WALTHAM, Mass. -Industrial Distributionsurveyed over 500
distributors and found that a vast majority of distributorships are family
owned, selling solutions is as important as selling products, and charging for
services is imperative. Reporting these findings during a recent Webinar were
Jack Keough, editor/associate publisher,Industrial Distribution; Andrew
McGlasson, global marketing director, Distribution Infor; and Paul St. Germain,
segment executive wholesale distribution, Americas IBM Corp.
The Webinar, titled “Caution, Speed Bumps Ahead for
Distribution: How the Internet, Profitability, and Global Expansion May Affect
the Future for Distributors,” acknowledged the fact that many of distributor’s
top profitability road blocks were embodied in expansion woes, information
mishandling, and the lack of technology usage in the company. McGlasson noted
that distributors weren’t necessarily doing anything wrong in creating this
current bumpy market.
“It is growth and global expansion that got us here,” he
said. “By keeping track of the market changes, however, distributors are better
able to handle situations that arise.”
McGlasson also said that change is accelerating. “The horse
is already out of the barn when it comes to electronic business changes,” he
said. “What was once a differentiator is now a necessity.”
Acknowledging the fact that implementing an automated,
electronic business platform can be overwhelming and at times prohibitive, St.
Germain offered that the value of having good business processes can be greater
than automating for the sake of automating. “Inefficient processes can cost
distributors numbers,” he said. “They are just as important as technology.”
He later defined a solid process as one that concentrates on
the fundamentals of distribution, is accurate, builds business and customer
service confidence, and provides a reliable information source.
St. Germain cautioned distributors to measure specific
numbers before and after implementing new processes and technology.
“To determine the ROI on your process and technology
implementations, it is imperative to measure before and after,” he said.
“Without clearly defined goals, targets, and expectations, it is impossible to
determine what adds value to you and your customers, and what adds cost.”
Both McGlasson and St. Germain advised distributors to set
realistic goals and ensure that they are realistic.
“There’s just not one answer to the problems,” reminded
McGlasson. “Expanding business and handling speed bumps requires distribution
participants to expand as a community and as a network.”
For more information, visit www.inddist.com.
Publication date:11/12/2007
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