Wholesale distributors operate in a fast-paced industry where maximizing efficiency and keeping costs low is imperative to staying competitive. Having an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed specifically for wholesale distribution can provide the visibility, scalability, and automation needed to help distributors reduce costs, improve productivity, and make better business decisions.
One such ERP is Oracle NetSuite. As an industry-specific cloud ERP solution built for modern businesses, NetSuite provides the features distributors require without the hassle and expenses of traditional on-premise ERP systems. Let’s explore the key capabilities NetSuite offers for wholesale distribution companies.
Inventory and Warehouse Management
Efficient inventory and warehouse management is vital for wholesale distributors. NetSuite gives distributors real-time visibility into inventory across all warehouses and provides actionable data to help optimize stock levels. Key features include:
- Multi-location inventory tracking with bin, lot, and serial number management
- Real-time updates across the supply chain
- Automated purchasing recommendations to prevent stockouts
- Advanced warehouse management system (WMS) capabilities
- Pick/pack/ship automation
- barcode scanning and printing
- Customizable mobile apps for warehouse operations
By providing complete visibility and management tools for inventory, NetSuite enables distributors to decrease carrying costs while improving order fulfillment and customer service rates.
Purchasing and Supplier Management
Wholesalers rely heavily on relationships with suppliers to source inventory efficiently. NetSuite centralizes supplier data and integrates procurement across departments. Features for supplier management include:
- Comprehensive supplier records incorporating transactions, contracts, and communications
- Purchase order automation
- Landed cost tracking
- Multi-currency support
- Customizable approval workflows
- Embedded analytics on supplier performance
Distributors can digitally transform their supply chain by gaining full control and visibility over the complete procure-to-pay process. This leads to lower material costs, fewer stockouts, and better oversight into supplier agreements.
Order and Accounts Receivable Management
The ability to quickly process orders, fulfill shipments accurately, and get paid on time is imperative for wholesale operations. Capabilities NetSuite offers to enhance order management and AR include:
- Omnichannel order capture via EDI, web, ecommerce, etc.
- Real-time order orchestration across all channels and locations
- Rules-based order processing
- Integrated shipping with leading carriers
- Multi-currency and tax support
- Flexible invoicing
- Automated collections and payment processing
- Customer dashboards and self-service options
By automating routine order management and AR tasks, distributors can handle order volumes with existing staff while providing customers with excellent service. This strengthens customer loyalty over time.
Financial Management and Reporting
Wholesale companies live and die on margins. NetSuite Financials provide unmatched visibility into margins with real-time reporting on profitability by product line, customer, location, or business unit. Features include:
- Unified ledger across all locations
- Multi-book accounting
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Fixed asset management
- Auditing tools
- Drill-down reports and dashboards
- Real-time metrics across sales, inventory, AR etc.
With a real-time financial command center powered by NetSuite, distributors gain the insight needed to optimize pricing, purchasing, sales incentives and other key decisions to improve profitability
Why Choose SuiteRep?
When it comes to finding a NetSuite implementation partner for ERP or ecommerce solutions, SuiteRep stands out as the premier NetSuite partner for wholesale and distribution companies. Here are four reasons to consider SuiteRep for your NetSuite or BigCommerce implementation:
Industry Expertise
With years exclusively focused on NetSuite and years in manufacturing and distribution software, SuiteRep’s industry and platform knowledge runs deep. The company holds various NetSuite certifications and has implemented NetSuite in over 500 distribution companies globally. You benefit from industry-honed best practices while working with specialists instead of generalists.
Proven Methodology
Through years of refining implementation processes, SuiteRep has developed a proven 5-stage methodology for deploying solutions tailored to wholesale and distribution. This methodology includes detailed project plans and schedules along with templates to expedite setup and training. Vetted across projects of all sizes, SuiteRep’s methodology gets you live quickly while ensuring a smooth transition.
Full-Service Offering
SuiteRep handles end-to-end management of all technical aspects—no need to assemble disparate vendors. Services include:
- Installation and setup
- Data migration
- Custom development
- Integration and ecommerce
- Testing and training
- NetSuite managed services
With SuiteRep running point on the deployment, wholesale companies get an expert implementation partner as an extension of their team.
Customer Success Culture
SuiteRep recognizes implementations don’t end at go-live, but rather inaugurate a long-term partnership spanning continual improvement and evolving business demands. The company stands behind all deployments with in-house Tier 1 and Tier 2 support focused on customer success vs. just case resolution. Additionally, SuiteRep offers advisory services to identify areas for optimizing processes and systems.
By choosing SuiteRep for your wholesale distribution solution implementation, you gain a true long-term partner invested in your enduring success.
