Empire Candle Manages Rapid Growth With Sage

For over 60 years, Empire Candle has been a full service manufacturer of candles, wax melts, and home fragrance accessories. The Kansas-based business welcomed growth, but it brought many challenges. Expansion led to challenges in manufacturing processes related to inventory and production control. Raw materials were left in the warehouse unused for years, while the company struggled to determine the necessary supplies to meet demands. 

"Our inventory variances were detrimental to the profitability of the business. And it wasn’t like product was evaporating. We weren’t losing raw materials," said Austin Matthis, Empire's IT Director. 

Through the investment and implementation of Sage X3, Empire Candle changed the way it operates. Through improved processes, the company has transformed inventory management and streamlined operations, from the point of order through to delivery. As a result of the implementation, Empire Candle has grown over 300%, including a 30% reduction in unproductive labor and the consolidation of an entire warehouse facility footprint. Through these performance increases, Empire Candle is saving around $400,0000 per year.

Says Robert Turtledove President and CEO, "The right systems don’t just make IT better or technology better. They make the company better. This is the central nervous system of the company. That’s what a professionally managed system like Sage Business Cloud provides us with." 

Learn more by visiting the Sage Newsroom.

 

For the 2020 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2020_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide_Interactive.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2020Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Vertical Markets Matrix, 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.

Follow Us on Twitter

 

CRP Industries Streamlines Inventory With Sage

CRP Industries is an importer and distributor of automotive and industrial products. Its extensive product line spans markets covering automotive replacement parts, high-speed motors, and industrial hoses. The automotive replacement segment services customers such as BMW of North America and Volkswagen of America.

Challenge
The company’s 20-year-old legacy software wasn’t allowing it to keep inventory and service rates in balance, particularly as part numbers and sales volumes increased over the years. The business drivers for change centered on the company’s desire to improve inventory fill rates while reducing inventory levels, ship orders faster and with greater accuracy, and reduce costs and streamline operations by automating more processes, particularly in its finished goods warehouses.

Solution 
Sage X3 was selected for its robust order fulfillment capabilities across sales, picking, shipping, invoicing, and procurement. It offers comprehensive warehouse location management features and automated data collection capabilities that support key transactions such as physical counts and inventory receipts right out of the box. In addition, Sage X3 provides production capabilities that are readily scalable to CRP’s light assembly operations.

Results
Order cycle times are significantly improved with most orders going out the same day. Visibility into real-time information allows the company to manage exceptions and adjust quickly to changing customer needs. New labor-tracking capabilities provide visibility into labor costs for each warehouse, enabling CRP to determine actual profit per order. Better forecasting helps the company reduce stock levels and optimize its inventory holdings.

“With improved visibility into real-time information comes the ability to manage exceptions better and adjust quickly to changing customer needs.” Daniel Schildge Vice President CRP Industries

 To learn more, visit the Sage Newsroom.

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.

Follow Us on Twitter

iS5 Communications Selects Sage ERP X3

IS 5 Communications of Mississauga, Ontario, a young company which designs, manufactures, installs and services network routing equipment for use in harsh environments, such as those encountered in the utility, transportation, industrial, military and surveillance industries, has selected Sage ERP X3. Sage Group is a global provider of business management software to small and medium sized companies, helping businesses establish the systems flexibility needed for them to succeed.

The broad functionality of Sage ERP X3 appealed to IS 5 as each product is custom built to customer requirements, and the product configurator tool in Sage ERP X3 greatly simplifies this task. Sales personnel can walk customers through the various product options and then produce a quote detailing the price and configuration. When the order is approved, the software automatically produces a work order to build the equipment. Sage ERP X3 even offers shipping and manifesting capabilities that enable iS5 to get completed orders out the door and on their way quickly and efficiently.

To learn more about Sage ERP X3 and the IS 5 Communications implementation, visit the Sage Newsroom.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our main website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

2013 Distribution Software

2013 Manufacturing Software

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Follow Us on Twitter

Sage ERP Gives Universal Paper and Plastics Competitive Edge

Universal Paper and Plastics was established in 1950 by the Sher family and over four generations has dedicated itself to the development of innovative everyday products, that satisfy the needs of the South African consumer market.

Universal Paper and Plastics needed an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that was capable of integrating and automating its production and supply processes. The company opted to implement Sage ERP X3 because a comprehensive production management module was of the utmost importance. With this need in mind, Sage ERP X3 was customised to provide accurate real time information at the touch of a button that greatly improved the company’s forecasting capabilities as far as waste management, fixed asset management and stock control was concerned.

Once the decision was made to go with Sage ERP X3, a comprehensive situational analysis formed the basis of the draft that outlined the functional specifications and business processes that the client required. The conversion of data from the legacy system to Sage ERP X3 started early in the implementation cycle and focused on the implementation of a manufacturing solution that was completely customised to accommodate the needs of Universal Paper and Plastics. The result was an accurate real time overview of the production process, which has the potential to greatly contribute to a reduction in operating and overhead costs.

To read more of this case study and learn if Sage ERP X3 is the right solution for your business needs, visit the Sage website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our main website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

2013 Distribution Software

2013 Manufacturing Software

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Follow Us on Twitter

A.M. Leonard Grows Its Business With Sage ERP X3

For more than 130 years, A.M. Leonard has delivered tools and supplies to both professionals in the horticulture industry and to home gardening enthusiasts. The company has a multifaceted sales channel that includes a busy call center handling phone and mail orders; two websites; and channel sales through Amazon. com, Search.com, and Newegg.com.

A.M. Leonard sought to replace its older, inflexible application with a customizable and scalable ERP solution. Sage ERP X3 was selected for its ability to be tailored to meet unique business requirements, its powerful architecture, and robust inventory management tools. As a result of the Sage ERP X3 implementation, order processing is faster, with instant freight quotes and access to detailed item information. The inventory physical count process time has been cut in half. To learn more about this implementation, and to read other Sage ERP case studies, visit the Sage website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our main website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

2013 Distribution Software

2013 Manufacturing Software

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Follow Us on Twitter

Altran tailors branch management with Sage ERP X3

Reconciling standalone management systems at each of its 100 branches while gradually centralising operations in each division, in a nutshell, was the challenge that innovation consultant Altran took on – and tackled with the Sage ERP X3 flexible and sophisticated solution. Altran mapped out the solution’s functional scope to encompass accounting and sales administration, and to interface with the Axys payroll and personnel administration software it was already using. It drafted its specs, and the setup and development followed.

To read more of the case study and solution implementation process, visit the Sage ERP blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our main website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

2013 Distribution Software

2013 Manufacturing Software

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Follow Us on Twitter

RM Foods Eating Up the Competition with Sage ERP X3

Sage North America announced today that RM Foods has continued its success by capitalizing on Sage ERP X3 and its expertise in process manufacturing. Starting with a quick implementation of its first phase, Sage ERP X3 has enabled RM Foods to run its business more profitably by increasing data accuracy with more visibility into product and production data.

Sage ERP X3 is a powerful and flexible business management solution from Sage for midsized companies looking to grow a competitive business with limited IT resources. RM Foods, a nearly 50-year-old food and beverage manufacturer and distributor, based in Buena Park, California, has grown from a supplier of the restaurants El Torito and Acapulco to a much larger customer base that now includes companies such as Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club and Whole Foods. With 300 employees operating from three separate locations, RM Foods maintains a bustling operation, which had grown to require an ERP system that was flexible and able to support a growing and complex business.

Read more on the Sage Newsroom blog. 

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

Follow Us on Twitter

Sage ERP X3 Recognized as a Leader by Nucleus Research

Sage North America recently announced its inclusion in the Nucleus Research 2012 second half Technology Value Matrix for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with Sage ERP X3 named a Leader. Sage ERP X3 is a powerful and flexible business management solution for mid-market companies and subsidiaries of large groups looking to grow a competitive business with limited IT resources.

Sage is a leading global supplier of business management software and services for small and midsized businesses. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs more than 13,500 people and supports more than 6 million customers worldwide. Nucleus Research is a global provider of investigative, case-based technology research and advisory services that provide real-world insight into maximizing technology value.

To read more about Sage's inclusion in the Nucleus Research Technology Value Matrix, visit the Sage blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

Follow Us on Twitter

Specialized Services with Sage ERP X3 Version 6.5

Released earlier this fall, Sage ERP X3 Version 6.5 provides specialized services from the cloud, introduces new electronic document management and delivery features, and boasts an impressive range of enhancements for financial, sales, and inventory modules such as better tracking of inventory movement, more control over accounts payable and accounts receivable terms discounts, and the ability to add free-form notes and images to inventory records.

Sage ERP X3 is a powerful and flexible ERP solution by for mid-sized and larger companies looking to grow a competitive business in a cost-effective way, with limited resources.  To learn more about the specific features available in this release, visit the Sage ERP blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace 2012 Mid-Year Supplements are available. Visit our website to download your copy!

Follow Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Document Scanning & Distribution Enhances Sage ERP X3

Inixion Ltd. has recently announced the full release of their Document Scanning & Distribution enhancement for Sage ERP X3 – providing users with Advanced Document Management functionality.

The new release provides desired tools for companies wishing to automate paper based processes and begin the transition to paperless interaction with customers, suppliers, prospects etc. These features are to easily scan paper documents such as supplier invoices and correctly archive them with the corresponding electronic record within the ERP system, and also to simply automate the distribution of outgoing documents, typically to multiple email recipients.

To learn more, visit the Inixion website.

The Brown Smith Wallace 2012 Mid-Year Supplements are available. Visit our website to download your copy!

Follow Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

IT Analysts Praise Sage X3 Software

Sage North America today announced Sage ERP X3, Sage SalesLogix and Sage CRM have been listed as Champions by Info-Tech Research Group in the firm’s Mid-Market ERP, Large Enterprise CRM and Small Enterprise CRM vendor evaluations respectively.

Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape reports recognize outstanding vendors in the technology marketplace. Assessing vendors by the strength of their offering and their strategy for the enterprise, Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscapes pay tribute to the contribution of exceptional vendors in a particular category.

Read More...

Friend Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Translating Strategy into Action

This webinar presented by Jeff Greenberg, CEO at Ergility Smart Process Solutions, on July 29, 2009 at 2:00pm EST, will discuss both how a strategy guides operations and how an incomplete strategy misguides operations. It will also cover developing an operational strategy, setting strategic priorities, and embedding strategy into EVERY operation and task.

To learn more about this free webinar, go to http://www.software4distributors.com/sage/julywebinar/template_ergility.html.

What is the Global Food Safety Initiative and how does it affect food producers like me and retailers like Wal-mart?

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a collaborative effort by manufacturers and retailers to provide a uniform food safety management system that streamlines the certification process for complying with regulatory requirements while reducing the cost of doing so.

The effort to create a global system of compliance has been underway in Europe for several years. In the US, Wal-mart announced in February, 2008 that all food suppliers will have to have their factories certified against one of the GFSI standards.

With Wal-marts’ high-visibility adoption, it is expected that this standard in the US will be required by other food retailers. This is likely to accelerate the effort of retailers, distributors and suppliers to harmonize food safety standards.

Under the current standards environment there are many certification bodies and thus, many different audit checklists that a supplier must comply with. This is expensive and time-consuming for suppliers to comply with. The GFSI provides for a uniform group of standards that all certifying bodies comply with and thus only a single audit will be needed to achieve the certification.

The Safe Quality Food Institute administers the program in the US and is responsible for managing the many components of this process. They publish the codes, train and license the SQF consultants and auditors, maintain the centralized database of certification and compliance records and provide on-going training.

This initiative has many components to it and companies that participate in the Food Supply Chain need to understand the process so that they can comply with process and reduce their compliance costs. Gary Smith, Technical Director of the SQF Institute will be conducting a free webinar to introduce the GFSI and answer questions on December 3, 2008. To learn more go to http://www.software4distributors.com/sage/registration.html.

Be Prepared For Your Next Software Implementation

Scott Pugmire from Sage Software explains what you need to think about when implementing software and gives you questions to ask yourself. The steps in a typical software implementation are to decide on the requirements, pick the best method of software setup and determine the critical path for training. He explains in detail what the consequences are for not analyzing and preparing before you start. It is important to get to know your inventory. By knowing your inventory turns, you will be able to figure out how much inventory to keep and where to keep it in your warehouse. The techniques given in this presentation will help you establish a foundation for determining how much of a return you will make on your investment in time and money.

To hear this full presentation visit the Education Center at this website: http://www.virtualtechfair.com/.