More Isn’t Always Better…Unless You Have Powerful Technology

With offices on both coasts and distribution facilities scattered throughout the country, how does a leading distributor keep tabs on inventory?  The secret is in the technology.  Managing volumes of inventory, in real-time, with numerous distribution facilities can be a challenge to say the least.  Adding customers, product lines, and reconfiguring distribution routes can make a complicated process even more complicated.  Add control and insight by using the right technology, such as Microsoft Dynamics® ERP.

The volumes of data generated by a distributor cannot be trusted to spreadsheets or weak specialty computer programs.  Tracking thousands to millions of products, inventory levels, customer contracts and specifications, financial, and other critical data is best left to a powerhouse solution, like those offered in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP suite of solutions.  These comprehensive business management solutions offer the ability to manage high volumes of products and complicated distribution scenarios.  Streamline demand forecasting and planning, with Microsoft Dynamics ERP, so that you always have the inventory you need without over-stocking the warehouse.  Additional warehouse management functions will make it easier to keep tabs on available inventory, as well as which warehouse it may be located in.  You don’t need to buy extra inventory when you have what you need at one of your distribution centers.

There is nothing traditional or simple about distribution networks anymore.  You may ship products direct to the customer from a supplier or filter them through a distribution center.  Electronic data interface (EDI) can be integrated between suppliers and customers to streamline transactions and shipments, which can save resources as well as money.  Having all of this data at your fingertips, and monitoring data from your RoleTailored dashboard, will make it easier to keep tabs on your inventory – where it is located, where it is being shipped, and what it costs.

Microsoft Dynamics ERP includes business intelligence features that offer insight into your business operations.  Analyzing labor and expenses behind specific operations will give you the opportunity to review and refine cost structures.  Through careful analysis of your business data, you may be able to increase profit margins, cut waste, reduce expenses, and pass on savings to your customers.

Distribution operations are often complex and change rapidly with regular additions of customers and product lines.  More customers and more products isn’t a good thing, unless you can control your data with the right technology.  Contact Collins Computing (info@collinscomputing.com) for more information about managing a complicated business with a powerful Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution.