This is my personal list of hot-button issues that I share with clients to help them assess threats and opportunities. You may want to print out this list and check off the issues that you're facing. Give yourself one point for each item you feel is a current threat to your operations.

Manufacturing

__ Outsourcing production overseas to lower operating cost.

__ Starting to bypass the distributors selling directly to the Retail industry.

__ Opening outlet stores where they sell excess inventory.

Distribution

__ Bring components from overseas becoming semi-manufacturers selling to the Retail industry.

__ Selling on the web B2B and B2C serving their clients and the Retail industry.

__ Opening outlet stores where they sell excess inventory.

Retail

__ Buying directly from the manufacturer in the USA bypassing the distributor to lower cost of goods.

__ Buying directly from overseas vendors bypassing both the manufacturer and the distributor.

__ Selling on the web B2B and B2C serving their clients and the Retail industry.

Warehouse

__ Wrong shipment carried duplicate freight, can become excess inventory, and affect customer satisfaction.

__ Misplaced inventory might not be sold and can become excess inventory.

__ Excess inventory carried additional cost and can affect the line of credit.

Ecommerce

__ The web can be a double edged sword: it can increase sales or result in business disruptions.

__ Not having automated warehouse will result in incorrect shipments and excess inventory.

__ Not having modern back office system can result in buying the wrong products resulting in excess inventory.

Searching for Software

__ Very often the search is left to the IT department who does not have the complete business overview resulting in choosing the wrong software.

__ All demos look very good since they are given by professionals who were trained to give them.

__ Just because software looks good does not mean it is appropriate for the end user.

 Buying Software

__ Search committee of heads of department and computer department should be established.

__ Business requirements’ list should be put together and addressed at the demo.

__ Before buying the software visit vendor reference accounts and meet the CEO, CFO, and Computer Manager.

Addressing The Above Threats

Often a properly chosen and implemented integrated software solution can help a business overcome these threats and even find opportunties. That being said, sometimes software is the right solution to address these threats, sometimes it isn't, and sometimes it's just part of a broader solution. If you'd like to contact me and share which issues your business is facing, I'd be happy to provide you with my feedback. And always feel free to tell me your challenge via our request information form.

Since 1980, Dan Kaplan has worked with corporate executives to improve purchasing, increase warehouse and distribution efficiencies, and implement software solutions that result in substantial savings and productivity improvements. To lower your operating costs, reduce your warehousing and distribution business's quote generation process from 3 weeks to 3 hours and invoice cycle from months to one day, go to www.smcdata.com

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