To succeed in their tasks, planners and schedulers rely on materials resource planning (MRP) software to make recommendations and send signals. To make meaningful suggestions, MRP requires a steady diet of accurate, relevant, and timely data. This guide breaks down two critical MRP project success factors: 1) tips to select the right MRP software, and 2) best practices to extract meaningful value from MRP solutions.
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The U.S. manufacturing industry is more productive than that in many countries, and jobs are growing. But for these trends to continue, U.S. manufacturers will have to keep their edge by investing in technologies that allow them to do what they do better, faster, and more efficiently. One of the key components of enterprise resource planning (ERP) packages is called manufacturing resource planning (MRP-II) or, as it is also known today, sales and operations planning (SOP). Download this paper to find out how MRP-II can help you manage change.
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Today's always-on mobile and digital lifestyle has put consumers in the driver's seat. Customers are more empowered than ever before, with immediate access to up-to-date pricing and deep product information and peer reviews thanks to the latest smartphones and Internet-enabled devices. See how this has impacted the retail industry and how retailers are responding to get customers to buy into their products. Get the highlights from NRF 2013.
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Organizations seeking the services of a value-added reseller (VAR), channel partner, implementer, vendor, or consultant require an evaluation of what this service provider has to offer. This report will assist organizations looking to determine the best-fit service provider for their implementation needs. Based on information provided to TEC by Cre8tive Technology and Design and its clients, this report focuses on real-life implementation projects delivered by the service provider to three of its existing clients.
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Organizations seeking the services of a value-added reseller (VAR), channel partner, implementer, vendor, or consultant require an evaluation of what this service provider has to offer. This report will assist organizations looking to determine the best-fit service provider for their implementation needs. Based on information provided to TEC by itelligence and its clients, this report focuses on real-life implementation projects delivered by the service provider to three of its existing clients.
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In late 2009, Concept One, a sports, entertainment, and fashion accessory firm, decided it needed a better way to deliver reporting to its managers. Report building had become a distraction for the IT department, preventing it from helping other lines of business. Also, it sometimes took several days to fulfill a request for a custom report. Read how this firm achieved an 866% ROI in two months using IBM Cognos Express.
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To increase profits, companies are searching for ways to reduce costs or sell more at the highest possible price. Many companies are turning to imported goods and materials due to lower manufacturing costs, but this can involve many hidden costs. In this paper, PM War Stories and Pronto Software examines how to effectively track the total cost of goods shipped to aid executives in making faster, better sourcing decisions.
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Mobile device usage is changing how consumers engage with retailers—bringing together the physical and the virtual in ways that other cross-channel efforts have not. But even though it’s relatively inexpensive for retailers to experiment with mobile, many have been slow to develop a mobile strategy. This survey report examines the consumer mobile landscape, and lays out the challenges and opportunities for retailers.
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Organizations seeking the services of a value-added reseller (VAR), channel partner, implementer, vendor, or consultant require an evaluation of what this service provider has to offer. This report assists organizations looking to determine the best-fit service provider for their needs. Based on information provided to TEC by Scalable Data Systems, this report focuses on real-life implementation projects delivered by the service provider to three of its existing clients.
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As customers demand ever greater levels of product customization, manufacturers must be able to respond quickly and efficiently. Production lines designed for a single product must be adapted for multiple products, and traditional methods of supply chain management must be transformed to cope with ever-shorter product lifecycles. This paper explores today’s challenges in manufacturing and distribution.
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Simon Ellis, practice director of supply chain strategies at IDC Manufacturing Insights, responds to questions regarding the business processes of wholesale distributors and customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and discusses how new technology trends—cloud, mobility, social business, and big data—are affecting wholesale distributors.
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Maximizer CRM 12 is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of salesforce automation (SFA) solutions in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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Selecting the right software provider for your business can be a daunting. The last thing any person or company wants is to invest in the wrong technology and choose the wrong partnership. This white paper identifies five common mistakes distributors make when embarking on the software selection process and provides tips for keeping your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system replacement on track.
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Recent trends in the distribution industry are forcing companies to continually re-evaluate their processes and value propositions and strategically chart new courses. This report contains support from a number of thought leaders for three resolutions that wholesale distributors can't afford to ignore.
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Sophisticated enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence tools have made it possible to quickly calculate and report key performance indicators and metrics. In this white paper, learn about a balanced approach, applying lean and Six Sigma concepts, to business process re-engineering, assessing the alignment of your policies and strategic goals, and implementing systems and organizational structures, to support a culture of measurable improvement.
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NetSuite Wholesale Distribution Edition v11.2 is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for distribution in the ERP Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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Though product recalls are never desired, they do happen. Your company’s response can make the difference between being the role model and losing market share or even being displaced from the market. In this white paper, PM War Stories, in collaboration with Pronto Software, examines how to effectively manage a product recall to mitigate liabilities, protect your brand and turn the crisis into an opportunity. Read more.
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This second annual benchmark study covers U.S. export operations and compliance. The survey covered export regulatory reform, operations management practices, organizational structure, compliance policies, and export management technology. This year’s study looks at the impact of going global with export control reform.
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Natural disasters, customer bankruptcies, product recalls . . . there are dozens of unexpected events that can wreak havoc on your global supply chain. Are you prepared to react swiftly to these contingencies? A continuous supply chain design is a new concept that is emerging to help companies succeed in the face of the unexpected. See how you can design the supply chain around both long-term goals and short-term realities.
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More than 200 supply chain managers were surveyed on their international transportation management (ITM) practices, processes, and the technologies that support them. This report is the third annual study on this subject—a benchmarking initiative seeking to parse out companies that are succeeding at any particular function and examine why they are successful.
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Sage 100 Standard ERP (formerly Sage ERP MAS 90), v. 4.5, is TEC Certified for online evaluation of distribution solutions in TEC's enterprise resource planning (ERP) Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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Organizations seeking the services of a value-added reseller (VAR), channel partner, implementer, vendor, or consultant require an evaluation of what this service provider has to offer. This report will assist organizations looking to determine the best-fit service provider for their implementation needs. Based on service provider details provided to TEC by BT Business Solutions and its clients, this report focuses on real-life implementation projects delivered by the service provider to three of its existing clients.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of financial packages in the Accounting Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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Retailers today need to acquire ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions or customer trends. They also need to plan for the future. One technology that can assist retailers is wireless. Wireless technology can be used not only to address business problems such as quick price changes, but can also help retailers make internal operations more efficient. They need a comprehensive wireless strategy that supports all aspects of the retail organization, from store operations, to warehouse or distribution centers, to corporate offices. Download this white paper to learn more.
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Organizations usually rely on historical data and transactions to determine their pricing strategy. However, this data is typically insufficient to arrive at a competitive price. Moreover, customers these days are well informed about the value of products they want to purchase. That's why organizations need to arrive at their pricing strategy only after taking into consideration external intelligence and competitive data. E-procurement systems and price comparison websites have put customers in the bargaining position with the availability of real-time information. This is the type and speed of data organizations need to obtain. Leveraging such information can help an organization counter the threats of new entrants, competitive rivalry, and substitutes with a strong pricing strategy.
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Traditionally, robots have not played a prominent role in the implementation of lean strategies. However, due to their repeatability, speed, accuracy, and flexibility, the role of robots in lean implementations is constantly increasing. Automation equipment, which includes robots, is rapidly becoming a core component to lean manufacturing and the reduction of manufacturing costs. Download this white paper to learn more about the 10 ways large and small manufacturers are benefiting from robotic automation in lean manufacturing environments.
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The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina, is the first hotel in the US to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the platinum level from the U.S. Green Building Council. Combining luxury with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, the hotel places the highest priority on guest comfort. The owner's goal is a sustainable, energy-efficient hotel that never compromises guest comfort. Learn more now.
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Analytics has moved from the specialty of a dedicated few to a necessity for groups of business professionals to do their job. This white paper considers the use of analytics and business intelligence (BI) for improving decision making in the retail industry. It also examines the benefits of prebuilt analytic applications for achieving this objective across functions in a retail organization.
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Even in a strong economy, retail is an extremely competitive industry. This paper lays out the external pressures and challenges retailers face when attempting to understand sales drivers and promotional performance. It also identifies best practices needed to create the deep insights required to optimize inventory levels, avoid stock outs, maximize margins, and keep customers loyal—even in volatile market conditions.
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Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a mature segment of the software market. Most features are standard across solutions, and you can expect vendors to offer software for managing financials, supply chain and inventory, human resources (HR), and business intelligence (BI). Some vendors also offer specialized modules for vertical industries. Use this checklist to find the ERP modules that are right for your organization.
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Even as manufacturers and retailers seek to control costs and drive efficiency across the supply chains, controlling the financial impact of unsaleable products remains a constant challenge. A study conducted by Wipro Technologies in collaboration with Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) estimates that the potential cost impact of unsaleables is over $2 billion annually. This study identifies the multitude of challenges involved in unsaleables management and provides a comprehensive operational roadmap for tackling them. It also lays out specific strategies addressing shelf-life management, product rotation execution, product dating variances, consumer confusions, and demand chain management. Find out more. Download this study now.
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Because of government-mandated hiring complexities, Edcon had difficulty in identifying high performers, and it was growing too quickly to make the necessary changes to hire the right candidates from such a small talent pool. Edcon selected SumTotal’s integrated talent management platform for hiring and competency management and plans to deploy additional integrated components, including performance, goals, and succession.
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Dollar Tree, the leading operator of single price point dollar stores in the US, required a Web-based solution that provided 24x7 nationwide access to performance appraisals. Dollar Tree selected SumTotal’s integrated talent management platform due to its native integration of core talent management functions and relied exclusively on it for deep configurability to match the technology to its unique business processes.
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When Amway needed to provide training to over 4 million distributors worldwide, improve sales readiness and retention of new distributors, and manage learning across regions with different regulatory issues, it deployed SumTotal Learning Management, in three separate on-premise installations. See how this e-learning rollout to over 1.8 million people in 2 years helped Amway grow penetration to new distributors by 30%.
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Social media possess tremendous potential to drive revenue. But defining a business-effective social media strategy can be challenging for retailers who may be new to the channel—not to say a bit skeptical. Fortunately, advances in social media analytics now offer retailers the ability to act on intelligence gleaned from online conversations occurring across both professional and consumer-generated media sites. Learn more now.
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Epicor ERP Software System (v. 9.05) is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for distributors in the ERP Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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Engaging in conversation with consumers through new social media channels is helping retailers strengthen customer relationships and enhance their brand. To manage this conversation effectively, you need solutions that help you capture and analyze a massive amount of social media data and prepare an appropriate, individualized response. This white paper explores the ideal social media solution.
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Learn how communication-enabled business processes (CEBPs)—processes enabled by communication systems that are tightly integrated with business applications—can help resolve customer relationship management (CRM) issues by reducing latency, providing recording of and visibility into interactions, and better enabling end-to-end processes involving employees, customers, suppliers, and partners.
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Best-in-class retailers are turning to pervasive business intelligence (BI) to increase consumer-centric data accessibility. This report examines how retailers are incorporating BI tools into their standard processes to establish a company-wide view into constantly changing customer buying trends, and how internal departments are using this data to make processes more efficient and effective throughout the enterprise.
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In just a few short years, social media has revolutionized the way people communicate and share information. For apparel companies, going social is no longer an option; it is a strategic business element that provides them the opportunity to collect detailed information on users and their habits, elicit real feedback and suggestions, and refine their offering and messaging to better suit user demands.
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The retail thought process has irrevocably changed. Science-supported process is now core to the merchandising discipline. However, faith in science is not always grounded in an understanding of what it can do (even for the largest retailers), leaving us with some concerns about unrealistic expectations and a backlash later in the decade. Read about the seven critical tenets for 21st-century merchandising.
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The short list of what retailers need from first-generation mobile capabilities is surprisingly long, spanning deep product information, ratings and reviews, scanning capabilities, full commerce, and more. Download this white paper to learn more about the state of consumer mobile in retail today, as well as the mobile use cases that retailers have currently deployed. Download now.
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Promoting band image, improving overall business performance, and keeping customers happy is a main concern of many businesses. This paper demonstrates how the Extended Enterprise platform can help specific verticals to promote and sell their products to external audiences. Know the value of the Extended Enterprise solution in financial services, insurance, government, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and associations.
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The advent of social networking sites can help shed light into the dynamics of customer demand. Retailers can choose to tap into consumer sentiment as expressed on social media networks and get personal with the right customers through the use of sophisticated technology to turn “unstructured” sentiment into usable data that can then be meshed with other internal information to create business insights. Find out how.
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Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a framework that supports collaboration and fosters proactive decision making for efficient management of scarce water resources. GoldSim is a software tool for conducting simulations of complex systems to support management and decision making in engineering, science, and business. This paper provides a brief overview of GoldSim, with special emphasis on IWRM applications.
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CitiXsys product iVend Retail is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of point-of-sale (POS) solutions in the Wholesale and
Retail Trade Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.
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What should occupational health and safety (OHS) managers be looking for as they consider taking their incident reporting capabilities to a more robust online solution? This white paper takes you through a number of key issues that need to be dealt with, the best way to solve these issues and, finally, what online solutions are available today, including their pros and cons.
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E-commerce technology continues to evolve rapidly. Research conducted in 2008 indicated that 46 percent of retailers interviewed expected to upgrade their implementation of e-commerce technology by the end of 2010. This report identifies and evaluates e-commerce platform vendors on the basis of functionality and market impact, calls out key issues in e-commerce for retail, and provides a quantitative ranking of vendors.
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Levi Strauss SA needed a marketing application that would support its customer relationship management (CRM) programs. In addition to insight into customer behavior, Levi’s wanted to know about customers’ preferred communication channels and their response to brand campaigns. Learn about the solution that helps Levi’s achieve this, as part of Levi’s Loop program, by expanding the company’s communication channels.
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The current market is asking retailers some difficult questions—ones their existing processes and tools can’t answer. It takes a mix of science, retail intelligence, and merchandising art to ensure that every store in a supply chain carries the right inventory, while maintaining a high service level and market share. Learn how to better respond to the demands of consumers and rationalize your assortment at a local level.
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Increased global competition and rising costs place continued pressure on all midsize companies to optimize resources, meet tighter delivery schedules, and improve overall responsiveness. When looking at the pressures driving the top performers of midsize companies, however, the story is different. Find out why—and how these drivers affect the enterprise resource planning (ERP) strategies of these best-in-class companies.
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Today’s midsized distributors can benefit from their software systems in ways that were impossible a few years ago. By layering advanced, affordable supply chain management (SCM) and electronic data interchange (EDI) functionality on top of their existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, they can profit from improved productivity and lower labor costs. Find out how.
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