Cosma International Improved Inventory Reporting With Epicor

Cosma International, a wholly-owned operating unit of Magna International, is a global automotive supplier providing a range of body, chassis and engineering solutions to OEM customers. Unsatisfied with the lack of functionality and support for its legacy business management system, Cosma International's operation in Victor, Iowa, searched for an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that allowed for real-time shop floor reporting and inventory management.


Cosma International selected Epicor CMS for discrete manufacturing and has never looked back. "With our legacy system we were reporting all of our inventory transactions at one reporting station," recalls Andy Hrasky, assistant general manager at Cosma International's Victor operation. "It was on the shop floor, so it was somewhat in real-time. That process required a lot of unnecessary, time-consuming movements."


Key Challenges face by Cosma:

• Accurate inventory management
• Lack of electronic data interchange (EDI) capabilities
• Manual spreadsheet-based production scheduling
• No visualization of shop floor data

Solution:

• Epicor CMS, integrated enterprise business system for manufacturing and distribution
• Epicor Informance, enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system

Key Benefits:

• Accurate, real-time, shop floor reporting and inventory management
• Integrated production scheduling
• Reliable EDI
• Near-instant access to key metrics
• Accurate, finite shop floor information using programmable logic controls (PLCs) and an open connectivity protocol (OPC)

Today, Cosma International has 23 reporting stations on the floor. "The event based reporting system in Epicor CMS is integral to what we do," says Hrasky. "We couldn't get by without it."


To read more, visit the Epicor 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

McNaughton-McKay Electric Improves Efficiencies With Savance

Founded in 1910, McNaughton-McKay Electric Company is a wholesale distributor of electrical supplies. Since 2006, the company is 100% employee-owned.


McNaughton-McKay uses Savance Enterprise's Sales Management module. Says Tim Goulet, of McNaughton-McKay, "The benefits we have experienced [since adopting Savance Enterprise] include greatly improved efficiencies at the order entry and processing level. With this new software, we are saving time and giving our customer a consistent, accurate, and professional looking quote."


Benefits experienced through use of Savance:

• With Savance Enterprise, customer contact information is automatically populated onto the quote and saved off for future quoting and mailing lists.
• Enterprise allows customers base to send .xls files with hundreds of lines with part numbers and quantities. It turns these into quotes which can then be turned into orders with a click of the mouse.
• Enterprise prompts users with part numbers that are close, to help avoid input error. There is also the ability to enter a customer's part numbers and cross-reference with the distributor's part number.
• Enterprise offers the capability to store quotes in a common area to call up for review. It can then be determined if old pricing should hold or to reprice at the current levels.

Says, Goulet, "I feel strongly that this has been the best change in technology since I have been with McNaughton-McKay. [T]his positive outlook is a common feeling amongst everyone toward our new automated process. It saves all of us time and gives us a chance to do what we do best, sell!"


To read more, visit the Savance 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

New Viet Dairy Enhances Operations With Blue Ridge

New Viet Dairy recently announced it has selected Blue Ridge Global Supply Chain Planning and Integrated Business Planning solutions to support operations throughout Vietnam. New Viet Dairy is a leading importer and distributor of dairy, food and beverage products and ingredients. Blue Ridge’s Supply Chain Planning (SCP) technology balances customer needs with business realities, including erratic regional demand, seasonality and market fluctuations that frequently put pressure on foodservice distributors.


Among the top-100 largest private companies in Vietnam since it began operations in 1997, New Viet Dairy has more than 700 employees in its eleven locations throughout Vietnam and soon in Cambodia mid-2019, with revenue of more than $300 million.


Blue Ridge’s SCP solution will support New Viet Dairy’s three primary distribution channels:

• Ingredients: Dairy ingredients are supplied to trusted partners, which include Vinamilk, Nutifood, Dutch Lady, Coca-Cola and Kido.
• Food Service: Providing a large range of food products for the hospitality industry, including dairy, frozen meat and vegetables, sauces, oil and vinegar, wine and beer.
• Retail: New Viet Dairy supplies a select range of mid to high-end imported brand-name foods to major and smaller retailers across the country, including Big C, Coopmart, Aeon, Metro, Giant and convenience chains.

The Integrated Business Planning (IBP) solution will support the alignment of New Viet’s revenue and financial plans with its demand supply. Blue Ridge IBP enables enterprises to craft one consensus operational plan that ensures accountability across functional silos.




To learn more, visit the Blue Ridge 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

DDI System’s Inform ERP Version 19 Release Powers Distributor Efficiency with More Than 300 Added Features

Sandy Hook, CT – October 2, 2018 – DDI System, a leader in ERP software for wholesale distributors, announced the release of Inform Version 19. Version 19 adds new features, improves performance and offers even greater ease-of-use. The latest release captures more than 300 enhancements and comes on the heels of the company’s 25-year anniversary. DDI’s modern-day solution for wholesale distributors drives operational excellence with customer intelligent tools that help distributors win amidst digital disruption.

Version 19 combines the power of customer connectivity tools with elite operational workflows to gain efficiencies and reduce errors. “DDI’s solution has allowed me to manage my business and double revenue with the same staff,” states Troy Welch, President/CEO of Pumps & Controls. “Inform revealed areas where we have captured huge time savings and greater efficiency. Embedded CRM allows us to communicate between departments such as customer service and sales. In the end, these features have helped our company become a customer service leader.”

The latest version of Inform introduces innovative ‘Drag & Drop’ technology for eCommerce storefronts making it easy for distributors to display their full product catalog online quickly and affordably. Drag & Drop technology gives distributors the ability to customize a web page by selecting from over a dozen pre-built templates. Easily add full size images and insert videos with no HTML coding experience required.

Adding to the release, DDI System introduced EMV ready credit card processing. Point of Sale (POS) transactions will be handled through TSYS, formerly known as Cayan. This convenient payment processing option provides customers lightning-fast chip transactions, card swipes and debit card transactions that are fully-encrypted and tokenized, ensuring cardholder data never passes to POS, e-commerce or merchant systems.

A fresh new interface brings DDI’s enhanced ePod Signature App to another level of innovation. Built-in camera control gives drivers the ability to take and upload pictures to orders as attachments. Drivers can also enter comments relative to refusals, damages, or other delivery related issues for seamless communication.

Inform DC, DDI’s Warehouse Management Solution, continues to evolve with added tools developed to drive efficient warehouse operations. The latest release features instant update & order sharing, next generation lookup, paperless order picking, pick path customization, pulled order locations and special-order staging.

For current users of Inform, DDI’s completely refreshed Online Help File and Training Guides provide easy access to additional learning tools and department focused training. The added features give Inform users a quick way to access the help file and online training while simultaneously working through any given situation.

DDI will be showcasing Inform’s latest updates at several upcoming industry trade shows including FPDA, Virtualrain, ALA, NetPlus Alliance, PRIDE Centric Resources, ISSA, Equity and STAFDA throughout the fall. In addition, the ERP provider is hosting two online demonstrations on October 18th & November 14th. To register for a demonstration, please visit: ddisystem.com/demo or call 877-599-4334 to set up a time for your business specific consultation.


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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

MITS Helps BJG Electronics’ Sales Exceed Business Goals

New York-based BJG Electronics (BJG) specializes in the distribution of mil-aero, industrial, and harsh environment connectors, connector accessories, and electromechanical interconnect products. BJG has supported the Military, Aerospace, Transit, and Industrial marketplaces since 1979.


BJG had big reporting needs that could not be met by the company’s one-person IT shop said Lisa Hathaway, Manager of Information Systems for BJG. Lisa discovered MITS at a trade show and loved what she saw in MITS Distributor Analytics. “I was thrilled to see that MITS included hundreds of built-in, functional reports right out of the box,” said Lisa. “This meant that time to value was practically instant for us.” Before making a purchase decision, Lisa evaluated a couple of other products, neither of which offered pre-built reports and the same depth of functionality as MITS.


All Field Sales reps use MITS to track their performance against individual, sales team and company goals said Mark Mulle, Global Sales and Marketing Manager for BJG. “If we expect our sales reps to be accountable for their sales and other goals, we had to give them the tools to be successful,” said Mark. “The dashboards and scorecards that came with MITS helped us jumpstart adoption. With very little training, my team was able to drill into their accounts to identify opportunities for growth. They can analyze accounts down to the part number and quickly identify why and where business has been lost. With this information in hand, the reps can have a directed conversation with the customer. All of the data they need to be successful is now at their fingertips through MITS.”




To learn more, visit the MITS 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

Heitek Automation Improves Metrics With Tour de Force

Based in Phoenix, AZ, Heitek Automation is an industrial automation distributor. A business decision was made to implement Tour de Force's BYOR Reports. Says Cory Comer, Heitek's Marketing Manager, had the following to say, “Prior to BYOR, our sales metrics came from multiple different locations, making it difficult to see exactly what was going on not only from a corporate level, but from a territory level as well. With the addition of BYOR, not only were we able to create a “dashboard” with all of our relevant metrics, we created the same report for our sales guys so they can track their goals. At a glance, we now are able to view our corporate metrics across three sales categories: bookings, sales, and profits, quickly extract our run-rates and % of our sales goals, our growth rates, and most importantly our gross-margin as a % of our sales (our goal is 30%). In addition, we can quickly see how each territory is performing against its goals, who is leading the pack, compare it to last year and the overall impact on our company’s bottom line. It’s fantastic!”


He also had this to say about Tour de Force's BYOR Industry Sales Report: “This report is especially dear to my heart as the Marketing executive for Heitek. Before BYOR, we were not able to determine our sales as they were distributed amongst industry segments. Early on, I implemented NAICS codes into our TDF Account data, but still couldn’t readily sum the totals in different segments. Now with BYOR, we are able to see our segments, broken out into 2, 3, 4, or 6 digit NAICS codes, compare growth rates in different sectors and validate our target industries against government industry data. This will make target marketing activities much easier, including prospecting, mailing and other activities. I love it!”




To read more, visit the Tour de Force 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter

SunnyD Eliminates Data Silos With Infor Birst

Sunny Delight Beverages Co. is a producer of juice-based drinks in North America, with four brands including its flagship, SunnyD. When the company was spun off from Proctor & Gamble, eight different legacy business intelligence applications were in place, each with independent silos of data. As a result, SunnyD executives would receive conflicting figures because end users were working off unique silos of data. This disparity led to revenue unpredictability, lower margins than necessary, high inventory buffers, and a lack of understanding of true profitability derived from sales promotions. SunnyD embraced the opportunity to modernize and take a strategic approach to business intelligence.


CIO Shawn Roberts, working closely with the CFO, evaluated 17 different vendors before committing to Infor's Birst. Birst integrates data from multiple sources with transparent data governance, while at the same time providing self-service analytic capabilities to both technical and non-technical users.


Business results and efficiencies as a result of the implementation included:

• 7% Transportation savings
• 90% Reduction in plant overtime costs
• 2% Sales increase
• $195,000 Annual contract staff savings

In addition, the business transformed its analytics with Networked Business Intelligence. Networked BI virtualizes the entire analytics and data ecosystem, enabling the transformation of an organization’s approach to analytics. Built on top of Birst’s modern, multi-tenant cloud architecture, Birst creates a set of interwoven analytics and BI instances that share a common data-as-a-service fabric.


Birst’s technical value to SunnyD has been in integrating data and providing governance around previously siloed data sources, while also providing self-service analytics capabilities to both technical and non-technical users.


To learn more, visit the Infor 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 2017 Mid-Year Supplements
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017Supp&gt


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.



Follow Us on Twitter