RE: Distribution Software for AS/400

Dave,

We sell our "Distribution Software" and your question is a great one.  We
always have trouble "classifying" prospects this way.  The problem is that
any company that sells a product is in some form of distribution and all
have similar problems.  The things that we have found that distinquishes
them apart is the type of product being sold (this is mostly for product
oriented companies not service) and the industry that it is in.  That
impacts the needs for sophiticated pricing, warehousing, planning, or in
many cases what we call Value Added Distribution, which means that the
company does something to the product before it sells it.  Repackaging,
painting, plating, etc.  Half of our clients are manufacturers by SIC, yet
their real software concerns are in moving their product to their customers.

As far as the suronding applications, AR, AP, GL etc.  most good
distribution systems either perform these functions as an integrated set, or
they have interfaces to financial packages that do.

Hope this helps...

John

John Bussert
Swift Technologies, Inc.
jbussert@stecnet.com



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
[mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of HAVEAJOB@aol.com
Sent: Friday, August 21, 1998 1:02 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Distribution Software for AS/400


In a message dated 8/21/98 12:32:25 PM Central Daylight Time, Majobo@aol.com
writes:

<< Subj:         Distribution Software for AS/400
 Date:  8/21/98 12:32:25 PM Central Daylight Time
 From:  Majobo@aol.com
 Sender:        owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
 Reply-to:      MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
 To:    MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com


 A Controller friend of mine is looking to replace the distribution software
 they have on an AS/400 with something that is Y2K compliant.  Her company
is
a
 400 to 500 million dollar corparation with a high transaction volume.
 According to her, their business is inventory and accounts payable based.

 I would appreciate your recommendations and/or suggestions.  Thank you!
 John Rodrigues >>


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?

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

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

Dave Brown
Search Professionals
haveajob@aol.com

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