Software Solutions Introduces Data Warehouse
Solution for the Distribution Market
ACTION ITEMS
Software Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of software and services for the distribution market, has announced TakeStock Data Warehouse, the latest new software product from it popular distribution management suite, that will allow distributors to perform in-depth business analysis and data mining to improve the decision-making process.
Through its partnership with Shannon Systems (http://www.shannonsystems.com), a Boston-based software development and services provider, Software Solutions is providing this new data warehouse solution, along with TakeStock Order Acceptance and TakeStock Order Acknowledgement, two new software products that will significantly reduce costs in the order management process.
David Gooding, Inc., a plumbing and heating distributor in Braintree, Mass., is a user of these products. Since implementing TakeStock Data Warehouse, David Gooding has been able to perform new business functions like in-depth analysis and "data mining" to improve productivity and profitability.
"We're finding out things we never knew before," said Jim Partridge, chief financial officer and general manager of David Gooding, Inc. "For example, we now know what products sell best with other products; which products have the best profit margin and who's not buying something they bought last year."
TakeStock Data Warehouse provides daily scheduled updates to an off-line data storage facility and was designed specifically for small to mid-sized distributors that require minimal or no new investment in hardware. Users can export data from their TakeStock database to the data warehouse running on Microsoft Access or SQL Server in a Windows 95/98 or NT environments and perform business analysis and data mining through Crystal Reports or Business Objects.
TakeStock Data Warehouse also improves the performance of a company's systems while reports are being run. Prior to implementing TakeStock Data Warehouse, performance of David Gooding's order entry system would be impacted when reports had to be run. "Now, none of our other systems are affected when we need to perform extensive data analysis and reporting. An activity that used to be scheduled during the day, can be run as needed," Partridge said.
TakeStock Order Acceptance allows distributors to reduce significantly its EDI expenses by allowing customers to send EDI orders via email. EDI transactions can be sent either in an EDI format or in the format of a standard purchase order. With this product, organizations with or without EDI capabilities can now place orders through an EDI system. This feature saves a significant amount of order entry time, minimizes the need for clerical resources and eliminates order entry errors.
At David Gooding, Inc., the company found significant cost savings in reducing the time to enter orders. "Normally, in large orders it took two people days to key in all the orders, correct any errors and review the pricing for accuracy," said Partridge. "With TakeStock Order Acceptance, it now takes only one person about an hour and a half to do the same task."
TakeStock Order Acknowledgement acts as an advanced shipping notice that enables the automatic faxing of a customer's order to the customers, as well as automatically emailing of the order acknowledgement to the sales force. This feature helps distributors reduce the number of order entry, pricing and shipping errors that occur in the order process, and provides the salespeople with valuable information to enhance their sales efforts. The next release of TakeStock Order Acknowledgement will feature automatic email capabilities as another option for distributors.
TakeStock Data Warehouse is available now with pricing starting at $7,500 per server plus $150 per concurrent user. TakeStock Order Acknowledgement is available in July at pricing starting at $5,000 per server plus $150 per user. TakeStock Order Acceptance is available now at pricing starting at $2,500 per server plus $150 per user. The products are available directly through Software Solutions or an authorized reseller.
TakeStock is a 32-bit distribution management application specifically developed to run under Windows and NT clients and NT and UNIX-based servers. It provides a Windows-standard graphical presentation layer that brings ease of use and seamless desktop integration features. TakeStock software includes highly-integrated applications that cover key processes of distribution: inventory management, sales orders, sales analysis, accounts receivable, purchase orders, accounts payable, general ledger, and manufacturing control. In addition, TakeStock offers optional "InterLinks" powerful tools for conducting business on the Internet, performing Electronic Date Interchange (EDI), and streamlining shipping activities and other functions.
Software Solutions (http://www.sofsol.com) offers a family of products designed specifically for the distribution market: TakeStock, a client/server distribution application suite based on Microsoft technology; FACTS, an easy-to-use, easy-to-implement and full-featured suite of asset management, customer service and financial accounting applications; and DMAS, a field-proven, IBM-developed, fully integrated AS/400 solution.
With 20 years of experience, Software Solutions is a leading provider of distribution applications to the distribution market. Its 6,000 customers -- more than twice the nearest competitor -- deliver 25 million stock-keeping units to retailers worldwide.