Infor Distribution SX.E
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
69273_DistGuide_Guts8_a 1/14/13 10:22 AM Page 1 Table of Contents IntrodUction . 2 Software Solutions (continued) Software Vendors Are YoUr Partner . 3 Software Selection Project SUmmaries . 6 Infor Distribution Free ConsUlting Offer . 8 Infor DistribUtion SX.e . 28 Endorsing Organizations . 9 Infor DistribUtion A+ . 29 Infor DistribUtion FACTS . 30 Software Solutions Infor M3 for DistribUtion . 31 Software FeatUres Matrix . 12 International Business Systems (IBS) IBS Enterprise . 32 Acumatica DistribUtion and Financial SUite . 16 iSolutions Microsoft Dynamics GP . 33 Advanced Distribution Software, Powered by I.B.I.S., Inc. Advanced DistribUtion Software for Dynamics AX . 17 Mincron Software Systems Mincron SmartDistribUtor . 34 BCR Inc. BCR Software . 18 NetSuite, Inc. NetSUite Wholesale/DistribUtion Edition . 35 Computer Insights The BUSINESS EDGE 2.0 . 19 NexTec Group Sage ERP X3 . 36 DDI System Inform DistribUtion Software . 20 Pronto Software Pronto Xi . 37 Demand Management, Inc. Demand SolUtions . 21 SAP/Idhasoft, Inc. SAP BUsiness All-in-One Software . 38 Distribution One V2 Software . 22 VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.) VAI S2K Enterprise Software . 39 ECi Software Solutions ECi Software SolUtions . 23 Add-On SolUtions . 40 Epicor Software Corporation Epicor DistribUtion . 24 Please Note: Epicor Express DistribUtion Edition . 25 The software vendors have provided the information for the printed and online gUides. Brown Smith Wallace ConsUlting General Data Systems GroUp personnel have obtained demonstrations of many of the ProfitTool DistribUtion Software . 26 listed featUres. However, the Brown Smith Wallace ConsUlting GroUp makes no representation or warranty related to specific IDEA fUnctions or as to the sUitability of these software systems for a EDI, Data Sync, Web Storefront, & Standards Adopt . 27 specific bUsiness or application. For more information visit www.software4distribUtors.com 1 © Brown Smith Wallace ConsUlting GroUp 2013. All rights reserved. 69273_DistGuide_Guts8_a 1/14/13 10:22 AM Page 2 IntrodUction Evaluate … Compare … Analyze … Reading this Guide ... The DistribUtion SolUtions GUide is the only software selection Each prodUct listing inclUdes a high level sUmmary of some of gUide specifically developed for the UniqUe needs of the the featUres. Read on to Understand each section. distribUtion commUnity. This 23rd edition is designed to assist yoU, the Wholesale DistribUtor, evalUate, compare and analyze Technology software to determine which prodUcts fit yoUr operation. This section gives yoU the basic fUndamentals of operating system, database, presentation method and delivery method. The Software Selection Process … Customer Base If yoU are selecting software for the first time or replacing existing Use this pie graph to help determine how yoU fit compared software, this GUide can help yoU to become conversant with the to the other companies that Use the software. fUn ctionality that is commonplace for the indUstry and will serve as a starting point in yoUr process. Before yoU jUst start talking to software vendors, stop and think aboUt those processes that are 1 to 10 critical to yoUr bUsiness. If yoU already have a system, start by making a list of the gaps 11 to 50 that exist between yoUr bUsiness and yoUr software. Provide this list to yoUr existing software vendors and see if they can close 51 to 200 the gaps. Sometimes these gaps develop becaUse of a lack of commUnication with or training from yoUr vendors. This is a 201 to 500 simple and inexpensive step to take before embarking on a selection project. Over 500 Selecting software is a complex process that shoUld involve a team of employees that devotes their time and energy to this task over a foUr to six month period. YoU need to consider Entry Price Point fUnctionality and process fit, vendor strength and capabilities, The pricing for software can be complex and sUbject technology and price. How yoU decide to weight these to negotiation. This is the entry point for the simplest components will vary according to yoUr needs. configUration of the software and basic services to implement it. Use this only as a starting point: yoUr Efficient and fast order entry, will call/coUnter sales, inventory actUal costs will be higher. management, replenishment and pUrchasing, pick/pack/ship are a few of the hallmarks that differentiate distribUtion from Sales Channel Learn how and where the software is sold. other indUstries. The software vendors and packages that are in this gUide are specifically tailored to meet yoUr needs. The Online Guide … The Printed Guide … The online gUide at www.software4distribUtors.com inclUdes This printed GUide is distribUted at no cost throUgh distribUtion more extensive information aboUt each vendor, the applications centric trade associations and edUcational institUtions with and their fUnctionality to assist yoU in yoUr research project. distribUtion programs. We appreciate the continUed sUpport Utilize the EvalUation Center to compare more than 1,500 of these associations and institUtions. fUnctions and featUres side-by-side. We hope to help yoU find the best solUtion to meet yoUr needs. The printed GUide contains only a sUbset of the complete featUres list. This brief introdUction can give yoU an Understanding of the vendors and their prodUct featUres to allow yoU to bUild a list of applications to inclUde in yoUr search. For more information visit www.software4distribUtors.com 2 © Brown Smith Wallace ConsUlting GroUp 2013. All rights reserved. 69273_DistGuide_Guts8_a 1/14/13 10:22 AM Page 3 Software Vendors Are YoUr Partner by Jeff GUsdorf Reduce the time and cost of your selection process to get a The selection process is not jUst aboUt evalUating the software better outcome. bUt engaging and establishing a relationship with the software vendor. The sales reps and engineers are trained in consUltative BUying software is complicated. Engaging the software vendors selling; their job is to determine how yoU can best Use their as yoUr partner will eliminate risk and increase the odds of a software to satisfy yoUr goals. Regardless of the package, sUccessfUl implementation. Also, by eliminating the featUre list yoU can’t sUcceed in implementing the software withoUt the fUll of 1000’s items and the 40 page RFP’s, yoU’ll get a better sUpport of the software vendors’ implementation team. Treating oUtcome. them with respect throUghoUt the process pays dividends later. Implementing a new ERP software package to manage yoUr Functional Fit: bUsiness is one of the most critical projects a bUsiness will ERP Software is complex and thoUsands of featUres are ever Undertake. When this process goes well, the benefits are available. In 1992, we pUblished oUr first list that encompassed immense; improved capabilities, greater profits, competitive all of the featUres that we thoUght a sUpplier of software to and sUstainable advantages, a more efficient sUpply chain and the wholesale distribUtion indUstry needed to incorporate into more. When the process fails, the costs to the bUsiness are their package. At the time the indUstry was fairly new and this eqUally immense; wasted effort, loss of the management team’s featUre list served as a checklist to ensUre that all of the software time and energy, the investment is wasted, careers sometimes delivered has the “standard” fUnctionality. Vendors who hadn’t end, lost market share or competitiveness, not to mention that developed those featUres soon did or were eliminated from the whole process has to be repeated to find a new solUtion. consideration and didn’t stay in bUsiness for very long. Given the potential risks and benefits, a strUctUred, objective Today, the landscape is very different. Consolidation plan mUst be followed to ensUre that all of the factors are has eliminated many packages and companies from the taken into consideration when bUying new technology. BSW marketplace. The software packages that are being sold now ConsUlting has developed a framework we call “SIFTing yoUr are the “go-forward” prodUcts. These packages receive most if software choices”. This framework helps to organize all of the not all of the R&D investment; older packages may be sUpported factors so that alternative choices can be properly compared. (or not), bUt rarely offer new versions or enhancements. The go- The foUr factors critical in determining the best solUtion are: forward packages have almost every featUre available and new featUres are constantly being added; the differences are in the • Suitability—is the software vendor the right strategic partner bUsiness processes and how well they fit the reqUirements of over the long term and do they fit with yoUr needs and yoUr specific sUb-verticals. Eighty percent of the processes that company cUltUre? an electrical distribUtor needs will be the same as a fastener distribUtor. The key will be the fit for those remaining twenty • Investment—have the cUrrent and fUtUre costs for percent of the processes that differentiate the bUsiness. pUrchasing and implementing the solUtion been accUrately determined? Despite this need to focUs on the critical twenty percent of processes, many consUltants still Use long featUres lists • Functional Fit—does the solUtion satisfy the critical bUsiness for evalUating vendors. Reasons for this may be that they process reqUirements of yoUr company? pUrchased or licensed a list from a technology company and that is a lot easier than developing their own. Or they may • Technology—how matUre is the technology? How does it have done all of the hard work of researching and writing fit with yoUr company’s existing information technology and their own list of featUres and don’t want to abandon that management capabilities? investment. One caveat to this criticism; we developed oUr own featUre list that we make available for free on the Regardless of the methodology yoU follow, it’s critical that software4distribUtors.com website as a tool for pUtting the yoU evalUate yoUr choices across all foUr of these dimensions long list together. We recommend that yoU do NOT Use it for to make sUre that yoU’re selecting the best package for selecting the software packages that shoUld be on yoUr shortlist.