ERP Software for Tobacco and Candy

Industry Challenges

The tobacco and Candy category is easy to manage and forecast for wholesale distributors, with relatively few vendors and steady volume. It’s high-dollar and low-cube values. The industry is competitive as vendor companies sell their products through multiple outlets. It has a promotional activity that can complicate forecasting, promotional products that can lead to duplicate SKUs, and Regulation compliance at the state, county, and city levels. Tobacco and Candy distributors can leverage an ERP to consolidate data about their orders, stock levels, and customers to optimize expensive inventory and regulatory compliance.

Inefficient MSA Reporting

Ineffective paper systems, spreadsheet-based processes, essential accounting solutions, and silos of data in different systems are everyday situations among distributors. Thus, these situations lead to very high or deficient stock levels, inaccurate and delayed financial reports, and poor operations and sales visibility. Ximple Solution is an automated system that provides timely, comprehensive, and accurate data. Wholesale Distributors can turn their cigarette, cigar, Tobacco, grocery, and beverage inventory and sales data into significant discounts from manufacturers when weekly reporting is submitted correctly to MSA. Ximple MultiCat Reporting Module is an integrated solution for Wholesale Distributors to eliminate MSA reporting complexities.

Delivery Errors and Returns

Shipping mistakes and returns are costly to any Tobacco product wholesale distributor company as the unit cost each time is expensive. Distributors incur more fees and must complete the additional administration and processing processes regardless of which party is responsible for the shipping errors. The product suppliers find it challenging to accurately fulfill their customers’ orders due to speedy and complex demands. Thus, the wholesalers have to make accurate decisions swiftly. Ximple ERP is an integrated solution that fits their business processes to fulfill customers’ orders accurately and on time.

Inventory Management

Tobacco distributors deal with high-dollar and low-cube values items. Without industry-specific ERP software, they are likely to lack enough visibility on stock levels, miss locating an item, lack integration with logistics and supply chain units, or fail to deliver products on time. It’s challenging for wholesale distributors to have the right products in the right place and quantity. Distributors end up making losses due to obsolete stock, late deliveries, and loss of clients.

Outdated Technology

Inventory suppliers like candy and tobacco wholesalers should maintain an updated ERP system to safeguard their operations. Also, they need to employ staff familiar with the ERP solution. Wholesalers incur costs repairing legacy and outdated systems. Such platforms limit Distributors from taking advantage of the current technology’s economy of scale, security, and functionality. Ximple platform offers a competitive edge to wholesale distributors through a modern, reliable, secure, and scalable solution.

Ximple ERP features:

Ximple ERP systems for wholesale distributors boost productivity and improve customer service. It supports tobacco distributors s to control tight margins and eliminate waste. Without the right ERP solution, Wholesale Distributors work with disconnected and manual processes, excess stock, and data delays. Ximple distribution management software automates and integrates organizational processes to enhance efficiencies, improve customer service, and boost margins.

Automation

Ximple ERP software help streamlines & automates workflows and functions across departments. It reduces the time taken on a task and manual input. It links and automates accounting, supply chain, counter sales, warehousing, inventory, and goods delivery processes. Thus, wholesalers can overcome previous data silos barriers. It keeps wholesale distributors’ data centralized and secured for easy access by users.

Integration

Ximple ERP APIs allow easy connection to our system, other software, and systems to share data and files to boost productivity. It enables wholesale distributors to create a single data source. Ximple ERP software can easily communicate with existing and new business applications. It combines disparate applications from different departments in a wholesale firm to avoid information duplication, bottlenecks, and repeat orders.

Data Analysis

A wholesale distributor uses reports to address its business strength and operations. Ximple unified ERP solution helps distributors to gather daily operation data from multiple departments and entries. It can broadcast such details through an internal messaging system to get real-time for better and timely decisions and feedback. Ximple ERP applications in an organization have access to transaction details such as financial transactions or stock control. Wholesale companies are using the automated application as a competitive tool since they have timely data on events in their business.

Customer Orders

Wholesale distributors need to process customer orders effectively and promptly for customer satisfaction. Ximple Solution Counter sales features allow immediate access to customer, inventory, supply chain, and procurement data. It supports rapid data entry and access to information from all linked departments. In addition, a wholesaler can efficiently respond to clients’ queries about a shipment with integrated ERP. Salespersons have access to the price history of a product and can monitor it across various locations—advanced options process special orders and direct consignment. It can add a suggested order guide or a client’s shopping list to place immediate orders. It has to upsell and cross-sell options to enable sales associates to view trending items, current promotions, and price breaks. Integrating the application into the supply chain, store operations, and point-of-sale functions allows distributors to view a product from the receiving end and store it through the shipment process until it gets to a client. You will get feedback from the buyers on the same platform.

Reporting

Wholesaler companies use dashboards, pie charts, data visualization, and bar graphs to report data. Ximple ERP software has features that support data gathering and sorting, engaging visual creation, and findings analyzing and reporting. The system creates reports from all types of data in a wholesale outlet, from sales activities, marketing, lead and contact management. ERP reporting features offer spontaneous visual data display and reporting interfaces to enhance reporting. Additionally, these tools allow distributors to access timely and unlimited data for sound decision-making. Ximple Solution is a computerized system that provides timely, comprehensive, and accurate data. Wholesale Distributors can turn their cigarette, cigar, Tobacco, grocery, and beverage inventory and sales data into significant discounts from manufacturers when weekly reporting is submitted correctly to MSA. Ximple MultiCat Reporting Module is an integrated solution for Wholesale Distributors eliminating MSA reporting complexities

Financial Management

Wholesale distributors depend on financial management to track expenses and income and plan for business growth. The ERP system is well-designed accounting features to help wholesalers compile accurate financial reports, manage assets, and spend wisely. Accounting applications are different from ERP software since they have features such as accounts receivables, accounts payable, payroll, and general ledger accounts. The ERP system has all these features and applications for inventory management, eCommerce, supply chain management, and human resource management. Thus, a wholesale distributor should consider investing in ERP software to enjoy the additional features.

Marketing and Sales

Wholesale distributors provide sales quotes and forecasts during the sales management and product promotion processes. Sales forecasting software use sales funnel status and historical data to develop future sales projections. The ERP software supports sales and marketing tools like the point of sale, customer payment registration information, order details, and eCommerce features to host virtual shopping carts and product catalogs.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Ximple ERP software supports supply chain management elements and functions. Wholesale distributors, sales associates, logistics providers, and suppliers rely on this system to efficiently manage the flow of services and products between locations. An integrated ERP and SCM system will provide comprehensive details of a service or product from acquisition through storage to delivery. The application allows for real-time information reporting and documenting for reference and accountability. Wholesalers use ERP software to plan and control demand and complete the supply chain functions. In addition, the automated application reduces costs along the supply chain. Core elements within the SCM and ERP software include purchase orders, supplier and vendor management, requisition and approval management, stock control, store management, and sales forecasting.

Our Solution Benefits

Ximple Enterprise Resources Planning allows wholesale distributors to automate routine and manual processes. Distributors using the Ximple Software application have enough time to handle other revenue-generating tasks and standardize business processes. It shortens lead times, improves demand forecasts, reduces production bottlenecks, and boosts business growth. Below are the benefits of investing in Ximple ERP software:

Improved Collaboration

It connects departments and entities, improves staff engagement, and enhances communication in a wholesale outlet. The automated system allows employees to access organizational data to stay updated with the firm’s activities. Besides, ERP smoothens the workflow and lower operational costs for a distribution company.

Enhance Reporting

The main reason why wholesale distributors need an ERP system is because of its robust data storage capacity. The software collects, analyzes, and stores data across an outlet’s operations. It provides a centralized data storage hub for real-time information access and easy data comparison. Moreover, the management can use stored data to compile reports and answer questions about their distribution firm.

Built-in Compliance

Our systems help wholesale distributors track compliance and regulations changes in the industry. The application provides guidelines and specifications each department should adhere to while operating. The management team does not need to outsource security and PCI compliance experts.

Cloud Accessibility

Cloud ERP system has gained popularity over the years, and wholesale distributors should consider cloud ERP software since it has improved data mobility and security. Employees can access stored files from anywhere using various devices.

Improved Customer Service

Wholesale distributors need an ERP system for customer information to determine their needs and feedback. Different departments will refer to the stored client data to tailor their operations to ensure deliveries are made on time and customers receive quality products.

Flexibility

It has modularity features, and users can use it alone or link the system with other applications. Wholesale distributors can choose the package they need depending on their functions and preferences. Thus, companies can invest in an application customized for their operations. Wholesale distributors in the candy and tobacco business should consider ERP disadvantages and ways to get the best from the application. Here are the disadvantages of the ERP system:

Upfront Costs

Before acquiring ERP software, wholesale firms must consider the initial costs, like installation, supporting software, and training. Cloud ERP solution is easy to manage and affordable since it operates on a monthly subscription plus, it offers flexibility to innovate quickly with limited risk

Training

Proper training is essential to get the most from an ERP system. Wholesale dealers must understand the application features and ways to link them with business processes. The information technology department should be conversant with ERP technical aspects. Training plans and manuals are ideal for a company to preserve ERP knowledge even after trained personnel leave the entity.

Enterprise resource planning customization is necessary for wholesale distribution to optimize operations. need well-designed industry-specific ERP software to overcome industry challenges. Also, a distribution entity should get ERP systems with features related to its operations. Staff training and manuals are crucial to enlighten and preserve ERP knowledge in a distribution company.