March 2003

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2003 Distribution Solutions Guide Helps Distributors Choose the Right Software Product

In a world where technology is outdated as soon as it leaves the box, it is imperative for businesses to choose the right software solution.  To help members of the industrial distribution community, BSW Consulting (BSWC) developed a tool to facilitate software solution choices.  

“We developed the Distribution Solutions Guide to serve as a high-level extract of the 

features and functions of various software packages to assist businesses identify vendors that provide products that would fit their needs,” says BSW Consulting Senior Consultant Jeff Gusdorf. “The Guide is a valuable tool to help the distributor choose the software package that is right for them.”

The Distribution Software Guide, now in its 13^th edition, has helped countless overwhelmed business people make the right technology decisions.  The most recent Guide includes:

• Side-By-Side reviews of the leading Enterprise Software, Business-To-Business and Data Collection and Warehouse Management solutions.

• Detailed comparisons of key functionality for both the Enterprise Software and Business-To-Business packages.

• Software selection advice.

The Guide provides an easy-to-follow methodology to help find the way through the software system selection maze. Using pre-defined tasks, the Guide leads the team through a structured decision-making process.  Online search tools introduced with this edition make the guide an even more beneficial tool.

“We added a new Query tool to allow our users to find potential solutions based on critical screening information including vertical market, platform, database, number of users and number of locations,” says Gusdorf.  “After the list is developed, users can conduct further research based on their Query.”

The Guide, presented in two formats – both a quick reference hardcopy print edition and the online web site – is an invaluable resource whether you are conducting a distribution software selection project or if outside support is needed.  Featured software companies and packages include:

•  ADC Technologies EasyTrac^Ô

• ADP Wholesale Distribution Services Distribution 2000

• Amplexus Corporation Amplexus Advantage

• Capstone Systems DistributionPlus Software

• Computer Insights Inc The BUSINESS EDGE^Ô and The BUSINESS EDGE^Ô Net Intelligence Module

• daly.commerce^Ô commerce@work^Ôand Application Plus^Ò

• Dimasys Enspire^Ô and the Enspire^Ô E-Business Series

• Faspac Systems, Inc. UNIQUITY^Ô

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc. NewVision

• Intuit^Ò Eclipse^Ô B2B Commerce, Distribution Management System and RF Warehouse Management and Logistics

• Mincron Software Systems Solutions Suite and Warehouse Manager

• NxTrend^Ò bizLinx (Enterprise Commerce Management), Strategic Exchange (SX) and SX.logistics Total Warehouse Logistics

• Prelude Systems Inc.^Ô, Advanced Distribution System^Ò and Virtual Information Access^Ò

• Professional Data Systems Inc. ProTrac^Ò Business System

• Prophet 21 Commerce Center and Trading Partner Connect

• Software Solutions Inc. FACTS and TakeStock^Ò

• Systems Design, Inc. Electronic Warehouse Management System and PRISM^Ò

• Tecsys EliteSeries^Ô

• TradePower TradeSource

• Vormittag Associates Inc. System 2000

“The Distribution Solutions Guide provides wholesale distributors a great method of qualifying software/service vendors to meet their information and technology needs,” says ADP Wholesale Services President Tom Liu.

More than 40 vertical market associations endorse the guide and offer this unique resource as a member benefit.

“Consistent with our strategic plan, the Distribution Solutions guide is offered to enhance our member’s use and understanding of technology,” says International Sanitary Supply Association Director of Marketing Rebecca Pando.

To request a copy of the guide or for inclusion information contact, Jeff Gusdorf at 314-983-1208 or jgusdorf@bswc.com. St. Louis based BSW Consulting, founded in 1972, is a national technology consulting company providing technology and business counsel to improve performance by providing end user technology and support for distribution and manufacturing associations.  For more information visit www.software4distributors.com.