Global competition, shorter product life cycles, lean economic conditions, increasing customer demands-these and other challenges put enormous pressures on industrial distributors.

The escalating requirements of large customers present a particular challenge. Demands for lower prices, improved packaging, specific labeling, and tight delivery requirements create tough conditions-especially for any distributor still tied to conventional supply-chain systems and processes. The challenges increase substantially with outdated information technology (IT) systems.

Microsoft Dynamics provides a set of strong applications that deliver a compelling suite of technologies for industrial distributors. Integrated tools give your organization the critical capabilities you need to support new business practices, shrink inventory and warehouse management costs, respond quickly to customers, and comply with changing and unique customer demands.

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• Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics solutions for industrial distributio
• Customer success stories
• Microsoft Dynamics products
• Learn more about Microsoft Dynamics solutions

Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics solutions for industrial distribution
Microsoft Dynamics solutions support:

• Speedy order-picking with powerful and integrated automated data collection (ADC) solutions



• Real-time reports and alerts to management and customers



• Efficient response to customer demands such as specific packaging and shipping requirements



• Implementation of customer-specific shipment, packaging, technology, and reporting requests



• Customized business reports that help improve business performance



• Accurate demand-forecasting models



• Easily implemented Web-based systems for customer communications

• Manage the supply chain. Install a flexible, robust IT environment to create an efficient supply chain that manages integrated contracts and delivers comprehensive service-level commitments. Take advantage of capabilities that facilitate easy and efficient real-time access to inventory; customer orders; and sales, purchasing, and financial information across multiple locations. Increase on-time delivery with powerful customer/supplier integration, planning tools, and company-wide inventory visibility. All of this helps you drastically reduce costs and gain a strong position as a low-cost, preferred supplier.



• Improve branch operations. Realize a comprehensive view of customer information with an integrated accounting and customer relationship management (CRM) solution. Ensure that all CRM tasks include important information such as quotations, billings, and shipment deadlines. Tighten delivery schedules by integrating customer requests into business software, and coordinate all aspects of a customer’s profile when multiple personnel are communicating to that customer regularly.



• Increase profitability: Collaborative, tightly integrated systems help you easily identify and eliminate areas of wasted activity and extra resources. Support for ADC systems assists with lowering costs and improving customer service. And smart management tools help you identify opportunities for new products and services that can be offered to the customers most likely to need them.

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Customer success stories

• Video: Medical distributor gets product out the door faster

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Microsoft Dynamics products
The following products can be used to help build a solution in industrial distribution:

• Microsoft Dynamics AX for industrial distribution


• Microsoft Dynamics SL for industrial distribution

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Learn more about Microsoft Dynamics solutions
Learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics business software solutions can help you solve your business needs in industrial distribution.

• Contact us to request more information or to speak with a Microsoft representative.



• Find industrial distribution solutions developed by Microsoft Certified Partners to meet the unique needs of your business or industry.

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