From order to out-the-door, take wholesale distribution up a notch (or ten!)

Common questions about wholesale distribution software

• What is warehouse management software?

  Warehouse management software (aka warehouse management system or WMS) is a digital tool for managing and controlling your everyday warehouse operations and providing visibility into your entire inventory.

  It tracks all the materials and goods that go in and out of your warehouse (and where exactly they are stacked in between) and creates systems that streamline how your team pick and pack customer orders. As your WMS has visibility of all the products in your warehouse, when a customer order comes in, it can check in real-time to see if it’s available, on backorder, or if the order can only be partly filled.

• What are the benefits of inventory management software?

  Inventory management does exactly what it says on the packet. It shows you what products and materials you have on hand without sending someone to check. With complete visibility of your inventory, customers are never disappointed, and you can effectively manage obsolete and excess stock levels. Stock levels are always at their optimum level, and full track-and-trace capabilities mean you can locate and manage faulty batches. Other features include demand forecasting, procurement and warehouse management.

  Inventory management software can be a stand-alone software or part of an ERP.

• How can ERP help me streamline my supply chain?

  An ERP system provides real-time visibility into multiple aspects of supply chain management – from integrating and automating your business processes to providing the tools you need for demand planning and optimising your inventory levels. With its single repository of information, an ERP centralises all of your supply chain activities, so manual labour is reduced, data and reporting are more accurate, and as a result – costs are lower. And since everything is done in one fully integrated system, there are no APIs to implement or maintain.

• What features does a stock management system include?

  A stock management system (also called a stock maintenance system) tracks, manages and maintains your inventory levels. Its purpose is to ensure you don’t carry too much or not enough. The term is generally interchangeable with inventory management software – but with some differences.

  Stock management systems typically control the internal control and movement within your business, whereas inventory management extends to overseeing the flow of products from your warehouse to the point of sale. Features can vary from solution to solution.

  Like inventory management systems, stock management can be a standalone system but is more typically part of an ERP.

• What is the difference between an ERP and a supply chain management system?

  An ERP is an enterprise-wide, unified system with one database and a consistent user experience (UX). An ERP brings together all aspects of your business operations, from financials to a range of business processes, including supply chain management and other industry-specific functions.

  A standalone supply chain management system lacks many of the features of an ERP, so to be truly effective, it requires integration into your ERP. However, doing so can reduce the positive impact of having a single database and a cohesive look and feel.

• What solutions do you offer to wholesale and distribution businesses?

  We offer four cloud-based ERP solutions for wholesaler distribution businesses.

  • NetSuite

  NetSuite provides a single, unified platform for wholesale distribution companies that will keep your back orders low and margins high.

  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a popular all-in-one solution for wholesale distribution businesses, offering integrated applications for inventory management, order processing, financials, and CRM. Supply chain activities are simplified, and it’s easy to monitor KPIs with real-time visibility. 

  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

  Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (ERP) is an effective standalone ERP solution that offers a range of integrated applications, especially for wholesale distributors.

  • JD Edwards (JDE)

  JDE is a robust ERP that supports wholesale distribution businesses with multi-site, multi-lingual and international operations, a 360° customer view via integrated CRM, integration with Oracle E-Commerce solutions, warehouse Management and data collection, and business intelligence and analytics. 

  We also offer comprehensive integration services if you’d like to leverage the value of your existing standalone wholesale and distribution software.