Distribution

m-hance provides customised accounting solution to leading agribusiness enterprise

Charles R Wynne, one of Ireland’s leading agricultural product suppliers and animal feed processors, wanted to replace its incumbent terminal-based accounting system. This did not provide stock management or full accounting functionality and lacked the capacity to handle the company’s rapid expansion. They chose m-hance and Microsoft Dynamics GP to support its accounting and stock management operations.

m-hance develops existing ERP relationship with leading FMCG player

Leading distribution and FMCG brand management company Stafford Lynch returned to m-hance to upgrade its systems to keep in line with company growth

Growing agribusiness company partners with m-hance to develop financial and supply-chain functions

The Walsh Group, a leading mushroom grower and distributor expanding rapidly in the UK market, selected m-hance and Microsoft Dynamics GP to support its financial and supply-chain operations

Wallaces Express sees excellent start to use of m-hance distribution system

Wallaces chose a 60 user Dynamics GP based solution from distribution specialists, m-hance. The new system covers all the core business applications including financials, sales and purchasing and stock control as well as having a very strong data access and BI capability.

m-hance solution proves quality piece for Campbells Prime Meats

Deciding in favour of a combination of up to date technology and food industry experience, Campbells chose to install an m-hance distribution module based on Microsoft Dynamics GP. The new system covers all the core business applications including financials, sales and purchasing

International golf business addresses rapid growth with new IT solution

The Masters Golf Company has a ‘technology culture’ and wanted to explore with m-hance how the new technologies available could lead to improved customer service and competitive advantage across the organisation

Laboratory supplies wholesaler sees major benefits from new IT platform with m-hance

A key area for the new system was enhanced information availability, particularly customer data for the telesales team. Further refinement in the buying area to help cut costs and reduce lead times was also a major objective.

New system at Midland Chilled Foods helps cut costs and streamline business processes

Operating 24 hours a day, Midland needed a new IT platform that would enable improved pricing, delivery and overall service standards to customers whilst generating enhanced loyalty and competitive advantage

Fine foods supplier sees major benefits from m-hance Dynamics GP installation

A rapidly growing business and an increasing demand for up to date information and more software functionaility across all company departments prompted Leathams to change to a new IT solution from food distribution specialists, m-hance

Parkam Foods achieves best business practice with m-hance IT solution

“The success of the project is thanks in many ways to m-hance’s detailed understanding of our business…from catchweight functionality to sales order processing and financial reporting; they understand what it takes to be successful in the foodservice industry.” Ralph Danby, Commercial Director, Parkam Foods Limited

Food distribution company sees major benefits from installing m-hance IT solution

The main aims for any new system were to address information issues and to set Birchall s Foodservice up for improvements in purchasing, sales and logistics operations. Cost reductions, particularly in warehousing and transport were also being sought from m-hance

The UK’s leading independent paper supplier explores its information technology options

Elliott Baxter chose m-hance to replace their UNIX-based computer system with a new IT
solution that would extend the role IT plays in their business

Oilfield supply company achieves greater business efficiency and control with new m-hance system

m-hance supplied a solution that matched CIS’ “Sell, Source, Ship” sales and distribution model and delivered timely, accurate business intelligence in both structured and ad hoc reports and queries

Bearings distributor’s business operations run smoothly, with m-hance software solution

Acorn chose m-hance to deliver new technology that would be more robust and deliver
better reporting and integration on a platform that would support future growth

Overseas Trading Limited - the UK’s fastest growing distributor of value-line products, has gained control of its rapidly expanding business

Improving cash flow and cutting inventory levels by one-third using a finance system implemented by m-hance, was a key priority for Overseas Trading Limited.

Microsoft Dynamics and industrial distribution

Global competition, shorter product lifecycles, lean economic conditions, increasing customer demands – these and other challenges put enormous pressures on industrial distributors.

Specialist IT solutions for drinks distributors

An m-hance solution offers a wide range of core business applications which incorporate the industry specific functionality needed to run a Drinks distribution business.

Specialist IT solutions for food distributors

As a Food Distributor facing the challenges of stocking and selling fast moving, often perishable products in competitive markets, you'll always be looking for new ways to improve business efficiency. A difficult task and all but impossible without the assistance of an effective IT solution.

Specialist IT solutions for wholesale distributors

m-hance has a 25 uear pedigree successfully installing solutions in the Wholesale Distribution sector. Our in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by wholesalers is reflected in IT solutions that combine market leading technology with industry specific functionaility for distribution.

SOPXpress

Advanced Inventory Replenishment

One of the critical measures of success for any distribution company is the ability to effectively balance inventory investment and customer service levels. In a typical business with thousands of items, managing this process can be a complex and ultimately unrewarding challenge.

m-hance’s inventory replenishment module harnesses all of the transactional information in your system and applies it to a set of rules and formulae based upon best industry practice to generate realistic and informed demand forecasts.

Reserved Stock

There are many reasons why inventory may need to be set aside or earmarked for particular customers or salespeople without necessarily being part of a firm order.

This Reserved Stock module from m-hance provides the means of setting up and managing this type of transaction.

Catchweights

Many items require quantities to be tracked in more than one unit of measure, where there is no fi xed relationship between the units of measure. This could be the case where the base unit of measurement is a weight, but the item is sold in a variety of sizes.

The m-hance Catchweights module focuses on these requirements, providing catchweight functionality in Sales, Purchasing and Inventory functions.

Consolidated Invoicing

Minimising cost whilst continuing to provide the highest level of customer service is at the heart of distribution. The ability to consolidate many deliveries into a single invoice can significantly reduce administrative overheads and simplify financial ledgers.

It’s also important to meet customers’ service level expectations by providing them with invoices in the format and to the level of consolidation that they specify. m-hance’s Consolidated Invoicing module addresses all of these requirements.

More Distribution m-hancements

In addition to the multiple modules from m-hance for distribution, we also offer a set of general enhancements to distribution that provide some frequently requested functionality.

Duty Processing

A key challenge for the inventory controller is to minimise or at least defer unnecessary inventory related expenditure whilst maintaining target service levels.

Holding inventory in a bonded location means that payment of duty, taxes and other tariffs on those items can be delayed until much closer to the point of sale. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco based products are examples of products that are typically managed this way.

m-hance Delivery Management

m-hance Delivery Management is an integrated delivery management solution that provides real-time information and visibility of the whole delivery and collection process, from the point of despatch to the point of delivery or collection.

Using GPS to combine real-time location and SKU-level information, m-hance Delivery Management provides full job tracking capability via a PDA or vehicle telematics device, to monitor and manage the ‘on time in full’ (OTIF) customer delivery/collection process.

Managers, drivers and customer service staff have tailored views that help them to interact appropriately with each customer.

The result is enhanced customer service, reduced operational costs, streamlined billing and improved cash flow.

Forward & Scheduled Sales Orders

Keeping your customers happy means being able to respond reliably to their detailed requirements even when this involves planning deliveries for many months ahead. It is not uncommon for a customer to place an order for phased delivery over a long period of time. You need to be able to record that order quickly and easily. But what you will not want to do is tie up inventory unnecessarily and prematurely.

Inter-Site Transfers

In a multi-site distribution environment, the management of Inter-Site transfers can be critical to operational effectiveness.

Whether it is for re-distribution of stock from a central warehouse to satellite depots or simply to control as-hoc movements of inventory from one location to another, this Inter-Site Transfer module from m-hance brings new levels of control and automation to this important and potentially costly business process.

Delivery Management - Customer Portal

The proof of delivery system allows customer service staff and customers to access real-time information before, during and after delivery.

The m-hance Delivery Management application constantly reports job status and the GPS location of the vehicle to the reporting system.

This enables rule-based customer updates via email or SMS based on a vehicle leaving the previous customer or being a user-defi nable distance from the next stop.

Purchase Retrospective Discounts

Vendor incentives come in many forms and need to be appropriate to individual trading circumstances. For some vendors, particularly those who are selling to a customer regularly but in small amounts, it is often more practical to incentivise them over a period of time by providing a retrospective discount plan that will allow the customer to achieve a cumulative discount. The plan may be related to individual product volumes or overall turnover.

The m-hance Purchase Retrospective Discounts module allows for the management and monitoring of these plans.

m-hance Delivery Management - ePOD

m-hance ePOD is a PDA based proof of delivery and integrated back-offi ce management system designed to help you meet your goals for on-time, in-full deliveries, collections and stock reallocation.

m-hance ePOD provides multi-dimensional delivery management information and analysis, putting you in control – reducing operational costs, improving customer service and cash flow with a 360 degree view of the delivery and collection process.

Returns Management

Every distribution business wants to minimise the number of returns it has to handle. Return transactions reduce revenue and generate cost, therefore when they do happen it is vital that they are managed as quickly and accurately as possible.

m-hance’s Returns Management solution speeds up the handling of returns and improves operational control. At a financial level, Returns Management can ensure that only valid returns linked to an originating invoice can be processed.

Delivery Management - Executive Dashboard

To more effectively manage your delivery operation you need to be aware of issues as they arise. The m-hance Executive Dashboard comprises a set of user-configurable KPIs.

Role specific data groups and KPIs are used to generate a graphical view of relevant processes in the delivery operation with full drill down into detail for further investigation. A traffic-light system is used to provide on-screen alerts to highlight exceptions that fall outside specified tolerances.

Sales Pattern Analysis

An important part of customer relationship management is to understand a customerʼs buying patterns; not just what products they buy, but how many and how regularly.

Sales Pattern Analysis gives easy access to key customer information in a form prescribed by the user.

Delivery Management - Route Builder

The Order and Job Management solution provides a “staging post” for routes, orders, jobs and products prior to route departure and download to the PDA. The module allows for order, job and product details to be added or removed from existing routes prior to vehicle departure. Any orders/jobs removed from routes are placed in an “order well” where they can be held until needed.

Sales Retrospective Discounts

Customer incentives come in many forms and need to be appropriate to individual trading circumstances. For some customers, particularly those who are buying regularly but in small amounts, it is often more practical to incentivise them over a period of time by providing a retrospective discount plan that allows the customer to achieve a cumulative discount. The plan may be related to individual product volumes or overall turnover.

Sometimes referred to also as ‘Customer Earned Rebates’ this m-hance module allows for the management and monitoring of these plans.

Delivery Management - Route Compliance

m-hance Route Compliance enables you to monitor and react to service and operational issues as they arise. The reporting information helps to identify where potential efficiencies can be made to improve service levels, reduce operational costs, minimise fuel usage and environmental impact as well as maximise driver utilisation. Post-delivery analysis of depot, route, driver and customer service performance arms you with the necessary information to improve customer service and utilisation of fleet and resources.

Sales Retrospective Discounts

Customer incentives come in many forms and need to be appropriate to individual trading circumstances. For some customers, particularly those who are buying regularly but in small amounts, it is often more practical to incentivise them over a period of time by providing a retrospective discount plan that allows the customer to achieve a cumulative discount. The plan may be related to individual product volumes or overall turnover.

Sometimes referred to also as ‘Customer Earned Rebates’ this m-hance module allows for the management and monitoring of these plans.

Delivery Management - Tracking

The m-hance Tracking back office application records real-time GPS tracking of vehicle location and routes together with stop/job history.

This can automatically update the status of jobs planned or unplanned, and increase transport office efficiencies to ensure that each vehicle is on the most appropriate route, with the ability to redirect if required.

In addition to PDA tracking, the solution can take third party telematics feeds to provide single point visibility. This is useful where there are already a number of existing tracking systems in place.

Trade Counter

For those companies who off er a self-collection service or a cash sale counter in addition to delivered trade there is often a need to enter orders and take payment at their premises or warehouse.

The m-hance Trade Counter module provides this facility by increasing the scope of a Dynamics GP implementation to incorporate a robust, fast and simple to use order entry system. This is supported by cash till, cash drawer and barcode scanner integration, so that orders can be entered quickly and cash payments can be made at the point of sale.

In addition, the company will be generating a single and consistent source of information using up-to-the-minute trading terms for the customer and updating the current inventory levels as sales are made via both business channels.

Vehicle Load Planning

Effective use of a vehicle fleet, whether it’s your own or a third party’s, demands the ability to organise deliveries quickly and easily based upon known routes, product weights and vehicle capacities.

m-hance’s Vehicle Load Planning module provides all of these facilities in an easy to use, interactive planning module.

The system also produces drivers’ manifests, plus the facility to produce documentation on a ‘by load’ basis.

Automated Data Capture

Imagine if you could replace paper with scanners to help you improve the efficiency and running of your business, cut costs and provide up-to-date, real-time information?

Automated Data Capture provides automation and control of your operation through the use of wirelessly connected devices within the warehouse.

Accurate, fast and efficient the solution reduces errors and provides transparency and integration into your Dynamics GP software.

Delivery Management Whitepaper

How to transform delivery efficiency and go the extra mile for your customers using integrated technologies.