Phocas Lights Up the Data of AEL Electrical Distributors

Established since 1981, AEL is an electrical distributor based in Aberdeen, Scotland. AEL specializes in the supply of control, automation and hazardous area electrical equipment to the oil and gas, marine, petrochemical, renewable and energy sectors. AEL has grown quickly and organically over the past 5 years and now includes offices in Houston; USA, Tema; Ghana, Baku; Azerbaijan and Atryau; Kazakhstan. Their main customers are drilling contractors, panel builders and offshore module builders. The lack of valuable information was hampering the ability of the management team and business development team.


This lack of valuable information was hampering the ability of the management team and business development team to:
•Organize the customers in tiers
•Report the sales
•Match the sales to specific contacts in the CRM system
•Analyze the customers sales and target marketing activity to the customer or sector
•Analyze AEL’s purchasing record allowing for better management of the store and stock


Because of this, AEL implemented Phocas’s Business Intelligence and CRM solutions. One of AEL’s most interesting and significant uses of Phocas is using the system to analyze their On Time in Full (OTIF) percentages. Their OTIF system works by taking the date from the sales order, the date from the line item, the date the item was receipted into AEL, the date receipted out to the customer and the invoice date. Phocas then uses these dates to work out whether the goods were received into AEL on time, late or early; and it also uses the dates to work out if the goods were received by the customer on time, late or early.


The benefit of using both Phocas CRM and Phocas BI for AEL is that the users can see sales figures and by clicking a button be taken to the person / account in the CRM system and vice versa. This allows the data to be linked and allows for tasks to be set for the business development team depending on the data received. This link makes the role of the business development team easier, as only one system is used, allowing for effective and efficient training.


To learn more, Visit the Phocas Newsroom.


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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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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iAutomation Merges Disparate IT Silos With NetSuite

iAutomation, and industrial automation company located in North Attleboro, Mass., needed a new CRM and inventory management system. An acquisition by iAutomation came with a cost: the company found itself saddled with siloed applications running in a fragmented IT environment that provided little visibility. Productivity suffered as staff had to manually access, import and export data across multiple systems, and a lack of real-time client information was causing needless delays and lost opportunities for sales and customer service.


NetSuite implementation spurs widespread improvements
NetSuite has improved iAutomation's business, helping generate double-digit revenue gains and significant customer service improvements. iAutomation now enjoys real-time data access across 11 offices, a streamlined supply chain, optimized stocking, and newly automated sales and purchase order processes.


A platform for future acquisitions
iAutomation's successful adoption of NetSuite served as a springboard to migrate another company it acquired, Action Automation & Controls, to the platform. Its newfound unified data and business processes enable it to quickly extract value from such acquisitions.


“NetSuite has taken our business to the next level by giving us total integration across the platform and a tremendous ability to mine data.” — Al Morrison, Vice President—Operations


To learn more visit the NetSuite news blog.


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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Distek Gains Increased Access To Business Data With ECi's M1

The management team at North Brunswick, New Jersey-based Distek, Inc., a manufacturer of pharmaceutical testing instruments and provider of testing validation and qualification services, realized that their existing systems and infrastructure weren't good enough to take the business to the next level. A new manufacturing ERP software was needed to support growth.


Information that should be flowing uninterruptedly and in real time throughout the organization took hours or even days to generate and even longer to communicate. “We were running the business on QuickBooks and several different Access databases,” remembers Business Systems and Production Manager Pierre Parks. “I was copying and pasting information into a ton of different reports, and double, triple, and even quadruple entry of the same data was standard operating procedure. And even after all that, there were some key aspects of the business where we still had very little visibility.”


“We probably looked at close to 10 different ERP systems before making a final decision,” recalls Gail Rayner, ERP Project Manager, Accounting and HR Manager. “We took our due diligence very seriously because we knew what was at stake for the company and its future.” Finally, at the end of an exhaustive process that played out over a six-month period, Distek chose the M1 manufacturing ERP system from ECi Software Solutions.


“We selected M1 mainly because it gave us the most bang for the buck but it also seemed more user-friendly than the other systems we looked at and more easy to customize,” explains Parks. “And with M1, we would be able to take our different silos of information and bring them all under one roof. That was a key objective.”


“M1 provided a useful implementation checklist but we also had our own project plan and a project charter that set specific return-on-investment goals that we wanted to achieve,” explains Rayner. Those goals covered virtually every aspect of the business—from improved purchasing, receiving, and production processes through to upgrades in delivery and customer service.


“M1 had an immediate and very positive impact on our production department,” explains Parks. “With M1, when we receive a shipment, it’s seen throughout the system. Our purchasers can see when a part arrives in real-time as opposed to having to wait until the next day like they used to. When we input new orders, we also see allocation to the parts necessary to build those orders right away, whereas before, we might have to wait as long as two weeks. And the reports that used to take me days now get done in 30 minutes with M1.”


Read more on the ECi 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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Holt & Bugbee Improve Inventory Accuracy With DMSi's Agility

Holt & Bugbee Company of Tewksbury, MA manufactures and distributes rough sawn planks, finish dimension planks and boards and custom finished and unfinished moldings. Their customer base is approximately 2,500 companies. Holt & Bugbee needed an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that had lumber specific functionality and gave them speed and inventory accuracy. To achieve this, the company turned to Agility, DMSi’s business accounting software. 


Since Holt & Bugbee implemented Agility, they have improved inventory accuracy because of the many lumber specific features. The end tally functionality tool, allows them to efficiently track hardwood unit tallies by the thickness, width and length of every board or by total board footage per length. “We gravitated to Agility because of the inventory functionality, specifically being able to tally lumber,” Bill Robinson, Holt & Bugbee's IT systems manager said. 


Agility’s inventory functionality and accuracy made a big difference to the company, but it was what they could do with that information that really made an impact. The hand-held technology seamlessly brings critical lumber inventory information into Agility for tighter inventory control; from receiving to remanufacturing, all the way from raw green lumber to finished products.


Agility also helped to improve customer service. Robinson states, “Right now, everything is about being able to turn faster. How fast can you ship and manufacture. If you aren’t quick enough, customers will go to someone else – Agility has given us that speed advantage.” 


Agility has helped Holt & Bugbee automate processes. “It has cut a lot of time off processes and taken a lot of manual list implementations out,” Robinson said. “Technology is ever evolving, it never stops. You just have to go with the flow and get there,” Robinson added. “There is a lot of technology that DMSi keeps bringing out to the forefront.” 


Read more, access additional case studies on the DMSi 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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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First Choice Floral Streamlines Business With Floral Computer Systems

"The SMARTSystem has cut out at least 70% of the time I used to spend buying flowers. On special orders, more than a handful per week used to be difficult to keep up with. Now, I can handle an unlimited number." says Louis Pacanins of First Choice Floral in Dallas, TX.


"We put in the SMARTSystem right before a major holiday and it made a huge difference in our operation. This software streamlined our business so we’re much more cost efficient."


"Using the SMARTSale™ System, I was able to leave early on a Friday for the first time in 8 years. I’ve got all my orders in, I know what I have to buy, and I can go home and spend time with my family."


Read more at Floral Computer Systems.


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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Conval-Aid Enhances Accounting With Blue Link

Established in 1976, provides a wide range of quality health-care products and services to customers across Eastern Ontario, Canada. This includes new and used hospital equipment and supplies, and medical and home-care provisions. The company also rents out equipment – from shower-chairs and wheelchairs to walkers, daily living supplies and stair lifts. Conval-Aid has evolved from a two-person endeavor to a family-owned company with more than 20 employees, including a service department and outside sales staff. It operates from a head office in Ottawa, Canada.


Challenge
Conval-Aid's original accounting system was increasingly inefficient, especially as third party billing was becoming complicated, with different components being supplied from companies all over the country; this demanded comprehensive internal tracking and accounting abilities. In addition, internal accounting controls were minimal, and internal security control was becoming an issue. Conval-Aid looked at several systems, mostly in the larger, mid-market range. They quickly realized those systems were not only expensive but, more importantly, didn’t offer the customizable features needed for the growing company.


Solution
Blue Link was recommended by both a business contact in the IT market, and the company accountant. After thoroughly investigating the company and its solutions, Conval-Aid decided to ask Blue Link to install its customizable accounting system. An important factor in the decision was Blue Link’s willingness to customize the solution to Conval-Aid’s needs, and to assist with implementing the new system. The company’s complicated third-party billing system needed particular customization, and the shipping system also presented challenges, for which Blue Link created additional customization. In addition, the invoicing process had to be able handle complicated and detailed invoicing structures. For example, certain percentages of a total invoice might need to be allocated to different companies, such as a percentage of a bill being allocated to the Easter Seals foundation because it had sponsored a particular product.


“There were very few problems. Blue Link took care of all the integration into the new system – it all went very smoothly. And Blue Link also did all the customization, and we really liked that.”
– Merrill Ed, Conval-Aid Healthcare


Read  more on the Blue Link website.


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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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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Nature One Dairy Expands Sales with Tribridge DXC Technology

Nature One Dairy is an Australian-owned blending and canning manufacturer dedicated to producing high-quality, specialty powdered milk products from grass-fed Australian cows. After experiencing rapid growth in its own country, the company decided to market to nearby Asia, where safe, affordable infant formula is in high demand but difficult to find.


Challenge:
As it expanded its business, Nature One Dairy realized the time had come to modernize to more automated, integrated and efficient processes. The company was still relying on a combination of traditional quality assurance practices, separate accounting and production systems, and considerable manual effort. The most pressing issue was improving the ease and accuracy of stock control to trace the raw materials used in the powdered milk products, since in addition to the base powder, the finished product contains vitamins and other ingredients from a variety of suppliers.


Solution:
Nature One Dairy spent six months exploring various warehousing, accounting and other options before deciding that an end-to-end SAP SMB solution, based on SAP Business One for HANA would best meet its requirements. The company chose DXC Oxygen, part of the DXC Technology global SAP team and the leading specialist SAP solutions provider across Australia and New Zealand, to deliver and customize the solution.


Results:

• Streamlined, integrated and transparent business processes, with consolidated warehouse, production and accounting systems
• More accurate inventory and quality control, with traceability from raw materials to finished product
• Higher efficiency, less production downtime, significant staff time savings, and the ability to better meet customers’ requirements and delivery dates

The company has been able to combine four different parts of the business — raw materials receiving/scanning, accounting, warehousing and production recording — into one system so they work together to give us a final product and a final count, which they couldn’t do previously.


Learn more on the DXE Technology website.




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 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 
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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