BARRY ON SOFTWARE: Avexxis's CatMan Jan 1, 1999 12:00 PM
, Curt Barry
JobZone
Search and post jobs for the Multichannel Merchant. Including jobs for brand & agency marketers, e-commerce, catalog marketers, ops & fulfillment, direct marketing and more.
Avexxis has a radical idea: to tailor its CatMan CMS package to
individual catalog companies, rather than to make the companies tailor
their operations to the software. Even the best, most customized
systems typically require client companies to modify at least some
aspects of the way they do business to accommodate new software. CatMan
(short for Catalog Management) is still in its infancy, but if Avexxis
can pull off this emphasis on customization over the long run, it will
be a boon to companies that don't quite fit the standard CMS template.
So far, CatMan has five catalog companies as clients, but that
actually represents 13 installations, as Federated Stores, the largest
single client, has eight different systems for its various divisions.
The other clients are Sunshine Art Studio, Valassis of Canada, Vermont
Teddy Bear, and University Book Services.
CatMan also offers gap analysis prior to contract, practically
unheard of in the industry. It's an intriguing concept, but it could
have its downside: Every modification has both a monetary cost and a
potential for risk to other parts of the system. And, too, can Avexxis
maintain multiple system versions as its clientele grows?
Functions and features
CatMan is a highly integrated, full-featured CMS package that
will run on any Unix/RISC architecture or Windows NT platform. The
package uses a UniVerse relational database management system in
conjunction with the HOSTACCESS screen generator from Pixel
Innovations.
Avexxis began writing accounting and distribution software in 1986,
and the company has focused on catalogs for the past four years. The
firm does not employ programmer/analysts. Instead, its team of
multidisciplinary business software analysts (BSAs) guide clients
through specification, testing, and acceptance.
CatMan offers a number of user-oriented design functions. A
proprietary development tool called AvGen creates menus and standard
processes, allowing for fast, relatively easy customization.
Documentation is online at the module, file, and field levels, and can
be printed at any time.
Order entry and customer service. These two functions use the same
screen to record customer service notes (incidents), which can be
sorted and put in report form. Along with standard order entry
functions, CatMan can tally points for buyers' clubs, calculate
purchase order arrival dates, and set user-defined parameters to flag
limits such as dollar value on rush orders.
The software can accept multiple payment types and multiple credit
cards for an order. Mail orders are done in batches, but there are no
balancing controls. CatMan can handle international addressing and add
address lines via a function key.
Credit authorization. CatMan can do authorization in batch
mode or online. The package is interfaced to First USA, Paymentech, and
Visa Net, and is also MAPS-certified.
Order processing. CatMan offers several options for producing
pick/pack documents, including carrier and service, backordered items,
arrival date, and warehouse. The system shows how many shipments,
lines, and line items are available and allows the user to specify how
many to process. Bar coding of the packing slip expedites pack
verification.
Balancing and controls. Many of Avexxis's clients are working
with different accounting packages. Reports created by Avexxis or the
client account for any financial transactions can be passed to other
systems. All users were satisfied that the system can be balanced and
that controls are adequate.
Purchasing and receiving. CatMan creates purchase orders from
scratch or copies and modifies existing orders, and automatically
creates purchase orders for review, modification, and
printing/submission through percentage-complete inventory forecasting.
Backorder and product analysis reporting is available.
Warehousing. CatMan does not have automatic replenishment
based on pick runs. Inventory replenishment from bulk storage to
forward picking must be confirmed or assumed via reporting. The
software supports kits and assemblies, but there is currently no lot or
serial tracking through the warehouse. CatMan's pack verification
function prints a corrected pack list and/or invoice. Bulk items must
be identified for putaway, as directed putaway is not supported.
Physical and cycle counts are predefined, and there is currently no ABC
analysis.
Accounting. Each subsystem (accounts receivable, accounts
payable, and general ledger) can be closed independently of other
modules. Costing can be done by FIFO, LIFO or weighted average, and
cost layering is fully maintained. The software can create profit and
loss reports with roll-ups at multiple levels, and do sales tax
reporting. It can also do cash flow projection.
Shipping and manifesting. CatMan can ship from multiple
warehouses by default zip codes loaded for each DC. The software can do
postage and handling in the form of a tiered table, item count, or
weight and zone. CatMan can select specific carriers and service levels
and accommodate rate shopping through third-party shipping systems. The
software is interfaced to Pitney Bowes, UPS Powership, and Aristo.
Returns processing. Returns are applied to original orders
for appropriate processing. Exchanges are referenced to the original
orders. Returns reporting is basic; users must develop their own
in-depth reporting.
Marketing and analysis. This functionality is customized. CatMan can
access pricing, shipping charges, and add-on sales at any level, and it
can manage line and order bonuses such as buy-one-get-one-free. It can
calculate customer lifetime value while maintaining original source.
CatMan can store bill-to, ship-to, and ordered-by addresses, and can
perform sales analysis at any of these levels.
User comments All clients responded positively to Avexxis's range and
ability to make modifications quickly and accurately. Sometimes
modifications are too quick; in a few cases, users reconsidered their
modifications and the process had to be repeated. More formal user
approval of proposed modifications could solve this problem.
The staff at one client noted that Avexxis's very good base package
prompted their selection. Their comment: "Avexxis's strong point is
making modifications to our specifications; major changes have been
accomplished."
Another client says, "Customization abilities are amazing. We
haven't seen much they can't do. A large company the size of Federated,
with large corporate systems to interface and eight different
divisions' business rules, did not scare Avexxis off."
This client was impressed by Avexxis's personal service: "We know
all of the players and can call them at any time, and we get a live
person to talk to."
The clients interviewed were asked if they would select Avexxis if
they had to choose all over again. All answered with an enthusiastic
yes.
Curt Barry is president of F. Curtis Barry & Company, a
consultancy specializing in catalog operations and fulfillment. He can
be reached at 1897 Billingsgate Circle, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23233,
(804)740-8743. His e-mail address is: cbarry@fcbcd.com
