LightStyles Selects Savance to Streamline Business Operations

LightStyles, a lighting distributor and showroom located in Cornelius, North Carolina, selected Savance Enterprise’s ERP Software to help the business prepare for growth. Skip Hulett, Owner of LightStyles says “Selecting an ERP is a massive decision, but since making it, I have never second-guessed myself with that with the decision to move forward with Savance Enterprise ERP Software.” Skip — who has been the Owner of LightStyles for the past six years — says one of the most important factors driving his decision was Savance’s knowledge of the industry and commitment to doing business the way LightStyles does business. “Savance listened to our feedback and our business needs and customized the areas of the software we needed,” explains Skip.

With its new Savance Enterprise ERP System, LightStyles will be able to streamline processes, gain better control of warehouse operations, improve accuracy, and capitalize on fast order entry to meet the demands of an aggressive growth trajectory. In addition, LightStyles will enhance its content by utilizing XO Logic to integrate with the new ERP platform. This powerful combination gives the lighting distributor the ability to showcase rich product data and industry-specific information to feed sales orders and quotes, eCommerce, and professional proposals.

“Savance’s vast experience in the electrical distribution industry parlayed well into what we need as a lighting distributor. On top of that, their pre-implementation support and follow-through have been outstanding,” says Skip. “There is no doubt they are knowledgeable at what they do. For me personally, being able to continue to interact with the same person who sold us the solution, is also meaningful and beneficial. We know what it takes to build strong relationships and I believe that Savance values their customers the same way, all the way through the process from beginning to end.” 

To learn more, visit the Savance 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.

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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.

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Precision Manufacturer TLT-Turbo Fuels Expansion With IFS

TLT-Turbo GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of technology-driven industrial fans and ventilation systems, has chosen IFS Applications™ for its sites in Germany, USA, India and South Africa. TLT Turbo’s state-of-the-art fan solutions can be found in the London Underground, the Ferrari Formula 1 wind tunnel in Maranello, and in Europe’s largest Coppermine in Polkowice-Sieroszowice, Poland.

IFS Applications was selected for its ability to deliver comprehensive and flexible project management capabilities across its global organization. “One of the most important considerations for us was full project and process visibility across our entire value chain, giving us complete control of profitability, quality, and risk,” said Mr. Christian Horst (Global Functional Manager Digitalization and Engineering, TLT-Turbo).

The IFS solution, which will be implemented by IFS Certified Platinum Services Partner Eqeep, will support all business-critical processes, including manufacturing, project management, maintenance, sales & service Supply Chain, warehousing, mobile workorder management, document management, and financials.

IFS develops and delivers enterprise software for customers around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. The industry expertise of our people and solutions, together with a commitment to delivering value to every one of our customers, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector.

Read more on the IFS 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.

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Johnstone Supply Grows Sales With DDI

With over 400 independent member locations across the country, the Johnstone Supply Cooperative is a leader in the HVAC/R industry. From the first Johnstone Supply store that opened in 1953, founder John Shank aspired to grow his business among other service-focused individuals. The goal: to share resources, operational benefits, and group buying power. Today, Johnstone Supply is a top business cooperative with stores often passed from one generation to the next. Owners are used to personalized service, consistency, and a solid return on investment.

A thriving member of the Johnstone Supply cooperative for over 40 years, Johnstone Supply – Spokane, WA, prides itself on customer service and self-sufficiency. With a branch in Anchorage, AK, the company has seen little turnover in the past four decades, a testament to its ownership and stability.

The Spokane team knew that the shift to a fully-integrated, highly scalable Windows® ERP would be significant. Spokane implemented DDI System’s Inform ERP in November 2015. Since then, the store steadily generates around 3,000 invoices a month. It’s amazing to have all the tools that can be used to help our company grow. Credit manager Barb Redinger had this to say about the DDI implementation,"We find something new everyday that has helped us with our sales team."


To learn more about DDI System’s Inform ERP Software, and read additional implementation case studies in the distribution industry, visit the DDI 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.

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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.

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Seacore Seafood Experiences Unmatched Growth With VAI

Established in 1987, Seacore Seafood is Canada’s leading importer, distributor and custom processor of fresh and frozen fish, seafood and live lobsters. Recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, Seacore capitalized on its inward and outbound logistics to make its consumer brand, OceanPrime, widely available across North America while managing more than 5,000 fresh and frozen items in inventory.

To keep up with the growing demand for its products from three distinct businesses and channels, Seacore had to automate core business functions including inventory management, accounting, route management, order entry, logistics and retail point-of-sale. Seacore staff was overwhelmed by the time-consuming manual processes which inhibited the company’s enormous growth prospects. Moreover, Seacore executives grew concerned about the potential negative impact that the tedious and labor-intensive manual processes could have on the company’s customer service, order delivery times and inventory control.

With the installation of VAI’s S2K for Food software and S2K e-Commerce, Seacore automated and integrated key business processes across the organization. The company has dramatically improved its customer delivery times, order accuracy and overall customer service. After implementing VAI S2K Route Manager and S2K for Food, Seacore has realized tremendous business benefits that have allowed them to drive an impressive growth trajectory.

Those key results include:

• Rapid implementation 
• More accurate and up-to-the-minute inventory management 
• Real-time consolidated financials 
• Automation of core business functions yielded more time to spend on sales and customer service, allowing for faster growth 
• Timely account receivables management 
•  Faster customer delivery rates and reduced order picking time 
•  Faster, more accurate order entry 
• Greater inventory accuracy 
• Faster route management processing 
• Full traceability of products 

“VAI’s S2K software allowed us to reach phenomenal efficiencies across the organization. The S2K installation dramatically improved nearly every part of our business – from accounting and logistics to inventory and warehouse management. By automating many of these key functions, our team can focus on critical aspects of our business such as sales and customer service. And we feel confident that we can continue our impressive growth trajectory knowing that our business is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.” ~ Sal Battaglia, Director of Operations, Seacore Seafood

To learn more about the Seacore Seafood implementation visit the VAI 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.

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Conveyer & Caster Improves Communication With Tour de Force

Conveyer & Caster, is a distributor of material handling solutions with locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The company is known for its expertise in providing casters, wheels and conveyer systems solutions, as well as a full-line of general material handling products, to a full range of manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution companies.

Conveyer & Caster realized they were outgrowing their current CRM system, which they had been using since the early 1990s. The system was limited in its ability to set permissions and user based rules and didn’t offer any integration with the Infor TakeStock ERP system. These limitations meant that customer information was being duplicated between the two systems.

Conveyer & Caster main criteria for a new CRM solution was that it offered integration to their Infor TakeStock ERP system, integration to Active Directory, and mobile and desktop functionality that would be easy and convenient for their sales team to use.  After researching multiple CRM solutions, Tour de Force was the only solution that was able to meet all of their requirements.

Tour de Force integrates with Infor TakeStock ERP system through the use of the Business System Integration (BSI) Connector, which allowed them to eliminate the disconnect between the CRM and ERP systems. This integration provides quick and easy access to a wide range of business intelligence, reporting, and analysis, allowing an organization to analyze sales performance and trends that occur at multiple levels across the organization. A salesperson can easily view their customer’s sales history and open and closed orders, giving them the key information they need to approach every customer interaction.

Brian Harrington, IT Manager at Conveyer & Caster, recalled that “The implementation process was solid and we had a great team. They were on the ball and kept us in the loop at all times. The great thing about Tour de Force was that they understood our business model as a distributor, which really contributed to a smooth implementation.”


To learn more about the Conveyer & Caster implementation, visit the Tour de Force 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.

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Radwell International Overcomes Industry Disruptions With Epicor

Established in 1979, Radwell International is a family-owned company headquartered in New Jersey. Known for being an industrial distributor with a large line of industrial automation products, Radwell serves customers globally and has offices in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Radwell had multiple systems to support their needs, rather than something centralized. With information scattered all over the place, they knew that they needed a turnkey solution. That's why Radwell partnered with Epicor and implemented the Prophet 21 ERP system, a cloud-ready business system for distributors.

At the most basic level, Epicor allows Radwell International to scan, capture, retrieve and store documents digitally in a central location. Having this content stored and accessible electronically allowed their entire organization to improve collaboration, increase efficiency, and enhance security

"We've been able to process orders faster. We've been able to collect cash faster," John Janthor, Vice President of Information Technology, said. "We have been able to grow revenue more efficiently."

One of Radwell International's biggest challenges is competing with industry giants like Amazon. Yet now, with a 30 to 40% faster pick ratio, the organization can offer same-day shipping. As a result, the company can use the energy that was spent on picking and use it to scale the business. Now their stellar customer service makes them stand out from the big box competition.

"Now we're using robotics in our warehouses," Janthor said. "This is what allows us to place orders and ship the same day." Here's how it works: The system stores 50,000 bins in a small space. When an order comes through, it is dispatched to the Swisslog warehouse system through Prophet 21. It is in then immediately delivered to a picker, who stands at a station and the product comes to them. They turn around, put it in a box, and it goes to their automatic labeling and shipping system. "It's been a huge increase in efficiency," Janthor said.

Learn more on the Epicor 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.

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Smith Drug Company Expands Customer Base With VAI

Smith Drug Company is a $2.5 billion pharmaceutical wholesale/distribution firm that services over 1,000 independent pharmacies and long-term care facilities in 18 states throughout the southeastern U.S. Established in 1944, Smith Drug Company is headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., and has two other distribution centers in Paragould, Ark., and Valdosta, Ga. Its inventory includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs, beauty supplies and medical equipment.

Without ERP software that improved inventory accuracy, distribution operations and customer service, the continuously growing company was confined to just two warehouses and unable to reach its potential. The primary reason for this was that employees had to manually enter inventory information—a time consuming task considering the high volume of orders received. Manual data entry also impeded Smith Drug’s replenishment process. This made it difficult for users to determine exact quantities of product in the warehouse.

With a strong need to expand beyond its two warehouse facilities, Smith Drug Company understood that investing in a state-of-the-art ERP system would allow the company to do this. VAI’s S2K for Distribution was selected as it offers integrated applications for warehouse, wholesale, purchasing and customer service management.

Upon implementing a customized version of VAI’s S2K for Distribution, Smith Drug Company began to experience an improvement in the efficiency and simplicity of its everyday processes.

• S2K fulfilled Smith Drug Company’s need for inventory accuracy by alerting employees of errors as they occurred and by tracking inventory movement more closely. With S2K, Smith Drug Company can easily check received item quantities during the put away process, and also check return quantities processed through its restock program. 
• S2K also provided Smith Drug Company with the ability maintain infinite locations for one particular item in the same warehouse facility. This was important because the previous solution only had the capability to accommodate two locations for each piece of inventory.
• S2K gave Smith Drug Company the ability for automated replenishment, eliminating the mistakes that can come with manual data entry. Moreover, the system schedules purchases before products runs out, ensuring that the company always has adequate inventory on hand to service its customer base. 
• Another issue solved by S2K was the accessibility of information, such as customer and shipping data. Such information is now readily available at employees’ fingertips, consequently improving customer service and virtually eliminating the need for employees to consult the IT department. 

Evaluation-Results and Benefits 
By implementing VAI’s S2K for Distribution, Smith Drug Company enhanced existing, and acquired new and valuable technological capabilities. Due to S2K’s user-friendly interface, employees can quickly create reports and retrieve customer and order information. As a result, calls to Smith Drug Company’s IT department dropped 75 to 80 percent.

“VAI worked to fully customize S2K to meet our needs and interface with our existing modules. The solution has helped improve the company’s efficiency in warehousing and distribution operations, thus allowing us to open a third location, one of our primary goals.” ~ Isaac Rogers, Vice President of Operations, Smith Drug Company

To learn more, visit the VAI 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.

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Ceramic Tile Warehouse Boosts ROI With Kerridge

Established in 1994, Ceramic Tile Warehouse is one of the UK’s largest and most successful independent tile retailers. The family-run firm sells directly to the public from its 10,000 square foot warehouse with over a million tiles in stock. After several years in business, Ceramic Tile Warehouse had reached the point where it is predominantly manual sales and purchasing systems were completely inadequate.

With some professional help, the Kerridge Revision 7 solution was chosen and deployed on an ASP hosted server platform. A relatively small amount of customization was required to suit the company’s specific needs – this was easily accommodated.

Gains and benefits of the Kerridge implementation:

• Internet-based deployment - staff focus on what they do best 
• More time available to look after customers – a higher standard of service 
• Warehouse processes easier, more efficient and fully controlled 
• Seamless sales to warehouse interaction speeds up transaction processing 
• Learning curve shallower than expected – system intuitive and easy to use 
• Satisfied customers and satisfied staff – a better position for all 
• Return on investment generated from the start 
• Opportunities for the company to grow with the system

Learn more at the Kerridge 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 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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Sheralven Enterprises Enhances Inventory Processing With VAI

Founded in 1977, Sheralven Enterprises Ltd. is a one-stop shop for fragrances. The Commack, N.Y.-based company sells, manufactures and distributes a wide variety of brand-name and private-label perfumes, colognes, body lotions and other fragrances, while providing warehousing and logistical services for its customers. Sheralven processes and directly ships items domestically and internationally for national retail chains and independents.

Sheralven encountered numerous problems with its previous ERP software package. First, the system was outdated and unreliable, and therefore hindered the company’s productivity and profitability. For Sheralven’s warehousing and sales personnel, the older system required tedious, time-consuming and manual order processing procedures. The company’s distribution operations were note-driven – slowing down the accounting process and preventing a timely order fulfillment process. This directly affected customer service. A solution that could handle large volumes of orders, while simultaneously managing an inventory of over 5,000 products was essential.

Sheralven needed a tool that could automate tasks, such as processing orders, tracking shipments and managing an extensive inventory. The distributor also required a solution that could handle greater volumes of orders, allowing the company to expand its customer base to include larger clients and more frequent orders. At the same time, Sheralven needed its ERP solution to be equipped with a reliable, user-friendly EDI interface to enhance communications between its sales and back-end personnel.

Sheralven had to look no further than VAI for an ERP package that fit its business requirements. VAI’s solution, S2K for Distribution, was both affordable and sophisticated, giving Sheralven the best value. The result is a unique solution for organizing and tracking orders, generating financial statements, improving customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities and automatically processing inventory.

Upon going live with the solution, Sheralven dramatically increased its turn-around time by automating its data management and order processing. Sheralven’s received orders are automatically entered from Excel spreadsheets into the system, eliminating time-consuming, manual entry and reducing the likelihood of errors. “From the moment we receive an order, the process flows seamlessly,” said Sandra Parmentier, Controller, Sheralven. “We can upload, transmit and track orders almost instantaneously without wasting valuable time manually entering data or faxing and emailing invoices.”

Read more on 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 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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Chicago Nut & Bolt On Time And On Budget With Computer Insights

Chicago Nut & Bolt, in business for over 20 years, is an industry leader in the area of custom industrial fasteners. Eric Carlson, President, explained CNB’s philosophy. He said “While we distribute standard fasteners, our fastener supply services include fulfilling non-standard requests, such as extra-large and extra-long sizes. We work with sizes from 1/4” to 3” in diameter, in any length up to 72”. We can get them to you quickly because we stock blanks in every imaginable head style that can be modified per your specifications.”

Eric told us one secret to their ability to offer such a diverse and comprehensive bundle of products and services. He said, “Chicago Nut and Bolt has worked with Computer Insights for over 10 years. When we installed The Business Edge, our system was installed and up and running on time and ZERO dollars over budget. I was also amazed that we did all the training on line. It turned out to be the most efficient computer implementation I have ever experienced.”

“Since then, the system has helped us maintain the level of customer service that we have committed to our customers. With The Business Edge, all the information that we need is at our finger tips. It is helping us with our ISO Quality requirements and it is enabling us to give our customers what they need in a single call, no call backs, no voice mails, just prompt, professional accurate service. I have also been impressed by the flexibility of the system and the ability to customize it to our specific needs.”

Learn more at the Computer Insights Newsroom.

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