Many warehouse professionals fail to effectively organize their CRM, resulting in additional time and resources to accomplish tasks that could slow organization processes and time to production. Just like a well-organized file cabinet, your CRM requires better use of its storage space.

5 Ways To Organize Your CRM

1. Frequently check for duplicates – Having lots of key customer information means you’re doing something right, but if it’s riddled with duplicate records, it diminishes its effectiveness. One way Microsoft Dynamics helps you organize your CRM better is by helping you minimize duplicate data. Duplicate data can play havoc with your ROI. When you rely on accurate customer information for marketing campaigns, you could drastically change your bottom-line – for the better!
2. Label things – Do you know what types of data go where or do you have specific containers for each customer record? Many warehouse professionals suffer from overwhelm – not because they don’t have enough time, they don’t have organized data. If you leverage Microsoft Dynamics to label things like customer documents, proposals and even contracts, you’ll not only see a difference in your data organization, you will gain more time for other important tasks too.
3. Document any insertions or deletions – When someone changes a customer record or adds more data, is there a tracking system in place for your warehouse operations? If not, look into using Microsoft Dynamics to document insertions and deletions of data and keep process operations data accounted for with an audit trail.One specific situation that will save you time and resource hours is to check if data already exists before you enter it – this would work with data collected from a conference or other offline event.
4. Embrace Social Media integration – Through social media, your customers receive more than a simple transaction, they experience a personalized experience. By integrating social media and ERP with your CRM, you gain a new level of data that gives more in-depth insights into what your customers want, don’t want and that gives more precise ways to organize and use this data.
5. Schedule time to analyze data – Organizing your CRM is critical to efficiency of your warehouse operations. One way I like to get things “more put together” is to analyze data trends and customer data to see if there’s specific data that’s even more critical and store it in easy to find collection spot. Microsoft Dynamics makes simplifies this and by looking at retail buying trends over holidays would be one way this would work for warehouse operations.

Your CRM is a vital part of understanding customer needs, wants and how they interact with your retail chain. With all this information, many still fail to effectively organize this data for more efficient use within the organization. By considering tools, such as Microsoft Dynamics, with better data organization, not only will you notice a difference in time and resources, you’ll notice it in your bottom-line.

To learn more about CRM organization with Microsoft Dynamics, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or connect with us on LinkedIn.

5 Tips to Keep Your CRM Organized with Microsoft Dynamics was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

You can read this post by visiting either Software Advice, or the new Warehouse Management Systems Guide.

Within this article, I ask (and answer) – if social media is powerful enough to tighten the bonds between brands and consumers, is it powerful enough to tighten the links in your retail supply chain?

Like so many other responses to profound questions, the answer to this can be both ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

The affirmative side of this response lies in the power of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), particularly the power of ERP integrated with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities.

In previous posts published here, I’ve discussed ERP/CRM integration – and highlighted the power it holds over retail supply chain management processes.  For those new to this channel, the summary is this:  by integrating ERP and CRM, retailers can gather and analyze data (even real-time data from social media) that can predict the percentage of customers interested in specific products or models.  This means you can stock your shelves with only the most necessary product quantities at any given time.

The ‘no’ side of the response brings to light two often overlooked questions:

• How often are ‘real-time’ decisions in sync with purchasing choices?
• How can we ensure our data isn’t skewed by one large faction of customers?

I encourage you to read my post at either Software Advice or Warehouse Management Systems Guide for the answers to these questions.  And when you are ready to see the power of ERP / CRM integration, and discover how this combination can help revolutionize your retail supply chain, contact me directly (via the form to the right) – and I’d be happy to walk you through a complimentary demo.

And of course, you can stay up to date on the latest WMS and retail insight by subscribing to our RSS feed, following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook or connecting with us on LinkedIn.

How Can Social Media Help Manage Your Retail Supply Chain? was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

This list appears below:

1.    Retail Best Practices

2.    Speed to Market

3.    Reduced Inventory Levels

4.    E-Commerce

5.    Uncertainty, Agility and Visibility

6.    China as a Market

7.    Transportation Spend Optimization

8.     Workforce Management

9.     Regulatory Issues

10.   Reducing Retail Shrinkage

11.   Increased Consumer Intelligence

The Tompkins team does an excellent job of defining the reasoning for each of these points to appear on your master list of retail supply chain priorities.  As such, rather than spelling out each point here, I encourage you to click through and read this full post.

One caveat to your click, however, is that you will not find the ‘how’ anywhere in this piece.  And in fairness, ‘how’ to implement each priority above is not an inherent promise.  In fact, the Tompkins team concludes this post by stating that this list gives retailers ‘a lot to research, focus on, implement and measure.’

So am I hear to fill in 11 blanks, in other words, offer 11 solutions for implementing 11 retail supply chain priorities?  Hardly.  But I can offer you insight into a global solution that may help achieve most of, if not all of, the above.

Let’s step back and look at the common thread linking each priority above.  Whether the priorities are process-centric (ie speed to market) or customer-centric (ie increased consumer intelligence), each will depend on you having complete insight into each link in your retail supply chain.  Many of these priorities also depend on the ability to zero in on portions of your supply chain to ensure you can make adjustments where necessary (ie managing uncertainty, agility, and visibility.)

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, when integrated into your daily processes, could be your answer.  Let’s look at a few priorities off Tompkins list to determine how:

• Speed to Market
  Ultimately, speed to market will depend most on moving materials or products quickly out of the doors of your warehouses and into the doors of your customers’ homes.  By providing visibility into each part of your retail supply chain, and automatically generating everything from daily progress reports to event triggers in case of process delay, an ERP system guarantees that everyone involved in a project with the power to un-kink a supply chain is provided the oversight needed to become aware of these delays.
• Increased Consumer Intelligence
  By integrating with CRM and Social Media, ERP helps create a ‘Connected Retail Experience,’ whereby retailers can accurately map consumer preferences to retail stock – and order only as much product as needed to match real-time consumer demand.
  (Note – In this sense, ERP also helps ‘reduce retail shrinkage’ and ‘reduce retail inventory levels.’)
• Managing Uncertainty, Agility, Visibility
  The Tompkins team rightly points out that the only current certainty for retailers is uncertainty, particularly as we strive to recover from the Great Recession.  What this means is that your supply chain must be agile enough to respond to everything from uneven demand to fluctuations in product availability.  An ERP system is one of the strongest ways to generate the real-time insight needed to be able to adjust your retail supply chain processes on a dime.

Is an ERP system your ultimate answer for a successful 2011? Certainly not.  At the end of the day, there will always be external factors we cannot control.  Additionally, no software is powerful enough to support the corporate culture shift necessary to adhere to new priorities, in cases where executive buy-in is simply not there.

But ERP is certainly a step in the right direction, in regards to transforming a list of retail supply chain priorities into a strategic retail vision for the new year.

Stay up to date on the latest retail supply chain strategies by subscribing to our RSS feed, following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook or connecting with us on LinkedIn.

What Are Your Top Retail Supply Chain Priorities For 2011? was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

More than ever, this trend is helping retailers answer the ubiquitous riddle of a question, “what do my customers want to buy?”  But with the solution to one portion of this riddle, comes another more pressing matter:  how can personalized retail relationships be managed to scale?

In August, our marketing department helped to answer this question with the article How ERP Systems Are Turning Retailer Customers into Retailer Buddies on MSDynamicsWorld.

Within, they detailed how Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems – especially systems outfitted with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities – can transform “a brand into a friend, and a global retail operation into the shopkeeper next door that people grew up with-and trusted-for years.”

While most retailers I speak to understand the importance of social media – and are bought in to the importance of a ‘Connected Experience’ most are left with the very appropriate question regarding how this will affect the bottom-line, in terms of both time spent and revenue gained.

The answer is simpler than you may think.

As the article goes on to explain, the ‘Connected Experience’ that occurs when a customer and retailer develop more personal relationships allows retailers to accurately map consumer preferences to retail stock.

For example, imagine you could predict the approximate percentage of your store visitors (online or brick and mortar) that wanted to purchase black sneakers versus brown sneakers – either for themselves or as a gift.  This would allow you to stock only the most necessary amount of each product to ensure you implemented a retail supply chain that was just lean enough.

An ERP system, again – with CRM capabilities, allows you to analyze customer data and customer interaction (even through social media channels) to make these kinds of predictions.  Both systems working together also allow for quick adjustments, as new data can be analyzed near instantly. In fact, over the holidays it’s likely not uncommon to find some retailers analyzing customer data daily to ensure store shelves are stocked seemingly by the minute with products to synch with the ever-changing demands of the holiday consumer.  Or to personalize, the holiday guest.

As you are enthralled in the final weeks of what I hope and trust is a successful holiday season, I encourage you to take just a bit of time to read this article in MSDynamicsWorld.

And if you’d like to see exactly how an integrated ERP and CRM system will help ensure a successful 2011, built on the backbone of lean retail operations and personalized customer relationships, I’d be happy to show you a live demo of Microsoft Dynamics AX.

If you’re interested, simply complete the form to the right and we’ll schedule some time in January.

Also – stay up to date on the latest retail supply chain strategies by subscribing to our RSS feed, following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook or connecting with us on LinkedIn.

If you are a retailer seeking to implement a new supply chain strategy, contact To-Increase for a complimentary consultation.

Personalizing the Retail Experience With Social Media, ERP & CRM was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

In the manufacturing industry, increasing efficiency is one of the best ways to improve an organization’s bottom line. Of course, finding and implementing more efficient systems for order processing and tracking can be a challenge.

The CES Group is a global network of leading air conditioning manufacturers such as Eaton-Williams Group, Ltd. and CLEANPAK International, Inc., providing both custom-engineered air conditioning solutions and configure-to-order products. The company recognized the challenge of trimming operating costs and preparing for growth opportunities.

A brand new case study explores how the company was able to boost order processing 85% more efficiently with by deploying the To-Increase Industrial Equipment Manufacturing solution for Microsoft Dynamics AX, alongside the To-Increase e-Con Sales and Product Configurator.

Along with better order processing, implementing the new Microsoft Dynamics AX and e-Con solution has also:

• Improved supply chain control. By managing all purchase orders, invoices and payments to suppliers in a single system, CES can now better track total procurement costs.
• Enabled consolidated, on-demand reporting. By capitalizing on easy-to-use reporting tools, CES gained better visibility into every aspect of business from product planning to shipping, which helps managers focus on initiatives to boost efficiency and lower cost.

As an exclusive offer, pre-register today to receive the CES Group case study by completing the form to the right.

For all of the latest news for manufacturers and warehousing and distribution companies – and for more exclusive reports in the future – follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Case Study Preview: CES Improves Efficiency 85% was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

Much like streamlining a supply chain, discrete manufacturing is increasingly distilling industry terminology into acronyms such as PLM, CAD and CRM. However, as the industry continues to standardize acronyms, what they actually mean can become unclear.

To help understand the acronym-centric world of discrete manufacturing, here is a top 10 list of the most common acronyms used and, more importantly, what they mean:

1. Warehouse Management System (WMS) – WMS controls the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse and the processes of shipping, receiving, putaway and picking. The systems also direct and optimize stock put-away based on real-time information about the status of bin utilization.

2. Product Data Management (PDM) – PDM is the use of software and other tools to track and control product data. The data tracked usually includes the technical specifications of the product, specifications for manufacture and development, and the types of materials needed for production.

3. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) – PLM is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product through its conception, design, manufacture, service and finally disposal. PLM integrates people, data, processes and business systems to provide a product information backbone for companies and their extended enterprise.

4. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) – CAD represents the use of computer software technology for designing real and virtual objects. It can be applied across many different industries, including automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace.

5. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) – ERP solutions are integrated computer-based systems used to manage internal and external resources such as financial records, materials and human resources. The systems are built as a centralized database and consolidate all business operations into a uniform and enterprise-wide system across all channels of manufacturing.

6. Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) – EAM manages the whole life of an organization’s physical assets for maximized value. It includes the design, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance and decommissioning of equipment and facilities. By managing assets across the facility, organizations can improve utilization and performance, reduce capital and asset-related costs and extend asset life.

7. Maintenance Repair and Operating Equipment (MRO) – MRO involves repairing mechanical or electrical device whether unforeseen, scheduled and preventative maintenance.

8. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – CRM is recognized as a strategy for managing interactions with clients and sales prospects. It involves using software technology to organize, automate and synchronize business processes, including marketing and sales.

9. Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) – This is the buyer-side counterpart of CRM, representing a set of tools, technologies and services that helps manage relationships with vendors. In turn, vendors use these tools to develop better relationships with their customers.

10. 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) – 3PL provides a one-stop service for outsourcing (third party) logistics services for part or all of their supply chain management functions. They typically specialize in integrated operation, warehousing and transportation services that can be scaled to customized needs based on market conditions and the demands.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for the latest reports, lists, white papers and events for discrete manufacturers.

10 Most Commonly-Used Acronyms in Discrete Manufacturing was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

January Economic Report: Mixed Signals for Manufacturing
It was a good news/bad news situation for manufacturing, according to the Commerce Department’s January economic report. Find out more.

10 Tips for Improving Piece Picking
Discover 10 tips to help distribution centers pick small orders more efficiently from DC Velocity magazine.

The Machine That Ran Too Hot
Want more insight into Toyota’s latest woes? Check out an Economist article on the car maker’s overstretched supply chain.

Test Your Manufacturing Knowledge
How well do you know your manufacturing knowledge? Find out by taking this interactive quiz from IndustryWeek.

IDC’s Manufacturing Insights Supply Chain Predictions for 2010
Check out IDC’s Manufacturing Insight Group’s 10 supply chain predictions for 2010 in this Supply Chain Digest article.

Check back next Friday for another roundup post with the latest news in warehousing, distribution and manufacturing.

Or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to hear about the top stories as they happen.

Warehousing, Distribution & Manufacturing News Roundup – 3/5/10 was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

Nucleus Research analyzed hundreds of Microsoft Dynamics AX deployments over the course of several years and found:

• The average manufacturer can reduce inventory levels by 10% to 15% with Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Manufacturers moving from disparate systems or paper-based processes can increase user productivity by 30%

The report identifies six core benefits for manufacturers:

Improved Visibility
As manufacturing organizations become even more complex, the need for high-level visibility into the entire manufacturing process increases significantly.

The Nucleus Research report found that Microsoft Dynamics AX can help manufacturers meet the growing need for improved visibility. With dashboard KPIs, business analytics tools and connections with other Microsoft tools, organizations can see into all areas of operations and allow for improved collaboration across all teams.

Reduced Costs
With rising materials and transportation costs, the need for manufacturers to operate more efficiently has never been greater.

The Nucleus Research report found that Microsoft Dynamics AX can enable manufacturers to:

• Reduce IT costs by eliminating disparate applications
• Cut freight and shipping costs as a result of better visibility into shipping operations
• Decrease manual data entry costs by lessening the need for manual re-entry and data verification

Reduced Inventory
Carrying unnecessary inventory can cost millions for manufacturers. By achieving greater visibility into inventory through Microsoft Dynamics AX, manufacturers can ensure accurate inventory levels.

According to the Nucleus Research report, this visibility is provided through bill of materials handling, warehouse management, demand planning capabilities, and logistics and inventory management.

Increased Productivity
Particularly in the current economic environment, manufacturers must make the most of their most valuable resource: people.

By providing employees with tools to prioritize tasks, and organize and access information, Microsoft Dynamics AX can help manufacturers improve productivity levels.

Improved Supply Chain Collaboration
Manufacturing organizations must directly collaborate with suppliers in order to ensure customers receive the parts they need, when they need them.

According to the Nucleus Research report, Microsoft Dynamics AX provides the ability to synchronize demand data with supplier and production availability. This enables manufacturers to reduce time spent managing supplies and focus more on opportunities to gain additional supply chain efficiencies.

Improved Customer Relationship Management
Manufacturers must keep pace with changing and specific customer needs. To meet customer requirements, manufacturers need complete visibility into all product versions, along with the ability to predict consequences for running production series and the installed base.

According to the Nucleus Research report, Microsoft Dynamics AX allows manufacturers to provide customers with real-time access to product availability information – thus improving customer satisfaction and gaining greater competitive positioning.

Download the full complimentary report by completing the form to the right.

Plus, you should follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to gain even more exclusive reports in the future.

Nucleus Research Report: Manufacturers Can Improve Productivity by 30% With Microsoft Dynamics AX was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

A solution to this challenge, according to a brand-new report from Nucleus Research, is Microsoft Dynamics AX. The full report, “The Value of Microsoft Dynamics AX,” will be available next week for complimentary download. Pre-registration is available today by completing the form to the right.

As part of the report, Nucleus Research analyzed hundreds of deployments over the course of several years and pinpointed the six core benefits of Microsoft Dynamics AX for manufacturers:

1. Reduced costs

2. Improved visibility

3. Reduced inventory

4. Increased productivity

5. Improved supply chain collaboration

6. Improved customer relationship management

As an exclusive offer, pre-register to be among the first to receive the complimentary Nucleus Research report. Simply complete the form to the right.

Plus, you should follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to gain even more exclusive reports in the future.

Preview: The Value of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Manufacturers By Nucleus Research was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com

Don't miss the top manufacturing news headlines of 2009

From the manufacturing news headlines below, it’s clear that 2009 was quite an eventful year – particularly for industry niches hard hit by the recession.

Manufacturing.net recently posted its 10 most popular manufacturing news stories from 2009. Here’s a quick look at the entire list:

1. Harley-Davidson considers moving its main plant in York, Pa., to help reduce costs.

2. EPA updates its list of vehicles qualifying as trade-ins as part of the “Cash for Clunkers” program – removing 78 vehicles and adding 86 more.

3. A man working at a Chinese factory that makes iPhones commits suicide after a 4^th generation iPhone disappears.

4. The Senate passes a provision to the economic stimulus bill that would let some car buyers claim a tax deduction for sales tax on new vehicles.

5. GM files for bankruptcy and announces it will close 9 additional plants and idle 3 more.

6. When GM can’t find a buyer for its medium-duty truck business, the company announces it will stop manufacturing the line.

7. Chrysler dealers attempt to get rid of vehicles by offering deep discounts after Chrysler begins to close franchises to cut costs.

8. The first major technology company to file for bankruptcy protection during the recession, Nortel, files for protection both in the US and in Canada.

9. A survey finds that 85% of children have no interest in an engineering career.

10. The Obama administration proposes a scenario in which GM could be split in two in bankruptcy.

These and other manufacturing news headlines from 2009 drive home the importance of being prepared for unexpected challenges and tough economic periods. Based on 2009 manufacturing news headlines, manufacturers in particular must work to:

• Streamline processes in a lean environment
• Respond even more quickly and efficiently to client demand
• Better manage costs, particularly for projects with long lead times

We’ll be providing the latest ERP, CRM and supply chain management news and insight to help manufacturers meet these demands in 2010. To ensure you don’t miss any information, subscribe to the To-Increase blog RSS feed to receive the latest content.

Don’t Miss the Top Manufacturing News Stories From 2009 was posted at To-Increase Blog: ERP, CRM & Supply Chain Management. | http://blog.to-increase.com