Confused and frustratedPress Release 2004-11-01 Is there a way to remove confusion that arises when searching for a distribution software system that will not only meet your current needs but also your future requirements? Implementing any type of supply chain software is a major investment so you want to make sure you’ve made the right decision before you sign on the dotted line. The only problem is there’s so many applications to choose from, all touting similar messages: decrease distribution costs, improve warehouse efficiency, streamline operations, enhance customer service, and so on. Reading through a mountain of marketing information is enough to give you a headache - and that’s long before you actually implement a system!
Smoke and mirrors
The truth is out there but how do you get past the marketing blurbs? For example, a vendor may offer their software at a low price only to lump you with escalating add-on costs once you take on the system. Another may flaunt low imple-mentation costs but can they prove it? While a few will assert that, ‘because we’re the biggest vendor, it stands to reason we’re the best’ - but are they flexible enough to meet your needs and become a real partner?
A way to remove the confusion
Before investigating possible applica-tions and vendors it’s a good idea to clarify and document which specific areas of your business need help. You may need to ask questions like:
- Would it help if I could automatically calculate my many different royalty payments?
- Do I need to improve workflow control in my warehouse?
- Do I need to better manage the cost of importing books?
- Would it help if I could more accurately estimate the viability of a book, easily create a publishing plan, tightly control production expenses and effectively manage my publishing resources?
- Do I need to improve my ability to handle EDI transactions with stores like Coles Myer?
- Can I easily analyse the profitability of my channels, products, etc?
- Would it help if I could streamline my returns procedures and implement business policies when receiving returns?
- How can I more effectively manage the many contact points from suppliers to customers?
Separating fact from fiction
You’re now ready to choose a number of software vendors who look like they might offer a solution in line with your objectives. A request for proposal (RFP) document should provide indepth information on features and capabilities and this will further cull contenders.
In addition to product demonstrations, vendors should supply reference sites, customer testimonials and case studies and allow you to meet with their custom-ers for feedback - especially when con-firming claims of low implementation costs and tangible benefits, etc.
It’s also important to consider local support capabilities and whether the vendors’ cus-tomers have similar businesses to your own as this will further cement the ability of the software solution to handle most of your specific business and industry re-quirements.
Providing clarity in a sea of confusion
One software vendor that prides itself on taking the time to understand companies’ business objectives is TMS Tailor Made Systems, an Australian company that develops Bookmaster, a fully integrated Enterprise Management System (EMS). Bookmaster’s strength comes from TMS’ 20 years experience working in the publishing and book distribution industry in Australia and internationally. Bookmaster is used by major publishers in 15 countries. They include Pearson/ Penguin, HarperCollins Publishers, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan publishers.
"We’ve always been prepared to investigate the validity of our solution for companies and to see whether we have the right cultural fit as their software partner," says Mike Irving, TMS’ Sales & Marketing Manager. This means TMS follows a step-by-step process that allows you to carefully consider whether Bookmaster is actually for you and what areas of your business would benefit from its integrated solutions.
You can’t always get what you want - or can you?
Depending on your particular require-ments, you have the option to choose only the modules your business needs. Your requirements will come out of the answers to the questions you posed - and you may need anything from Royalties, Editorial & Book Production, Warehouse & Inventory Management, Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) and Purchasing, to Shipping Accounting, EDI facilities, Returns Management and so on.
As an extended EMS solution Bookmaster also comes with optional integrated features such as e-Com-merce, Customer Relationship Man-agement (CRM) and Business Intelli-gence (BI).
Don’t believe TMS, ask its customers
It goes without saying that TMS can provide you with a worldwide customer list, testimonials, and will organise product demonstrations and onsite customer visits to help you make an informed decision on the value of Bookmaster. You will also discover that TMS has a very successful implemen-tation track record - and can prove it. Importantly, Bookmaster has been designed to suit the requirements of the Australian publishing industry, so once you partner with TMS you will receive direct support from the devel-opers of the software and not a third- party vendor.
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