× The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.


  • Subject: Re: Distribution Software for AS/400
  • From: DAsmussen@xxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 16:15:08 EDT

Dave,

In a message dated 98-08-21 15:13:14 EDT, you write:

> Question for the group:  define "distribution software".  This is very
>  commonly heard terminology, but I certainly hear a lot of different
contextual
>  background when I talk to clients.  For example, should this term mean 
>  
>  1) software written specifically for companies involved in general
>  distribution activities yet the software includes modules for non-
distribution
>  activities?  Example: an importer and reseller of goods.
>  2) software applicable to broad-ranging distribution activies that might
occur
>  in any company?  IE, accounts receivable, order entry, sales forecasting,
etc?
>  3) software very specific and focused on the microcosm level for details
such
>  as inventory/shipping/picking?  IE, not a package per se, but an add-on 
> module or accessory?

Ummm, yes -- all of the above.  As you indicated, distribution software is not
the same thing to all people.  Some are strictly referring to OE&I, while
others have grown accustomed to having financials and/or sales analysis
included in the mix for free.  In your mentioned import/export example, the
company might be looking for a package that handled letters of credit,
tariffs, and exchange rates and call it a "distribution" package.  Meanwhile,
"Joe, the Authorized Reseller for the Original Widget Made in the USA" down
the street might not care about any of that but wants to track warranties,
floor stock, and his volume rebate from the vendor and call it a
"distribution" package.

Myriad definitions of a "distribution" package exist.  I think that, in the
Midrange world, "distribution" is pretty much synonymous with "_NOT_
manufacturing or retail".  Anything beyond that is up for grabs!

>  With that in mind, would someone be willing to suggest good examples of 
> actual software packages for these three categories?

Hard to categorize them, as "The Majors" all have cross-over capability that
needs to be evaluated based upon what is most important to the client.  The
ones with which I've personally had experience are CTG's DMAS, Support/Net's
N/Compass, and (financials only) the Infinium product.  I've also heard good
things about JBA.  I have also heard of both J.D. Edwards and BPCS used for
distribution, although they are generally considered manufacturing packages
(at least in this region of the US).  I'll not offer an opinion on any of the
aforementioned, other than to say that all met the clients' needs at the time
and performed fairly well compared to other AS/400 software, as I've been
concentrating on manufacturing for the past five years.

>  I know there is no one answer to this question, but opinions appreciated.

There's my $.02.

Cheers!

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@aol.com

"Money doesn't always bring happiness.  People with ten million dollars are no
happier than people with nine million dollars." -- Hobart Brown
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---


As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This thread ...


Follow On AppleNews
Return to Archive home page | Return to MIDRANGE.COM home page

This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].

Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.