IDII Software Newsletter - Vol 1 No 4 - April 3rd 2000  To assist the professional dealing with software in Warehousing Distribution, Logistics, and the Supply Chain. Techniques, Vision, & Educational Thoughts Reverse Logistics = Returns = 'Do We Have To' Problems Having material returned to a warehouse is viewed as an irritation and a problem. It is "focused thought" that needs to go into the return processes, just as in the outbound processes. Today, e-commerce and other factors (I.E., certain vertical markets) require shipments to retailers that have robust return policies. For example, Walmart's return policy, brings one coming back since they have a very consumer friendly return policy. This is good for Walmart and Walmart-Online, as customers are loyal, rather than become bitter due to an ugly standoff at customer service. Some other retailers have followed this high quality customer return policy. When possible, returns go directly to the manufacturer's/wholesaler's DC. Returns are a problem for most warehouses - since "little thought" was given in how to handle the return processes. Operations and warehouse management must focus on diagramming the possible variations in returns. Sonwil Distribution (3PL) in Buffalo, NY handles returned vacuum cleaners - even abused ones. The return center includes steps and work centers for receiving, disassembly, repair, re-assembly, cleaning, and stocking. Your return center and processes may be simpler. The key is to 'focus' on an efficient flow that is well understood by the warehouse personnel. In addition, there is opportunity in doing small order shipments for replacement stock. I.E., Sonwil does parcel shipping on replacement parts for the same vacuum cleaner company. The Center for Logistics Management has a FREE and good book on Reverse Logistics "Going Backwards: Reverse Logistics Trends and Practices" by Dr. Dales S. Rogers and Dr. Ronald S. Tibben-Lembke. 1999. It educates professionals on returned product processing (reverse logistics). At the end of the publication, it lists out Genco Distribution as one of the ERP solutions that handle reverse logistics. In addition, the market place is starting to see 3PL's and new startup companies that specialize in returns. IDII News Tuesday through Thursday - Distribution Computer Expo - April 4-5-6 in Chicago. This is one of the best North America trade shows for looking at Software. IDII will be there to review software solutions. If you are searching or showing new ERP, WMS, TMS, LES or related software - then this is one of the best places. For more information on the show, call 800-338-4112. Or visit the website at www.logistar.com. Seminars are on the 4th. Exhibits are on the 5th and 6th.  Exhibits are well worth the trip, as many vendors will demonstrate their software for you on a one-to-one basis. Thank you for the encouraging feedback regarding the newsletter! Editor's Note: We see our subscriber base growing fast and expect to double again within 45 days or less.  Software Company News Baan (ERP) - Forming a new subsidiary (by June, 2000) to provide E-Business applications focused on CRM (Customer Relationship Management) market. Headquarters will be in Golden, Colorado. HK Systems (TMS, WMS, Financials) - Delivers OAGI standards based eCommerce solution. HK has spent significant time and money in implementing OAGIS standard transaction sets into their software. Editor's notes: by utilizing the Open Applications Group's (OAGI) Business Object Documents (BODs) into it's products, HK has helped it's customers and the supply chain by staying with well defined standards in business transactions. The TRANSFER of data and making it PORTABLE is now a key to productivity. Infinity Logistics (TMS, WMS) - Launched a brand new product. (DigitalShipper.com). This solution is a Web based Enterprise Multi Carrier Transportation Management Solution. The speed of deployment and lower TCO are significant. Packaged solution with standard back end interfaces to ERP, Financial, and CRM. All for a monthly subscription fee. Leverages eWarehouses (WMS) functionality by sharing data. Carton level detail is easily transported over the Internet to partners, e-commerce portals, or any organization Integrated Warehousing Solutions (WMS) - IRMS WMS product has been internationalized for the Russian language and localized for the St. Petersburg dialect. The IRMS warehouse management system became fully operational at the R. J. Reynold's St. Petersburg distribution facility in November 1999. IRMS system has been integrated with the MRP software provided by J.D. Edwards. Kewill (WMS, ERP) - Adding BizTalk (XML Standard for business documents) for transferring e-commerce transactions, such as Orders, Order Acknowledgements, Forecast, Product Planning, Invoice, ASN, Stock Availability, Sales reporting, Manifest and Price File Exchange. Matthew Buskell of Kewill, indicates that "Kewill.Net solutions allow our customers to View, Transact, Trace, and Control within the supply chain." Ed Note: BizTalk like OAGIS defines standard transaction types, see www.biztalk.org and www.oagis.org Lawson Software (ERP) - Adds Web and e-Commerce abilities to it's ERP solution. McHugh Software (WMS, TMS) - Announces Logistics Suite - a set of modules for targeted industry groups. New clients start out with 80%-90% of their system pre-built in Logistics Solution Sets. Sets are available for Dot.Com, Consumer Products, Food & Beverage, Packaged Chemicals, Hi Tech / Electronics, Spare Parts, and Third Party Logistics industries. These sets contain components, such as shipment planning, wave picking, labor and resource utilization, slotting, and optimal carrier assignments, that are strung together in "event - action" workflows defined by each industry. Logistics Configurator is used to personalize these workflows and incorporate additional event processing that is unique to each client's operations. Clients' personalized workflows are run by the Logistics Controller at execution time. "The Logistics Controller is the event-driven application engine. Tecsys (ERP, eFS) (Ticker: TCS)- Aberdeen reviews the web enabled product FullStream The report states, "FullStream was built from the ground up to exploit full access to order management and fulfillment functionality." Aberdeen highlights FullStream product features such as interface and functionality including order history, pricing, ordering, order status and delivery verification - all using a Web browser. The report can be accessed at www.tecsys.com/fullstream/aberdeen.pdf. FullStream is integrated with Tecsys's product EliteSeries. Websites To Check Out www.crmsupersite.com – Good information on CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, implementation tips, and news. www.erpsupersite.com – Good information on ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software, implementation tips, and news. www.techrepublic.com – Good information on IT (Information Technology - computer hardware/software) - now owned by Gartner - free subscription - signup on many free e-mail lists on a variety of technology issues. Quote to Ponder "Courage is the power to let go of the familiar." --- Raymond Lindquist Scripture to Ponder "Wisdom is better than strength." Ecclesiastes 9:16 Education - Get a Degree in Logistics DBM's association has a list of Universities and Colleges that offer logistics, material handling, or best-of-practice business solutions to the changing e-commerce environment. See http://www.dcenter.com/site999/universities.html About This Newsletter We educate and share news on software for warehousing, transportation, shipping, packing, slotting, loading, optimization, and enterprise wide software solutions. This free newsletter is published twice a month and is targeted toward supply chain professionals involved in software. Currently, it is only available electronically. Feel free to forward this newsletter to others that you know. One may quickly subscribe by accessing our website at www.idii.com. To submit information to be considered for inclusion in our newsletter, send any news, events, press releases, research, and newsletters to editor@idii.com. The current and back issues of our E-Software Newsletters can be accessed at www.idii.com/esn © 2000 Industrial Data & Information Inc. All Rights Reserved.. Trademarks belong to respective trademark holders. Information accuracy is not guaranteed due to variety of sources.

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