Office Supply Distributors

Office Supply White Paper (117kb)

The Office Supply Vertical Extension for Microsoft Dynamics™ AX enables office-supply distribution companies to compete with the Big 3 or the competitor across town. Customers expect more than office products from an office-supply distributor. They like their supplier to assist them with janitorial supplies, office furniture, office equipment, computer equipment, and more. Related, desirable services include equipment installation, furniture assembly, and computer peripherals and software. Office-supply distributors need an effective way to add these products and services to their offerings without losing out on margins.

For office-supply distribution businesses, MBS Dev has developed richly featured extensions to Microsoft Dynamics™ AX, dedicating extensive resources enabling Microsoft Dynamics™ AX to meet the requirements of wholesale distributors. Implementing these enhancements within a wholesale distribution infrastructure requires Microsoft Dynamics™ AX, certain key components of the MBS Dev Wholesale Distribution Suite, and the extensions that are suitable for a given business environment.

Key features in the Office Supply Vertical Extensions offered include:

Office Products Vertical Extension (OPVE)
The Office Products Vertical Extension optimizes distribution management for businesses dealing with many of the most often used office products and stationery items.
Its features include:

• Contracts & Matrix Pricing
• Cross References
• Wholesaler Interface
• Stock Checks
• Freight Tracking
• Catalogs

Other functionality of the OPVE facilitates catalog building, item updates, excluded items, customer budgets, credit card interfaces, usage reporting, summary billing, and a complete e-commerce solution that helps office-supply wholesalers outperform the competition and improve on the buying group’s offerings.

Office Equipment Vertical Extension (OEVE)
The Office Equipment Vertical Extension supports distributors who offer such office equipment as copiers, printers, and fax machines.
Key capabilities include the following:

• Leasing and Rental Management
• Installation Scheduling
• Project Billing
• Usage Tracking

The OEVE also allows office-supply distributors to track manufacturers’ warranties, record and reference equipment serial numbers, easily exchange information and documents with manufacturers electronically, and process service requests efficiently.

Office Furniture Vertical Extension (OFVE)
The Office Furniture Vertical Extension enables distributors to engage competitively in selling or leasing office furniture to their clients. Somewhat similar to the Office Equipment Vertical Extension, the OFVE includes among its main capabilities:

• Installation Scheduling
• Labor Hours Tracking
• Project Billing
• Fixed and Time-and-Materials Billing
• Product Documents

In addition, the OFVE gives distributors a way to track serial numbers, warranty agreements, and leasing contracts, and streamlines the electronic exchange of documents and business information with manufacturers.

Janitorial and Sanitation Vertical Extension (JSVE)
The Janitorial and Sanitation Vertical Extension allows office-supply distributors to engage in a complementary line of business that is of great interest to customers and offered also by the large competitors. Important features of the JSVE include:

• DOT Hazardous Requirements
• EDI Interface Rebates
• Customer and Vendor Rebates
• Wholesaler Drop Ships

Other capabilities of the JSVE let office-supply distributors track serial numbers, implement contract pricing, and streamline communications and transactions with wholesalers.

Wholesale Paper Vertical Extension (WPVE)
For office-supply distributors dealing with paper products, the Wholesale Paper Vertical Extension (WPVE) helps in doing business competitively and efficiently.
Its key features include:

• Multiple Units of Measure (UOM)
• Consignment Management
• Lot Control
• Cut Sheet Pricing

The WPVE also offers extensive capabilities for managing charge-backs and rebates, pricing per contracts, and pricing per hundred weights.

Computer Supply Vertical Extension (CSVE)
Competition with the large, national chains pushes distributors to enter into the computer supply market. The Computer Supply Vertical Extension (CSVE) assists distributors in adding computer supplies to their offerings and improving the company’s bottom line.
Main capabilities include:

• Product Configuration
• Refurbishment
• Warranty Tracking
• Leasing Management
• E-Business with Large Manufacturers
• Kit Products
• Up-Sell, Cross-Sell and Complements

Other features of the CSVE include tracking of rebates and serial numbers, flexible freight charges, and efficient communications with manufacturers.

The Books and Periodicals Vertical Extension (BPVE) allows office-supply distributors to add publications to their product line-up and serve those customers who are interested in business magazines, how-to guides, manuals, and other literature.
Key features include:

• ISBN Tracking
• Buyback Processing
• Publisher Allowances
• Freight Shipping Rules
• E-Business

School Book Processing allows for thedistribution of books to school districts, including grade and high schools, and colleges. MBS Dev furnishes the capabilities distributors need in order to serve this market effectively, including pricing to reflect different conditions of the books and control of school catalogs for inbound to outbound processing with accurate reporting of financial values.

Additional capabilities of the BPVE help to streamline distribution communications and transactions, track serial numbers, manage rebates, and implement price point pricing.