It's a Good Time to be in the Cloud Webinar: Making the case for cloud-based ERP systems

This FREE webinar sponsored by Epicor will explain what you should consider before moving your data to the cloud.




Presenter Jeff Gusdorf, Brown Smith & Wallace


Presenter Tony Corley, senior product marketing manager - Distribution, Epicor


Host Rich Vurva, Industrial Supply magazine

While ERP software in the cloud has been around for more than a decade, adoption rates are increasing for distributors. This is largely driven by the need to provide exceptional customer service to remain competitive. This webinar will discuss the changing landscape and suggest things you should think about before moving to the cloud.

Webinar: It’s a Good Time to be in the Cloud May 22, 2 p.m. EST 

Register at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/228002825887616779

Featured in the 2018 Software Guides: Artificial Intelligence in Business - Beyond SciFi

by Jeff Gusdorf and Maggie Peters
 
Does Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business sound like the stuff of science fiction? For smaller companies it does, since the focus is on competing with technology heavy companies like Amazon.

How can AI be a realistic or useful way to optimize business intelligence and processes when most distribution companies are focused on replacing legacy ERP systems and implementing warehouse and e-Commerce solutions?

At the same time, leading tech companies are propelling businesses into the future with their current and upcoming implementations of Cloud technology, machine learning and AI. Distribution and Manufacturing companies need to understand how these advancements will impact them in the future and see how these new technologies will change their competitive landscape.

The 2018 Software Guides are the only software selection guide specifically developed for the unique needs of the distribution and manufacturing community. The new editions are designed to assist you, the Wholesale Distributor and Manufacturer, evaluate, compare and analyze software to determine which products fit your operation.

Learn more at: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Oracle Buying NetSuite For $9.3 Billion

Oracle is buying ERP and omnichannel software provider NetSuite in a deal valued at around $9.3 billion, both companies announced.

The move reunites NetSuite CEO Zach Nelson with Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, who co-founded San Mateo, CA-based NetSuite in 1998. Ellison stepped down as NetSuite CEO two years ago.

Oracle CEO Mark Hurd said his company and NetSuite's cloud applications are complimentary.

"We intend to invest heavily in both products — engineering and distribution," Hurd said in a statement.

NetSuite — which reported a 30 percent year-over-year Q2 sales increase — provides cloud-based financials including ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites for distributors, manufacturers and retailers. Its software enables businesses to automate operations, streamline process and access real-time data on-demand.

NetSuite has more than 30,000 customers in more than 100 countries.

"NetSuite will benefit from Oracle's global scale and reach to accelerate the availability of our cloud solutions in more industries and more countries," said NetSuite's Nelson. "We are excited to join Oracle and accelerate our pace of innovation."

The transaction is expected to close this year.

Epicor To Be Acquired By Investing Firm KKR

Nine days after the Wall Street Journal reported that Apax Partners was considering a sale of Epicor Software, Epicor announced Tuesday that is has agreed to be acquired by global investment firm KKR. Terms were not disclosed for the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of August.

Apax Partners, a London-based private equity firm, bought Epicor for about $1.04 billion in 2011 and eventually merged it with rival Activant Solutions. Apax tried selling Epicor in 2014 but ended up pulling out after turning down offers it deemed to low from bidders, some which were reportedly worth around $3 billion.

Epicor’s software assists manufacturing, distribution and retail businesses with sales and supply-chain management. It is one of the leading technology providers for distributors, with more than 7,000 distributors using its software, according to Epicor's website.

"Our top priority continues to be delivering cloud-ready, market-leading solutions paired with a world-class customer experience," said Joe Cowan, president and CEO of Epicor. "KKR shares our vision of providing innovative technology with a clear focus on helping customers grow business, not software. This is an exciting time for Epicor, and I am extremely appreciative of Apax's support during the last five years."

Link to Article

What Your Employers & Customers Aren’t Telling You About Your ERP Technology

You’ve been running your distribution business on the same software for more than a decade. It paid for itself years ago and still performs the same basic functions it did when you logged in that very first time. You have every reason to feel proud of making a sound technology investment way back when.

What others — including your employees and customers — might not tell you, however, is that this same software could be slowly, inexorably strangling the life out of your business.

I recently spoke with a wholesaler who was a “power user” of one of our legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms dating back to the mid-1980s. He admitted that his software had outlived its purpose as far back as 2002. He finally upgraded to a powerful, modern solution in 2014. So, what happened during the intervening years? “We coasted, and it hurt us,” he said. “I knew I needed to make a change, but kept coming up with reasons to wait till next year.”

What this business owner would tell you today is that had he replaced his old software even four years earlier, it already would have paid for itself multiple times through increased efficiency, reduced labor and inventory expenses and improved customer satisfaction.

“It’s always easy to put off an important decision until next month or next year — especially when it involves a financial investment,” he said. “But the worst thing you can do is convince yourself that indecision doesn’t carry a price of its own. And that price can be very high.”

This business owner saw firsthand what he had been missing simply by observing his employees, who were now “willing to explore new ways to service our customers.” With the old system, they had a limited ability to capture important information on customer buying patterns. They were spending hours each day on price maintenance rather than focusing on building sales. They couldn’t analyze their business performance beyond a few canned reports.

With the new software, however, all of this changed. “I suddenly saw long-time employees who were re-energized and who had confidence that they could attack problems in new, more efficient ways. It was like they had been waiting for me to give them these tools for several years. How do you assign a value to that?”

Impact Throughout The Business

Unlike transaction-based legacy systems, unlimited access to your business data in a modern, open database environment can give employees the ability to analyze, providing real-time information to make better decisions and call out exceptions. This can lead to improved customer service and growth.

As employees accomplish more in their daily tasks, customers will see faster responses and more accurate service. For example, collaborative order entry reinforces customer confidence and prevents expensive errors from incorrect material orders and deliveries.

Likewise, mobility in more modern ERP systems can extend the application to workers outside of the office (e.g., giving the sales team data connectivity on the road to update order status). According to one distributor, “In an environment where everyone expects information now, I believe mobility with our ERP system gives our sales team access to the data needed to meet those expectations. We also receive real-time information that allows us to review open quotes, outstanding A/R, etc. to address while making a call to an account. In short, it allows us to work smarter, faster and with the most up-to-date data.”

Modern systems can also offer other sophisticated functionality that is important to HVAC and plumbing distributors, such as volume rebate tracking, customer-facing order entry, front counter capabilities, document imaging, job-based pricing, assemblies, disassemblies and modifications. For example, job-based pricing provides the ability to quote a job and store those prices for the material in a contract, so that the prices are guaranteed throughout the job.

Enabling Sales and Profits

Bob Dylan wrote, “If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.” The same seems to be true in the context of operating a distribution business. The wholesalers who are most energized and, often, most successful, are the ones who understand that technology is a sales and profit enabler, not a cost center. They are continually looking for ways to harvest additional competitive value from their systems, and when those systems have been maxed out, they carefully select a new system with proven potential to drive their growth for the next several years.

Conversely, there are businesses that continue to rely on an outdated solution simply for the reason that it still turns on every morning. It’s no wonder that many of these business owners are working harder than ever just to maintain some semblance of the sales and profitability they enjoyed 10 years ago.

Which are you? A business owner committed to aggressive growth and to attracting and retaining high-energy employees who look forward to coming to work each day? Or are you experiencing a steady erosion of your business as customers move to competitors?

If you’re the former, I congratulate you on your willingness to seek continuous improvement through leading edge technologies. If you’re the latter, I urge you to make the investment you’ve been postponing for so long. Haven’t you already paid too high a price?

See Original Article at:  http://digital.inddist.com/industrialdistribution/may_june_2016?pg=32#pg32
http://www.inddist.com/2016/05/may-june-2016-digital-edition

Michael Lovelace is director of business development, distribution for Epicor Software Corporation.

Acumatica Launches Cloud xRP Platform, Enabling Software Companies to Get to SaaS, Fast

ERP and Cloud business management solutions provider Acumatica augments its product suite with a Cloud platform offering.

Acumatica, the fast-growing leader in Cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and business management solutions for small and medium-sized companies (SMB), announced it has added the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform to its product line-up.

The Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform empowers the more than 6 million .NET developers and software companies to get their solutions to SaaS, fast. The “x” in xRP represents any-sized company, anywhere, in any industry. 

Acumatica CEO Jon Roskill said: “What Salesforce has done for CRM, Acumatica will do for xRP. Our Cloud xRP Platform, built on the world’s best Cloud and mobile technology, is available immediately in the Acumatica Cloud or private Cloud configurations, the form factors the market demands. As with our Cloud ERP products, we believe in offering choice to our partners and customers.” 

Ali Jani, VP of Product Management, said: “The Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform, built on the standard Microsoft stack, is a technological breakthrough that finally allows developers and software companies trapped in legacy technologies to modernize quickly and stay ahead of the technology curve once and for all. Our platform empowers developers and software companies to focus on industry-specific functionality without sacrificing control and flexibility.” 

In addition, developers and software companies building on top of the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform can take advantage of Acumatica’s pre-built ERP and CRM capabilities, while enjoying flexible deployment and tenancy options. 

“We’re excited to offer the Acumatica Cloud xRP Platform to the world,” said Christian Lindberg, Acumatica’s VP of Partner Solutions. “Developers and software companies that need to deliver a SaaS offering at scale can leverage our platform to get to market faster while saving development costs and without compromising on functionality, performance, or flexibility. This technology lets you focus on domain and process expertise, while leaving the plumbing to us.” 

Industry luminary Buck Forland said: “For developers, it’s a floor wax and a dessert topping in one.” 

Acumatica’s partner ecosystem now includes more than 270 partners around the world such as ISVs JAAS Systems and Jamis, and OEMs MYOB and Visma. Visma, the leading provider of business software solutions to SMBs in Northern Europe, white-labeled Acumatica’s Cloud technology for thousands of its own customers and launched Visma.net last August. 

JAMS — JAAS Advanced Manufacturing Software — an end-to-end manufacturing solution, was built using Acumatica tools in record time. JAAS Systems’ General Manager Fred Szumlic said: “We saved $400,000 in development costs and delivered a Cloud manufacturing application in 10 months instead of three years.” 

About Acumatica

Acumatica is a leading provider of cloud business management software that empowers small and mid-size businesses to unlock their potential and drive growth. Built on the world’s best cloud and mobile technology and a unique customer-centric licensing model, Acumatica delivers a suite of fully integrated business management applications such as Financials, Distribution, CRM and Project Accounting, powered by a robust and flexible platform. In an interconnected world, Acumatica enables customers to take full control of their business; to play to their strengths, since every business is unique; and to empower their people by going wherever their people go, on any device. 

Acumatica
Dorothy Ho, +1-425-658-4913 (office)
Mobile: +1-206-303-7750
Director of Communications
dho@acumatica.com

 

 

Apax Partners Puts Epicor Software on the Block

Epicor Software Corp., a private-equity owned company that assists other firms with sales and supply-chain management, is on the block and seeking as much as $3.5 billion, said people familiar with the matter.

The company, purchased by London-based buyout firm Apax Partners for around $1.04 billion in 2011, is working with Jefferies Group LLC to seek buyers. Valuations for the company differ, but people around the deal say Epicor could fetch between $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, including debt.

Epicor, based in Austin, Texas, serves the distribution, manufacturing, retail and services industries world-wide. It posted sales of $978.3 million in 2013 and carries about $1.3 billion in debt, according to public filings.

After purchasing Epicor, Apax merged it with another rival software-maker, Activant Solutions Inc., which was previously owned by Hellman & Friedman LLC, JMI Equity and Thoma Bravo LLC. In 2012, Epicor paid $155 million to acquire another smaller rival, Solarsoft Business Systems, from Marlin Equity Partners.

In 2012 and 2013, Epicor issued $340 million and $350 million of new debt respectively, to fund dividends to its private-equity owner, according to S&P Capital IQ LCD. 

A sale of Epicor would follow private-equity deals involving similar software companies. Earlier this year, Blackstone Group LP and GIC Private Ltd. paid $750 million for a minority stake in human-resources software company Kronos Inc. in a deal that valued the company at $4.5 billion including debt. And in late 2013, Hellman & Friedman acquired insurance software maker Applied Systems Inc. for $1.8 billion including debt.

Write to Mike Spector at mike.spector@wsj.com, Gillian Tan at gillian.tan@wsj.com and Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com

ECi Software Solutions Acquired by The Carlyle Group

Global Alternative Asset Manager to Support ECi’s Growth, Commitment to Small and Medium Size Businesses

 

ECi Software Solutions (www.ECiSolutions.com), a leader in industry‐specific business management and e‐commerce software solutions, announced it has been acquired by global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

ECi Software Solutions is a leading provider of industry‐specific business management and e‐commerce software for growing and midsize companies in a broad variety of industries, including office products,office furniture, office equipment, lumber/building materials, hardware, manufacturing, retail distribution and many more. ECi combines technological innovation with a dedicated customer focus to deliver fully integrated solutions that fuel the expansion and efficiency of every aspect of customers’ operations.

 

ʺWe are very happy to partner with The Carlyle Group to continue building our leading industry‐specific business and e‐commerce solutions across a variety of important industries,” said Ron Books, President and CEO of ECi Software Solutions. “Carlyle is committed to investing in ECi as we support the entrepreneurial spirit and profitable growth of small and medium size enterprises. I am confident that with Carlyle, we have made the right choice for the future of our employees, our customers, and our business partners.”

 

Charles Rossotti, Carlyle Operating Executive, said, “ECi has developed a proven and effective capacity to provide small and medium size enterprises with technology solutions that make them competitive with much larger businesses. We believe this capacity is a very special asset for the global economy, in which small businesses generate so much innovation and job growth.”

 

Steve Bailey, Carlyle Managing Director, added, “Carlyle’s investment will enable ECi to continue investing in its great people, delivering exceptional customer service, enhancing the functionality and features of its leading solutions, and expanding its global footprint.”

 

Equity for the investment came from Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund, which is a Carlyle fund
focused on middle market investments. Carlyle has a long history of successful investments in leading middle market, industry‐specific application software solutions companies, including Compusearch, serving the government sector; Gemcom, serving the mining sector; Primatics, serving the financial services sector; Quorum, serving the energy sector; RMI, serving the rail sector; and SchoolNet, serving the education sector. Other select middle market investments include Dynamic Precision Group, an aerospace component manufacturer; Philadelphia Energy Solutions (formerly Sunoco Refinery); Service King, the third largest collision repair multi‐shop operator in the United States; and Worldstrides, a provider of educational student travel programs.

 

ECi was advised by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Harris Williams & Co., and Carlyle was advised by Latham & Watkins LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

About ECi
The ECi Software Solutions family of companies provides business and e‐commerce solutions, offering onpremise and cloud‐based technologies. For 30+ years, ECi’s companies have served the manufacturing, office equipment, office supplies, contract office furniture, lumber and building materials, hardware and janitorial/sanitation sectors. Privately held, ECi is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, with offices and companies throughout the U.S., Australia, England and the Netherlands. For information, email info@ecisolutions.com, visit www.ECiSolutions.com, or call (800) 959‐3367.
 

ECI

Traci Johnson, SVP Global Corporate Marketing

800‐959‐3367 x23276

tjohnson@ecisolutions.com

 

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $189 billion of assets under management across 118 funds and 100 fund of funds vehicles as of December 31, 2013.  Carlyleʹs purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,500 people in 34 offices across six continents.

The Carlyle Group
Elizabeth Gill
+1-202-729-5385
Elizabeth.gill@carlyle.com

SPA Pricing Strategy Seminar: Mastering Strategic Pricing in a New Economy

Join SPA on Friday February 07, 2014 at Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

 

Like never before, pricing strategy, analytics and cultural changes can set the stage for significant gains in shareholder wealth. Companies that excel in pricing will enjoy faster growth, stronger customer relationships, market-leading profitability and superior capital markets opportunities.

In this seminar you will hear from distribution and manufacturing industry experts and from a panel of SPA clients. They will discuss how to increase your margins (typically by 2 – 4 points!) and how to improve pricing discipline in your company.

Anyone responsible for making pricing decisions in their company will benefit from this seminar.  There is no cost to attend, but enrollment is limited, so please register now.

To receive an agenda or to ask questions about this seminar or hotel reservations, please contact us at: info@strategicpricing.com or call 216-455-1544.