Executive Spotlight on Jim Ringland, IT Director, Langeveld Bulb Company

The days of working with a single shipping carrier are gone. In today’s world, many businesses work with two, three—even four—package delivery services.

Just ask Jim Ringland of Langeveld Bulb Company. Several years ago, Ringland, IT director at Langeveld, worked to develop functionality that allowed employees to manage UPS shipments right from his MFG/PRO system. At that time, UPS was Langevelds’ sole shipping carrier. As shipping costs started to skyrocket, the company decided the time was right to start negotiating with different carriers.

Because these package services’ systems were not integrated with Langeveld’s MFG/PRO ERP system, employees would have had to process shipment information manually—wasting time and money, and increasing the opportunity for errors.

“We couldn’t afford the inefficiencies of a carrier-provided solution, so we needed something that would allow us to manage DHL, FedEx, and UPS shipments right from within our system,” Ringland says.

But, he wanted to ensure that the integration was seamless and that his users could manage FedEx and DHL shipments the same way they handled UPS shipments. He also wanted to make sure that any new screens mirrored those that already existed in the MFG/PRO system—and that the business logic was compatible with what was already in their system.

Ringland knew he shouldn’t try to do it alone. With a lean IT department focused on keeping Langeveld running efficiently as possible, he turned to PICS for help. “We wanted to make sure we entrusted the project to someone who knew our system and our business,” he says. “We didn’t have time to manage bugs or fixes, and we knew PICS would deliver a quality product.”

PICS developed program and processes that integrated the page carrier’s Web sites and shipping management solutions with those of MFG/PRO. The project utilized standard MFG/PRO tables and routines and was developed using Ringland’s specifications. They delivered a finished product in about seven weeks. “They really cranked it out for us,” Ringland says.

The project allowed Langeveld to gauge exactly how much they were spending with different carriers, which helped them to negotiate better rates. Ringland estimates that Langeveld now saves about 18% overall on a dollar basis using the new programs. Also they experienced a significant increase in their customer service as well as a huge savings of the Langeveld employee’s time. Perhaps even more impessively, Langeveld set a single-day record with FedEx on the very first weekend after the go-live. Using the new, integrated system, Langeveld was able to ship 4,700 FedEx packages in one day.

Ringland plans to work on additional projects with PICS including an advanced shipping module that will help Langeveld manage containers. Processing Langeveld’s containers will require special rules such as capacity planning and customs documents.

“We saw incredible results, and we’re looking forward to making even more improvements,” he says. “We ship tens of thousands of packages a year, so we need to be as efficient as humanly possible.

When FedEx was founded more than 30 years ago, it changed the business landscape for manufacturers and distributors forever. No longer would we accept long lead times or disorganized shipping processes from our suppliers. We expected fast, efficient shipping—and our customers expected the same from us.

Today, shipping plays a huge role in how MFG/PRO users beat their competitors by providing better service and more value to their customers. As an MFG/PRO user, you know how important it is to offer same-day shipping or other guarantees on getting product to your customers.

And likewise, here at PICS, our consultants understand how important shipping is to you because we have worked through many engagements focused on shipping workbench and confirmation performance issues. We know that resolving an issue can literally change the lives of shipping personnel, not to mention customer service levels. We’ve seen it: Confirm Shipper run-times dropping from 30 minutes to four seconds have made shipping managers jump for joy. Expedited pick-to-pack times have brought our customers to tears.

Throughout this issue of the newsletter, you’ll read similar stories – stories of customers who have streamlined their processes to improve service and cut costs. And we hope that if you have shipping “challenges,” you contact PICS for help.

Here at PICS, we work hard to develop products and services that will help you build your business. And we think that it’s important to tell you how you can use these products and services to your advantage.

You may have noticed that we are now reaching out to you—through this newsletter and other avenues—to introduce you to some of our newest offerings and how companies like yours, are taking advantage of them. In 2007 we will be conducting free Webinars highlighting a PICS product or service. These Webinars are produced by the PICS Sales Team and are conducted by either a senior PICS Consultant or Developer and will include an online, actual demonstration of the software product. The first Webinar was a huge success with many of our customers throughout North America attending. You can read more about these Webinars including the schedule on page 6 of this Newsletter.

We hope that you will take advantage of these Webinars and join us for an upcoming session.

I welcome your feedback on our new initiatives. We are always looking for new ways to keep you informed with what is available and to help you take advantage of new technology. We want to make sure that our contacts with you bring value and are worth your time.

e-Tailer Works with PICS to Complete Weight and Zone Based Shipping

As president and owner of Ultra-RC, a bustling company dedicated to manufacturing and selling radio-controlled aircraft, Jim Eble’s time is extremely limited. And he must play a very active, hands-on role at work.

Ultra-RC is an Internet/Web-based business with only a few employees. It prides itself on maintaining an excellent reputation for providing individualized, attentive, one-stop customer service. As such, Eble doesn’t have much time to devote to peripheral projects. “I have to enlist outside professionals to help with certain things that would take my time away from my business,” Eble says. And that is why he called the PICS Internet Division.

Eble started working with PICS well before he made the transition from a bricks to clicks company, but the relationship intensified when he asked them to help him charter a Web presence. “We started with a simple Web site which quickly changed to a large e-commerce site,” he says. Within a year, the “simple” site featured more than 10,000 products. “We’ve had almost no downtime,” he says. “PICS products and services are always state of the art. We’ve gone through several enhancements
and updates, and implementation has always been easy.”

As Ultra-RC grows, Eble continues to team with PICS and is currently implementing a weight and zone-based shipping module to accommodate a new hobby accessory product line. Currently most of Ultra-RC’s products are very large and are shipped individually. Products in its new hobby accessory line, however, are small and can be shipped together—fueling the need for change. “If I were buying from Ultra-RC, I wouldn’t be happy paying flat shipping fees for individual items in a multiple item purchase,” Eble says.

The new zone-based shipping module will calculate shipping fees associated with individual customer orders based on the weight and size of each individual item. “This will greatly reduce the amount of shipping fees billed to the customer and provide an accurate single rate base on the billable shipping costs,” Eble says, improving service and saving his customers money—which will greatly improve satisfaction.

“PICS has been an excellent value to Ultra-RC,” Eble says. “They have been available when I need them, evenings, weekends—and even a holiday. I always feel good starting new projects with PICS because it allows me to focus on what’s most important: my business.”

PICS Integrates MFG/PRO with FormTrap, Saving Client Time and Money in Shipping Process

Whether it is a U.S. Customs form, an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) or a certificate of compliance, many of the products a manufacturer ships today require some type of special documentation. And it can be difficult for even the most experienced warehouse worker to know what paperwork must be included with which packages.

Mike Boyle, Interpower Corporation's Manufacturing & Shipping Manager, realized this when he had to unexpectedly work in the company’s warehouse one day. “Because the information wasn’t in our business system, it took me awhile to figure out what paperwork went with what.” Interpower is an Iowa based manufacturer of power system components for electrical and electronic equipment. Boyle continues, “We didn’t store the forms in a central area. Our employees had to walk all over the place to get them.”

Even worse, Boyle says, the company’s forms were handwritten, and were often copies of copies. “We needed something that projected a more professional image,” he says.

Boyle knew he had to find an alternative, as more than
30 percent of Interpower’s products require special documentation. He contacted PICS for help.

A Professional Alternative

PICS offered Interpower a solution: They would integrate FormTrap, a dynamic forms production package, with Interpower’s MFG/PRO system. “Because we have in-depth knowledge of MFG/PRO and our customer’s business processes, we were able to build a seamless interface that pulls data out of the business system and sends it through FormTrap for processing,” Terry Rossi, PICS CIO, says. “And best of all, the entire process is transparent to the user,” he says. “They don’t ever have to leave the system.”

Now, when Interpower employees get ready to pick an order, all relevant documentation prints out along with the pick ticket. “It’s as simple as pressing a button,” Boyle says.

He says that his people make far fewer mistakes because FormTrap takes the guesswork out of the process. “Packages don’t get returned—or stuck at the Canadian border—because we made an error when we filled out the form.”

As an added bonus: FormTrap “definitely” increased productivity in the warehouse. “We’ve reduced staff by about 20 percent out in the warehouse,” Boyle says. “Due to the fact the data is obtained right from our business system, FormTrap gets it right every time. Our people are spending their time picking and packing, not searching for information.”

PICS Developer Helps Customers Improve Shipping Processes

Most business people would like to know how to ship less expensively, in less time, and with fewer errors and keystrokes. But few people can offer advice on how to successfully accomplish this task.

That is why people like Gary Pasky, PICS Development Manager, can offer so much value. With more than 15 years’ MFG/PRO software experience—more than a decade of which has been focused on PICS clients—Pasky, a gifted programmer, knows the system inside out. He has worked with more than 120 PICS customers on more than 300 projects, many of which were shipping-focused. His greatest talent, however, may be the ability to ask the right questions to get to the heart of his customers’ issues.

“When I start a project, I spend a lot of time working with the PICS business analyst to learn how things really work in the customer's shipping areas,” says Pasky. “And then we discuss how they’d like things to work.” During the discovery process, Pasky asks dozens of questions: How do employees enter orders? How do they pick products? What happens right before something is packed and loaded onto a truck?

Doing It Right the First Time

He also often takes the process one step further by visiting customer locations with the PICS consulting team. “Each case is unique, and it helps if I can spend a day with the people who actually move product,” he says. “This way I can see where the true pains are.”

Pasky uses what he learns to develop program specifications, then reviews them with PICS consultants. “We spend a lot of time up front on design,” Pasky says. “We want to do it right the first time.”

Pasky states that sometimes the most gratifying part of a project does not come along until the end. For example, he was at a trade show recently when someone he had worked with several years before came to visit. “They came to thank me for something I had done for them three years ago,” he says. “It was nice to know I made a difference.”

Attend One of PICS’ Webinars to Learn How You Will Benefit

Want to investigate more of PICS’ offerings before you invest, but lacking the time you need to really research features and benefits? Do you want to learn how you can put something to work for your business, but need to see the solution in action before you invest?

If you answered ‘yes’ then plan on attending one of the PICS upcoming Webinars. The hour-long Webinars are specifically developed to show you how PICS solutions can benefit your business. Experts will be on hand to demonstrate—in a live Web environment—how you can leverage the unique functionality within PICS solutions to streamline processes, improve customer service, and increase sales.

“PICS has developed our Webinar series to keep our customers informed of our latest offerings and to show them how they can take advantage of new technology” says Rich Rosenthal, PICS President.

Why attend?

· Keep abreast of the latest technology available for your business
· Understand what PICS offerings are available to your company
· Learn how you can maximize PICS technology and expertise to your advantage

Best of all these seminars are Web based therefore you can attend right from your own desk saving you time. “We know how valuable your time is therefore we want to provide you with as much useful information into each hour as possible,” says Rosenthal.

To request a subscription, or to correct a subscription record, please contact Terry Putman at sales@pics.com

FormTrap Webinar
February 20, 2 p.m.
www.pics.com/webinar

BAUG - MFG/PRO Bay Area User Group
March 8-9
San Jose, CA
With special presentation by Richard Rosenthal:
CONSOLIDATING CHARTS OF ACCOUNTS, A CASE STUDY

SEUG - MFG/PRO South East User Group
March 12-13
Charlotte, North Carolina

MFG/PRO Mid-West User Group
March 19-20
Indianapolis, Indiana

BatchTrak Webinar
April 17, 2 p.m.
www.pics.com/webinar

QAD Explore 2007
May 20-23
Grapevine, Texas