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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 +---
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