Markets are changing faster than they ever have before and this poses many challenges to distributors today.
New competitors are entering the market, product categories are evolving rapidly, and customers are consuming products and services in new and different ways. These factors are driving unprecedented changes to the industry and your distribution business.
The question is how will you respond to all of this? Will you be reactive in trying to keep up with the pace of change, or will you become a change agent and transform your business to harness change as a competitive advantage?
Fundamentally, there are five strategic goals you need to pursue to remain on the cutting edge of the distribution business:
- Provide a best-in-class e-commerce experience to your customers
- Attract new customers, leveraging your online presence and e-commerce platform
- Become the preferred supplier in your target verticals
- Optimize your processes
- Defend your base
Key to achieving these goals is having the right systems and processes in place. In this post we look at the Epicor P21 software system, its flagship product for distributors.
Epicor P21’s user interface has a similar look and feel to Microsoft Outlook, which makes it intuitive and easy to use. This also tends to make implementations go smoothly.
Using Epicor P21 software you’ll be able to enter service quotes, process orders, and track by serial numbers with ease. Keeping track of warranty claims, scheduling technicians and billing for labor is seamless.
The Prophet 21 system is specifically architected to handle the high transaction volumes required to scale your distribution business. Here are the platform highlights:
Technology
The P21 distribution ERP system has a familiar look and feel to any other Microsoft application and runs on Microsoft SQL Server. This makes it easy to use and provides the necessary scalability and reliability. It’s capable of accessing real-time information from a wide range of data analysis platforms.
Mobile POD (proof of delivery)
Delivery personnel can use mobile POD to capture customer signatures electronically and send that information back to Epicor P21 software. Your drivers can build their delivery list by selecting orders and assigning them to specifics routes or dates. Custom routes can be built based on order and required delivery date. Drivers can also issue return RMAs and pick-up the returned items.
Customer Service & Maintenance Contracts
Using the P21 distribution ERP system you can create service quotes and process maintenance orders seamlessly. The system can track serial numbers, mapped to customer information. Customers can make inquiries using the serial number, service orders can then be created directly from those queries. You can configure your system to suggest upsells for preventive maintenance contracts at the item level.
USEABILITY:
The data entry format and modules of Epicor P21 software are quick, easy to access and with a separate Navigation Pane featuring folders, you will have the capability to launch various functions such as Order Entry, Inventory Control, CRM, and Accounting.
Need to go back through history and find a specific job or order? No worries here, the P21 distribution ERP’s History Panel allows for very rapid access to information and previously accessed documents, modules, functions.
And then, there is the game-changer: DynaChange
Now, once we implement your customized Prophet 21 ERP distribution software, you will make use of the DynaChange page designer. We will work with you to make sure all of your interfaces bring up the right distribution information you need using this powerful tool, and you will not need a specialized programmer to make future changes to your pages. Prophet 21’s DynaChange allows for such ease-of-use and customization, that you will be able to change as your distribution business grows.
At EstesGroup, we know technology is only a good investment when it makes your business run better when it improves deliverability, customer satisfaction, and financial forecasting.
