September, 2003

Technology Special Issue

In Search of Integration

By Mary Shafer

Business management. Commerce management. Enterprise resource planning (ERP). Whatever you call them, software applications intended to automate business processes from the warehouse to the back office to the sales floor are gaining popularity and functionality. And regardless of their manufacture, one watchword overrides all other considerations for dealers committing to a system: integration. Dealers just beginning to computerize their operations want solutions that will integrate all facets of their business, from suppliers to customers. Those who are extending the reach of their current technology want new software and hardware that will integrate with existing systems of their own, and those of their vendors and pro contractors.

Activant (www.Activant.com) Activant provides video and Internet-based help and training for its products. Core offerings include two primary ERP packages for dealers:

Eagle™ - Comprehensive set of Windows-based applications for high-speed networks. Familiar interface allows quick ramp-up to increased productivity. Basic functions include: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Purchasing & Receiving, Inventory, Point of Sale, Quotes & Bids, Business Advisor (intelligence and analysis), Catalog, Label Printing and e-business. Other applications available to extend functionality.

Falcon™ - Programmed in a 4GL language, this relational database capitalizes on emerging technologies such as the Internet and wireless communication to provide maximum flexibility and performance for multi-location pro dealers. Offers seamless integration with existing networks; runs on Windows PCs and character terminals, allowing multi-user sessions. Provides POS and catalog features, inventory costing and management, and full security to increase productivity, margin management and customer service.

iNet Web-based e-business solutions are Activant's new offering for LBM dealers to save time, better serve customers, and increase sales over the Internet. Eight applications allow: remote access to enterprise computers; in-house charge account viewing; customer pricing and order entry by employees; customer inventory search, custom price viewing, quote and order creation; automatic customer invoice and statement e-mails; online catalog creation and distribution; and online retail orders.

Jack Opdyke, owner of Opdyke Lumber Company in Milford, N.J., says, "Activant's Eagle for Windows software is fantastic! The Quotes & Bids application is so easy, it allows us to get more work done in less time. We're able to look up items by clicking on a picture, perform powerful searches in a snap, and easily re-price quotes a hundred different ways, on demand. And all the Eagle for Window applications just snap right into our high-speed network. It's the way technology should be."

SPRUCE COMPUTER SYSTEMS (www.sprucecomputer.com )
Spruce focuses only on the building materials industry, and is committed to long-term stability in data processing services for dealer operations, ongoing research and development, and meeting customers' varying technical requirements. This has earned it the highest customer retention rate in the industry. High-quality customer service is its strong point, backed by the highest support personnel-to-customer ratio in the field.

SpruceWare - A complete solution for up to three locations. Simple, quick to learn, and affordable. Windows-based, resides on peer-to- peer or client/server network; offers integrated Point of Sale, Inventory Control, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Ledger and Payroll, as well as powerful EDI communications options. New additions:

• Ability to receive price, cost and packing list updates from Emery- Waterhouse and Moore-Handley as additions to its list of supported buying groups
• Ability to import items into POs from a hand-held computer
• Alternate vendor and alternate vendor SKU lookups within Purchase Orders
• Ability to view receipt details for a PO and AP and check history directly through the AP transaction entry screen.

Spruce Plus - A full-featured solution that integrates vendor, customer, and internal communications, also connecting contractors and salespeople. Suited for both small yards and large chains, with multi- branch integration options. Combines Microsoft Windows ease of use with stability and scalability of UNIX. Offers powerful data mining through fully ODBC-compliant database structure, easily accessed through SQL Server or Microsoft Access. Dealer selects the database engine best suited to his operation, based on transaction processing requirements; no license fees. Recent enhancements:

• PC+Printer allows printing of anything from the SprucePlus system to any PC-based software
• Drag-and-drop capability from design software or Windows Explorer into SprucePlus POS with customer's pricing for stocked items.
• Now e-mail orders, quotes and invoices to customers direct from order screen, eliminating need for printed invoices
• New secure Internet Customer Access Interface (CAI) lets contractors access invoices, statements and other data, as well as ordering and communicating with sales 24/7
• Added several advanced query/graph options to analyze profit variables
• Added Promotional Signs function for laser output to card stock or plain paper
• New POSlite module allows branch location to continue processing transactions when server communication is disrupted.

Rich Walker, director if MIS and IT for Curtis Lumber Company in Ballston Spa, N.Y., is responsible for the computer systems in eleven locations. He uses SprucePlus' Relational Management Tool to cut down on repetitive and time-consuming back-office calls. Curtis' purchasing manager runs a quick daily morning query that determines if existing orders contain any special order items not yet on a PO. This simple step guarantees that a special order will never fall through the cracks. He says this one-click routine has made his job infinitely easier. Another query run each morning is a GP Exception tool. Every store manager receives an e-mail containing a simple form (developed using RMT), which lists all invoices that fell below GP margins sold from their locations the previous day. They fill in a quick explanation and forward it to accounting. "This has eliminated the need for accounting to call any of their store managers regarding gross profit exceptions," says Walker.

ENTERPRISE COMPUTER SYSTEMS (www.ecs-inc.com)
Dealers and distributors can benefit from ECS systems, from complete point- of-sale systems to specific productivity tools. Plug-in products interface seamlessly with nearly all POS systems to add functionality for: Dispatch & Delivery, Document Management, Professional Estimating, Executive Information System, ECS Commerce and more. They also offer support services for estimating, networking, disaster recovery training, document management and more.

Dimensions - Fully integrated POS, inventory management and accounting

ECS Pro - Affordable, user-friendly comprehensive Windows system based on successful Dataline8000 with Informix database for character terminal or client computer

ECS 4GL - Progressive 4GL language-based system uses relational database to link all transaction components. Flexible with multi-company capabilities and drill-down functionality

Version 2 - POS system with inventory control, invoicing, payroll, general ledger and much more

ECS Inc.'s Marketing Director Toni Faulk says, "ECS usually offers two or three release updates annually to adapt to industry needs. We come up with what we're going to change by listening to the customers who make up our advisory board and the discussions on our website email groups."

NXTREND Enterprise Commerce Management - (www.nxtrend.com)
NxTrend is a safe choice for LBM dealers because of its long-term commitment to the industry, stability as a company, and commitment to research and development. NxTrend is the only building materials solution provider named to the VAR 500 and the iSource 100 lists for their innovation. More than 80,000 supply-chain professionals use NxTrend solutions to manage sales, purchasing and inventory, and to expand their enterprise outside of their four walls.

NxTrend technology uses an open transaction capability employing a variety of processing techniques (email, fax, EDI, ASCII file, XML) to facilitate the free flow of information among supply chain members, even those using disparate systems. This makes integration with legacy systems possible, and vendors don't have to be running NxTrend software to participate in such integration. Benefits of such a system accrue in areas such as surplus inventory visibility, cross-channel buying and selling, national account operations, warranty claim management, human resources, web services and more.

This system comes with core modules, and offers additional modules for customizing to each company's individual business model. The following modules fit the LBM trade: bill of material, job costing, millwork and configuration, credit card authorization, seasonal demand tracking, value- add functionality, rental tracking, contractor-accessible account information and inventory, barcode and logistics, online sales, billing, sourcing and purchasing, and a rich-content e-catalog. New this past year:

• Electronic purchasing and sourcing
• Fully integrated CRM
• Enterprise web portals
• Electronic billing

LJI TECHNOLOGIES (www.lumberjack.com)
Lumberjack - A no-nonsense, text-based interface for a Windows 2000 server, this self-contained solution integrates POS with accounts receivable for single or multiple branches with 4 to 24 users. Offers specific built-in modules for pre-hung door manufacturing.

CyberBOS (POS) - A small Windows-based POS package with order processing and tracking with a more sophisticated GUI.

Jim Marino, Jr. of Burt's Building Materials in Huntingdon, New York says, "I love Lumberjack. The best part is that it's based on the PICK OS, so all the data is easily retrieved. For example, I can just select all invoices for one job number and get a report without having to go through all the menus. And without a fancy interface, it just runs so much faster."

VERSYSS Vision Materials Management System (www.versyss.com) - New version 6.4 offers about 50 enhancements to its Java-based comprehensive ERP software for 4 to 100 users. Now with all point-and-click GUI, it can tie into networks with an Executive Dashboard that allows owners to see a comprehensive overall picture of payroll, inventory, accounts and collections and more. Sold as integrated modules that can be activated as needed. Web-enabled for e-commerce with EDI compliance; runs on Windows and Unix. Future development is focused on implementing supply chain management functions

JD Edwards 5 Collaborative Enterprise - (www.jdedwards.com)
This new suite consists of seven product lines also available as stand- alone applications. Essentially, the first five apps are function-specific, and the last three are implementation aids. The suite also functions to extend the capabilities of the older OneWorld® and 10-25 user Worldsoftware applications already in use by some dealers

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) - Management of financial, assets, workforce, projects (including a Homebuilder module promised soon), suppliers and fulfillment
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Manage customer lifecycle from communication and acquisition through fulfillment, service and learning
• Supply Chain Management (SCM) - Orders, procurement, warehouse and transportation management
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) - Strategic sourcing, e- procurement and vendor relationship optimization
• Business Intelligence & Performance Management - Web-based GUI with easy-to-read gauges displays performance on an ongoing basis
Collaboration & Integration
• Tools & Technology

Worth A Look

Non-LBM-specific ERP Solutions For details, pricing and demo downloads on comprehensive ERP software not necessarily specific to the industry but viable options, visit www.2020software.com/software/display.asp?tMethodID=industry

Standalone Back Office Solutions
For details, pricing and demo downloads on payroll and accounting software, visit www.business.com/directory/accounting/payroll accounting/index.asp

Publisher's note: this article does not represent a comprehensive listing of software products available for lumber/building material dealers. To request up-to-date information on technology products from leading software providers, click on "Product Info," then Computer Software.