In today’s challenging buying environment you need to understand what your customers needs are and make smart decisions on how to manage them through your inventory. You also need a consistent and complete view into your supply chain to allow for proper business growth based on these customer demands. Companies worldwide are challenged with finding the best way to manage inventory at the most efficient and profitable way. But why, in this digital age, are customers faced with what seems like rudimentary IT challenges?
Inventory Management is a lot more complex than it may seem to most. Let’s look at some of the biggest challenges distribution centers face when it comes to inventory management:
Many distributors, as they start their operations, go out and get a software package – usually accounting software, to help administer the business. As time goes on, there is a need for a more robust inventory management system, or kitting, as well as inventory control. Maybe the distribution company lands a large customer, but they require a process called EDI for their transactions. Now, instead of having the accounting software, over time this distribution company adds additional software for inventory, EDI, shipping, eCommerce, and the list could go on. While each piece of software does a good job on its own, it is better to have one integrated distribution software system that will integrate with other software or processes. Here are 5 reasons why.
Lot tracking allows product to be tracked end-to -end, from manufacturer to customer, and any activity or process in between. If your company is unable to track lots, and there is a recall from the manufacturer, it can cost your company immensely.
At more than 400,000 merchant customers, Authorize.net is one of the clear leaders in the payment gateway services arena. With the low monthly cost, the low per transaction fee, and the long list of features, it has become the go-to service that we recommend to our customers with credit card transactions, and one that we integrate with the DistributionPlus software.
A little over a year ago, when we spoke with business owners and executives, document management seemed to be more of a “nice to have” feature. Yes, it saved time, was more convenient, and saved space, but the traditional filing cabinet was still working. Now document management enters discussions as a necessity, and no more as a “nice to have” function.