Wholesale Distribution | Paramount Technologies

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION

The wholesale distribution industry remains an important force in all major sectors of the U.S. economy, ranging from basic commodities to advanced technology components. Sales of all wholesaler-distributors reached $4.2 trillion in 2007, a 8.6% increase versus the previous year.

The industry supports an impressive diversity of companies. The vast majority of the nation’s 250,000 wholesaler-distributors are entrepreneurial family-run business with fewer than 500 employees. The largest wholesaler-distributors are multi-billion dollar publicly traded powerhouses that employ thousands of people.

The industry retains its vitality because wholesaler-distributors perform supply chain functions more effectively and efficiently than either manufacturers or customers. Manufacturers rely on distributors to communicate with their customers because wholesaler-distributors offer flexibility, fast response to customer needs, consistency of service, and local presence. Thus, wholesale distribution remains the most significant channel to market for manufacturers and the most important supply chain for customers, particularly when there are many small customers and a wide variety of manufacturers.

Wholesaler-distributors are leaders in using technology to reduce low value-added labor activities such as order processing, billing, inventory control, delivery-route scheduling, and warehouse management. As a result, productivity growth in wholesale distribution has consistently exceeded the overall business sector over the past 10 years.

How Employee Workforce Automation Can Help

Paramount Technologies lets you move from manual, paper-based purchasing to lower cost, higher control automated purchasing. WorkPlace streamlines purchasing saving you money that goes straight to your bottom line:

One Click Purchase Orders — Your Purchasing Manager is presented with a suggested buy report automatically once reorder points have been reached. After being reviewed and any edits, additions, or deletions made, purchase orders are automatically generated to be electronically transmitted to your suppliers.
Streamlined Receiving — Upon receipt of your purchase order, your warehouse can view the open purchase order and either auto receive the material or receive by item or line #. Inventory levels will be auto updated and customer backorders will be auto filled.
Automated Payments — With proper receipt and purchase order matching, your Accounts Payable department can verify invoice and approve for payment release. Payment can be made with a paper check, via online banking or EFT.
Self-Service Vendor Integration — Your company can provide your vendors with direct access to information that is relevant to your partnership, including purchase orders, accounts payable data, and other key documents.