February 2005              return to the newsletter contents page

2005 Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group Distribution Software Guide Available

Number of “false starts” for your software selection project … can’t even begin to count.

Hours spent laboring over sales information about new software packages … too many to
estimate.

Finding a resource that does most of the work for you … priceless.

The priceless solution? The 15th annual edition of the Distribution Software Guide developed by the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group.

This one-of-a-kind guide provides independently researched information about distribution centric solutions that focus on the operational issues that drive distribution companies today. The guide is the one place busy executives and information officers can compare solutions “head to head.”

Between printed and the full online guides, businesses have access to more than 2,000 different comparative items to consider when selecting a software system. There are also articles and worksheets to help teams find answers, quickly and accurately according to Manager of Software Research and Consulting, Jeff Gusdorf.

“To maintain our position as an unbiased resource, it is important that no vendor can "buy" a bigger or more colorful presence. This allows the potential customer to search for answers without the extraneous noise,” says Gusdorf.

Click here to order your free copy of the guide.

Guide Endorsers
More than 40 different line-of-trade associations endorse the guide and provide copies to their members as a
valued membership benefit including:

• American Machine Tool Distributors Association

• American Supply Association

• Association For High Technology Distribution

• Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association

• Bearing Specialists Association

• Bicycle Products Suppliers Association

• Canadian Institute Of Plumbing And Heating

• Cleaning Equipment Trade Association

• Door and Hardware Institute

• Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association

• Financial and Security Products Association

• Fluid Power Distributors Association

• Heating, Air Conditioning And Refrigeration Distributors International

• Independent Sealing Distributors

• Industrial Distribution Association

• IMARK Group

• International Association of Plastics Distributors

• International Sanitary Supply Association

• International Truck Parts Association

• Lawn and Garden Marketing and Distribution Association

• National Association of Electrical Distributors

• National Association of Hose And Accessories Distributors

• National Association of Sign Supply Distributors

• National Electronic Distributors Association

• National Fastener Distributors Association

• North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association

• North American Horticultural Supply Association

• NPTA Alliance (formerly National Paper Trade Association)

• Office Products Wholesales Association

• Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association

• Professional Beauty Association

• Pet Industry Distributors Association

• Power Transmission Distributors Association

• Safety Equipment Distributors Association

• Security Hardware Distributors Association

• Specialty Tools And Fastener Distributors Association

• Textile Care Allied Trades Association

• Waste Equipment Technology Association

• Water And Sewer Distributors of America

• Western Association of Fastener Distributors

• Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association

• Woodworking Machinery industry Association

Featured Products and Vendors:
Enterprise Software Solutions:

• Activant Solutions Inc.® Activant Eagle™ for Distribution

• Advanced Business Software, Inc.® (ABS) Advanced Distribution and Management (ADaM)

• Best Software, Inc.® MAS 90/MAS 200

• Best Software, Inc.® MAS 500

• BMA Software® BMA Distribution Software

• Computer Insights Inc.® The Business Edge™

• Gillani, Inc. iDistribute® - Distribution Management System

• Infor Global Solutions, Inc.® Infor Distribution Essentials™

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc.® (IST) NewVision

• International Business Systems (IBS) ASW

• Intuit® Eclipse™ Intuit Eclipse Distribution Management Solutions

• inxsql™ Integrated Inventory Solutions

• Lowery Systems Inc. and The IBiS Group® SAP Business One In-Flight Enterprise

• Microsoft® Business Solutions - Axapta®

• Microsoft® Business Solutions - Great Plains®

• Microsoft® Business Solutions - Navision®

• Microsoft® Business Solutions - Solomon®

• Mincron Software Systems® Mincron's Solutions Suite

• NetSuite, Inc. NetSuite

• Prelude Systems® Advanced Distribution System® (ADS)

• Professional Data Systems, Inc.® ProTrac Distribution Software

• Pronto North America PRONTO-Xi™

• Prophet 21® CommerceCenter

• Sentai Software® TRAX Distribution

• Vormittag Associates Inc.® (VAI) System 2000 Enterprise Management Software

Business-To-Business Software Solutions

• BMA Software® BMA e-Commerce

• Computer Insights Inc.® The BUSINESS EDGE™ Net Intelligence Module

• Infor Global Solutions, Inc.® Infor Distribution Essentials™ - e-Business

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc.® (IST) NewVision e-Connect

• Intuit® Eclipse™ Intuit Eclipse™ Business Connect XML

• Prelude Systems® Virtual Information Access e-Commerce Software (B2B)

• Prophet 21® Trading Partner Connect

• Sentai Software® COMPASS e-Commerce

Warehouse Management Software Solutions

• BMA Software® BMA Warehouse Management

• Infor Global Solutions, Inc.® Infor Distribution Essentials™ - Logistics

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc.® NewVision Warehouse Management

• Intuit® Eclipse™ Warehouse Management and Logistics

• Mincron Software Systems® Warehouse Manager

• Prelude Systems® Advanced Warehouse Management System

• Prophet 21® Wireless Warehouse Management System

• Sentai Software® WarehouseTrac

Manufacturing Software Solutions

• BMA Software® BMA Manufacturing Software

• Infor Global Solutions, Inc.® Infor Manufacturing Essentials

• Microsoft® Business Solutions - Axapta®
  Complementary Products and Services

• Infor Global Solutions, Inc.® Infor Distribution Essentials™ - CRM

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc.® (IST) e-Ship

• Integrated Systems Technology Inc.® (IST) Targit Business Intelligence

• Lowery Systems Inc. (LSi) Equipment Rental System

• Prelude Systems® Imaging Software Co-Star® by KeyNet, Inc.

• Prelude Systems® Business Intelligence/MITS

For more than 30 years, the team at the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group has developed a proven methodology to guide software selection studies. By assisting countless distributors in their quest to find software solutions and support, the Distribution Software Guide provides guidance to help business teams make the right decisions for their business. For more information visit www.software4distributors.com.

Software Selection Basics

By Steve Epner, Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group

One of the first things that we suggest in a selection study, it is that you quickly reduce the number of solutions being considered to four or five. Most companies do not have the time or resources to evaluate more. It is difficult enough with this number of solutions to remember which has what features.

Set some constraints (critical functionality, technology, budget, etc.) that can be used to eliminate systems from consideration. While price should not be used as a differentiator, be reasonable. If your budget is $150,000, do not spend too much time with million dollar solutions. Also, don’t focus on a specific hardware platform or operating system unless there is an overriding requirement. Remember, it is usually more important to find the functionality that you need to operate your business instead of the lowest price or a specific hardware platform.

It is often worthwhile to include your current software vendor in any selection analysis. Sometimes, the functionality that seems to be missing is really there. It is just that no one ever learned how to use it.

Since there is no such thing as an easy conversion, being able to continue to use a system you know is always easier and usually less expensive. Learning how to use additional functionality may provide the greatest value with the least pain.

In addition to demonstrations, do reference checks. Do not just ask if a user likes the package, the answer will always be "yes" (otherwise they would not be used as a reference). Instead, ask for advice to make the conversion and start-up easier. Ask what they would do differently to get you the most valuable information.

The Online Guide

By using the online guide at www.software4distributors.com it is possible to compare functions and features available in the most popular systems. Use the online guide and links to learn more about the packages. Visit each vendor's information page and link to their websites and then you can request information and head-to-head comparisons on multiple products from one easy-to-use form. Our goal is to simplify the selection process for you.

Step One: Select Options

• Select the type of software you are looking for. Then selection from the vertical markets, operating systems and databases. Then specify the number of users in your business.

Step Two: Choose Software

• Review the software companies and product information that resulted from your query by clicking on the links listed. Choose up to five solution providers from this list to be included in a side-by-side comparison.

• Select the modules that include the desired features (e.g., purchasing).

Step Three: Create Comparison

• Review and evaluate side-by-side results.

• Print results at no cost or download results into Excel (for a nominal fee). The Excel worksheet can be used to incorporate the feature listing into your specifications or RFP.

Step Four: Additional Online Resources

• Article archive, Distribution Solutions Council, Industry resources, Bookstore

• Participating associations, Special events

• Frequently asked questions, Information request, Free consultation request

Let the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group and our Distribution Software Guide enhance your understanding of technology and the software selection process – remember you don’t have to do this alone. For more information visit www.software4distributors.com or call 314.983.1200.

About Us

St. Louis based Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, founded in 1976, is a leader in the strategic use of technology to create competitive advantage. While other firms may bring answers based on their experience, we use our experience to help our clients find the unique answers to their unique situations.

Brown Smith Wallace, with offices in St. Louis, St. Charles and Chicago, is the second largest locally owned independent full- service CPA and business consulting firm in Missouri. Brown Smith Wallace makes a measurable difference by making sure clients get more than just a good return on their investment, finding hidden value, looking where others forget, bridging gaps to form long lasting relationships, being accessible and by putting a guarantee in writing. For more information visit www.bswllc.com or call 314.983.1200.