As part of a modern company, your goal is, of course, to grow. But growing creates unique challenges and presents new obstacles, especially in the digital world where customers expect flexibility and speed above all else, and new skill sets that span the company are necessary to meet those expectations.
So, what is the secret to success in the home and office supply industry? Here we take a look at some of the critical processes required to adapt and grow in changing times and how a modern cloud ERP solution like Acumatica can help.
1) Ability to Change
The laws of physics tell us that the larger the object, the longer it takes to get moving, and the slower it is to change direction. This truth also applies to companies.
The more people and steps you involve in any process, the more difficult it is to shift to new strategies. Even with SMBs, change is never easy, even once you establish a new direction.
Meetings take hours, emails can take days, but customers expect an adjustment within minutes. An ERP solution like Acumatica creates a united, easy-to-access database of customer needs and business processes and a one-stop shop for anyone at any level to view, interact with, and edit changes to customer orders.
2) Real-Time Updates for Day-to-Day Operations
Modern supply lines need as much information as possible, as fast as possible. Amazon made next-day delivery the norm, and customers compare their professional satisfaction to their personal desires, whether they mean to or not.
While it’s unreasonable to have a logistical chain as precise, efficient, and massive as Amazon’s, it is reasonable to be ready to adapt with immediacy and ease.
Customers often need to adjust their orders to change a location, the order time, or the number of units. Drivers and warehouse managers need to advise you of delays, deliveries, and volumes moved. Everyone needs to know where each product is, and where it has to go.
Reports filed at the end of the day or week simply don’t cut it anymore. Customers want to track their orders in real-time, so they know exactly when they can expect delivery and where to receive it.
Delays without notification can sour a business relationship, perhaps permanently, and the changing home and office supply landscape means you need long-term relationships with your best customers.
3) Unified Delivery, Order, and Logistics
A modern, cloud ERP solution like Acumatica is one of the best ways to keep your customer relationships strong. By creating a single source for all of your logistical data, you can access anything you need at any point in your supply chain from any department or office.
With automated input at every step of the process from offloading to delivery, every single one of your teams can access a valuable order history to assure your clients that their orders are correct, on time, and on their way.
Skipping the phone calls to warehouses and checking driver reports, you can instead log into a compact, intuitive dashboard to confirm the status of any order you need at any time.
Instead of separate reports or systems for each step of the process, a single well-designed ERP software solution allows you to audit and manage every warehouse in your operation. You can monitor the stock of particular items and move supplies to the optimal shipping locations with a few clicks.
Real-time updates for order status and adjustments save you time and money on the delivery side, turning two trips into one to accommodate last-minute changes.
In short, Acumatica helps you see what products you’re moving, where they are, and where they’re going, all at any time. This availability is the new standard for supply delivery in a time when supplies are important and need to ship faster than ever before.
Learn more about ERP benefits for the home and office supply industry.
Take Control With Acumatica Distribution Edition for Home and Office Supply
Home and office suppliers have to adapt to new trends and customer demands, or face the threat of diminishing returns.
Built in the cloud to connect your entire home and office supply business, Acumatica has made it easy for those in this highly competitive industry to manage the complexities and challenges they face. From process automation to order fulfillment, inventory tracking and customer support, Acumatica Distribution Management delivers the functionality and ease of use you deserve.
Though many companies claim to work with distribution, it’s all about finding the right one for your business needs. Few solutions exist today that can handle both the financial and inventory management needs of companies like yours, and even fewer partners know how to deliver such a solution.
If you need a business management solution that can deliver for the unique challenges of the home and office supply industry, you need a partner with the experience and expertise to get you there.
At Cloud 9 ERP Solutions, a Gold Certified Acumatica Partner, we have worked with companies like yours to configure and deliver Acumatica Cloud ERP, a product ready and able to handle your challenges.
Watch our Acumatica Distribution Demo or contact us today to learn more!
Additional Resources
Finding the Right Distribution ERP Solution for Your Business
Top KPIs Every Distribution Company Should be Tracking
How to Optimize Inventory, Reduce Costs, and Automate Your Supply Chain
