THE ERP EDGE
Merchants juggling multiple selling channels have enough challenges these days — the last thing they need is to manage multiple software packages. That's why many marketers now want one solution to manage an entire enterprise, or an ERP system....
Learning through sharing
Rich Skinner is the warehouse manager for Nasco's distribution center in Fort Atkinson, WI. Skinner works daily on seeing that Nasco's supervisors and...
Getting personal
Given all the hoopla in the '90s about how technology would enable one-to-one marketing, you'd think by now everybody would be receiving personalized catalogs. But few catalogers have embraced the strategy — even though it's come a long way from low-rent-looking ink-jet messages....
Safe harbor
Have you ever hired an illegal alien? Chances are you wouldn't know it if you did. There are 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country, and many...
I Can Integrate This System Myself….Or Can I?
Let’s say, you're starting to plan a material-handling project, which looks as if it will have some conveyor, scanners, a pick-to-light area, a couple of label printers and other miscellaneous equipment. The system also must interface with your existing warehouse management system, enterprise resource planning, or host system....
Getting Ready for Holiday 2007
Now is the best time to start planning holiday 2007 because your people will remember vividly the good and bad anecdotal incidents from last year and you will also have the operational and benchmark data available. ...
Having His Say: The 7-Point Customer Service Bill of Rights
This proposed customer service bill of rights is an attempt to force marketers to respect customer’s time and needs or pay a penalty. There is no reason that customer service abuse should not be penalized. Every customer should have the following rights: ...
When Good Customer Service Rules Go Bad
Here are some of the most common customer service rules, when to break them, and alternative best practices to apply instead....
Should Customer Service Reps Sell?
Many organizations take the position that customer service representatives shouldn’t sell. They believe customer service representatives are to take orders, answer inquires, or deal with complaints. ...
On Racking and Shelving
Don't know your racking from your shelving? Here's a primer: ...
Crossing Into New Territory: The Multibay Vertical Lift Module
The vertical lift module (VLM) was introduced into the material handling industry more than 20 years ago. In that time, we’ve seen a variety of improvements, ranging from larger tray sizes to heavier capacities. All of these enhancements have been small changes to existing features, but this machine has now evolved into its next generation - the multibay VLM. ...
Ingram Micro Acquires DBL Distributing
Ingram Micro, the world’s largest technology distributor, today announced it acquired business-to-business electronics accessories mailer DBL Distributing for $96 million....
The Day of the Dashboard
Customer service representatives account for roughly two-thirds of a contact center’s operating costs. In addition to the considerable boost in revenue generated by improved up-sell and cross-sell efforts, well-trained agents provide organizations with a valuable opportunity to enhance the customer experience and improve loyalty. But training is an expensive, ongoing process that represents a significant investment – one that must be well protected. Agent attrition is a huge problem, and organizations are recognizing the importance of implementing tools that not only train agents, but also keep them happy and motivated. ...
Having His Say: A Different Take on Supply Purchase Agreements
I have to disagree with Bill Monk on his comments about supply purchase agreements in the June 6 issue of the O+F Advisor. Ostensibly, Monk reasoned that when evaluating the need to make a capital investment on void-fill machines, one should not blindly go for the promise of a free machine in exchange for buying a supplier's products exclusively. ...
Quick Tip: Think Twice About Supply Purchase Agreements
When evaluating the need to make a capital investment on void-fill machines, don't blindly go for the promise of a free machine in exchange for buying a supplier's products exclusively. According to Bill Monk, director of operations/transportation for basket merchant The Longaberger Co., in the long run you end up spending more money than if you'd purchased a machine independently and contracted for a better deal on the void-fill supplies. Shop around and do the math before you sign, he cautions, and if you do select this option, always have an end date for when the machines will be "paid for" and when you can subsequently shop around for another supplier....
The Fulfillment Doctor on Teamwork….
Q: We want to achieve world-class results in our operation, but our efforts seem to fall short of our expectations. How can I improve the level of teamwork in the operation?...
Survey: Most Companies Still Struggle with Inventory Management
A recent survey by Industry Directions, an enterprise technologies analyst firm, sheds new light on three common business pain points: forecast accuracy, overstocks, and expediting. ...
A New Twist on Automated Storage and Retrieval
There's a new twist out there on the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Mini-AGV (automatic guided vehicle) systems are an alternative to mini-load AS/RS ...
Supply Chains and Customer Service
Customer service and customer satisfaction are not one and the same: The former is the perception of the provider, and the latter is the perception of...
Reverse Logistics: Every Department's Challenge
More than 75% of all returned products are not defective, according to Gailen Vick, founder/president of the Reverse Logistics Association. Instead the primary cause of returns is “misinformation at the time of purchase,” due perhaps to misleading marketing materials or an ill-informed sales staff. The secondary factor is related: The product did not meet expectations....
USPS May Revise Slim-Jim Specs
Catalogers considering switching to a slim-jim format to save on postage might want to put those plans on hold. The U.S. Postal Service will begin to test a variety of booklets, which by postal definition include slim-jims. The result could be revised specifications for such mail pieces....
Authentic Confusion: Clarifying E-mail Authentication
Get into a conversation of any length about e-mail authentication for example, which solution or solutions to adopt and why there are more than one and...
Packing It In: What's New in Packaging Materials
It's not always easy to find innovation in packing materials. After all, how many times can you reinvent the packing peanut or improve upon plastic air-pillow...
Home Is Where the Rep Is
You've heard time and again how consumers have more choices now than ever and have access to more information than ever. Technologies such as the Internet...
Incents and Sensibility
Incentive programs have been a blessing for home decor and gifts merchant Home Interiors. Thanks to performance bonuses tied to improving inventory accuracy, the Carrollton, TX-based company was able to eliminate taking physical inventory each year....
«Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Next»
