment to modify what is being done, to streamline operations, and to establish new realities that will have long term effects.

It is a good time to think about redirecting investment of time and effort to create a sustainable future. The ownership of our companies must lead the way to make sure management and employees do the right things. In the following pages, trends and the status quo will be examined. Processes will be questioned and replacements suggested.

A realistic and honest appraisal of each organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is required. Then direct and deliberate steps are needed to take advantage of technologies and techniques that will propel the operation into the future. That is the secret for surviving the current downturn and laying the foundation for future success.

To read more click to this website: http://www.software4distributors.com/media/whitepapers/BSWCWhitepaper_Six_Strategies_for_Improving_Operations_and_Profit.pdf

Increasing Industrial Distribution Profitability by Segmenting Customers, Suppliers and Products

By Steve Epner

In the current tough economic times, Industrial Distributors must use every advantage to improve operations, reduce costs and ultimately increase returns for stakeholders. Organizations that have access to and are willing to make better use of specific ERP applications can integrate the concepts of metrics and segmentation into the business for outsized results.

An important element in management theory is the simple concept:”If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.” By examining how to make information more visible to the distributor, it is possible to increase their ability to take charge of and manage their environment.

Once the metrics are available, then the use of Segmentation becomes a viable option to better manage the assets of an organization. Using measurements of “value” and profitability” it is possible to divide groups (customers, suppliers, and products) into subcategories which can be individually managed to provide the greatest benefit to the operation. Industrial distributors can use this concept to provide an objective basis for increasing the return on all assets.

For many Industrial distributors, the greatest hurdle will be learning how to develop, track and report the information hidden in their automation systems. Information collected and stored within a modern and properly configured ERP system combined with applications (such as Business Intelligence) can be used to fine tune pricing, inventory, purchasing and customer service levels based on objective measures of value and contribution to profitability.

Companies who make more effective operational decisions based on metrics and segmentation can outperform the competition in all aspects of business.

To read more click on this website: http://www.software4distributors.com/media/whitepapers/BSWCWhitepaper_Increasing_Industrial_Distribution_Profitability.pdf