Archives

Distributors equipped with the right technology solutions can reduce costs and operational inefficiencies, boost performance and productivity, enhance their employee experience, and even transform the customer journey. But selecting the right technology is only part of the equation. Your implementation strategy is an important factor in determining how effectively any given solution can impact overall […]

The best distributors in the industry make creating a positive employee experience a top priority. That’s because it’s closely correlated with increased productivity. Moreover, companies with satisfied employees also tend to have happier customers.  Having a positive employee experience is also associated with lower turnover, a greater ability to attract top talent for open positions, […]

ProMat is the industry’s largest trade event for manufacturing and supply chain innovation.  During this year’s ProMat event hosted by the Material Handling Institute (MHI), attendees from 1,000 of the world’s leading supply chain solution providers gained a front-row seat to what the future holds for manufacturers. Through several hands-on demonstrations and educational seminars, I […]

Make a Difference… In almost every career, your success can be tied directly to how well you know the tools of your trade.  For a wood worker, it’s table saws and jigs; for software developers it’s languages, directives, libraries, and technologies.  People who know their tools create success in business.  Those who lack detailed knowledge […]

Here’s what we learned recently with a client. The client was on a version-locked ERP, and we were excited to be given the opportunity to help them move to a new business management system.  That was about 9 months ago, and now they are live on their new system! Despite having many discovery meetings during our sales […]

There are many aspects of Industry 4.0 that may lead some to the opinion that the role and contribution of ERP will progressively diminish over time as the means to apply Industry 4.0 concepts continue to become more readily available to the marketplace. ERP’s stranglehold as the central repository of data will be broken as […]

Best Practices for Boosting Sales Margins. A survey by Earnest & Associates (E&A) has affirmed the critical need for distributors to spend less time with their poor, profit-draining customers – a key to boosting sales margins. Over one hundred decision makers at small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the wholesale/distribution trade participated in the […]

How distributors can align the right messages with the right customers. As a distributor, you know that packing slips provide an excellent opportunity to promote your business. That’s because your existing customers are the best source for growing sales. It’s a no-brainer that you should want to reinforce your value proposition whenever you send a […]

I’ve never been a Star Wars fanatic but like most people, I’ve been a casual watcher of these hugely popular films. To me, the most interesting character has always been Yoda. Inspired by George Lucas’ fascination with Eastern philosophy, Yoda personifies the power that comes from a life dedicated to learning, discovery and self-discipline. “The […]