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
